MoFi SourcePoint 888 Speakers at AXPONA 2024

April 23, 2024 Comments Off on MoFi SourcePoint 888 Speakers at AXPONA 2024

Estelon Aura Loudspeaker $19,900 Review

April 22, 2024 Comments Off on Estelon Aura Loudspeaker $19,900 Review

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1857-estelon-aura-loudspeaker

That splendid tonal balance was not perfectly neutral, but it was as neutral as I’d want it to be. Listening to female vocals, I could detect a slight emphasis in the upper midrange regardless of amplification. This bias, in the 1000Hz to 4000Hz range, both on- and off-axis, was also revealed in our measurements. But this isn’t a bad thing. Lana Del Rey’s wispy vocal on “White Dress,” the opening song on her Chemtrails Over the Country Club (16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC, Interscope / Polydor Records / Tidal), was perhaps a touch more prominent than usual, but it had dazzling immediacy and a wonderful clarity I did not sense with other speakers. A less obvious effect of the heightened upper midrange, albeit still noticeable, was on Stevie Nicks’s vocal in “Dreams.” With most systems, her voice seems buried in the mix. Through the Auras, however, with either amplifier, her voice was more present, and the whole song sounded a little more spacious in the midrange. Not all female vocals were boosted in this way, though. Tracy Chapman’s singing voice is a bit lower in pitch than Nicks’s and Del Rey’s. Playing “Fast Car” and “Baby Can I Hold You” for some friends one afternoon, from her eponymous debut album (16/44.1 FLAC, Elektra Records / Tidal), I was taken aback by how natural her voice sounded—it was as natural as I’ve ever heard it.

OCTAVE AUDIO V 110 SE INTEGRATED TUBE AMPLIFIER REVIEW

April 22, 2024 Comments Off on OCTAVE AUDIO V 110 SE INTEGRATED TUBE AMPLIFIER REVIEW

Octave Audio offers what they call a “Black Box” and “Super Black Box” which contain additional power supply capacitance. They included the Black Box with the V 110 SE for me to try out. It has four times as much capacitance as the amplifier does, and the MSRP is $1,200 USD. It does not reduce distortion or increase the power output from what I found in bench tests, but is claimed to have subtle effects on the sound and improves performance with hard-to-handle-speakers. The reason it does not increase power output is that the power is controlled by the input transformer’s current capability. Also, the tubes themselves have limited plate dissipation that cannot be increased. The effectiveness of the Black Box and Super Black Box on sound quality is something that needs to be determined with double-blind tests.

Roon Nucleus One server Review

April 22, 2024 Comments Off on Roon Nucleus One server Review

NOBLE AUDIO ONYX $3,200 REVIEW

April 21, 2024 Comments Off on NOBLE AUDIO ONYX $3,200 REVIEW

When comparing the performance of the Viking Ragnar and the new Onyx, both come in similarly sized packaging, albeit with differences in accessories. While the Onyx lacks the Nanuk case included with the Ragnar, both offer a comfortable fit and impressive build quality. However, the Ragnar stands out with its superior materials and construction.

In terms of sound, the Viking Ragnar reigns as the flagship of the Noble Audio lineup, boasting top-of-the-line technical performance. It delivers a more realistic and coherent sound, characterized by better transient response, speed, and imaging. On the other hand, the Onyx offers a more bass-heavy and musical presentation, sacrificing some resolution and transparency in comparison.

Audio Note TT-One Deluxe Turntable $5,030 Review

April 21, 2024 Comments Off on Audio Note TT-One Deluxe Turntable $5,030 Review

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/audio-note-tt-one-deluxe-turntable

The TT-One isn’t about pyrotechnics — it’s about musicality. Unlike some equally expensive, more trendy tables, it prioritizes natural rhythm and warmth over artificial bass bombs. This is a turntable for music lovers, not bass junkies. Audio Note poured decades of expertise into this machine, resulting in a sound as captivating as their higher-end offerings. Just like a complete Shindo or Luxman system, the TT-One Deluxe delivers a signature sound that’s pure Audio Note — and a pure sonic delight too, for that matter.

 AXPONA 2024 Show Report

April 21, 2024 Comments Off on  AXPONA 2024 Show Report

Tekton Moab Be loudspeaker $30,000 Review

April 20, 2024 Comments Off on Tekton Moab Be loudspeaker $30,000 Review

https://www.stereophile.com/content/tekton-moab-be-loudspeaker

I’d always loved the expansive midrange and upper-bass purity that the latter produces, and so it was with the new version. It’s just that there was audibly more of it this time. Case in point: My Dutch shepherd often keeps me company in the listening room, where nothing seems to spook him—he learned long ago to just tune out the music. But when I played “Pillar I,” from the Grammy-nominated album Seven Pillars by Sandbox Percussion (24/96 FLAC, Aki Rhythm Productions/Qobuz), his ears shot up and he cocked his head in surprise. I agree with the dog: The Moabs painted the snares and kicks and bells on this standout track with great vividness and realism.

Audio Research Reference 80S Review

April 20, 2024 Comments Off on Audio Research Reference 80S Review

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/audio-research-reference-80s

Impressive though Audio Research’s Reference 80S undoubtedly is, there’s a sizeable elephant in the room that should perhaps be put to one side before we go any further. With a £15k price tag, this absolutely isn’t typical HFC fare, which almost immediately puts it out reach of most wallets. Which is a real shame as this is a quite stunning power amplifier that does the easy bit of delivering the power, while handling the more challenging side of subtlety and fine detail with absolute aplomb. In the highly unlikely event that you inadvertently stumble across that lost winning lottery ticket or a rich relative that you never knew about leaves you stacks of cash only on the understanding that you spend them on hi-fi exotica, this is an absolute must-have. For the rest of us it’ll have to remain a dream to aim towards. Regardless, there’s no disputing that the way the Reference 80S delivers the sort of precision that’s more commonly the realm of solid-state rivals from glass tubes is nothing short of miraculous. 

Borresen X1 Speaker Review

April 20, 2024 Comments Off on Borresen X1 Speaker Review