ELYSIAN ACOUSTIC LABS DIVA 2023 $1,599 REVIEW
October 17, 2023 Comments Off on ELYSIAN ACOUSTIC LABS DIVA 2023 $1,599 REVIEW
The bass response you get from the DIVA 2023 depends on the tuning switch. With the blue setting you have the most bass rumble, and especially the sub-bass area becomes very apparent. The middle setting (white) is the most balanced, and the red setting has the leanest bass. Unsurprisingly, I decided to stick with the middle setting, as I like listening to the most natural and realistic sound.
In the middle setting, the DIVA 2023 has a very good bass performance, but I would also say that it doesn’t have a distinct character here. I think the sub-bass is also a bit elevated, so it’s not flat in the bass. That’s fine for the fun factor, and it works really well with popular music too.
Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800.2 Integrated Amplifier REVIEW
October 17, 2023 Comments Off on Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800.2 Integrated Amplifier REVIEW
https://www.hifinews.com/content/musical-fidelity-nu-vista-8002-integrated-amplifier
Indeed, largescale productions might well be the 800.2’s bread and butter as James Horner’s score for the film Titanic [Sony Classical SK 63213] came across as big as the doomed vessel itself. In ‘Take Her To Sea, Mr Murdoch’, optimistic melodies from across the orchestra pit dovetailed with resonant strings, thumping timpani and crashing cymbals, and again there was the sense the 800.2 wasn’t missing out on any elements, high or low, as the sound flooded the listening seat. Moreover, Horner’s love of dynamic stabs of brass and strings, such as on ‘Hard To Starboard’, require an amp with plenty in reserve, and these arrived with a dynamic swagger.
In a nutshell, the appeal of the Nu-Vista 800.2 doesn’t simply boil down to its obvious output. This all-analogue integrated has the kind of performance that leaves you lost in the music, and focuses you on what you’re listening to, rather than the amp powering it all. I won’t say it goes about its business quietly, because it plays loud and weighs over 40kg, but it is utterly unflappable with whatever you throw at it. As my listening segued from the delicate compositions of Philip Glass’s Glassworks [Sony Classical; 96kHz/24-bit] to the pounding hip-hop of Dr Dre’s ‘Still D.R.E’ [2001; Interscope Records 490 4862], I loved every second.
Yamaha Audio R-N1000A Network Receiver Review
October 17, 2023 Comments Off on Yamaha Audio R-N1000A Network Receiver Review
Alsyvox Audio Design Botticelli X Loudspeaker $100,000 Review
October 16, 2023 Comments Off on Alsyvox Audio Design Botticelli X Loudspeaker $100,000 Review
Over our entire day of listening, the resultant degree of coherence the Botticelli effortlessly delivered, its ability to convincingly speak with one continuous voice, was simply extraordinary. That voice is full-bodied, replete with the complex harmonic structures of individual instrumental accents that it presents with an overall tonal balance that is as faultless as I’ve ever experienced from any ribbon driver-based loudspeaker. As such, the piano was superbly represented time and time again, and the Botticelli’s ability to convey micro-dynamic shadings, combined with its truthful depiction of timbre, was simply and convincingly real sounding. Tone color is richly vibrant and texturally complete. Instrumental decay is portrayed exceptionally faithfully, with a sense of unrestricted speed that allowed for a very natural interpretation of its natural linger and air, all attributes of their remarkable coherence and astonishing speed.
To my ears and sensibilities, Daniele Coen’s Alsyvox Botticelli X not only clearly represents the state of the art as currently applied to the category of planar dynamic loudspeakers, but they are so easy to listen to, so engrossingly musical, and so emotionally engaging, that they would be my first choice in their price point, a rather ambitious range that includes such “fan” favorites as the Børresen Acoustics 05 or the Wilson Audio Alexx V.
ELAC DS1200 12″ Dual-Opposed Subwoofer $2,999 Review
October 16, 2023 Comments Off on ELAC DS1200 12″ Dual-Opposed Subwoofer $2,999 Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/elac-ds1200-12-dual-opposed-subwoofer-review
The laws of physics are immutable, there is perhaps no better example of that then as they relate to subwoofers. When it comes to deep bass played at volume you need several things, chief among them is a large enclosure. The ELAC DS1200 did soften the lowest octave when I pushed the pace, but frankly that’s not the least bit surprising given the aforementioned pesky bit of physics. You can mitigate that to an extent with precision engineering, overbuilt drivers, powerful amplifiers and DSP tuning, all things ELAC includes with the DS1200. But no matter what, at some point you will hit a wall. When the DS1200 finally reigned things in it did so in a graceful and fluid manner, never once tripping over itself regardless of how hard I tried to get it to do that very thing.
I pushed this subwoofer and it did not care in the least, remaining unperturbed throughout. Add to its composure a stylish and unique appearance, along with a well thought-out app that allows for minute configuration and customization, and you get quite a lot with the ELAC DS1200.
AudioQuest PowerQuest 707 Review & Monsoon Power Cable
October 16, 2023 Comments Off on AudioQuest PowerQuest 707 Review & Monsoon Power Cable
NuPrime Audio Evolution Two Mono Power Amplifier $3999 Review
October 14, 2023 Comments Off on NuPrime Audio Evolution Two Mono Power Amplifier $3999 Review
NuPrime Audio had fallen off my radar in recent years. The last NuPrime product I reviewed was the IDA-8 integrated amplifier-DAC, which I loved. It was an absolute steal, providing fantastic sound and a healthy amount of power for under $1,000. But that was almost eight years ago. The Evolution Two has reintroduced me to this innovative brand. The market for power amplifiers at the Evolution Two’s price level is now very competitive. But NuPrime has more than kept pace with their reference mono amp, and by keeping its price relatively constant, the Evolution Two rivals the very best in its class.
Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800.2 Integrated Amplifier £10,999 Review
October 14, 2023 Comments Off on Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800.2 Integrated Amplifier £10,999 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/musical-fidelity-nu-vista-8002-integrated-amplifier
Indeed, largescale productions might well be the 800.2’s bread and butter as James Horner’s score for the film Titanic [Sony Classical SK 63213] came across as big as the doomed vessel itself. In ‘Take Her To Sea, Mr Murdoch’, optimistic melodies from across the orchestra pit dovetailed with resonant strings, thumping timpani and crashing cymbals, and again there was the sense the 800.2 wasn’t missing out on any elements, high or low, as the sound flooded the listening seat. Moreover, Horner’s love of dynamic stabs of brass and strings, such as on ‘Hard To Starboard’, require an amp with plenty in reserve, and these arrived with a dynamic swagger.
In a nutshell, the appeal of the Nu-Vista 800.2 doesn’t simply boil down to its obvious output. This all-analogue integrated has the kind of performance that leaves you lost in the music, and focuses you on what you’re listening to, rather than the amp powering it all. I won’t say it goes about its business quietly, because it plays loud and weighs over 40kg, but it is utterly unflappable with whatever you throw at it. As my listening segued from the delicate compositions of Philip Glass’s Glassworks [Sony Classical; 96kHz/24-bit] to the pounding hip-hop of Dr Dre’s ‘Still D.R.E’ [2001; Interscope Records 490 4862], I loved every second.
Audiophilepure 
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