Rotel Diamond Series RA-6000 Integrated Amplifier-DAC $4499 Review
February 10, 2023 Comments Off on Rotel Diamond Series RA-6000 Integrated Amplifier-DAC $4499 Review
My favorite integrated amplifier-DAC in this price range is still the NAD Masters M33 ($5999), which features 200Wpc of pristine power from its Purifi Eigentakt amplifier modules, Dirac Live room correction, and BluOS streaming capability. To my ears, Eigentakt-based amplifiers provide the most satisfying sound in this price range. However, this isn’t to say that there aren’t many other excellent-sounding, similarly priced integrated amplifiers, and the Eigentakt’s ultraclean sound might not suit everyone’s taste. The RA-6000 doesn’t have as many features as the M33, but it costs $1500 less and has a similar, if not quite as dead-neutral sound.
Diamond jubilee
The Rotel RA-6000 absolutely deserves to be considered one of the best integrated amplifier-DACs around the $5k price point. It may lack a couple of features, the most notable being a room-correction system, but if you don’t want or don’t need room correction, it offers a ton of performance and flexibility for the money. This new Diamond Series RA-6000 really takes Rotel’s classic amplification products to the next level of performance; updated, but still maintaining their familiar, classic look, and coming in at a price below that of Rotel’s highly regarded Michi products.
Billie MKII Integrated Amp Review! Class A Tube
February 10, 2023 Comments Off on Billie MKII Integrated Amp Review! Class A Tube
SME Model 60 Turntable and Series VA Tonearm £59,950 Review
February 9, 2023 Comments Off on SME Model 60 Turntable and Series VA Tonearm £59,950 Review
Summing up his overall impressions of the Model 60 with Series VA tonearm, Jonathan wrote: “This deck sets a new standard—not just for SME, but for vinyl replay in general.” He also proclaimed that it’s “a landmark product from a legendary firm,” and added that he believes the Model 60 is “the best-looking turntable SME has ever made.” Jonathan made his feelings known about the Model 60 in no uncertain terms: “In terms of design, execution, and finish, it is the supreme example of its maker’s art.”
Jonathan’s rave review of the SME Model 60 turntable and VA Series tonearm earned the combination a Reviewers’ Choice award when the review was published, as well as a prestigious 2022 Product of the Year award a couple of weeks later. This month, a Recommended Reference Component award has been added to that list of accolades.
SENNHEISER IE 200 REVIEW
February 9, 2023 Comments Off on SENNHEISER IE 200 REVIEW
The IE 200 features gold-plated MMCX connectors which are recessed in its housing for greater stability and guidance (just like with the IE 300, IE 600 and IE 900). A 1.2 meter cable with a 3.5mm single ended termination is included with the IE 200. You get two different styles of ear tips — silicone and memory foam — and they are provided in three sizes. What is special with the IE 200 is the ear tip tuning option. Depending on how you place the ear tips, you can influence the bass presentation. While this system does work, I don’t really find it very usable, but I’ll get back to that later.
The IE 200’s dedicated web site can be found here. As said, the IE 200 is selling for only $149 USD or €149 Euro. Sennheiser however stresses that this time, accessibility does not mean compromise. Sennheiser with the IE 200 is focusing on sound quality and while that does show in the packaging and accessories, I find it to be a good decision. Who doesn’t like great sound at a low price?
Make your own vinyl records at home |
February 9, 2023 Comments Off on Make your own vinyl records at home |
VPI Avenger Direct Turntable Package £36,500 Review
February 7, 2023 Comments Off on VPI Avenger Direct Turntable Package £36,500 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/vpi-avenger-direct-turntable-package
Solo vocalists also benefitted hugely from the Avenger Direct’s abilities. The Kari Bremnes’ track ‘A Lover In Berlin’ from her Norwegian Mood album [Kirkelig Kulturverksted ARS-FXLP 221] seemed to soar free and unfettered from my speakers. Miss Bremnes’ voice was fabulous, larger than life and absolutely rock-solid in the centre of the soundstage, with a majestic sense of atmosphere and space accompanying it. The fine percussive backing effects were also sharply defined and easy to focus on, but never intruded on the main action. Everything was expertly underpinned by a taut and fulsome acoustic bass with a crystal-clear note structure. Superb.
Across the lower bass registers the Avenger Direct/Fatboy combo played a masterful hand, dealing back anything I cared to throw at it with weight and confidence. Whether it was the punchy synths on Kylie Minogue’s infectious ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’ from her Fever LP [Parlophone 0190295846248], or the thunderous organ work of Bach’s ‘Toccata and Fugue’ from the Invitation To Denon/PCM Digital Classics Part 2 record [Nippon Columbia ST-6011], VPI’s deck sailed through without breaking a sweat. At all times there was a reassuring mass and momentum to the sound, combined with an ease and effortlessness that was captivating.
AVM Ovation CS 8.3 Black Ed. All-In-One Solution
February 6, 2023 Comments Off on AVM Ovation CS 8.3 Black Ed. All-In-One Solution
https://www.hifinews.com/content/avm-ovation-cs-83-black-ed-all-one-solution
It’s the successor to the CS 8.2 [HFN May ’17] and still employs Class D amplification from Pascal – a well-known supplier to pro audio brands, and recently featured in Dynaudio’s active Focus loudspeaker – next to an ESS-based DAC. The Pascal module is driven by a triode tube line/preamp stage in the CS 8.3, unlike the £12,950 Ovation CS 6.3, for example, which is solid-state throughout.
Shipped in its own bespoke flight case, the £15,950 Black Edition we have here takes the standard CS 8.3 model and gives it a discrete makeover with an exclusive finish and selected tubes. And no, although ‘Black Edition’ makes it sound like a limited offering, this flagship is here to stay.
Fyne Audio F502SP $6499 Review
February 6, 2023 Comments Off on Fyne Audio F502SP $6499 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/fyne-audio-f502sp
As we listen to Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 in full flow it is hard not to be impressed by the F502SP. These are big speakers for the money and the benefits of their generous portions are obvious. First off, these floorstanders sound so much more authoritative than most rivals. They deliver the Beethoven symphony with breathtaking scale and solidity. Large-scale dynamic sweeps are rendered with ease, even at high volumes where smaller alternatives start to struggle.
These Fynes reveal an impressive amount of detail and arrange all that information in a cohesive and controlled way. There’s a crisp snap to the leading edge of notes and the ability to paint the rest of the sound envelope properly. This is a colourful presentation that’s bold and confident.
If you are after outright tonal neutrality or class-leading refinement then we would point you elsewhere, as these aren’t the most refined or balanced speakers at this level. Yet, the rivals that gain ground on sonic sophistication lose it when it comes to the more visceral aspects of music replay. These Fynes are terrific at pulling us into the music. They deliver sound with immense verve, even if ultimately they deliver less in the way of outright finesse
Audiophilepure 
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