McIntosh MA8950 $9000 Review
August 6, 2022 Comments Off on McIntosh MA8950 $9000 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/mcintosh-ma8950
The MA8950 is a hugely impressive amplifier. McIntosh’s high-end experience shines through both in the thorough execution of the product and the way in which such a wide range of features have been so seamlessly integrated. We have slight misgivings about some aspects such as the remote handset and front panel control feel, but they are not enough to overshadow what is a very fine effort. Looking for a high-power integrated amplifier to cover any and all two-channel requirements? This one deserves to be high on the list.
Best HiFi System in the World ? TAD Esoteric REL
August 5, 2022 Comments Off on Best HiFi System in the World ? TAD Esoteric REL
ASTELL&KERN SP2000T REVIEW
August 5, 2022 Comments Off on ASTELL&KERN SP2000T REVIEW
The AK SP2000T’s bass is musically engaging with a tight and punchy delivery. Bass has good impact, but its presence is always civilized and controlled. If you want more bass, you will have to go for a bass focused IEM or earphone. Bass detail is good as well as the depth and layering. There is a nice sub rumble, but your IEM or headphone of course must be able to portray it.
The mid section has a very nice timbre, especially in hybrid and tube mode. Mids are spacious, airy and natural sounding. Vocals are perfectly situated, though they’re probably a tiny bit more to the front. Vocals carry a nice energy, especially in OPAMP amplification mode. Mid depth and layering are always good. Feed your SP2000T’s bad quality recording and the mids will suffer a lot. There in the mids still is room for improvement for wat concerns precision and decay, but that goes for the top and bottom end as well.
Hifiman Drops A $399 Closed-Back Version
August 4, 2022 Comments Off on Hifiman Drops A $399 Closed-Back Version
Hifiman’s Sundara was one of the first affordable Planar Magnetic headphones on the market, and due to the remarkably balanced and detailed sound, it’s also one of the most popular headphones amongst value-oriented audiophiles.
We have included the Sundara on many of our “Best Of” lists because until the Hifiman Edition XS came out, it was widely considered to be the best Planar headphone under $500. If the new version sounds better than the original, then it should be a massive hit.
miniDSP SHD Power Integrated Amplifier-DAC $1549 Review
August 4, 2022 Comments Off on miniDSP SHD Power Integrated Amplifier-DAC $1549 Review
Those differences became more apparent when driving the MartinLogan loudspeakers in my main system. The miniDSP was able to drive the hybrid-electrostatic ESL 9s with greater ease than the Lyngdorf, which struggled to unravel complex passages at high levels. Playing Sting’s My Songs: Special Edition (24/44.1 FLAC, A&M Records / Interscope Records / Qobuz), “Desert Rose” had greater depth and width of soundstage and well-defined imaging of the vocals and instruments with the miniDSP. While the Lyngdorf’s presentation was a little vague, it still had that invitingly smooth Equibit sound. Adding the two JLA E‑Sub e112 subwoofers to the mix tipped the scales in favor of the Lyngdorf. While both amps benefited from the addition of the subs, the effect on the Lyngdorf, now freed of the requirement of amplifying the lower frequencies, was truly transformative. The mids and highs remained smooth and inviting but were more sharply focused. The synthesizer sounds and vocalizations of Sting and Cheb Mami swirled effortlessly between the speakers with wonderful openness, warmth, and coherence. The miniDSP too sounded better with the subs, but the soundstage did not open up as fully—the voices and instruments remaining more closely grouped together, and the sound remaining a little cool and not as lush.
Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems
August 4, 2022 Comments Off on Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems
Totem Acoustic Metal V2 floorstanding loudspeaker Review
August 3, 2022 Comments Off on Totem Acoustic Metal V2 floorstanding loudspeaker Review
Sticking with Speakers Corner records (why not, they are the best after all), I can tell you that listening to Janos Starker’s suites for unaccompanied Cello [Mercury] was also a near-religious experience paired with the Totem Metals. The point is easily made on any of the tracks so start at the beginning with Suite No 1 in G Praeludium. The Metals push the cello right out into the living room in a way that was disorienting for the first few moments it was so untethered to the speaker cabinets. In a way that you would read the sound if someone were to break a wine glass on a wall close behind you, the Metals endowed Janos’ playing of the cello with that electric “in the room” crispness that can not be faked. When Janos draws the bow across the strings and you hear his physical mannerisms and body shifts coming through in space behind the cello; word to the wise, make sure you know who is presently in your house. You wouldn’t want to have to jump up to look in the other room for robbers (as I did more than I would like to admit) while getting used to the knife-edge detail and realism the Metals illustrate so well.
Audiophilepure 
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