Gryphon Audio Designs Apex Stereo Amplifier $99,000 Review
May 18, 2022 Comments Off on Gryphon Audio Designs Apex Stereo Amplifier $99,000 Review
Next, I moved on to something more delicate: Esther Abrami’s eponymous album (Esther Abrami, 24/48 MQA, Sony Classical/Tidal). The 25-year-old violinist has introduced classical music to thousands of new listeners through her TikTok and Instagram posts, and her first album on a major label, released in March of this year, is a wonderful listen. It was made even more so with the Gryphon Apex anchoring my system. The fourth track, “Tomorrow,” is one of my favorites, particularly for the interplay between violin and piano, which combined to pour rich sound into my room through the Apex. The piano that begins the track was weightier and more tonally saturated than I’ve heard it, and the French player’s violin was satisfyingly resonant—that word again—and textured, yet silky smooth and present in my room. I could not believe how much better this track sounded over my system with the Apex. It honestly made my old setup sound like the dreaded “hi-fi” by comparison: clean and precise, yet still lacking in realism.



TechDAS Air Force III turntable Review
May 17, 2022 Comments Off on TechDAS Air Force III turntable Review
The Air Force III’s platter is driven by an outboard synchronous AC motor that appears to be the same as the one supplied with the II, and controlled by the same or similar quartz-oscillator DC amplifier. The Air Force III uses one air pump for both the bearing and vacuum system, unlike the AF One, whch uses separate pumps for each. Motor and platter are linked by the same nonstretch belt of polished polyurethane fiber used in all Air Force models. The motor’s power supply and the silent, low-vibration air pump are housed in a plain black box measuring 13.8″ wide by 6.3″ high by 10.6″ deep and weighing 19.8lb.

Gryphon Audio Designs Apex Stereo Amplifier $99,000 Review
May 16, 2022 Comments Off on Gryphon Audio Designs Apex Stereo Amplifier $99,000 Review
Next, I moved on to something more delicate: Esther Abrami’s eponymous album (Esther Abrami, 24/48 MQA, Sony Classical/Tidal). The 25-year-old violinist has introduced classical music to thousands of new listeners through her TikTok and Instagram posts, and her first album on a major label, released in March of this year, is a wonderful listen. It was made even more so with the Gryphon Apex anchoring my system. The fourth track, “Tomorrow,” is one of my favorites, particularly for the interplay between violin and piano, which combined to pour rich sound into my room through the Apex. The piano that begins the track was weightier and more tonally saturated than I’ve heard it, and the French player’s violin was satisfyingly resonant—that word again—and textured, yet silky smooth and present in my room. I could not believe how much better this track sounded over my system with the Apex. It honestly made my old setup sound like the dreaded “hi-fi” by comparison: clean and precise, yet still lacking in realism.


Warwick Acoustics Bravura M1 Headphone System Review
May 16, 2022 Comments Off on Warwick Acoustics Bravura M1 Headphone System Review
The Bravura’s midrange is as close to harmonically neutral as any headphone (or loudspeaker) that I’ve heard recently. Not too dry or too lush, the M1’s midrange characteristics are ideal for its primary intended use—as a reference monitor. Listening to my recording of the Matt Flinner Trio from a live concert at the Salina Schoolhouse through the Warwick Acoustics system was both a delightful listening experience and a very accurate rendition of the event. Listening through the Bravura system brought me back to the moment I made the recording.

MEZE AUDIO IEM $699
May 15, 2022 Comments Off on MEZE AUDIO IEM $699
On the outside, the solid stainless-steel chassis design was inspired by various raw shapes found in nature, such as the rounded surface of minerals like hematite. Following the same comfort principles as all other Meze Audio products, this sinuous, ergonomically contoured shape allows the earphones to be inserted and removed with ease, reducing discomfort during longer listening sessions.

Copland CSA70 $3900 Review
May 15, 2022 Comments Off on Copland CSA70 $3900 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/copland-csa70
We’re left with an amplifier that sounds impressively clean and precise; one that errs slightly to the cooler side of neutral but never enough to cause issues. Listening to Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa, we’re aware of the pleasing sense of space in the presentation and the amplifier’s ability to layer the soundstage in a focussed and stable manner. It’s an expansive image with a fine sense of depth where the recording dictates.
Detail levels are good, and as with other Copland products we’ve heard, there is a definite feeling of a product that’s a little self-effacing. The CSA70 clearly prefers to let the recording take centre stage rather than deliberately add flavour to make things more exciting. It has a good sense of scale and can deliver the slowly building intensity of the Arvo Pärt piece well.

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