English Acoustics Stereo 21c stereo power amplifier Review
April 8, 2022 Comments Off on English Acoustics Stereo 21c stereo power amplifier Review
Bringing the best of the 1960s into the 21st century needs some addressing. First, there was an operational ‘quirk’ to the Stereo 20 that is echoed here; the phono connectors are on what might seem like the front right of the amplifier and the logo runs along the right-hand side, meaning the amp is designed to sit at 90° to most designs. More importantly, while a 14W stereo amplifier will meet (and exceed) many listener’s demands, loudspeakers with more challenging sensitivity and impedance figures will result in a smaller, quieter or even thinner sound (of the line-up of small loudspeakers I regularly use, the 21c fared well with the KEF LS50 Meta, was fine (but no roof-raiser) with the Audiovector R1 Arreté and didn’t like the upper-bass impedance dip of the Wilson Audio Duette Series 2 at all.
Allnic Audio L-10000 OTL/OCL Preamplifier Review
April 8, 2022 Comments Off on Allnic Audio L-10000 OTL/OCL Preamplifier Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2021/12/3/allnic-audio-l-10000-otlocl-preamplifier
The flute whistle tones (a very delicate effect and very quiet; it takes great skill from the player to get the tones steady and pitch centred) on The Constant Gardner soundtrack is a test I use frequently. The delicacy and overtones (the note is all overtones and harmonics) are equally difficult to unravel. No problems for the L-10000. By far, the clearest I’ve heard them.
It goes without saying, the uptick in timbral accuracy as we go more expensive was profoundly beautiful. Allnic examples 2, 3 and 4 are all pretty spectacular at timbral beauty, the DHT, especially, but the accuracy played through the L-10000 was intoxicating. I could tell my intent on several recordings I’ve made over the years, even the to and fro between Bede Hanley’s fabulous oboe (Principal, Auckland Philharmonia) and my solo in Scheherezade. Any quality preamp will give you quality tone, but only the very best preamplifiers like the L-10000 place you in the hands of the performer. Here, their are no secrets, no fixing it in the mix, etc. If it’s on the original tape, you’ll be hearing it.
Audeze LCD-5 Flagship Planar Headphones $4500 Review
April 7, 2022 Comments Off on Audeze LCD-5 Flagship Planar Headphones $4500 Review
In my experience, the Audeze LCD-5 Flagship Headphones are truly as good as they get right now. You certainly may spend more than their $4500 retail cost on some other brands and not get a wit of additional neutrality, definition, or performance for your money. Comfortable, elegant, and flexible, I could not find a good amp or DAP that did not power them well. With the best amps, they were the best reference planar design yet built by Audeze, and better than anything else I have auditioned.
DALI OBERON 9 FLOOR-STANDING LOUDSPEAKER $2,499 REVIEW
April 7, 2022 Comments Off on DALI OBERON 9 FLOOR-STANDING LOUDSPEAKER $2,499 REVIEW
One of the most difficult products to find in the world of audio today is a speaker that can deliver full-range music and do so with a degree of affordability. The audio world has also, in the last few years, seen a resurgence in two-channel audio. The golden age of two-channel was the late 70s. In that era, one of the most widely sought-after speakers was the Acoustic Research AR-90. It sold for $1,100 per pair or about $4,200 per pair in 2022 dollars. It was reasonably accurate, delivered 32Hz bass, and could play loud if one had a powerful enough amplifier. I had a lot of experience with those ARs during my college days from 1978-82. They were a speaker that, if one mentioned owning them, one received instant approval as an audiophile who knew how to rock n’ roll. Advent, Acoustic Research, Altec Lansing, and Electro-voice were all known for having audiophile speakers that were desirable, powerful, and affordable. Those wonderful speaker companies no longer make products that fill the need for a full range, two-channel system.
Silent Angel Munich M1 streamer and Forrester F1 Power supply Review
April 7, 2022 Comments Off on Silent Angel Munich M1 streamer and Forrester F1 Power supply Review
Thorens TD 202 Turntable Package £599 Review
April 6, 2022 Comments Off on Thorens TD 202 Turntable Package £599 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/thorens-td-202-turntable-package
However, the midband is this deck’s core strength. Rarely thrown off course here, even this modestly high energy indie dance music came over in a tidy if not exactly super-detailed fashion. I enjoyed the way that the lead vocal line appeared in the centre of the mix, with a very natural texture. I also liked the reproduction of the chiming keyboards too, which had plenty of energy and impetus.
It’s only when you focus in on the ‘hi-fi aspects’ of the TD 202 that you become aware of its slight cloudiness. Soundstaging, for example, is also a bit narrower than the sort of three-dimensional experience you’d expect from a good mid-price design but while the TD 202 sounds a little shut in, in absolute terms, there’s still plenty of music to take in and enjoy.
Definitive Technology Descend DN-15 Subwoofer Review
April 6, 2022 Comments Off on Definitive Technology Descend DN-15 Subwoofer Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/definitive-technology-descend-dn-15-subwoofer-review
The DN15 proved to be a crowd-pleaser with movies. When watching discs with soundtracks that dip below 20Hz such as Pacific Rim, The Haunting, and The Polar Express (the train sequence), I was able to rattle the windows and let the neighbors know it was movie night. Playing the embassy attack scene from 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, the .50 caliber blast from the sniper rifle was loud, sharp, and impactful—just like it’s supposed to be.
Another great demo to see how deep a sub can go is the “soften them up” scene from the Hacksaw Ridge Ultra HD Blu-ray. When the destroyer opens fire to shell the battlefield, multiple shots are fired in sequence. The DN15 was able to keep pace with the rapid fire, and it never sounded strained or overmatched. Well done, Def Tech!
Audiophilepure 
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