SHANLING M9 REVIEW
February 26, 2022 Comments Off on SHANLING M9 REVIEW
Now the other aspects are done with, we can focus on the sound output. The Shanling M8 is still a wonderful player and I still recommend it if you can find it at a bargain. However, the M9 takes the M8’s sound and refines it to be incredibly balanced and wide. To be honest, I was expecting this model to be an update in terms of software, design and hardware (CPU and RAM), and I expected to hear a similar sound. I was wrong.
The M9’s sound is like a perfected M8. The mids are cleaner, the stage is wider, layering is better, bass performance has been improved and the player doesn’t sound as warm as the M8. It has better texture and fidelity, with better definition and transparency in mids and treble. This I think is one of the best DAPs you can find in the market right now.
RDacoustic Hybrid diffuser
February 26, 2022 Comments Off on RDacoustic Hybrid diffuser
World Premiere Review!Aric Audio Custom 300B PSET Amplifier $6995 Review
February 25, 2022 Comments Off on World Premiere Review!Aric Audio Custom 300B PSET Amplifier $6995 Review
The rectifiers are two 6CG3 damper diodes that are quieter than regular tube rectifiers and can handle the extra current. The power supply is connected to the amplification unit via two Speakon connections, which I have to say, are the most intense power connectors I’ve seen in a home-use amplifier. The amplifier section of the Custom 300B PSET starts with 6SN7 input tubes in SRPP mode. Those are coupled using Audyn True Copper foil coupling capacitors to triode-strapped 6V6 driver tubes. The drivers are then coupled to the 300Bs using custom-made interstage transformers. This is where it gets really interesting and makes the Custom 300B PSET so unique.
You then have the choice of running the amp in either SET mode with one pair of 300Bs or PSET mode with four 300Bs. As you can imagine, in PSET mode you have twice the power. Plus those four 300Bs in quad formation look so cool. There are a lot more great features in this amp that I won’t go into detail about here. I must add, this is a beautiful amplifier. Both bases are constructed of alternating light and dark woods, and cool retro ammeters on the front of the amplifier unit.
Nordost QSOURCE Linear Power Supply $2749 Review
February 25, 2022 Comments Off on Nordost QSOURCE Linear Power Supply $2749 Review
For the audio consumer, the laws of price and performance are writ in stone. You get what you pay for. Certainly that applies to the three linear power supplies that I auditioned over the last year or two.
Beyond any doubt, eliminating the wall-wart that came with the ethernet network switch is major. The entry-level Sbooster at $399 got me started. For a couple of hundred more, you might consider the Fidelizer Nikola Signature at $695, an all-around respectable device that will move performance up to mid-fi level. The improvement is sizable; the Nikola Signature is a good value.
However, if your destination is the Hi-End, there’s still a hill to climb. To introduce intangibles like atmosphere and timbral finesse, along with tangibles like deep resolution and transparency out to the corners, you might consider the Nordost QSOURCE. It’s at a different price point, but I don’t think you’ll be able to get the top-tier performance it delivered for less. Frankly, the level of refinement the QSOURCE LPS brought exceeded my expectations; my quest for a Hi-End LPS ends here.
Chord Electronics Mojo 2 USB DAC / headphone amp
February 25, 2022 Comments Off on Chord Electronics Mojo 2 USB DAC / headphone amp
METERS OV-1-B-Connect Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones Review
February 24, 2022 Comments Off on METERS OV-1-B-Connect Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones Review
This is often used because it provides a lot of presence and excitement when listening to music. However, this type of sound can be overdone, which becomes fatiguing to the ear over time.
Unfortunately, this is the case with the OV-1-B-CONNECT, as I found the bass to be just a little too boomy on heavy bass tracks, and I also found the upper treble to be a bit too forward overall. This manifested in shoutiness on certain songs, especially with horns and high-pitched vocals.
Icon Audio LA4 MkIII Signature Line Preamplifier $3095 Review
February 24, 2022 Comments Off on Icon Audio LA4 MkIII Signature Line Preamplifier $3095 Review
Specifically, I was interested in trying out the 7N7 and 7AF7 loctals, 6SN7 near-equivalents via adapters, albeit with a loss in overall gain. Note that I only replaced V1 and V2, the gain stage tubes, leaving the cathode follower (V3) alone. In particular, the 7AF7 worked extremely well for the end result I was after; namely, textural sweetness galore. It wasn’t as focused or tight in the bass as the CV181, but it nicely vitalized textures when partnering solid-state designs. Neutrality or warmth—both are possible with the right 6SN7. And that is the important point about tube rolling: It allows the end user to voice the LA4 to match a particular system or sonic preference.
It would seem that David Shaw has cracked the code for preamp excellence. His classic recipe includes a 6SN7 gain stage, a tube buffer, and a tube-rectified power supply. This combination, together with excellent engineering and parts selection, makes the Icon Audio LA4 Signature into a formidable line preamp. This is one preamp I could live with happily ever after.
Wilson Audio Alexx V Loudspeaker £139,000 Review
February 23, 2022 Comments Off on Wilson Audio Alexx V Loudspeaker £139,000 Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/wilson-audio-alexx-v-loudspeaker
What the Alexx V represents, to this veteran Wilson listener, is the utopian midpoint between the WATT’s focus and scale of the Chronosonic XVX. This enormous system delivers the soundstage and presence expected of a coffin-sized construct, yet it produces detail and precision to rival any point-source. It’s dangerous to say these words, but here goes… the Alexx V is the best damned speaker I have ever heard.
Audiophilepure 
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