Final E500 Review
September 4, 2020 Comments Off on Final E500 Review
“The Final E500 in-ears are almost certainly a step up in terms of timing, spaciousness, clarity and comfort from the headphones that come bundled free with your smartphone.
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If you’ve read any of our sub-£50 in-ear reviews, you’ll know that inexpensive doesn’t always mean good value. To earn those five stars, a product should not get in the way of our listening experience, however trivial the cost.
But for a budget upgrade to your smartphone freebie headphones, the Final E500s are a good buy. But they’re only a ‘good’ buy because, even at this price, the minor but noticeable lack of grip and dynamics through the bass is enough to render them a little off great.”
SHOZY ROUG $179 REVIEW
September 3, 2020 Comments Off on SHOZY ROUG $179 REVIEW
“Treble is surprisingly sharp and on the spot. In the past, a good treble reproduction was a hard thing to achieve even for pricier equipment. Nowadays I’m amazed by the success of these types of brands regarding a crisp and clean, articulated treble performance. The Shozy Rouge sounds delightful in high frequencies and it does that effortlessly without any fatiguing presentation.
I couldn’t find a particular weakness with the Rouge when it comes to its highs at this price level. The treble is airy, articulated, and transparent. So the definition of the treble is good as well as its resolution.”
Tidal Prisma Preamplifier and Ferios Monoblock Power Amplifiers $40,000 Review
September 3, 2020 Comments Off on Tidal Prisma Preamplifier and Ferios Monoblock Power Amplifiers $40,000 Review
“The Prisma preamplifier and Ferios power amplifiers are among the best electronics I’ve heard. They combine a startling immediacy and transparency with a tonal beauty that simultaneously engages the head and the heart. Their resolution of individual instruments within complex arrangements was sensational. I was particularly impressed by the Prisma preamplifier with its sophisticated volume control and unique integration of the phonostage that greatly shortens the signal path. If you thought that the phonostage inside a full-function preamp was compromised compared with outboard units, you haven’t heard the Prisma.
These two products from Tidal aren’t inexpensive, but they represent a good value when compared with other top-flight electronics. Although just about every electronics company claims to “reproduce the artist’s intent,” the Tidal Prisma and Ferios actually deliver on that promise. ”
Empire Ears Odin First Impressions
September 3, 2020 Comments Off on Empire Ears Odin First Impressions
Manger s1 active loudspeaker $24,995 Review
September 1, 2020 Comments Off on Manger s1 active loudspeaker $24,995 Review
“I’d sum up the Manger sound like this: fast, pure, more articulate than smooth. The bass is present—all there—but don’t expect to bathe in it. The s1 leans more toward exciting than toward comfortable, but not excessively so. I loved the percussive sound of Ellington’s piano, with more leading edge than I’m used to, but natural—and how all the various ‘phones (xylophone, vibraphone, etceteraphone) rang out in space. I expected percussion instruments to sound good on these speakers, and they did. If there was a surprise, it was the corporeal images and fleshy textures.
Not all recordings sounded good because the s1’s are not, at least as I set them up, particularly forgiving. On “The Man’s Too Strong,” from Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms (FLAC rip from Warner 9 25264-2), I heard a metallic sheen I wasn’t expecting—but should have been. That track should be all wood and leather—no metal.
Indeed, it should be—too bad it wasn’t recorded that way. I still recall the thrill of hearing that pristine, ultraquiet recording for the first time. I was in my early 20s, and I already owned the LP. I had just bought a CD player, and this was the first CD I ever bought. I thought I’d never heard anything so fine—like crystal. Precisely what I was hearing from the Mangers. The Mangers were telling the truth.
Marantz HD-DAC1 Review
September 1, 2020 Comments Off on Marantz HD-DAC1 Review
“In the opening of Kozmic Blues the cymbals sounded like they were out there in the room in front of us, rather than being pumped into our ears by the headphones.
The Beyerdynamic headphones are fairly bright, but not as bright as the Final B3 in-ears. Yet they were somehow an easier listen than usual. We doubt that the amplifier could have done that. Perhaps they are wearing in. Anyway, they have a similar sensitivity – 102dB/mW – to the Beyerdynamic headphones, but they are nominally 19 ohms rather than 250 ohms. No problems. Superb control from the Marantz and, of course, even more power on tap I’m certain, were we prepared to chance it.
We spent most of the time with the Focal Elear headphones. These have a tonal balance closer to what you experience with high-quality loudspeakers. They are also middling in impedance – 80 ohms. Throughout all manner of music from piano to vocals to hard, hard rock, the Marantz delivered perfect control, providing a clear window into the recording.
It’s only those few audiophiles that are experimenting with super-high resolution formats (352.8/384kHz and DSD512 and beyond), or those who use balanced headphones, who may be disappointed that they can’t use these formats or devices.”
MONOPRICE PURE TUBE STEREO AMPLIFIER $359 REVIEW
September 1, 2020 Comments Off on MONOPRICE PURE TUBE STEREO AMPLIFIER $359 REVIEW
“In the bass, the MP amplifier is less than tight and tends to slightly blur bass lines. If you’re a rock music fan, you may never even notice these issues (after all, I’m comparing this modestly priced amplifier against a reference system where cost was of little concern). But if you listen to classical or jazz music, the bass may be more troublesome for you. Because of its output transformer, the MP has a relatively low damping factor (meaning that it may not control the woofer cones as tightly as would a solid-state amplifier that lacks the output coupling transformer).
Now if I’ve given the impression that I don’t like the sound of the Monoprice Pure Tube Stereo Amplifier, I apologize. Despite its sonic shortcomings detailed above, the sound can be captivating, entrancing, and exciting. This will be more so with some program materials than others, but at its best, the MP sounds like a FAR more expensive amplifier! The MP can sound like real music where many (most?) other (solid-state) amplifiers in its price range fall far, far short. This amp will easily trounce many AV receivers that I’ve heard.”
Audio Note UK TT3 turntable system $10,795 Review
September 1, 2020 Comments Off on Audio Note UK TT3 turntable system $10,795 Review
“Turning the TT3 on for the first time I was happy to hear that noise is very low. With three motors spinning, noise is a concern and the old Voyd Reference wasn’t as quiet as compared to other turntables. I detect only slight noise from the motors and the physical operation of the unit. This is only audible when close to the table. There is no audible noise from the seating position or more than about 2-3 feet from the turntable.
Putting on Tom Petty’s “Full Moon Fever” the idea was just to play some albums to let the system warm up. However, my jaw hit the floor. This is not some Analog Productions high end recording – this is a second hand LP from a second hand bin that I purchased for $2 or so. Wow. I couldn’t get the grin off my face for the next 5 hours. I had liked the table in auditions at audio shows and at Elephant Holdings (Audio Note’s Hong Kong dealer), but having the ability to audition with my own system and with my music is a different animal.”
Kings of Affordable Hi-Fi! Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 UB5 Review
September 1, 2020 Comments Off on Kings of Affordable Hi-Fi! Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 UB5 Review
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