Clearaudio Smart Matrix Silent £1,375 Review
May 28, 2020 Comments Off on Clearaudio Smart Matrix Silent £1,375 Review
“Running through the same cleaning process with second-hand albums also results in improved clarity and does a remarkable job of cleaning up some of my recent crate-digging purchases. Of course once cleaned, records should then be placed in a new polyethylene inner bag to avoid recontamination from any remaining dirt that is still in the old original sleeve.
The Clearaudio Smart Matrix Silent cleaning process is very easy to use and while not entirely silent, is certainly one of the quietest I have used. At £1,375 plus £125 for the optional dust cover, it’s more expensive than some record cleaning machines we’ve seen, but its build quality and ease of use make it a worthwhile investment for any serious vinyl collector. ”
New Kharma Exquisite and Enigma Veyron Interlinks.
May 28, 2020 Comments Off on New Kharma Exquisite and Enigma Veyron Interlinks.
Acoustic Signature Turntable Factory Tour
May 27, 2020 Comments Off on Acoustic Signature Turntable Factory Tour
Andover Audio PM-50 $499 Review
May 26, 2020 Comments Off on Andover Audio PM-50 $499 Review
“The FiiO M15 unbalanced will get loud enough but the imprecise nature of FiiO’s new volume control means I had no clue how loud it was. Forget smartphones with the PM-50 unless you are using a proper dongle. The Note 9 can get reasonably loud but the dynamic range is weak for me.
Connecting the PM-50 with a cryo-treated gold/silver and OCC copper alloy 4-pin XLR balanced cable with some proper power out of the XI Audio Broadway is really where the PM-50 excels.
It sounds far punchier and more expansive than any of the portable sources could muster. No question on the PM-50 benefitting from the additional headroom from the Broadways 1.5mW into 32Ω load.”
Primare A35.2 power amplifier Review
May 26, 2020 Comments Off on Primare A35.2 power amplifier Review
“My time spent with the Primare A35.2 amplifier reminded me that there still is no such thing as a perfect, one-size-fits-all amplifier. Some amps are stronger or more engaging than others. Some deliver exciting force, while others deliver subtle, enduring charms. Some, like the Primare A35.2, have high-toned manners, can dance the latest dance, and sometimes even order fine wine. Which reminds me: I never actually drank that Château Margaux. But I swear to you, the Primare amplifier looked expensive and sounded ooh la la! with the unopened bottle sitting next to it.”
CAMPFIRE AUDIO SOLARIS SE REVIEW $1899 Review
May 25, 2020 Comments Off on CAMPFIRE AUDIO SOLARIS SE REVIEW $1899 Review
“However, it did not carry a huge amount of weight and texture, especially some of the lower-mids instrumental and vocals. Hence, the contrast points such as percussion, low-end bass lines, and female vocals stood out a bit more as these are the elevated FR points. This is also where odd-harmonic contrast or low-end fundamentals are at their highest.
With the new Solaris SE, the mids now have that more rounded and forward staging presence. Lower-mids have less of a suck out with more body and presence. Male vocals are fuller sounding and easier to pick out than before. You are no longer pulled as much to the top-end or low-end but rather you get a better perception of engagement for the entire presentation.”
Simaudio MOON 740P/860A v2 Pre/Power Amplifier Review
May 25, 2020 Comments Off on Simaudio MOON 740P/860A v2 Pre/Power Amplifier Review
“There’s excellent control and grip, even with relaxed-sounding speakers such as the Sonus faber Olympica Nova V [reviewed next month] and while the MOON amps can’t quite overcome the strong sonic signature of these big Italian speakers, they do make a fine fist of trying to get them moving, injecting a good dose of rhythmic pep. Partnered with a truly insightful monitor like the resident B&W 800 D3s [HFN Oct ’16] and, given the size and output specifications of the 860A v2, it delivers a big-boned, muscular sound, playing loud without effort and delivering the dynamics of music in a highly convincing fashion.
320sim.remThe bass is perhaps a little dry at times, but what it lacks in warmth it more than makes up for in its ability to slam hard. Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic in his ‘Symphonic Dances from West Side Story’ [from Bernstein conducts Bernstein; Sony Classics SRGR 755; DSD64] is treated to subtlety in the more lyrical parts, but real fire and speed in the ‘Rumble’ section, which sounds thrillingly molto allegro.
The sound here is highly detailed”
Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 Unboxing and Setup
May 25, 2020 Comments Off on Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 Unboxing and Setup
GigaWatt PC-4 EVO+Power Conditioner Review
May 23, 2020 Comments Off on GigaWatt PC-4 EVO+Power Conditioner Review
“I found that the transients became considerably sharper and the sound was a lot more vivid and direct but at the same time I felt that the natural flow and the organic quality were much diminished. Passive filtering would seem to be less intrusive and in some ways, it is. However, the main issue with series passive filters is that the filter component is in line with the power and thus the current flow can be impeded which usually results in diminished dynamic behavior or indeed a “filtered” effect. While this can be beneficial in situations where the sound is otherwise a little hard or edgy, systems that are already well-balanced can be thrown off, and in my case that always happened. Parallel passive filters, finally, have no components placed in series with the power and thus should theoretically not impede the current flow and not inhibit (the sense of) dynamics. However, I still found that the transients softened and the propulsion diminished and after having heard the same issues with every brand and model that I tried, at last, I lost interest in the subject.:”
Audiophilepure 
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