Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo Review
March 4, 2020 Comments Off on Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo Review
https://audiofi.net/2020/01/bowers-wilkins-formation-duo-supreme-streaming-speakers/
“First impressions were positive – a big and expansive sound stage was painted, and even with compressed material from Apple Music, a very enjoyable sound was presented, with fine rhythmic “foot-tapping” quality to the bass line on Dave Brubeck’s Time In (Apple Music Adaptive AAC streaming). Browsing through my Apple Music library was an enjoyable spree, the speakers taking on all genres and presenting a very detailed, rhythmic and enjoyable rendition.
Especially of note was the anchoring of female vocals in the centre of the soundfield and the texture of the plucked double bass (Ilona Knopfler, Live the Life, Adaptive AAC streaming). Vocals had fine projection, with exquisite handing of sibilants and the “air” surrounding the singer. The double bass showed lovely texture, with the leading edge of the plucked sound having fine articulation – one can almost visualise the singer and the bassist”
NAD C 658 Network Audio Player/Preamplifier $1,649 Review
March 4, 2020 Comments Off on NAD C 658 Network Audio Player/Preamplifier $1,649 Review
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/nad-c-658-network-audio-playerpreamplifier-review
“I hooked the C 658 up in a system consisting of a NAD C 268 stereo amplifier that the company sent along for use during testing and Polk Audio L800 tower speakers. While the C 268 is conservatively rated for 80 watts continuous output into 8 and 4 ohms (20 Hz-20 kHz at 0.03 percent THD, both channels driven), it easily drove the full-range Polk Audio towers to a satisfactory listening level. Sources included a Panasonic DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray player for CD playback and a Pro-Ject Debut turntable with Clearaudio Aurum Beta/S moving magnet cartridge for vinyl. The music streaming services I used for my testing were Tidal Hi-Fi, Qobuz Studio, and Amazon Music HD.”
Gryphon Audio Designs Zena Preamplifier Review
March 4, 2020 Comments Off on Gryphon Audio Designs Zena Preamplifier Review
https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/937-gryphon-audio-designs-zena-preamplifier
The Zena’s visual design and build quality, the beauty of its display, the attractive owner’s manual, the inclusion of gloves and polishing cloth, and the quality of its packaging all indicate that Gryphon Audio Designs is more concerned with delivering a premium customer experience than with wringing the last dollar of profit from its products.
Per Gryphon, each sample of the Zena is burned in at the factory for 48 hours; they say that the sound quality further improves after 40-50 more hours of use. The Zena comes with a three-year, nontransferrable warranty on parts and labor. That’s common for high-end audio components, but in my opinion, anything less than five years is too short.
oBravo Cupid Hybrid Planar-Magnetic/Dynamic Earphone $269 Review
March 3, 2020 Comments Off on oBravo Cupid Hybrid Planar-Magnetic/Dynamic Earphone $269 Review
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/obravo-cupid-hybrid-planar-magneticdynamic-earphone/
Frankly, $269 earphones aren’t normally expected to do such things so well, but somehow the Cupids pulled them off. If you want a substantial taste of what serious high-end earphones are all about, without putting your budget in distress, look no further than oBravo’s Cupids. At their asking price they are not just a bargain, but a musical gift. “
Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum HD line preamplifier $40,000 Review
March 3, 2020 Comments Off on Dan D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum HD line preamplifier $40,000 Review
https://www.stereophile.com/content/dan-dagostino-master-audio-systems-momentum-hd-line-preamplifier
“I briefly switched DACs and used a single S/PDIF cable from the dCS Network Bridge to convey signals from the Roon Nucleus+ to the EMM Labs DV2. With the Momentum HD preamp controlling volume, I heard more air around Cassandra Wilson and Rickie Lee Jones’s voices and accompaniment, but a bit less midrange profundity. After realizing that the comparison was flawed due to setup constraints—I’ve since moved equipment around on my eight-shelf double rack so I don’t run into this problem in the future and sent the DV2 back for a major upgrade—I acknowledged that a valid comparison between the two DACs would have to wait.
When I returned to the Rossini DAC/Momentum HD preamp combo, revisiting Cassandra Wilson’s performance revealed a complexity of string tone, deep bass grind, and increased color contrast and depth that, compared to what I heard from either DAC alone, left me in awe. Adding the preamp delivered Rickie Lee’s creepy vocals with much more subtlety and intimacy, and markedly greater dynamics, even at low volume. I didn’t want the music to end.”
Encounter with the $329,000 Wilson Chronosonic XVX speakers
March 3, 2020 Comments Off on Encounter with the $329,000 Wilson Chronosonic XVX speakers
REL S/812 subwoofer Review
March 2, 2020 Comments Off on REL S/812 subwoofer Review
“A downward-firing 12in carbon ‘SuperProgressive’ passive radiator again uses a new design intended to produce extremely long travel while retaining the variable stiffness of its suspension. The thinking here is that it enables the S/812 to act like a sealed-box compact 12in design at low volume, but still deliver bass down to 19Hz when pushed. At the rear are the inputs, including high-level Neutrik Speakon, low-level stereo phono, and LFE (phono and balanced XLR) connections. There are also high-level Neutrik Speakon and LFE (phono and XLR) outputs.
Otherwise the back plate is surprisingly sparse, with just two switches (On/Standby, and 180-degree phase), and knobs for high/low/LFE levels and crossover. The Serie S subs are also compatible with REL’s new wireless transmission system (AirShip).
These are the first mid-sized RELs designed to be stackable, thanks to special fixtures and included metal plates. You can safely stack and lock S/812s up to three units high. That sounds bonkers but there is logic in REL’s madness. In the real world, bass has width, depth and height; by stacking these subs you can create bigger bass presence from a smaller footprint.”
TOPPING D10 USB DAC AND USB SPDIF CONVERTER REVIEW
March 2, 2020 Comments Off on TOPPING D10 USB DAC AND USB SPDIF CONVERTER REVIEW
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/dac/topping-d10-usb-dac-and-usb-spdif-converter-review/
“There is no funny reconstruction filter that is said to sound better. The Topping has a high-performance FIR that is flat to 20kHz and has a sharp stopband down 90dB. The output at 0 dBFS comes in at 2VRMS, the industry standard. Channels were remarkably well matched in all tests. It is 0.5dB down at 80kHz!!
I have a complete set of measurements below but nothing on the market at $90 will produce numbers within an order of magnitude of what I measured above. You could stop here and run out and purchase one but I’d advise you to please read my next section on shopping advice when purchasing small brands from the Far East first.”
Audiophilepure 
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