HIFIMAN ISVARNA Planar Magnetic $2,899 Review
July 23, 2025 Comments Off on HIFIMAN ISVARNA Planar Magnetic $2,899 Review
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2025/7/7/hifiman-isvarna-planar-magnetic-closed-back-headphones
The HIFIMAN ISVARNA (USD 2,899) is aimed at those who want to experience a couch-shaking illusion of low bass without a couch. However, it also gives respectful diligence to the mid-high ranges, which is paramount to HIFIMAN products. If you are a low-bass lover, then I highly recommend trying the ISVARNA; you are getting the new subwoofer technology and its current high-quality sound that HIFIMAN continues to bring to the table.
Focal Hadenys Review
July 23, 2025 Comments Off on Focal Hadenys Review
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/focal-hadenys
The Focal populates this space with tonality and realism that isn’t unsettled at any point. The sparse opening to Jim James’ State Of The Art is delivered with his distinctive vocals beautifully defined against the no less tonally appealing piano. As the track builds towards its crescendo, the Focal adds each layer without sounding strained or congested. There is an effortlessness to what it does that can make rivals sound flawed by comparison.
The joyously ballistic Girl With No Face by Allie X is a head-nodding surge of electronic power in the hands of the Hadenys. It is fair to argue that it doesn’t have quite the same out-and-out bass extension as some rivals, but it would be a stretch to call it bass light. It’s also usefully forgiving of poor recordings.
Marten Parker Duo Experience Review
July 23, 2025 Comments Off on Marten Parker Duo Experience Review
Nagra HD Phono phono preamp Review
July 22, 2025 Comments Off on Nagra HD Phono phono preamp Review
https://www.hifinews.com/content/nagra-hd-phono-phono-preamp
The fascia is effectively divided in two with the Modulometer [see PM’s Lab Report] indicating the output level in dB and with an adjacent toggle to adjust its brightness in five steps, this next to a mono cartridge LED and rotary for setting the input loading. In the centre a ±6dB gain toggle acts on both MM and MC inputs, and to the right is an EQ rotary, mute switch and, lastly, the rotary that takes the unit from standby and selects the inputs of MC1, MC2, MM and the optional custom input (if fitted).
Inside are six valves – four EF806S-Gold pentodes in the EQ section and two E88CC/6922 triodes for the ±6dB gain block. The circuitry is dual-mono and pure Class A, naturally. For MC duties, the HD Phono employs a new generation of custom-made input transformer from a lineage that includes the original VPS transformer, in turn based on the Nagra IV-S tape recorder’s microphone input transformers. Talk about a pedigree! In Nagra lore, then, the HD Phono’s transformers are fourth-generation designs, offering 26dB of gain. The hand-wound transformer’s core is made with cobalt ‘and is cryogenically treated over the course of several weeks to improve performance’.
Sonus faber Concertino G4 Bookshelf Speaker $5,000/ Review
July 22, 2025 Comments Off on Sonus faber Concertino G4 Bookshelf Speaker $5,000/ Review
I placed the Concertino G4 on their stands about eight feet apart, a foot and a half off the front wall, with a toe-in that crossed their main axis about six inches behind my head. Speaker cables were the AudioQuest Rocket 33, and the amplifier was a Benchmark AHB2. Music was almost exclusively streamed in 24/192 from Qobuz. When a sub was used, it was the SVS Micro 3000, though I only used it to see if the added bass extension was worthwhile. They played together well, and adding a sub will give you a more tactile experience in the low end.
Roon Nucleus Titan Music library/server
July 21, 2025 Comments Off on Roon Nucleus Titan Music library/server
https://www.hifinews.com/content/roon-nucleus-titan-music-libraryserver
The Titan’s processing power is one area where it differs from the step-down Nucleus One, supporting a greater number of tracks and albums (over 100,000 and 10,000, respectively) and more simultaneous playback zones. Additionally, the Nucleus One does not support all the DSP options available via the Titan, while it uses an internal cooling fan, features far more prosaic casework, and has a reduced number of USB and HDMI connections.
As advertised, Roon’s new server is supremely easy to engage with. The power button around the rear lights up blue once pressed, which is useful or you’d otherwise have no way of knowing if the device was switched on. It runs silently, and those heatsinks are very effective at keeping the casework cool to barely warm.
The elephant in the room is that there’s nothing about the internal workings of the Nucleus Titan that a computer-savvy audiophile couldn’t assemble themselves. What this model offers, on the other hand, is a true plug-and-play solution. Yes, you could achieve the same for less if you did it yourself, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near as pretty, would most likely have a noisy fan… and you probably wouldn’t want it anywhere near your hallowed hi-fi rack.
Danacable Lazuli™ Voilà II Headphone Cable Review
July 21, 2025 Comments Off on Danacable Lazuli™ Voilà II Headphone Cable Review
I truly enjoyed my time with the Danacable Lazuli™ Voilà II Headphone Cable, like all Danacables, they give you more without changing the character of your headphone. While quite pricy, it is money well spent on a headphone of this caliber. The extra separation provided by the use of two distinct separate cables is well appreciated, and the use of bridges to both keep the cables apart and together greatly facilitated this upgrade. There was a clear difference in dynamic range, detail, resolution, timbre quality, and soundstage with the Lazuli™ Rhapsody Headphone Cable versus the stock cable, there was an equal improvement with the Voilà II versus the Rhapsody. The phase linearity and current capacity of the Voilà II bring the SUSVARA to a whole new level of performance, especially when it comes to the low frequencies where control is so difficult.
SME Model 8 $10,835 Review
July 20, 2025 Comments Off on SME Model 8 $10,835 Review
https://www.whathifi.com/hi-fi/turntables/sme-model-8
Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever set reinforces our impressions. The Model 8 sounds insightful and composed. It can track low-level instrumental strands with ease, yet still keep a firm grip of the whole. Basslines are remarkably powerful and weighty, while lacking little in terms of articulation, though Eilish’s distinctive voice comes through with impressive clarity.
Yet, the deck doesn’t quite manage to convey the ebb and flow of the music quite as explicitly as we would like, and emotionally, we are left a little cold by the lyrics. We can make out everything Eilish is saying, but we’re not sure we quite believe her.
Audiophilepure 
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