PrimaLuna EVO 400 Preamplifier Review

January 2, 2020 Comments Off on PrimaLuna EVO 400 Preamplifier Review

https://www.tonepublications.com/review/the-primaluna-evo-400-preamplifier/

“The EVO 400 provides this in abundance. Yet, where some tube components take this to an extreme, where it is so lush and romantic, dynamics and resolution suffer, the EVO 400 is a modern tube preamplifier. Most tube families have their own voice – the 6922/6DJ8 based units have one range of sound, those based on the 6H30 another, and the 12AX7/12AU7 still another. There are even a few designs based on the 300B tube.

Without going into an endless playlist of tracks, the EVO 400 is definitely rich in tonal saturation and contrast without over embellishing. Great recordings sound great, yet mediocre recordings sound pretty good, unlike some overly “tubey” preamplifiers, where everything sounds pretty good, yet nothing sounds brilliant. All of your favorite audiophile clichés apply to the sonic landscape painted by the EVO 400: big, broad, three dimensional. This is that “reach out and touch – it” feeling that tubes accomplish with ease.”

Does Amazon Music HD Make the Grade?

January 2, 2020 Comments Off on Does Amazon Music HD Make the Grade?

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/hands-does-amazon-music-hd-make-grade

“Next, I shifted gears and cued up Van Morrison’s seminal 1968 offering, Astral Weeks (24/48). So many haunting, moving choices here, but the final track, “Slim Slow Slider,” has always been a particular favorite. I loved how John Payne’s counter soprano saxophone line wafted from the right channel into the left, playing off Van the Man’s otherworldly vocal delivery. Even the notable string buzz at 2:50 sent a chill down my spine.

Recently, I caught a rerun of Saturday Night Live hosted by comedian Chris Rock from November 2014, which featured the late Prince as the musical guest. The uninterrupted 8-minute medley performance by The Purple One and his then-backing band 3rdeyegirl was beyond electrifying. Would Amazon HD have each song from said medley in HD? Must be a sign o’ the times, because they sure did, so I created a Prince SNL playlist to give them all a proper spin”

Upgraded JBL PARAGON

January 2, 2020 Comments Off on Upgraded JBL PARAGON

Warwick Acoustics APERIO Electrostatic Headphone System $24,000 Review

January 1, 2020 Comments Off on Warwick Acoustics APERIO Electrostatic Headphone System $24,000 Review

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/warwick-acoustics-aperio-electrostatic-headphone-system/

Spaciousness and soundstaging? Oh my, yes. I got a glimpse of what the Aperio could do when I put on an old and well-loved audio chestnut, the title track from Andreas Vollenweider’s Caverna Magica [Savoy, 16/44.1]. “Caverna Magica” has long been famous for the way it produces enchanting 3D soundstages through most audio systems, but through the Aperio system I found there was suddenly not just a little but a lot more magic in the “Magica.” In fact, the Aperio took the song’s 3D presentation to a whole new level, creating a huge, resonant, cave-like environment, which Vollenwieder’s sumptuous-sounding harp filled beautifully. My point is that whenever there are useful spatial cues in music, the Aperio will find them and put them to great use.

I like to try to offer critical commentary where appropriate, but there really is nothing I can fault in the Aperio’s sonic performance. The only drawback I encountered—and it is one common to most electrostatic headphone systems I have heard—is that if I moved my head suddenly while listening, pressure levels within the earcups would change momentarily, causing a soft “clicking sound” from the diaphragms. Apart from that, the Aperio listening experience was an unalloyed joy.

Vandersteen 1Ci vs 2Ce Signature II

January 1, 2020 Comments Off on Vandersteen 1Ci vs 2Ce Signature II

Audiophiles and snake oil

January 1, 2020 Comments Off on Audiophiles and snake oil

Magico A3 Floorstanding Speaker Review

January 1, 2020 Comments Off on Magico A3 Floorstanding Speaker Review

“The cabinets are also simpler than the M, Q, and S Series Magico speakers, in that they have flat surfaces rather than curved components milled out of large blocks of aluminum. The flat front baffles mean more diffraction than with the M Series speakers. It is tradeoffs such as these that challenge designers; the question at the end of the day is whether Alon and the rest of the team at Magico made the right decisions. When I was visiting Magico, the company had just received a shipment of cabinets, and I looked at the fit and finish of a large group in case my review samples were a cherry-picked pair. All of the cabinets exhibited a very nicely grained brushed aluminum finish identical to my review samples.”

SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System

December 30, 2019 Comments Off on SVS Prime Wireless Speaker System

https://www.hifichoicemag.com/content/svs-prime-wireless-speaker-system


“With the speaker system connected via Ethernet, I start with a selection of ALAC files. I kick off with Górecki’s Symphony No.3 by the Polish National Radio Symphony, featuring Beth Gibbons. This recording shortens the lengthy introduction of the first movement, and the Prime Wireless grasps the more sudden appearance of the double bass with gusto to deliver a rich tone with the strings. It creates a pleasantly spacious and open sound considering its size, and maintains plenty of space between the strings, allowing the melodies to gracefully intertwine, and – with plenty of power from those four amps – effortlessly soar and fill the room.

The Prime Wireless captures the warmth and sadness of Gibbons’ voice, particularly in the second movement, where the speaker is delicate and clear enough to pick out the whisper of her opening notes, and the fragile tremor that conveys the heartbreak of a mourning mother.

Lumin X1 Network Player Review

December 30, 2019 Comments Off on Lumin X1 Network Player Review

“Using this gorgeous art piece was an aesthetic and musical joy from initial power up ‘till review’s end. I’ve not seen a more beautiful high end component in my music room.

Equal to its visual beauty are the multi functions, ease of use, and, above all, the beautiful sound it enables. Yet, like all great components, the N51 doesn’t have a sound signature per se. What it does brilliantly and beautifully is prepare and amplify digital and vinyl signals so they always sound their very best. Many components desire plenty of refined power—no nonsense energy from which music can flow and energize the listener and the room. Hand in hand down a musical lane—two against the world. The MBL N51 worked perfectly with my components. It endowed each to their musical fullest. As such, I’ve never heard them sound better or as cohesively from an integrated source. I dare say, you could place the N51 in any components’ company and it would accept the musical challenges and surpass your expectations.”

MBL N51 Integrated Amplifier Review

December 29, 2019 Comments Off on MBL N51 Integrated Amplifier Review

https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2019/10/15/ap1ziz1f8xd80iqehzgyz3q6pj9rqx