Audiophilepure

Western Electric 15B + Double 755A 1

November 8, 2019 Comments Off on Western Electric 15B + Double 755A 1

Empire Ears Valkyrie

November 8, 2019 Comments Off on Empire Ears Valkyrie

https://headfonics.com/2019/11/empire-ears-valkyrie-first-contact/

The Valkyrie has a very likable tuning right out of the box and should appeal to those who like a bit of power in their low-end as well as a vocal delivery that doesn’t sound veiled or pushed back.

It has a very nice harmonic balance with more of a nuanced electrostatic driver tuning that adds enough headroom and clarity but without any hardness creeping into percussion and higher pitching vocal timbre. No sibilance yet for me and that is important.

I will be keen to see how it performs with electrostatic competitors in the same price range such as the Shozy/AAW POLA39 and Wavaya’s Octa, both of which have very different driver configurations. We still have a few months left of 2019 for some more electrostatic models to be slipped into the comparison section also so stay tuned!

Monoprice Monolith Liquid Platinum Review

November 7, 2019 Comments Off on Monoprice Monolith Liquid Platinum Review

https://headfonics.com/2019/10/monoprice-monolith-liquid-platinum-first-contact/

So far, what I am hearing is a full-bodied and punchy low-end, an even-harmonic balance up into the mids with a slightly forward but richly textured vocal delivery. I did some initial comparisons with the Auris HA-2SE and Qutest pairing and I found its stock tube presentation to be a bit more neutral, especially in the mids.

Treble is a little rounded and fairly wet and smooth but definitely not lacking in resolution. There seems to be a little uptick in the upper treble performance of the selected headphones for this initial run through that prevented the pairings from sounding dark. Warm and a bit close maybe but definitely no veil or lacking in air.

I think I prefer this right now with the Empyrean over the RAD-0, the tuning of the Empyrean seems to pair ever so slightly better for mids than the RAD-o. It is creamy in part but definitely not smoothed over with the Empyrean. This is a detailed and very relaxing listening experience, especially for soulful vocal performances.

Elac Adante Review

November 7, 2019 Comments Off on Elac Adante Review

KEF Blade Speakers Review

November 6, 2019 Comments Off on KEF Blade Speakers Review

https://hometheaterreview.com/kef-blade-speakers-reviewed/

KEF’s goal was to not only create a full-range point-source speaker system with the Blade, but also one more forgiving on the listener. Their intent was to improve off-axis imaging so there was less dependence on the sweet spot. Sonically, the Blades do a very impressive job of delivering a convincing soundstage to not only the sweet spot listener but also someone sitting to the left or right. A properly acoustically treated audio room could very well further enhance the off-axis presentation. I found that precise micro adjustments to the side walls and front wall vastly improved the sonic character. Instruments seemed to float in their own space and there was a real sense of a black background for each one. While toe-in is recommended, I discovered foregoing toe-in widened the soundstage and improved the imaging. Naturally, this is very room dependent.

Mark Levinson No.5805 Review

November 6, 2019 Comments Off on Mark Levinson No.5805 Review

https://www.whathifi.com/us/reviews/mark-levinson-no5805

“Bluetooth, even of the aptX HD variety, may not seem an obvious place to start when testing an amplifier at this level, but we’re keen to see just how well the technology has been implemented. We use an Apple iPhone X loaded with the Qobuz streaming service and it connects quickly without fuss.

We listen to Nitin Sawhney’s Fragile Wind and like what we hear. The ML sounds clean and precise, rendering each sound with obvious care. It’s a musically coherent presentation, one that does well when it comes to communicating the momentum of the piece. Vocals come through with clarity and are nicely separated from the instrumental backdrop while dynamic shifts are conveyed with fluidity. “

LG’s V40 & Apple’s iPad as hi-res network streamers?

November 6, 2019 Comments Off on LG’s V40 & Apple’s iPad as hi-res network streamers?

ELAC Navis ARF-51 Active Loudspeaker

November 5, 2019 Comments Off on ELAC Navis ARF-51 Active Loudspeaker

https://www.hifinews.com/content/elac-navis-arf-51-active-loudspeaker

The driver complement kicks off with a concentric treble/mid unit, the 25mm soft-dome tweeter being mounted centrally within a 10cm aluminium-cone midrange for enhanced integration and focus, both the shape of the mid cone and a mesh grille helping control the tweeter’s dispersion. Below that sits a pair of 13.5cm bass units, again with aluminium cones, while within the speaker are the amplifiers for each driver. These comprise a 160W BASH (Bridged Amplifier Switching Hybrid) module for the bass, a similar 100W amp for the midband, and a 40W conventional Class AB amplifier that drives the tweeter.

ELAC may, rather modestly, describe these speakers as being ‘powered’, but by any accepted use of the term this is an active design, with separate amps for each drive unit, and a user-adjustable electronic crossover. There are ±1dB adjustments for the mid and treble, a +1/–4dB selector for the bass, and also a 60Hz/80Hz/flat high-pass filter, handy should you want to use the speaker in conjunction with a subwoofer. The idea here is that – at least when used wired – the speakers are ‘analogue in, analogue out’, with no digital intervention in the signal path. It’s worth noting that the amps used here are all analogue, including the BASH modules for the midrange and bass, which combine a modulated switching power supply with a conventional Class B amplifier [see Investigation,

SCHIIT AUDIO RAGNAROK 2 Review

November 5, 2019 Comments Off on SCHIIT AUDIO RAGNAROK 2 Review

https://www.headfonia.com/schiit-audio-ragnarok-2-review/

Vocals sound clear and well formed. They are emotional and have about the right amount of air in them, to not become congested or syrupy. Male and female singers both share a confident sound, that is again very realistic in size and colouration. Upper-mid instruments sound well proportioned and with good agility. They have very nice speed and precision.

Treble on the Ragnarok 2 sounds inoffensive. It’s a slightly cautious presentation that again is closer to neutral than anything else. Highs won’t cause any discomfort, as there is no sharpness or sibilance in them. The extension is okay, but for an amp of that price I’d have expected better to be honest. Highs have normal energy. They are crisp and decent shimmer, but they are definitely not overly bright. Which results in a fatigue free top-end.