SVS SB16-Ultra subwoofer $1,999 Review
April 28, 2019 Comments Off on SVS SB16-Ultra subwoofer $1,999 Review
“Now let’s get serious about guilty pleasures when it comes to music — the kind of stuff we’re loathe to admit is on our playlists. I reckon what harm could come of this, so I start playing music that should not benefit from a subwoofer, only to discover that these tracks actually have low-octave content. Hot damn, there are bass lines to be plumbed in and at depth. Not what I expected and I am being forced, in a very good way, to re-listen to a number of recordings all over again.
The Dayton Audio subwoofer is indeed serviceable, with its 120 watts of amplification and downward flared ported design it comes in at the princely sum of $148.00. Is this model the last word in subwoofers? No, it is not. Is this model a great entry point for the novice? Indeed it is, and more. For someone as cynical and skeptical as myself it is not in me to jump in with both feet. So here I am, already searching out the upgrade path. I’ve got SVS squarely in my sites. Gary Yacoubian, SVS President, was so helpful in pointing me in the direction of Ed over there, so it is down to two models of theirs, both sealed box variants: the new SB-4000 or the SB16-Ultra. Either one would take me to a whole new level and, now that I am more at ease with the subwoofer as more than a concept, I am prepared to take that next step. I went with the SB-16 Ultra because size does indeed matter, and if I was going to risk physical injury with a component that size, I reckon I’d go all-in.”
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Custom Musaic Audio System
April 28, 2019 Comments Off on Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Custom Musaic Audio System
Magnepan LRS ribbon speakers ($650/pair) Rerview
April 28, 2019 Comments Off on Magnepan LRS ribbon speakers ($650/pair) Rerview
HUM DOLORES $1699 REVIEW
April 27, 2019 Comments Off on HUM DOLORES $1699 REVIEW
“HUM keep it kind of simple with their packaging. Perhaps too simple for a product costing this much. I would love to see some retail packaging to go with the strikingly attractive modified 1010 case they offer for carrying your Dolores around.
The Pelican 1010 is dust and element proof and has some soft and very protective rubber finishing on the inside so it is pretty good for day to day use, throwing it in the bag or just throwing it if you are that way inclined. For attachment purposes, you also get a detachable carabiner lock.
Inside you get your pair of Dolores, the Tara cable, 3 sets of silicone tips and a cleaning brush. And, ‘that’s all she wrote folks’
Astell&Kern announces KANN CUBE $1499
April 27, 2019 Comments Off on Astell&Kern announces KANN CUBE $1499
“The KANN CUBE is a chunkier affair with sharper corners than the original KANN. Its reworked amplifier design offers more output power too: 12Vrms, up from 7Vrms. Three gain modes allow users to tailor the KANN CUBE’s 3.5mm single ended or 2.5mm balanced output to the headphone in play. “For connection to 2-channel home systems”, THE KANN CUBE’s 5-pin mini-XLR socket is a fresh feature.”
Panamax MR4000 power line conditioner and surge protector
April 27, 2019 Comments Off on Panamax MR4000 power line conditioner and surge protector
XTZ DIVINE DELTA STAND-MOUNT LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
April 26, 2019 Comments Off on XTZ DIVINE DELTA STAND-MOUNT LOUDSPEAKER REVIEW
”
It’s not a completely clean bill of health, though. Those overproduced albums of the 1980s and early 1990s always sound syrupy, but can sound almost edgy here. James Taylor’s ‘That’s Why I’m Here’ from the album of the same name [Columbia] is a perfect example, as it’s all Yamaha DX7 synths backing an over-ripened James Taylor vocal. This particular recording might have been one of the progenitors of MP3, but the full 16/44 CD recording can easily show any brightness to the sound or spitchiness to the vocals, and both were displayed here. In truth, the vocal ‘spitch’ sound was minimal, and as much a function of the recording itself, but even with the treble set at -3dB, it never quite tamed that slight zing to the top end. I tried not to let the price get in the way of the review, but it’s here the price becomes an issue, in a good way. That zing would be unacceptable in many of those classic high-end designs that also sport Accutons, but here it’s just a function of a good middle-priced loudspeaker trying to make a well-balanced sound. It’s also the kind of zing that is only really noticeable if you have logged lots of hours with the more upmarket competition. Many will never notice. ”
ISOTEK EVO3 NOVA POWER CONDITIONER REVIEW
April 26, 2019 Comments Off on ISOTEK EVO3 NOVA POWER CONDITIONER REVIEW
“The big question is would you buy the EVO3 Nova if your system was never going to require more than an EVO3 Sigmas, and I think the honest answer is ‘probably not’. There are some improvements to be had, but the jump in performance brought about by the EVO3 Sigmas is fairly substantial in its own right. The Nova isn’t quite gilding the lily, but the jump in price between the two is more justified if you are edging toward running out of sockets. With a relatively humble high-end system now comprising a streamer and a server alongside a turntable, preamp, phono stage, DAC, power amplifier or amps, and potentially a reel-to-reel and CD player, the Sigmas fast runs out of road next to the EVO3 Nova.
And that’s the reason why the IsoTek EVO3 Nova will, I believe, prove as popular as the EVO3 Sigmas does. We quickly run out of power conditioner in modern systems. Even excluding more computer-side products like the network switch or a NAS drive elsewhere on the system, the number of products in a system soon adds up, and something as versatile as the EVO3 Sigmas begins to look as if it has some shortcomings. The EVO3 Nova takes on the task for today’s bigger systems, with all the capacity and heavy-lifting needed to drive all except the most vast of amplifiers. ”
Audiophilepure 
You must be logged in to post a comment.