Audio Technica ATH-ADX5000 headphones Review
January 4, 2019 Comments Off on Audio Technica ATH-ADX5000 headphones Review
“And, when it comes to hi-fi, these are also supremely revealing, delivering Twin Shadow’s Caer with superb tonal accuracy and a real sense of timing, drawing you effortlessly into the music.
As an open-back design, noise leakage is very high, and pricey cans warrant a decent amplifier behind them, but these have appeal in abundance. If you do a lot of listening via headphones, the ADX5000s are a highly capable addition to the high-end ranks.
Noble Audio Khan $2399 Review
January 3, 2019 Comments Off on Noble Audio Khan $2399 Review
“And now we have our first tri-level hybrid universal monitor in the office and the first of many for 2019 I suspect. If the quality on initial impression is this good then it is going to be a very exciting year. Stay tuned for our main review in the coming weeks where I hope I can get some more in-depth analysis on the sound that the Khan delivers with a few different sources, cables and of course some comparisons.”
VPI Prime Signature Turntable $6000 Review
January 3, 2019 Comments Off on VPI Prime Signature Turntable $6000 Review
“I’m a little in awe of VPI’s Prime Signature. Each time I approach it, I see it again as if for the first time and give a little start. It’s not the most beautiful turntable out there. It’s not the biggest, and it’s certainly not the most complicated. But all that said, the Prime Signature radiates competence. Although it’s just this side of being overbuilt, there’s nothing extraneous — no frippery, nothing that doesn’t need to be there. Instead, it’s well engineered and practical in every aspect of its design and functionality. At $6000, it’s also a bargain.
My own Pro-Ject RPM 10 Carbon, descended from a long line of other RPMs before it, is also a bargain ($3499). Here in my room I have two smoking-deal turntables at two different price points. They’re so wildly different in construction, form, and design that it’s nearly impossible to find similarities between the two. The Pro-Ject radiates elegance and slickness of manufacture. In contrast to the VPI’s brute-force approach, it’s better finished, and packed full of technical innovation. That said, the JMW 10 3D tonearm is, far and away, superior to my RPM 10 Carbon’s 10cc Evolution tonearm in its adjustability.”
Dynaudio Xeo 10 review
January 3, 2019 Comments Off on Dynaudio Xeo 10 review
”
That feeling dissipates once you start playing music through the Dynaudios, as they sound fantastic. They have the same spirit as their predecessors – namely, a do-it-all attitude that’s confident with every element of delivering music – but it’s level of clarity and scale that really stands out.
For small speakers, they sure belt out a large and spacious soundstage. These boxes have no problem going loud: they remain clean and don’t harden up when pushed to high volume levels, which is very impressive for speakers of their kind. ”
STAX SR-009S Review: An Electrostatic Headphone Legend Evolved
January 2, 2019 Comments Off on STAX SR-009S Review: An Electrostatic Headphone Legend Evolved
Cambridge Audio EDGE Lineup Review
January 2, 2019 Comments Off on Cambridge Audio EDGE Lineup Review
KUZMA STABI R TURNTABLE REVIEW
January 1, 2019 Comments Off on KUZMA STABI R TURNTABLE REVIEW
“For me, I’m not too bothered by the myriad tonearm options, or the additional plinths and so on. Despite the job, I am more a ‘fit and forget’ guy when it comes to turntables, and the Kuzma Stabi R does that perfectly if you want. As a reviewing platform, the ability to swap a tonearm plate at will to replace an arm or fit a cartridge without tampering with the turntable should be a vital part of any reviewer’s arsenal, and – if the geometry of both arms is set in advance, you could swap arms in less than a minute. From an enlightened self-interest position, that makes for better tonearm and cartridge reviews. Aside from box-swappers who have a penchant for tonearms, that’s a very narrow outlook.’
Coming in 2019: Sonus faber EXTREMA $100.000 Carbon Fiber Loudspeakers
January 1, 2019 Comments Off on Coming in 2019: Sonus faber EXTREMA $100.000 Carbon Fiber Loudspeakers
Esoteric F-03A Integrated Amplifier Review
January 1, 2019 Comments Off on Esoteric F-03A Integrated Amplifier Review
“The F-03A’s moving-coil setting provided plenty of gain for the Sumiko Blue Point No.2 cartridge’s high 2.5mV. The phonostage was dead quiet even on the higher-gain moving-coil setting, delivering black backgrounds and good resolution of very low-level detail. I didn’t hear quite the midrange liquidity and treble smoothness through the phonostage that I do when using the Berkeley Alpha Reference DAC MQA. I attribute that difference to the Sumiko Blue Point No.2 cartridge, not to the Esoteric. Although the Blue Point No.2 is a good cartridge for the price, I suspect that the F-03A will be partnered with higher-quality cartridges. Nonetheless, LP playback had that wonderful feeling of openness and life, with bloom and air around instrumental outlines.
If the F-03A’s output power and bottom-end dynamics aren’t quite enough for you, consider doing what I did: add a JL Audio Fathom f113v2 (or f112v2) subwoofer. Although I evaluated the F-03A without the JL sub for this review, adding the f113v2 for my listening pleasure vaulted the overall system performance into another tier. Forget about any limitations in dynamics, or loudness, or bass impact; the Fathom f113 frees up the Esoteric to do what it does best—deliver delicious Class A sound—while handling the bottom-end duties and bringing 3000W to the party. This combination was the most successful mating of a subwoofer with an amplifier and speakers that I’ve experienced.”
Audiophilepure 
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