VPI Avenger Reference Turntable $17,000 Review
December 6, 2018 Comments Off on VPI Avenger Reference Turntable $17,000 Review
“Yes, you can get really good analog sound out of VPI’s much less expensive alternatives, as well as out of many of its competitors. To go back to a point I made earlier, however, no real audiophile can resist exploring the limits of a turntable like the Avenger Reference if he has the resources to buy one. It really is a great unit, and if you are going to buy a top cartridge and phono preamp, you are going to need a turntable-tonearm combination of this quality to match them.
I also have to say in defense of the Avenger’s price that it is a practical exercise in technology and physics. There are some “extreme” turntable designs which seem to be more exercises in high tech than practical units. Don’t get me wrong, some much higher ne plus ultra competitors are superb, but some aren’t. I’d wanted to be sure I could hear real differences—if any—before I paid more and not simply judge by the price tag. I’d also wanted to ensure what I bought was built to last. You can always pay more, but getting more over time can be a different thing.”
D’Agostino Master Audio Systems, YG Acoustics, and Alma Music & Audio Demonstrate Mega System
December 6, 2018 Comments Off on D’Agostino Master Audio Systems, YG Acoustics, and Alma Music & Audio Demonstrate Mega System
“The Relentless drove YG Acoustics’ flagship XV system, a $265,900, 463-pound, two-tower-per-channel system, which builds upon the successful Sonja 2.3. The XV turned out to be the perfect partner for the Relentless. Some of the “magical moments” I have experienced at audio shows or product release events—ones that transcend the usual electro-mechanical exercise—have been with YG speakers and D’Agostino electronics. Each XV has a total of ten drivers per channel, four of which are woofers along with three mid/woofers. All those large drivers help move enough air to produce sufficient bass output and extension in large spaces. Also, the Sonja XV was the first speaker in the Sonja series to include YG’s unique BilletDome tweeter, which combines a treated soft-dome membrane with a very strong, lightweight, acoustically transparent supporting “air frame” to create a new kind of tweeter that has the strength of a metal dome without the metallic “ringing” often associated with hard domes.”
SVS PC-4000 Subwoofer Review
December 6, 2018 Comments Off on SVS PC-4000 Subwoofer Review
“I should start this review by saying that if I was thinking of buying an SVS 4000 Series subwoofer, then this cylindrical version would probably be my choice. It doesn’t have quite the titanic sub-sonic range of the huge ported model, which can get down to a staggering 13Hz, but it’s a damn sight less intrusive. It also isn’t as small or nimble as the sealed unit, but it can deliver deeper bass, going down to 15Hz compared to the sealed unit’s 19Hz. While I appreciate we’re at the limit of what the human ear can even register, there’s a lot to be said for bass you can feel.
SVS has the cylindrical subwoofer market to itself, which is surprising because I think it’s a great idea. The concept allows for a relatively small footprint and greater freedom in terms of positioning, especially in the corners of rooms. However the vertical size of this sub also allows for some serious low frequency action. In testing, the PC-4000 proved to be an impressive performer, delivering deep and controlled bass that you can genuinely feel. Much like the PB-4000 that I reviewed earlier in the year, this cylindrical version also revealed a surprisingly nuanced performance.”
Allo DigiOne Signature Review
December 6, 2018 Comments Off on Allo DigiOne Signature Review
“I started my evaluation using Allo’s standard, 5V PSU across the board for both the DigiOne Player and Signature Player. Allo strongly recommends not using this PSU for the feeding the clean side of the Signature, but it is technically an option if you are very limited on funds. It’s perfectly safe, but they claim it hinders sound quality. Allo recommends buying some reputable 18650 batteries and using their own battery pack. Buy eight batteries, and a charger that will handle four batteries at once, if you want to rotate and never lose power. Nonetheless, I thought I’d use their standard, 5V PSU as a bare minimum baseline and wanted to report on it for those that might utilize it in this configuration.”
Read more at https://www.audiostream.com/content/allo-digione-signature-review#K86PU1BOoDe0MCzo.99
PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player and DirectStream DAC $5,999 Review
December 5, 2018 Comments Off on PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player and DirectStream DAC $5,999 Review
“The Digital Lens imposes a small penalty on user experience. The interface to the Memory Player is the same symbols and functions we are accustomed to for CD and DVD playback – and for tape before that – except you engage with it via the touchscreen in place of physical buttons. But because the Digital Lens needs to accumulate the data before sending it along, the Memory Player is overall less responsive than CD and DVD players. Not agonizingly so, and certainly not a deal breaker for me, but having lived with CD players for decades, it’s something you notice and may find frustrating. We’re used to ever-increasing speed with our technology (among other things); it’s hard to go back.”
Hifiman he1000se Open Back Headphone Review
December 5, 2018 Comments Off on Hifiman he1000se Open Back Headphone Review
iFi Audio xDSD Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amp Review
December 5, 2018 Comments Off on iFi Audio xDSD Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amp Review
“Now that you know all that, where does that leave us with the xDSD? Well, it is quite pleasing to listen to and the sound quality it puts out has a certain warmness to it that I can see a lot of people really liking. When I subjectively compare the xDSD to the sound of my OPPO HA-2SE, the OPPO comes across as cleaner and more neutral to my ears. This may have more to do with the tuning of the analog output stage more than the actual DAC chipset itself. When I used the xDSD as a stand-alone DAC, with the separate line-out jack attached to my reference system, the same sound signature translated through to my speakers. I find this sound characteristic less objectionable over headphones but it’s not something I personally care to hear in my main system. It’s just a matter of taste.”
Parasound ZoneMaster 2350 Two-Channel Amplifier
December 4, 2018 Comments Off on Parasound ZoneMaster 2350 Two-Channel Amplifier
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