Audiophilepure

Audeze LCDi4 In-Ear Headphones $2,495 Review

March 2, 2018 Comments Off on Audeze LCDi4 In-Ear Headphones $2,495 Review

“The iSine 10 and 20 were game changers in 2016, and unlike any other in-ears I’ve reviewed—so how could the LCDi4s top them? The compar- isons were finished in short order: The iSine 10/20s are still astonishing, but the LCDi4s are an alto- gether more refined, transparent device, even when plugged into something as mundane as my iPhone 6S’s 3.5mm headphone jack. When I returned to the iSine 20s after spending time with the i4, the 20s sounded cloudy and veiled. Still, the LCDi4s won’t play super loud with smartphones, even with the latest version of Audeze’s Cipher cable that features a built-in digital converter for use with the iPhone’s Lightning connector. But it does take the LCDi4’s sound quality to the next level with even better bass extension/definition, transparency, and treble purity versus the 3.5mm plug connection.”

D’Agostino Master Audio Systems Momentum Series 400 Monoblock Power Amplifiers $35,000 Review

March 1, 2018 § 1 Comment

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Still, the inner devil is going to emerge. You don’t buy an amp and speakers like the WAMMs to sit around drinking out of porcelain cups in the sonic equivalent of a dainty tea party. There come moments when it’s time to put on your big-boy pants, crank the dial, and get those air molecules vibrating. So I plopped on an SACD of Monty Alexander—actually, Sir Monty—playing Bob Marley tunes, and gave the volume ring of the Momentum preamplifier a healthy twist. Yeah, baby! On cuts such as “Running Away,” I defy you to hear more realistic instruments than what I heard emanating via the Momentums—a robust, resonant, life-sized trombone backed by an emphatic rhythm section. The scale of the soundstage wasn’t big; it was cavernous.”

KEF Q350 loudspeaker $649 Review

March 1, 2018 Comments Off on KEF Q350 loudspeaker $649 Review

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“The performances and recording quality of Owen Wingrave showed me the full measure of the Q350s’ ability to open a window on the recording venue, London’s Kingsway Hall. When I switched from the LS50s to the Q350s, the dimensions of the soundstage didn’t significantly change, but the sense of air became less dense. Unfortunately, that less dense air also seemed a bit dusty, and the performers less dense and defined. Instrumental and vocal tones became less saturated. But to its credit, the Q350s’ sound felt more direct, open, and fundamentally truthful than the LS50s.

Sennheiser IE800 S $1,000 Review

March 1, 2018 Comments Off on Sennheiser IE800 S $1,000 Review

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“The Sennheiser IE800 has been one of my long term reference in-ear headphones, and the IE800 S ups the ante. That said, the IE800 stood the test of time, and I’m expecting the IE800 S will still sound great five years down the road, in 2023.”

CANJAM NYC 2018 Highlights – video

February 28, 2018 Comments Off on CANJAM NYC 2018 Highlights – video

QUESTYLE AUDIO QP2R HIGH‑RESOLUTION PORTABLE DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER $1,299 REVIEW

February 28, 2018 Comments Off on QUESTYLE AUDIO QP2R HIGH‑RESOLUTION PORTABLE DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER $1,299 REVIEW

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“Three sonic treats not to be missed are the sonic effects of the QP2R’s gain and bias control switches and of its balanced outputs. Together, these features allow users to fine-tune the QP2R for a more authoritative and sharply defined presentation. For example, I set the QP2R in high gain mode and switched between standard and high bias settings while driving the MrSpeakers ETHER Flows and found the high bias setting unlocked welcome additional layers of harmonic richness and three-dimensionality. Likewise, I ran the QP2R in low gain mode, with high bias engaged, and with balanced outputs driving my Westone W80 earphones and was rewarded with perhaps the most open, airy, and articulate sound I’ve yet heard from those earphones. A little experimentation can pay substantial sonic dividends.”

ASTRAL ACOUSTICS TAURUS REVIEW

February 28, 2018 Comments Off on ASTRAL ACOUSTICS TAURUS REVIEW

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“The Taurus’s excellent staging is down to a more noticeable and better defined low-end presence as well as possessing superior headroom and air in its top-end. It makes a big difference, especially when paired with clean and neutral players such as the AK240 where I think copper infused pairings like this excel.”

Mark Levinson № 519 Digital Audio Player Review

February 27, 2018 Comments Off on Mark Levinson № 519 Digital Audio Player Review

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“The Mark Levinson № 519 represents the pinnacle of performance in streaming network players. It is a high-caliber all-in-one solution that caters to the most affluent consumers who care only about music from digital sources. All one needs to complement the № 519 is a license to TIDAL Hi-Fi, an iPad, an amplifier, and speakers, and you will have a knockout state-of-the-art system.”