Unique Melody Merlin V2 Hybrid Universal IEM Review
December 4, 2017 Comments Off on Unique Melody Merlin V2 Hybrid Universal IEM Review
“A lot of CIEM designers tend to emphasize detail, particularly a bump in the treble region. Although it does provide more realism and spaciousness, I find that overall timbre deteriorates. It just doesn’t sound natural or coherent. UM didn’t take this approach with the Merlin V2. While comparing the Merlin V2 to the sound of my reference 2-channel near-field system (Omega Compact Alnicos), the Merlin V2 gets close in tone and timbre but is a little mellow in the resolution and air department. As far as imaging and soundstage depth, it’s difficult for any IEM to reproduce these as accurately as speakers. The point of this comparison is to see how far a $1,049 IEM could get to something I would consider to be of reference sound. That said, the Merlin V2 does a fine job of conveying musicality and rhymic tactility without any artificial energy or harshness.”
GoldenEar Technology Triton Reference Loudspeakers $8499 Review
December 3, 2017 Comments Off on GoldenEar Technology Triton Reference Loudspeakers $8499 Review
“At more typical listening levels, the improvements in the mids and the highs revealed themselves readily when I played any good recording of acoustic piano. Hammer strokes sounded purer and more deliberate than I recall from the One — I was consistently drawn to the clarity and consistency of the References’ reproduction of pianos. In “Spanish Steps,” for example, it was always Morrison’s sax that drew most of my attention, but through the References, Neil Drinkwater’s piano held my focus just as much. The sound of cymbal crashes was also improved, in terms not only of cleanness but of liveliness — through the References, the highs were just a little more immediate, precise, and unrestrained.”
ONKYO DP-S1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER REVIEW
December 3, 2017 Comments Off on ONKYO DP-S1 DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER REVIEW
“The DAP market is an odd one. Its heyday was in the time before iPhones, but then it was all about the iPod. It’s an inherently audiophile device now, as everyone else uses their phone. This probably limits the pool and the number of sales, but this is a shame because what they do is make music sound very, very good, indeed. Couple the Onkyo DP-S1 with a good pair of Custom fit In-Ear Monitors (especially if you swap the cable for a balanced one) and you are in for a musical treat. Beg, borrow, or Rubato one today!”
PATHOS INPOL EAR HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER REVIEW
December 2, 2017 Comments Off on PATHOS INPOL EAR HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER REVIEW
” the DAC section. I’d suggest the DAC in the InPol Ear should be a mandatory recommendation as it works exceptionally well, and matches the performance of the rest of the amplifier. It’s aimed more at sheer detail retrieval, and that works well with the overall InPol Ear performance. If I am being picky, I’d prefer more of an on-board streaming solution, so that aspects like Internet radio, TIDAL, and maybe even Roon were functions of the InPol Ear with the built in DAC, but for the most part, I suspect the InPol Ear will sit next to a laptop, and both the Ethernet streaming option and app control are more of a nice add-on than a useful function of the device. Judging by my own use, I used the Ethernet connection to evaluate the Ethernet connection, and listened through USB.”
Markaudio-Sota Cesti T Loudspeakers $3495 Review
December 2, 2017 Comments Off on Markaudio-Sota Cesti T Loudspeakers $3495 Review
“Perhaps the Cesti Ts’ greatest strength was their ability to resolve a detailed soundstage with large-scale orchestral music. Mahler’s Symphony No.5, in a concert recording by Yuri Temirkanov and the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (SACD/CD, Water Lily Acoustics WLA-WS-76 SACD), offered an excellent example of this. Through the Cesti Ts, the orchestra was spread out in front of the room across a superbly wide and deep stage. Recorded with only a single pair of microphones and produced without noise reduction, equalization, or compression, this CD is one of the most lifelike- and natural-sounding discs I own. The music was well served by the Cesti Ts, making it easy for me to close my eyes and visualize the performance unfolding in front of me. Even the occasional cough picked up by the mikes and clearly reproduced by the speakers served only to enhance the intimacy of my listening experience and increase the sense of authenticity.”
Monoprice’s K-BAS bookshelf Review
December 1, 2017 Comments Off on Monoprice’s K-BAS bookshelf Review
“Naturally, we expected to hear supremely big bass from these speakers and, in this regard, the K-BĀS lived up to the hype. Spinning up Esa-Pekka Salonen and the L.A. Philharmonic’s CD of the Rite of Spring, the Monoprice Monolith K-BĀS packed a portentously powerful wallop on the opening movement’s thunderous tympani rolls. We’ve heard more than a few pricey floorstanding speakers struggle to get this right, but the K-BĀS breezed through this torture test with relative ease.”
Shinola Runwell Turntable Review – Video
December 1, 2017 Comments Off on Shinola Runwell Turntable Review – Video
Sonus Faber Homage Amati Tradition Loudspeakers $29,900 Review
November 30, 2017 Comments Off on Sonus Faber Homage Amati Tradition Loudspeakers $29,900 Review
“The first clue to just how engaging the Amati Tradition could be was when I cued up the title track of Ludovico Einaudi’s Una Mattina (16/44.1 FLAC, Decca). I was immediately aware of previously unheard details, such as the sound of Einaudi’s foot working his piano’s pedals, the longer notes when he pressed the sustain pedal, and the piano’s tonal color. In combination with how convincingly the large Amati Traditions seemed to “disappear” from the room, it all added up to a compellingly realistic and emotionally evocative experience.”
AMPSANDSOUND KENZIE ENCORE –REVIEW
November 30, 2017 Comments Off on AMPSANDSOUND KENZIE ENCORE –REVIEW
“The overall sound staging was simply breathtaking and definitely one of the widest and deepest I’ve ever heard these headphones offer. The wonderfully rich and tube-like presentation did not take away from the HD800S’s ability to portray even the smallest micro-details of this recording. In fact, detail retrieval was simply outstanding and when coupled with the very natural tube-like sound, the Kenzie Encore had me rethinking my “solid state only” setup. In fact, had it not been for recently acquiring a Chord DAVE DAC, I would have purchased the review unit outright as it was that darn impressive”
Clear Tune Monitors VS-2 Dual BA IEM $399 Review
November 29, 2017 Comments Off on Clear Tune Monitors VS-2 Dual BA IEM $399 Review
“The more I listened to these, the more they grew on me. They don’t have overblown bass, but have speed and accuracy on their side. They are not a smooth and laid back sounding IEM, they offer up an exceptionally detailed and complete sound for the price and amount of drivers. I really like this tuning, and believe Clear Tune have done a superb job getting a lot out of these 2 drivers. If you like a slightly mid forward, highly detailed and accurate sound, these should be high on your list.”
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