Giuseppe Trotto has posted a review of Essence of Music CD treatment ($149) at ReMusic. His conclusions: “I am not sure if I am getting closer to the essence of music. For sure, I am in the right direction. There is a contraindication, however. I reject the normal CDs. I cannot listen to them...
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Dave Kaplan has posted a review of the Stein Music Blue Sun Harmonic Enhancer ($750) at Stereo Times. His conclusions: “This combination was quite powerful at turbo charging my Harmonizer’s performance and taking my system to a stunning new level of musical enjoyment with richer harmonics, greater dimensionality and better dynamics. I can’t recommend...
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Stephen Yan has posted a review of the AER LP Energizer ($1950) at Stereo Times. His conclusions: “So do I like the LP Energizer? Let’s put it this way: if it was not for the fact that I am in the process of purchasing a new amplifier, the LP energizer will not be returning...
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Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Pristine Vinyl Vivac RCS1 record cleaning machine (£1795) at The Ear. His conclusions: “The Pristine RCS1 achieves what its makers and many vinyl lovers desire, a cleaner that can be left out and used without waking the neighbours. Combine this with straightforward operation and a sensible...
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Lewis Dardick has posted a review of the Bob’s Devices CineMag Sky 20 step-up transformer ($1250) at Stereo Times. His conclusions: “I subjectively found the SKY 20 a bit tighter/more focused and I was able to hear many details I never heard before, albeit in a very natural/organic presentation (i.e., more information that sounded...
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Srajan Ebaen has posted a review of the SOtM iSO-CAT6 LAN Isolator ($350) at 6moons. His conclusions: “With SOtM’s latest, there’s no funny business in the state of Denmark. Just so, it’s a small sonic transaction which I thought was maximized by the most direct sound of my desktop’s nearfield and doubled in magnitude...
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Moreno Mitchell has posted a review of the PS Audio PerfectWave P5 Power Plant Power power conditioner ($3495) at Stereo Times. His conclusions: “In my constant pursuit for perfection the one thing that remains constant has been my musical enjoyment. The addition of the Perfect Wave P5 is by and large responsible for this....
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Doug Schroeder has posted part three of his review of the Audio by Van Alstine ABX Comparator ($999) at Dagogo. His conclusions: “Would my scoring have been better if I compared one of the larger floor standing speakers with much better LF extension and a more sizable soundstage to one of the smallish floor...
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Roy Gregory has posted a review of the “boooplinth” plinth (£1650) for the Linn LP12 turntable at The Audio Beat. His conclusions: “The one-piece structure and random laminations of the bamboo booplinth offer both greater precision and mechanical stability, but also much greater material consistency through the structure as a whole — and that...
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Dennis Davis has posted a review of the VPI MW-1 Cyclone record cleaning machine ($999) at The Audio Beat. His conclusions: “The MW-1 Cyclone, with its bulletproof construction and outstanding cleaning, hits that sweet spot dead on.” You can read the full review here.
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Doug Schroeder has posted part two of his review of the Audio by Van Alstine ABX Comparator ($999) at Dagogo. His conclusions: “I believe most seasoned listeners who concentrate and react to a potential Orientation Error could pass such ABX testing. Frank Van Alstine seems to concur that one can pass ABX Comparator testing...
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Doug Schroeder has posted part one of his review of the Audio by Van Alstine ABX Comparator ($999) at Dagogo. You can read it here.
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Noam Bronstein has posted a review of the Charisma Audio Cabriolet speaker stands ($1000/pair) at Wall of Sound. His conclusions: “At US$1000 per pair, the Cabriolet stands aren’t cheap. When you see and feel them, you quickly realize why. Their flexibility and style adds hugely to the value equation. But hearing the end results...
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Martin Appel has posted a review of the BSG Technologies qøl Signal Completion Stage ($3995) at Audiophilia. His conclusions: “Well there you have it. Hi-end audio raised to a new level. We’ve had products named after Greek gods, Roman gods, Norse gods, Hindu deities, why not the Bible. Whatever the inspiration, the qØl delivered...
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Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Vertex AQ Pico Grounding Blocks (£1165) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “Just because they are easy to fit, though, doesn’t make Vertex AQ’s improvements any less significant. Try the Picos for a week or two, and you may just find yourself taking a first step toward a...
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Kevin Fiske has posted a review of the Loricraft PRC 6 record cleaning machine ($5050) at Dagogo. His conclusions: “You buy vinyl? You need a Loricraft PRC 6.” You can read the full review here.
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Clement Perry has posted a review of the Audio Vaccine Music Serum anti-resonant devices ($900/set of 4) at Stereo Times. His conclusions: “The Audio Vaccine Music Serums transformed my downstairs system into a music machine that performs well beyond its size and sophistication. In fact, I purchased both sets of Music Serum plugs! Highly...
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Eric Hetherington has posted a review of the Blue Circle Audio PLC Thingee FX2 with X0e power conditioner ($495) at The Audio Beat. His conclusions: “How good a value the Thingee FX2 is, then, will vary along three lines that are not easily generalized: location, application and value. My experience did convince me that...
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John Brazier has posted a review of the Dirac Live room correction software ($420) at Positive Feedback. His conclusions: “While I can go on and on about the changes in the sound the Dirac suite had in my room and on my system, but that is not the point. The point is that the...
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Dominic Marsh has posted a review of the Audioplan PowerStar SII Mains Block (£435) at Hi-Fi Pig. His conclusions: “The palpable weight and strength in the bass departed with them, so did the top end detail resolution, as did the midrange power, in fact the system sounded a tad thin and anaemic afterwards and...
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John Marks has posted a review of the ZR acoustic panels ($299-$599) in his The Fifth Element column at Stereophile. His conclusions: “Appreciably. I loved it. Indeed, I was taken aback at how much of an improvement I heard, given the small total area of acoustical treatments installed: 24.7 square feet.” You ca read...
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Wes Marshall has posted a review of the IsoAcoustics component stands ($150) at SoundStage! Xperience. His conclusions: “All 19 reviews at Sweetwater are five-star reviews. That almost never happens. If you can’t tell, this, too, is a five-star review. I loved the ISO-L8R200s, and am now a proud owner of a pair. Miss them...
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WL Low has posted a review of the Shunyata Venom Defender ($195) at AV2DAY. “Don’t ask me how a small contraption like the Shunyata Venom Defender works, as a quick check with the manufacturers website will tell you all the details and technology used. Also don’t ask me how it compares to other similarly...
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Wojciech Pacula has posted aa review of the Gigawatt PC-4 EVO power conditioner (€9150) and LS-2 power cable (€3150) at High Fidelity. His conclusions: “What matters is how a particular product “sounds like”. Let me remind you that “sounds like” translates into what kind and what level of distortion it introduces to the audio...
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Wojciech Pacula has posted a review of the ISOL-8 Substation LC (~€3125) and HC (~€33375) power conditioners at High Fidelity. His conclusions: “ISOL-8 system will be a fantastic match for many systems. It will add some finesse, more smoothness, it will eliminate a lot of distortion, and make soundstage more palpable. Subjectively system’s dynamics...
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