Dick Olsher has posted a review of the Atma-Sphere S-30 MK 3.3 OTL power amplifier ($4300) at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions: “Although the S-30 is guilty of slight timbre alterations, and presents a somewhat dark tonal balance, these acts of commission, most likely due to load interactions, did not generally interfere with the...
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Rob Johnson has posted a review of the ARCAM’s MusicBOOST headphone amplifier-DAC ($189) at TONEAudio. His conclusions: “he sound quality is a major step up, especially considering the cost factor, enough so that we happily award the Arcam MusicBOOST an Exceptional Value Award for 2016. For those just beginning their personal audio journey, this...
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S. Andrea Sundaram has posted a review of the Simaudio Moon Neo 230HAD headphone amplifier-DAC ($1500) at SoundStage! Xperience. His conclusions: “While any competently designed solid-state headphone amp should produce a sound that’s close to neutral, audiophiles base their buying decisions on the subtler ways in which amplifiers differ. The 230HAD has prominent but...
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Colin Smith has posted a review of the Blue Circle Audio CSD integrated amplifier ($2495) at SoundStage! Access. His conclusions: “Its utilitarian looks and Spartan feature set mean that the CSD won’t be the integrated amplifier for everyone. But where it matters — the sound — it’s impressive. Blue Circle Audio’s CSD is certainly...
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Steven R. Rochlin has posted a review of the 47 Labs 4706 Gaincard power amplifier and 4700 Power Humpty (together $2750) at Enjoy the Music. His conclusions: “To wrap this up, it seems we have a very unique unit here which totally obliterates all preconceived notions. This solid-state, Class AB, negative feedback using unit...
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John Fritz has posted a review of the Merrill Taranis stereo amplifier ($2500) at Stereo Mojo. His conclusions: “The Taranis gives new meaning to the concept of trickle down. I would say that in this case the trickle is a torrent and the Taranis is a bucket capturing most of what the Veritas has...
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Dubstep Girl has posted a review of the Woo Audio WA5-LE headphone amplifier ($2750) at Headphone.Guru. His conclusions: “The sound signature offered increased dynamics while maintaining the same liquid velvety 300B presentation as before. The WA5-LE continues to provide top-level endgame sound at a reasonably and affordable price and is now the better buy...
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Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Naim Audio Mu-so Qb music system (£595) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “Ultimately, I’m not surprised Mu-so Qb was one of the big hits of CES – it puts a smile on your face! In truth, I’ve possibly spent more time just listening to sounds through the...
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Kriz Tan has posted a review of the Boulder 865 integrated amplifier at Hi-Fi Senses. His conclusions: “Boulder 865 Integrated Amplifier is a very well made amplifier that is so neutral and transparent that any change of devices in your rig will give you the distinctive notification.” You can read the full review here.
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Francisco Duran has posted a review of the Wells Audio Majestic integrated amplifier ($3499) at Positive Feedback. His conclusions: “The problem is, one can talk about transparency, pace, soundstage, and detail all day long. Heck you could use those words to describe the sound of my $400 Marantz PM5004 integrated amplifier. But with the...
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Robert Harley has posted a review of the Constellation Audio Altair II preamplifier ($9000) and Hercules II monoblock power amplifiers ($180,000/pair) at The Absolute. His conclusions: “The Constellation Audio Altair linestage and Hercules monoblock amplifiers in their updated version maintain their status as world-class references. They are a convergence of beautiful design and build-quality,...
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Marja and Henk have posted a review of the nvoaudio ISA-2 integrated amplifier (€9000) at 6moons. Their conclusions: “Depending on the recording’s fidelity (lack of we-correct-it-in-the-mix trickery), the musicians behaved more like humans and less like sounds that had been spliced together to act like music. This came with great driver control which persuaded...
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Marcusd has posted a review of the Chord Mojo headphone amplifier-DAC ($599) at Headfonics. His conclusions: “or now, the Mojo is probably the best all-around portable DAC/Amp proposition with all the correct connectivity on offer for modern devices and an audio quality that should please a large audience most of the time.” You can...
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WL Low posted a review of the Tobian Tube Stereo Console SC12 and Push Pull Mono Tube Amp MA 70 at av2day.com. His conclusions: “The Tobian system is special in that way that each listening session, brings about a new, undiscovered dimension to each musical performance, even on songs that you’ve heard all your...
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Peter Pialis has posted a review of the Amps & Sound Kenzie headphone amplifier ($1500) at Headphone.Guru. His conclusions: “The price point of $1500; while not cheap; performs with tube amplifiers costing considerably more. Throw in the fact that you won’t have to donate a kidney for a tube change and its win-win. The...
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Artjom Avatinjan has posted a review of the S.A. Bravo integrated amplifier (€40,000) at 6moons. His conclusions: “Summing up, let me point out that the S.A.Lab Bravo tube trio embodies the upper edge of the engineering art. It earnestly and implicitly demonstrates the advantages of mature schematics and the sound style of the Sound...
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Alan Taffel has posted a review of the T+A PA 3000 HV integrated amplifier ($17,000) and MP 3000 HV music server ($13,500) at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions: “What T+A has done is to make it possible for audiophiles of more modest (though still significant) resources to get in on the extraordinary build-quality, sonic...
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Dwayne Carter has posted a review of the iFi Audio retro audio system ($1995) at Enjoy the Music. His conclusions: “So how do I wrap up my experience with the iFi Audio Stereo 50 and LS3.5 speakers? Well, I was sad to return them and miss having the ability to listen to virtually any...
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Clive Meakins has posted a review of the Temple Audio Bantam One integrated amplifier (£680) at Enjoy the Music. His conclusions: “The diminutive Bantam One is a simple yet brilliant integrated amplifier; it’s very nicely finished, performs really well and will match a wide range of typical speakers. The amplifier being 90% efficient even...
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Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Luxman C-700u preamplifier (£6995) and M-700u stereo power amplifier (£6995) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “Luxman remains a brand to be contended with; its sound is ultra refined, which mean that it can deliver a fully rendered, high-resolution sound that is tonally stronger than a great many...
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Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Benchmark AHB2 power amplifier (£3299) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “The AHB2 is a very impressive amplifier for its size and the it’s about the best compact power amp I have encountered. It seems fussier about speaker partnering than usual, however, and I would recommend trying it...
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Kriz Tan has posted a review of the Devialet 400 integrated amplifier-DAC ($17,495) at Hi-Fi Senses. His conclusions: “Devialet is one company that deliver that with great measures. Devialet 400 is a state of art equipment, both in design and performance. It may be expensive on the tag but if you assemble your various...
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Frank Iacone has posted a review of the Audiobytes Black Dragon headphone amplifier-DAC ($2500) at Headphone.Guru. His conclusions: “Designing a good quality digital-to-analog converter was Audiobyte’s goal for the Black Dragon. The headphone amplifier was not the top design priority yet when Nicolae heard the amplifier he was impressed with its performance. Based on...
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Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Audio Research GSi75 integrated amplifier (£16,000) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “That might sound trite, but when you think just how much more you need to spend and how many more boxes you need in the room to improve on the GSi75 in fundamental terms, you begin...
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Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Tron Atlantic integrated tube amplifier (£7250) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “The Tron Atlantic is a cute little amplifier. It doesn’t have a lot of power in reserve and will never raise the roof. But that’s missing the point of the amplifier. It’s not meant to raise...
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