Alan Sircom has posted a review of the TechDAS Air Force Two turntable ($28,898) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “The TechDAS Air Force Two is one of those turntables that takes ‘Awesome’ in its stride. It always sounds awesome, even when it’s resolving something straightforward like Tom Waits voice. But when faced with an orchestra,...
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Wojciech Pacula has posted a review of the ZYX Sigma Premium Diamond phon cartridge (€11,750) and Premium Artisan phon preamplifier (€9975) phono at High Fidelity. His conclusions: “The top ZYX system sees the world in a colorful, good way. Neither the Dynavector DV XV-1t, nor the Air Tight PC-1 Supreme, and not even the...
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Wojciech Pacula has posted a review of the TechDAS Air Force Two turntable (€35,375) at High Fidelity. His conclusions: “Listening to music using AF2 is sort of intellectual challenge. It brings a lot of surprises no matter if one listens to well known, or totally unknown recordings. It is also an emotional challenge –...
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Wojciech Miyajima Laboratory Mandake phono cartridge (~€5975) at High Fidelity. His conclusions: “The best cartridge so far from this legendary brand. It offers everything that Shilabe and Kansui do and than some more. It is perfect.” You can read the full review here.
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Lim Juan has posted a review of the Parasound JC 3+ phono stage ($2999) at audiofi.net. His conclusions: “The incremental improvement in performance goes quite some way toward making up for the higher sticker price (see ‘But’, uh, below) which the JC 3+ now commands, by my reckoning. It may be different for you...
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Herb Reichert has posted a review of the Soundsmith Carmen phono cartridge ($799) and MMP3 phono stage ($649) at Stereophile. His conclusions: “The Soundsmith Carmen’s ultra-low-mass MI assembly plays with more agility, is more naturally detailed, and sounds less stressed than any MC I’m aware of. Its treble is not dull or rolled off—it’s...
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Michael Fremer has posted a review of the Clearaudio Maestro V2 phono cartridge ($1200) at Stereophile. His conclusions: “In the months I spent listening to Clearaudio’s Maestro V2, I never felt I was missing anything. Instead, I was given an entirely different perspective on some very familiar recordings. Can a greater compliment be paid...
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Marc Rushton has posted a revew of the Dared Audio LP-100 ($1799) at StereoNet. His conclusions: “Certainly, better results can be achieved climbing a few more rungs of the ladder, but with the law of diminishing returns in mind, the LP-100 is a great investment that allows future cartridge upgrades without the need to...
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Wojciech Pacula has posted a review of the Acoustic Signature Triple X turntable (~€3650 without tonearm) at High Fidelity. His conclusions: “Triple X didn’t sound warm, nor soft, as suspended designs usually did – it was a mass-loader after all. The lowest bass wasn’t as perfectly defined as by top mass-loader performers , neither...
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Wojciech Pacula has posted a review of the Remton LCR MM phonostage (€3480) at High Fidelity. His conclusions: “But it is dense, rich, palpable and vibrant. Its sound is perceived as organic – it is a great pleasure to listen to the music via this system. That’s what Japanese love such systems with step-up...
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Panagiotis Karavitis has posted a review of the iFi Audio Micro iPhono phono stage ($399) and iDSD DAC ($499) at Part-Time Audio Audiophile. His conclusions: “Not every single detail is happening right in front of you, but you are there, seeing the action, and absurdly close to those who spent several times more. Both...
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Chris Croft has posted a review of the Pro-Ject Elemental turntable ($229) at AVHub. His conclusions: “During the reviewing process, the Pro-Ject Elemental’s performance was good enough that I was constantly having to remind myself that it was, literally, an entry-level turntable…so entry-level that I think it’s the lowest-priced turntable I have ever reviewed.”...
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Domenico Pizzamiglio has posted a review of the ZYX Omega Diamond phono cartridge (€24,500) at Audio Activity. His conclusions: “A wonderful stylus that is very expensive for sure but that is very different from other medium-high range products. Its sound is always natural and for this characteristics it will not appeal at the first...
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Mauro Cittadini has posted a review of the Manley Chinook phono stage (€2900) at ReMusic. His conclusions: “Few contradictions, many merits. The Chinook casts a spell on me. I suggest to read the scheme summary below. I have though a lot before giving the Spark in the Dark, since Manley has already received the...
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Lim Juan has posted a review of the Pro-Ject Essential turntable (£200) at audiofi.net. His conclusions: “Pro-Ject has done it again, presenting a product for which auditioning is compulsory if one is shopping at the price point. I dare say one has to be ultra-demanding (one should not lose sight of the price) if...
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Roy Gregory has posted a review of the Audio Origami PU7 tonearm (£1999) at The Audio Beat. His conclusions: “There are tonearms that appear more exotic or refined, are prettier to look at or way more expensive to buy, but there few — very few — that make listening to LPs quite as much...
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Giuseppe Trotto has posted a review of the Oracle Paris MKV turntable (€4900) at ReMusic. His conclusions: “The listening is enjoyable with all kind of music, with good sound and musical coherence. Unfortunately, its cost does not help to consider it as an affordable machine to compare with other competitors. Nevertheless, it is a...
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Nicolas Ripley has posted a review of the Allnic AUT-2000 step-up transformer (£1395) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “The Allnic AUT‑2000 is that rare thing in consumer electronics; a device with no obvious downsides. While a few world‑class MC stages might not see a big improvement in adding an SUT of Allnic’s calibre, the rest...
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Thom Moon has posted a review of the Cambridge Audio Azur 651P phono stage ($249) at SoundStage! Access. His conclusions: “I’ve auditioned somewhere between 15 and 20 phono stages, but until the Cambridge Audio Azur 651P, I hadn’t heard one that could hold a candle to the phono stage of my Linn Majik-1P integrated...
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Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Leema Essentials Phono phono stage (£495) at The Ear. His conclusions: “The Leema Essentials is a remarkably revealing phono stage, it has less gain than average, which can undermine dynamics, but its transparency to pace and detail is top notch. It would suit turntables like the...
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Dave Berriman has posted a review of the Clearaudio Performance DC turntable (£2495) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “Summing up, the Performance DC turntable may not have the vibration isolation of some (often rather more expensive) suspended sub‑chassis turntables, but it offers a high standard of vinyl record reproduction, is beautifully made, looks great, and...
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Roy Gregory has posted a review of the Zanden Audio Systems Model 120 phono stage (£7495) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: ” It preserves the timing, flow and phrasing, emotional and expressive qualities, the colour and weight that explain top‑end vinyl replay’s benchmark status, reminding you just how musically addictive records can be. Facilities and...
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Michael Fremer has posted a review of the George Warren turntable ($4200) at AnalogPlanet. His conclusions: “While many other turntables at or near its price point challenge it—for instance I look forward to reviewing VPI’s MDF-plinthed Prime, which sells complete with 3D printed arm for $3999—few can match the G-W’s curvaceous wood beauty. Sometimes,...
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Ken Kessler has posted a review of the TechDAS Air Force Two turntable ($42,000) at Hi-Fi News and Record Review. His conclusions: “TechDAS’s designers ensure hat each model represents a osition in the brand’s hierarchy defined by price and technology: more money equals better performance. The Two is among the finest turntables you can...
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Ron Nagle has posted a review of the Merrill Audio Jens phono stage ($15,499) at Enjoy the Music. His conclusions: “The vanishing low levels of the Merrill Audio Jens phonostage noise floor showcases why it took so many years, and so many ears, to perfect this moving coil phono amplifier. In my experience the...
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