Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Neodio Origine CD player (£27,600) at The Ear. His conclusions: “It really is hard to find CD players that have this combination of transparency, fine detail and tonal depth. Some of the best valve powered examples get close but it’s rare to find one that’s this...
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Christiaan Punter has posted a review of the Metrum Pavane DAC (€5000) at Hi-Fi Advice. His conclusions: “In its price range it is definitely one of the top performers, and if it is the supremely etch-free NOS sound that you’re after, it may be one of the best options out there. If you crave...
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Ken Kessler has posted a review of the Metronome CD8 CD player (£7500) at Hi-Fi News and Record Review. His conclusions: “‘Elegant’ was the first adjective that came to mind when I saw this player, and elegance remained its pre-eminent virtue. At no time did it sound ‘digital’ or harsh, regardless of the origins...
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WL Low has posted a review of the dCS Debussy DAC ($11,499) at av2day.com. His conclusions: “However, viewed on it’s own merits, the dCS still deserves recommendation beyond par excellence, at it’s current retail price of RM49,000/unit. High-end-dom certainly doesn’t come cheap at this point, but if it’s absolute digital audio performance that one...
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Roland Dietl has posted part two of his review of the ZeroUno DAC (€5500) at Positive Feedback. His conclusions: “The ZEROUNO is a rarely-seen symbiosis of thoughtful circuit design in all aspects, using extremely high-quality components, while showing a perfect finish too. The sound quality as well as the ability of this DAC to...
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Kal Rubinson has posted a review of the exaSound PlayPoint music server ($1999) in his Music in the Round column at Stereophile. His conclusions: “The sound quality was outstanding in both UPnP and NAA configurations. The PlayPoint lets you have an excellent multichannel digital music player anywhere there is access to the home network…Having...
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Christiaan Punter has posted a review of the Meridian 818v3 digital preamplifier, MC200 music server, and DSP5200 SE loudspeakers at Hi-Fi Advice. His conclusions: “he Meridian 818v3 is a superb machine. Even in plain DAC-guise it is up there with the best DACs I have heard. But add in its preamp facilities, Sooloos/Roon compatibility,...
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Venoth Nair has posted a review of the TEAC PD-501HR digital player ($850) at av2day.com. His conclusions: “Great looks and a balanced sound output that’s fun to listen to make this DSD CD spinner a great player to invest in when building either a humble high end desktop rig or even a full blown...
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Mark Fleischmann has posted a review of the Simaudio Moon Neo 230HAD headphone amplifier-DAC ($1500) at Sound and Vision. His conclusions: “The Moon by Simaudio Neo 230HAD is a state-of-the-art headphone amplifier/DAC that has a healthy, and sometimes transformative, effect on whatever headphones you plug into it. The Moon by Simaudio Neo 230HAD is...
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Earmass has posted a review of the Centrance DACport HD headphone amplifier-DAC ($199. His conclusions: “HD has actually outperformed my expectation and I am satisfied with the audio performance throughout the review period and I actually use it for few weeks long already, every session I am with the HD is session of pleasure,...
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Vade Forrester has posted a review of the YBA Passion PRE550A preamplifier-DAC ($8000) at SoundStage! Ultra. His conclusions: “The Passion PRE550A looked and sounded gorgeous, is built like a brick privy, has a thoughtfully designed remote control, and no significant vices. I could, and did, happily live with a PRE550A in my system. Very...
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Andre Marc has posted a review of the Marantz HD-AMP1 integrated amplifier and DSD DAC ($1099) at Audio Video Revolution. His conclusions: “The Marantz HD-AMP1 is a great addition to the Marantz line. The sonics were absolutely beyond reproach at this price point (and well beyond). The feature set is remarkable, and the built...
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Jim Austin has posted a review of the PS Audio NuWave DSD DAC ($1299) at Stereophile. His conclusions: “Operationally, the NuWave DSD performed without flaw: It swallowed whatever I fed it in whatever format via whatever input, and it output music, without one glitch or pop. I tested all the inputs (except I2S over...
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Qishin Tariq has posted a review of the HRT Music Streamer III USB DAC ($200) at audiofi.net. His conclusions: “Simple to use, gets noticeable results, what’s not to love? This makes for a solid entry-level DAC until you’ve upgraded the rest of your system enough to make it worth splashing for a correspondingly pricey...
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Dirk Sommer has posted a review of the Mytek Brooklyn DSD DAC ($1995) at Positive Feedback. His conclusions: “Even if the new, “small” Mytek, due to the improved functionality, has become more expensive than its predecessor, the Brooklyn’s price-sound relationship makes it almost irresistible. And if you are more into excitement, dynamics, and incredibly...
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Janine Elliot has posted a review of the Questyle QP1r digital audio player (£699) at Hi-Fi Pig. Her conclusions: “For a new comer to this scene this Chinese product is exceptionally good. After my initial disappointment at reliability it became extremely reliable and extremely fun to use. It also has sufficient output to drive...
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Frank Iacone has posted a review of the Chord Dave DAC ($13,000) at Headphone.Guru. His conclusions: “When DAVE was here, my listening sessions were more involving and musicality soared. Sadly I had to return it and the loss of DAVE has created a void in my listening room(and life). Rob Watts has hit it...
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Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Bryston BDA-3 DAC (£3200) at The Ear. His conclusions: “The Bryston BDA-3 is not only the best DAC that this Canadian company has made it is one of the best equipped on the market and delivers a sound that is both revealing, fluent and very much...
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Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Nuforce µDAC5 DAC (£200) at The Ear. His conclusions: “The Nuforce µDAC5 is a cute little converter that ticks all the boxes spec wise and delivers an energetic and entertaining sound. It is transparent to source and format quality and would make a good starting point...
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Tarkan Ceviker has posted a review of the Exogal Comet DAC ($2995) at StereoNet. His conclusions: “I’ve mentioned it several times throughout the review, but transparency is the greatest strength of the Comet DAC, and without sounding too cliché, it really does just get right out of the way and let you hear the...
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J. Loh has posted a review of the Chord Mojo headphone amplifier-DAC ($599) at audiofi.net. His conclusions: “I’ve tested a fair bit of gear in my time, and few products have impressed to the level the Mojo has. No matter where and how it was called into use, it never disappointed and surpassed all...
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Wayne Robson has posted a review of the Optoma-NuForce Audio DAC80 headphone amplifier-DAC ($750) at Audioholics. His conclusions: “The DAC100 was a well-received headphone DAC/amp combo that used much of the same electronics used today in the DAC80. But the decision to go with separate, discrete components makes the DAC80 a more flexible dedicated...
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Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Henry Audio USB 128 MK II DAC (£159) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “It’s a crying shame that so much of the audiophile’s gaze is directed upward at ever more aspirational products; while they are great, we need to periodically get back in touch with our roots,...
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Mark Fleischmann has posted a review of the Astell & Kern AK Jr. digital audio player ($499) at Sound and Vision. His conclusions: “en tougher with odd content choices—especially, as it turned out, the Beethoven symphony. If memory serves, the AK Jr seems a bit more dispassionate, and less euphonic, than either the original...
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Matej Isak has posted the review of the Aries Cerat Kassandra MK2 DAC at Mono and Stereo. His conclusions: “While other DAC’s might be on the level of Vieux Château Certan, Latour à Pomerol or L’Église-Clinet; Aries Cerat Kassandra nails it with the richness and completeness of one and only ’61 Pétrus.” You can...
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