“Since the advent of the CD, listeners have been deprived of the full experience of listening.” - Neil Young PonoPlayers...
Read More »
Web Reviews
NAD PP 3 Phono Preamplifier with USB Output
Stereophile has posted a review of the NAD PP 3 phono preamplifier ($199) at its website. Its conclusions: In the PP 3 phono preamplifier, NAD has produced a detailed, uncolored, and dynamic performer. Its A/D converter is fairly impressive, and its USB recording function is a breeze to use with the VinylStudio Lite software,...
Read More »
Rotel RSP-1570 SSP and RMB-1575 Amplifier
Michael Fremer has posted a review, and test measurements, of the Rotel RSP-1570 surround sound processor ($2199) and RMB-1575 five channel amplifier ($2799) at Home Theater Magazine. His conclusions: Most audio designers will tell you that low-level signal processing and amplification are far more difficult to get right than the high-powered variety. Here, Rotel...
Read More »
Review : Spectron Musician III Mk2 Class D Stereo Power Amp
John E. Johnson, Jr. has posted a review, together with a full suite of measures, of the Spectron Musician III Mk2 Class D stereo power amplifier ($3995). His conclusions: In summary, the sound of the Spectron was something in between a tube amplifier and a solid state amplifier. It is difficult to describe it...
Read More »
Ayon CD-7 CD Player
Gary Lea has posted a review of the Ayon CD-7 CD player ($2995) at Positive Feedback Online. His conclusions: Overall the CD-07 represents a great value and a remarkable feat at the price. You get a top flight CD transport and player with the added bonus of the iPod capability. If you do not...
Read More »
Reviw: KEF Reference 201/2 Loudspeakers
Alan Sircom has posted a review of the KEF Reference 201/2 loudspeakers (£3,50) at AVGuide. His conclusions: Playing around with large loudspeakers that cost as much as a shiny new BMW, it’s no great leap to become myopic and forget that people who love hi-fi aren’t all able to drop £50,000 on a loudspeaker...
Read More »
Bel Canto DAC3
Edgar Kramer has posted a review, including a full suite of measurements, of the Bel Canto DAC3 with USB input ($2495) at AVHub. His conclusions: Ergo, the Bel Canto DAC3 serves oodles of detail and superb dynamics with a sense of speed and tight control of the whole frequency span. Put on an acoustic...
Read More »
McIntosh MC275 Power Amplifier
Fred Kaplan has posted a review of the McIntosh MC275 power amplifier ($4500) at Stereophile. His conclusions: Carefully set up and matched with other components, the McIntosh MC275 is a very good, very well-balanced amp that goes higher, lower, louder, and softer, with more texture and detail, than you might expect from a "modified...
Read More »
Einstein Audio The Tube Mk.II Preamplifier
Michael Fremer has posted a review of the Einstein Audio The Tube Mk.II preamplifier ($18,400) at Stereophile. His conclusions: While the textural and harmonic aspects of the Einstein's sound could be dramatically changed by replacing its input tubes, The Tube Mk.II's overall performance was consistent in the ways that count most. The Tube Mk.II...
Read More »
Magico Q5 Loudspeakers
Michael Fremer’s review of the Magico Q5 is out in the latest issue of Stereophile. His conclusions: Overall, the Magico Q5 was the smoothest, most detailed, last mechanical sounding speaker I've heard. It sounded that way at what I used to think were impossibly low levels, and it sounded that way at uncomfortably loud...
Read More »
Electrocompaniet Prelude System
Adam LaBarge has posted a review of the Electrocompaniet Prelude System (together, $7239) at Dagogo. His conclusions: Analytically the best way to describe sound produced from the Prelude system is, slightly rolled off highs at the top-end of the frequency spectrum, the treble and mids in general are a bit louder than the lows,...
Read More »
HiFi-Tuning US-Gold² Fuses
Myles Astor has posted a review of the HiFi-Tuning US-Gold² audiophile fuses ($39) at Positive Feedback Online. His conclusions: So all technicalities aside, do the HiFi-Tuning fuses make a difference? Absolutely! Furthermore, the higher the system's resolution capabilities, the greater the benefit! Take "Black Coffee" from the 15-ips/2-track Jacqui Naylor tape the number one...
Read More »
Rega Isis CD Player
Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Rega Isis CD player ($9995) at The Audio Beat. His conclusions: Whilst the Valve Isis was in residence, I enjoyed an all-too-fleeting period with a Metronome Kalista Intégré, an alarmingly expensive French CD player (£38,000 here in the UK, $65,000 in the US) that does everything...
Read More »
Nordost Odin Cables
Paul Bolin has posted a review of the top of the line, and very expensive, Nordost Odin interconnects, speaker cables and power cords at The Audio Beat. His conclusions: Fifteen years ago, Nordost’s SPM shattered all of my previous expectations of what audio cabling could do and its importance in assembling and optimizing a...
Read More »
Pass Labs X350.5 Solid-State Stereo Power Amplifier
Ray Ceda has posted a review of the Pass Labs X350.5 solid-state stereo power amplifier ($11,550) at Dagogo. His conclusions: The X350.5 is extremely quiet, with no perceivable noise floor, has the dynamic agility that in my opinion, is literally in a class by itself. Its bass response is first rate in authority, weight,...
Read More »
Win Analog Z845 Preamplifier and S Series Monoblocks
Constantine Soo has posted his review of the Win Analog Z845 preamplifier ($45,000) and S series monoblocks ($120,000) at Dagogo. His conclusions: I wanted to convey what the Win Analog system did for me at this point in my review career. There was no doubt that my sensibility was thoroughly spoiled by the $90,000-per-pair...
Read More »
Eight High-End Moving Coil Phono Cartridges
Harry Pearson has posted his two part series entitled The Third Generation of Moving Coils at The Absolute Sounds. The cartridges he reviews, in descending order of cost, are as follows: Clearaudio Goldfinger v2 ($10,000) Dynavector XV-1T ($9000) My Sonic Labs ($6900) ZYX Omega ($6600) Benz LP S-M ($5000) Kubotech Haniwa ($5000) Miyajima Shilabe...
Read More »
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Network Music Player
Kal Rubinson has posted a review of the Logitech Squeezebox Touch network music player ($299) at Stereophile. His conclusions: By now you'll little doubt of my enthusiasm for the Logitech Squeezebox Touch. Streaming music from the Internet is great for an unlimited supply of background music, but high-definition downloads can be brought to your...
Read More »
Mark Levinson No 533H Multi-Channel Amplifier
Andrew Robinson posted a review of the Mark Levinson No 533H Multi-Channel Amplifier ($) at Home Theater Review. Normally I don’t put much stock in their "reviews", but Andrew Robinson is an experienced audio journalist and has credibility. His conclusions: One cannot discuss the No 533H in a vacuum, for it occupies a place...
Read More »
Legacy Studio HD Monitors
Jim Minton has posted a review of the Legacy Studio HD Monitors ($1,450) at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity. His conclusions: I am a big fan of monitors. If the crossovers are well thought out and the drivers are well designed, they often can produce very full and accurate sound. The Studios...
Read More »
m2tech hiFace USB to S/PDIF Converter
Larry Cox has posted a review of the m2tech hiFace USB to S/PDIF converter ($150) at Positive Feedback Online. His conclusions: I also had an opportunity to compare the hiFace in my system to the Ayre QB-9 USB DAC. Dave brought the QB-9 over for a listen along with a $2800+ USB cable from...
Read More »
Magico Q5 Loudspeakers
Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Magico Q5 loudspeakers at Hi-Fi+, TAS’s sister publication in the U.K. His conclusions: I’ve already said much about the Q5 on the AVGuide website, including, “this is the best speaker in the world” and “there’s no magic in Magico”. I still stand by both these statements,...
Read More »
Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2
Andy Schaub has posted a review of the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 ($1,499) featuring a 192/24 USB input at Positive Feedback Online. His conclusions: So I suppose, to sum things up, despite a few minor complaints that really apply more to a $10K DAC, the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 can give you some very...
Read More »
Sutherland 20/20 Phono Preamplifier
Tom Lyle Has posted a review of the Sutherland 20/20 phono preamp ($2,199) at Positive Feedback Online. His conclusions: There is no question that the top-notch Sutherland 20/20 will find a happy home in many systems. For audiophiles currently thinking of upgrading from a decent sub-$1500 model, buyer's regret is hardly an imaginable outcome—and...
Read More »
Manley Stingray iTube Stereo Integrated Amplifier
John E. Johnson, Jr. has posted a review, with a complete suite of measurements, of the Manley Stingray iTube Stereo Integrated Amplifier at Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity. His conclusions: The Manley Stingray iTube is a product that I see in a consumer's den or, better yet, in a college student's dormatory...
Read More »
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Steven Stone has posted a lengthy review of the Logitech Squeezebox Touch ($299) at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions: Economically speaking, a $300 device is not high end. But high-end audio isn’t only about economics. Performance matters. Judged strictly by that yardstick the Logitech Squeezebox Touch qualifies as a legitimate high-end component. Alone, the...
Read More »
Copyright © 2009-2015 Franklin A. Berryman - All Rights Reserved
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
