Christiaan Punter has posted a review of the Furutech FP-TCS31 power cable and FI-28/FI-38 connectors at Hi-Fi Advice. His conclusions: “While less articulate and certainly more relaxed and smoother than its predecessor, the FP-TCS31 cable manages to extract more detail from recordings and sounds more powerful and more colourful, with a lager soundstage as...
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David Abramson has posted a review of the Acoustic Imagery ATSAH NC500 monoblock amplifiers ($1995/pair) at Stereo Times. His conclusions: “No the ATSAHs are definitely not the only game in town, but they are to my eye the most streamlined and sexy value-priced implementation of Bruno’s revelatory creations. To wit, they are well-built, lightweight,...
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Greg Voth has posted a review of the Parasound Halo 2.1 integrated amplifier ($2495) at Stereo Times. Hiss conclusions: “It’s certainly a well-built piece with a very nice internal DAC, adjustable analog crossover, flexible phono stage for duty in both stereo and surround sound applications, with our without subwoofers. The Halo does sound very...
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Bill Wells has posted a review of the Bel Canto Design DAC3.7 ($4495) at Stereo Times. His conclusions: “Through the innovative technologies designed into these products - the bar has been raised in terms of overall performance and increased listening pleasure. At the end of the day – these products collectively form a platform...
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Marvin Bolden has posted a review of the Digital Amplifier Company King Maraschino Cherry monoblocks ($3800/pair) at Stereo Mojo. His conclusions: “As with any component, it is important to make sure you match pieces for synergy. In my system they were great performers with speed, accuracy, balance, and swing. Just remember, soundwise they are...
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Marcin Olszewski has posted a review of the VTL TL-5.5 Series II Signature preamplifier and S-200 Signature power amplifier at Sound Rebels. His conclusions: “There are devices that have something in them, that when we switch them on, we subconsciously become addicted to them. Slowly, yet steady, we become listening junkies. And the VTL...
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Jan de Jeu has posted a review of the Scansonic HD MB-2.5 loudspeakers (€2900/pair) at The Ear. His conclusions: “The Scansonic HD MB-2.5 is a beautiful loudspeaker that elevates itself above the average for it’s price, in both industrial design and sound signature. In order to let it perform at it’s best, it is...
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Dan Worth has posted a review of the Wadia DI122 Digital Audio Decoder (£1499) at Hi-Fi Pig. His conclusions: “With a complimentary headphone amplifier, great style and a detail rich, natural and fluid sound, I can’t see what there’s not to like about the Wadia DI122 Digital Audio Decoder.” You can read the full...
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Jack Roberts has posted a review of the AMG Giro turntable and 9W2 tonearm (together $9900) at Dagogo. His conclusions: Simply put, the AMG Giro is the best turntable I know of for less than $14,000, but the AMG V12 is simply one of the best turntables out there at any price. So AMG...
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Marcusd has posted a review of the Opus #1 digital audio player ($599) at Headfonics. His conclusions: “Tonally The Bit have played things a bit safe with a very flat natural sound that doesn’t push the envelope in any specific direction but nevertheless remains very detailed with good levels of transparency and above average...
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Constantine Soo has posted a review of the Magnepan 3.7i loudspeakers ($5000/pair) at Dagogo. His conclusions: “While the 20.7’s superiority is almost guaranteed, the tall and slender Maggie 3.7i at 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide is only five inches slenderer, eight inches shorter than the 20.7 and costs less than half. While...
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Jason Kennedy has posted a review of the Rega Planar 3 turntable and Elys2 phono cartridge (together £625) at The Ear. His conclusions: “In a nutshell the new Rega Planar 3 lives up to its name and then some, if you want to hear just why vinyl is the format that will not die...
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Srajan Ebean has posted a review of the Aurorasound Preda preamplifier (£7999-£15,999) at 6moons. His conclusions: “A sonic tutorial for the Preda would call it an uncompromised passive on sheer transparency. Uncompromised means zero impedance/drive issues no matter the ancillaries including cable lengths. On speed, drive and control, it switches gears to behave like...
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Wireworld Cable Technology—respected manufacturer of high-performance audio and video cables—will bring its acclaimed Audio Cable Polygraph presentation to T.H.E. Show Newport on June 3-5, 2016 at the Hotel Irvine, Irvine, CA. Presentations will be at 11:00 am, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm in Room 1016. Founder and Designer, David Salz, offers the best test of audio cable fidelity for attendees to hear exactly what cables to...
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Chris Martens has posted a review of the Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC (£1980) and Ragnarok headphone amplifier (£1580) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “Rarely have I been as favourably impressed by a DAC and headphone amplifier as I have been by the Yggdrasil and Ragnarok. Though neither component comes anywhere near being the most expensive...
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Marc Andre has posted a review of the Gold Starlight 7 balanced AES/EBU digital cable ($), the Starlight 7 USB ($90) USB cable, and the Platinum Starlight 7 USB cable ($550) at Audio Video Revolution. His conclusions: “The Gold Starlight 7 AES/EBU and Platinum Starlight 7 USB are not inexpensive by any means, but...
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Jim Austin has posted a review of the Meridian Explorer2 headphone amplifier-DAC ($299) at Stereophile. His conclusions: “Leave MQA out of the mix, and the Meridian Explorer2 is a fun, capable audio device at a cost that audiophiles—and anyone else who’s accustomed to audiophile prices—will likely find more than fair … But when you...
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Marcusd has posted a review of the Campfire Audio Orion in-ear monitors ($349) at Headfonics. His conclusions: “It is still a midrange performer and the star of the show, but it really doesn’t negate the rest of the frequency response so you get just enough to make things sound relatively balanced. Vocals are strong,...
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Geoff Husband has posted a review of the Audiomods Series Five tonearm (£625-£795) at TNT Audio. His conclusions: “So if you are already an owner of a Classic should you feel dissatisfied and upgrade? In most circumstances I’d say a definite ‘no’ – you already have a high-end arm, go spend the money elsewhere....
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Christiaan Punter has posted a review of the ASI Liveline speaker cables ($) at Hi-Fi Advices. His conclusions: “Of the setups I tried it in, the cable works best in the context of fuller sounding systems, such as my own main Jeff Rowland/Apogee Diva setup and a friend’s Ayon/AvantGarde setup (link not yet active...
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Dave Clark has posted a review of the PS Audio BHK Signature 250 power amplifier ($) at Positive Feedback. His conclusions: “The Vandersteen Quattro Carbon Wood loudspeakers with the PS Audio BHK 250 seeing the PS Audio DirectStream DAC as my digital feed, with either the Aurender N100H or the Aries from Auralic (HERE),...
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Dick Tan has posted a review of the Oppo BDP-101Ci Blu-ray player ($) at av2day.com. His conclusions: “Even in its scaled down form the BDP-101CI still offers key features such as 4K scaling, bitstream output for important lossless surround sound codec such as Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, high resolution USB ports and legacy digital...
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Andre Jennings has posted a review of the Gauder Akustik Berlina RC 9 loudspeakers ($175,000/pair) at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions: “Loudspeakers are often described as being a window to the performance. The best of them remove the window (and walls) entirely in an effort to place you within the performance, capture you, and...
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Brando Peter has posted a review of the iBasso DX80 digital audio player ($348) at audiofi.net. His conclusions: “If you’re willing to overlook its cosmetic shortcomings, the iBasso DX80 is a solid portable digital audio player for serious audiophiles. Just remember to factor in the price of a decently sized micro SD card.” You...
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Clive Meakins has posted a review of the Ortofon 2M Mono SE MM phono cartridge (€499/$650) at Enjoy the Music. His conclusions: “The standard 2M Mono with its conical tip is a very fine cartridge. At a little over half the price of the 2M Mono SE it makes a lot of sense for...
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