Ron Doering has posted a review of the Musical Fidelity M6i integrated amplifier ($2995) at Good Sound, part of the Soundstage! Network. His conclusions: Going into this review, I was a little prejudiced against the M6i for its lack of what I’d thought were such basic necessities as a balance control, a headphone jack,...
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Paul Seydor has posted a review of the Bergmann Sindre straightline tracking arm and turntable at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions: The few reservations I’ve expressed about the Sindre should be read in the context of the most minute and exacting comparisons made at the highest levels of performance of the finest record playing...
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Robert Harley has posted a review of the Vandersteen Audio Model 7 loudspeakers at The Absolute Sound. His conclusions: The Vandersteen 7 is a stunning achievement that must be regarded as one of the world’s great loudspeakers, regardless of price. The lack of color and artifacts through the midband and treble are simply breathtaking—the...
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Garrett Hongo has posted a review of the VAC Renaissance Mk III preamplifier at Ultra Audio. His conclusions: Whether as a $9900 line stage or as an $11,900 full-function preamp — both luxury prices — the VAC Renaissance Mk.3 nevertheless provides great value in terms of superb quality of sound, exceptional build quality, and...
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Robert J. Reina has just posted his review of the Audio Research VSi60 integrated amplifier at Stereophile. His conclusions: In the VSi60, Audio Research has produced an integrated amplifier of staggering quality, versatility, and value. It should be considered not only by anyone seeking an integrated amp anywhere near its price, but also by...
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Art Dudley has just posted his review of the Electrocompaniet AW400 monoblock power amplifiers at Stereophile. His conclusions: n a perfect world there would be enough room, enough time, and enough money that we could sample everything under the sun, anytime we liked. To an audio enthusiast, that's no small matter: There are thousands...
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John E. Johnson, Jr. has posted a review of the Bryston 3B SST2 power amplifier at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity. His conclusion: The Bryston 3B SST2 is a fine amplifier. Its neutral sound tonality allows for unfettered listening, so you can focus on the music and not be distracted with any...
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Victor Chavira has posted his review of the Nordost Norse Series bi-wire jumpers at Positive Feedback Online. Here are just a few of his observations: I discovered that indeed, transparency and extension improved appreciably… A quick change back to my jumpers confirmed that they were attenuating ambience, cohesion, and depth of perception resulting in...
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Chris Thomas posted a review of the Quantum QB 6 power conditioner and Nordost Sort Kones in last month’s issue of Hi-Fi+, The Absolute Sound’s sister publication in the UK. Here’s what he had to say when shifting from the AC aluminum/ceramic cones ($79.99 each) to the TC titanium/ceramic versions ($349.99 each): Wow, the...
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Jerry Seigel has posted reviews of the Bryston 3B SST2, 4B SST2 and 7B SST2 power amplifiers at 10 Audio. His conclusion with respect to the 7B SST2: There is a level of performance in audio components that offers a listener a detailed, dynamic, rich, lifelike, powerful presentation that leaves nothing to be desired....
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Alan Tafel has posted a review of the Marantz SC-7S2 Reference Control Amplifier at The Absolute Sound titled "Think Pink" referencing the pink tinge to the casework of the amplifier. His conclusion: Quibbles aside, the Marantz SC-7S2 is perhaps the best example extant of the old audio adage that a component’s sound is telegraphed...
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Kirk Midtskog has posted a review of the Dynaudio Excite X32 loudspeakers ($2,800/pair) at The Absolute Sound. His conclusion: My minor reservations about the X32 are mostly centered around soundstaging, with a caveat about harmonious pairing with associated equipment. I would take the compelling musical detail-resolving abilities of the X32 over a lackluster speaker...
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Greg Weaver has posted a review of the von Schweikert Audio Vortex VR-33 loudspeakers ($3,750/pair) at Positive Feedback Online. His conclusion: In my experience, there is no way you are going to find a speaker that can keep up with, let alone outperform, them at anywhere near this price, period. They will easily equal...
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Graham Abbott has published a review of the Nagra VPS Phono Stage at Soundstage! His conclusion: The VPS delivers what Nagra’s promotional literature describes as a “sumptuous” sound. If you like your records to sound like the analog recordings they are, with a rich, deep tonal palette and soundstaging that delivers the original recording...
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Jacob Heilbrunn has posted a review of the Verity Lohengrin II loudspeaker at The Absolute Sound. His conclusion: Apart from a single-driver loudspeaker, no moving-coiling design is going to achieve complete coherence. But I didn’t hear any gaping holes in the Lohengrin II. Instead, I was most impressed by the ribbon tweeter, which endowed...
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Jim Milton has posted a review of the PSB Synchrony One speakers at Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity. His conclusion: Well, perhaps I was more than just impressed. The PSB Synchrony Ones are one the best sounding speakers I have had the pleasure to audition in my home. The overall sonic performance...
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If you have been waffling on which high-end surround sound processor to buy (or upgrade) and are thinking about just waiting until things shake out a bit, you might want to consider the Integra DHC-80.1 as an interim soultion. Chris Eberle reviews it for Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity and concludes: The...
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Chris Connaker has just published a review of the Sonore Music Serve at The Computer Audiophile. His conclusion: Like any high end audio purchase one must consider the pros and cons of the Sonore Music Server. On the plus side I consider the absolute ease of bit perfect playback at all sample rates and...
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Steven Stone of The Absolute Sound has recently posted a review of the Krell S-150m monoblock power amplifier. His conclusion: Compared to the best amplifiers I’ve heard in my own systems the S-150m acquits itself well. The Pass X-150 is slightly more three-dimensional and juicier harmonically. In the race to be green the ICE-powered...
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Neil Underwood of Canada HiFi has posted a review of the Audience Adept Response aR2p power conditioner. His conclusion: The Audience Adept Response aR2p power conditioner can provide an exceptional value for any audiophile that has a high quality two channel system with transformer-based power supplies. Power amps, preamps, phono stages and source devices...
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Tim Shea has posted a review of the Ayre C-5xeMP CD/SACD/DVD-A player on Soundstage! HiFi. His conclusion: Before the Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP came my way, the Bel Canto DAC3VB, CD2, and VBS1 were easily the best digital source components I’ve had in my system — and in terms of holographic imagery and bringing a...
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If you have been considering moving from solid state to tube amplification, but are not willing to sacrifice your child’s college education, you would be well to audition the Manley Labs Snapper monoblocks. Offering 100 watts/channel, listing for $4,250 per pair and made in the USA, they have little competition. Andre Marc at Audio...
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Well, it’s a big day for reviews of audiophile CD treatment devices. Audiophilia is currently featuring a review of the $849 AER Disc Energizer. Here is a description of how it works taken directly from Innoworks Product Creation Ltd.’s website: With our proprietary Euphoria Technology, AER DE will induce the “Proton Vibration Alignment”, namely...
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StereoTimes has just published a follow-up review of the NuForce Magic Cube. Here is how it starts out: I work for NuForce. I am reporting on a NuForce product. (Again.) If you are able to proceed with your disdain in abeyance, I’ll share a confidence. I told my boss, Jason Lim, that were I...
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Chris Connaker has posted a review of the M2Tech hiFace USB to S/PDIF converter ($) at the Computer Audiophile. His conclusions: The M2Tech hiFace entered the audiophile scene as a little known device from Italy. It soon surged to the top of several recommended lists. Groups of audiophiles on the Internet couldn't get enough...
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