Blog draft
What Hi-Fi? has reviewed the Yamaha A-S700 integrated amp (GBP 500) and CD-S700 CD player (GBP 400). On the A-S700 integrated: And there’s plenty to like if you enjoy an easy listen with decent detail, plenty of space and an even tonal balance – a little more punch and pace, and greater attention to detail, is all we’d feel we were missing. On the CD-S700 CD player: Yamaha has obviously gone to great lengths to
AudioFile, a section within The Star, Malaysia newspaper site, has posted a review of the Thorens MM-005 phono preamp (RM 960). It is a handsome unit (photo) and is described as a “Standalone phono stage (for both MM and MC cartridges).” Reviewer Lim Juan compared it to a Rotel Michi RHQ-10. He thought the Thorens was decent for the price, but had some shortcomings: It conveyed a good sense of rhythm and transient snap, though
Stereomojo has reviewed the Coincident Speaker Technology Frankenstein 300B monoblocks ($5,499/pair). These are single ended triode designs (photo) with self-biasing circuits and 8 watts of power. Each one is “hand built and hard wired in Canada.” Reviewer James L. Darby thought the “Franks” were extra sensitive to tube choice, and used his KR300B for most of the review. As for the sound, he writes: …the combination of the Coincident Super Victory speakers and the Coincident
TNT-Audio has published a pair of new reviews: Vexo Hifi VXSE S.E.T. integrated amplifier (EUR 2,440) JohnBlue Supertweeter (price unknown) Also check out the addendum at the end of the Trends Audio PA-10 tube preamp review. Sounds like some of them have scratchy volume pots and/or hiss/hum…
6moons has reviewed the Crayon Audio CFA-1 integrated amplifier (EUR 3,240). This is a sleek looking solid state unit (photo) with phono stage and 28Wpc (into 8 ohms) of power. Reviewer Srajan Ebaen liked its high resolution and bandwidth. In classic form, Srajan breaks out the big words for this one: The unusual element is simply the completely thermionic gestalt whereby it handles space, interrelatedness and flow, the intangible organic aspects writers default into poetry
The Absolute Sound, publishing online via the ever-perplexing AV Guide web site, has posted three new reviews: Sonus Faber Cremona M floorstanding speakers ($12,800/pair) PSB Imagine T ($2,000/pair) and Imagine B ($1,000/pair) floorstanding speakers Bryston BCD-1 CD player ($2,695) It’s been four months since The Absolute Sound posted any reviews, and now all we get are these three. I guess you can’t rush perfection!
DAGOGO has posted a new issue. It includes reviews of the following: Audio Note Kegon Balanced 300B tube monoblocks ($95,000/pair) Ayon Audio CD-3 CD player ($6,999) StereoKnight M75 tube monoblocks ($3,850/pair) Synergistic Research Tesla PowerCell 10SE ($5,000) and Active power cords ($550-2,600) Check out the reviews, then see Phillip Holmes’ review of a REALLY high-end full-range driver: the Feastrex D5e Field Coil All Permendur ($11,150-45,000). Wow!
Affordable Audio has published a new issue. It includes reviews of the following: Audio Horizon TB5.0n tube buffer ($725) Eficion Ficion F20 bookshelf speakers ($650/pair) Budget monitor speaker comparison: Aperion Audio 6B ($690/pair), Swan 2.1SE ($599/pair), and Polk Audio 5jr (used) Wyatt Woodworking cabinet kit for Audio Nirvana drivers ($285-330) Acoustic Revive accessories ($175-450) Acoustic Revive cables ($725-1,950) Download the entire issue (18 MB PDF) by going to the Affordable Audio web site and clicking
TNT-Audio has reviewed the Trends Audio PA-10 tube preamp ($225, $265 for SE version). This is a tiny unit (photo) with headphone output. It is a “hybrid pre amp using TWO MOSFETs (per channel) as the output drivers and all this works in class-A.” Reviewer Nick Whetstone thought the PA-10 was a positive addition to some class-T amps, but not others. Bottom line: If you are looking to put together a micro-system of separates, it
Enjoy the Music.com has published a new issue. It includes the following new audiophile equipment reviews: ASL HB1 hybrid tube headphone amp ($300) Benchmark DAC1 PRE preamp ($1,595) Benchmark DAC1 USB, as a headphone amplifier ($1,295) Conrad-Johnson ET250S hybrid stereo power amp ($7,500) GIK Elite Pillar bass traps ($289) and D1 diffusers ($198) Blue Circle Audio SB90T hybrid stereo amplifier ($3,295) Read the reviews, then check out the new issue of the DIY Audio Magazine.