Blog draft

Hi-Fi Choice has published, by way of TechRadar, a review of the YBA YA201 integrated amp (GBP 1,290). This is a “100-watt stereo design using a Triple Push configuration.” It has a knob-less, minimalist fascia (photo). On the sound, reviewer Malcolm Steward notes: Some listeners might argue that this amplifier sounds lean but it’s more accurate to say that this controlled presentation and lack of LF bloom gives the YA201 a heightened sense of transparency

10 Audio, the pet project of reviewer and audiophile Jerry S., has reviewed the Dali Euphonia RS3 bookshelf speakers ($4,800/pair). The RS3s are visually elegant (photo). They employ a ribbon “super high-frequency driver” and have a frequency response of 64 to 28 kHz. According to Reviewer Jerry S., the RS3s are “an ideal candidate for use with a subwoofer or two.” On the sound, Jerry notes: I find the RS3s to be perfectly neutral overall,

What Hi-Fi? has posted a handful of new high-end reviews. Among them: Audio Research VS115 tube power amp (GBP 5,395) BSA 44CF bookshelf speakers (GBP 330/pair) PMC FB1i floorstanding speakers (GBP 1,909/pair) Spendor A6 floorstanding speakers (GBP 1,895/pair) Check out the reviews, then marvel at the three-stars rating bestowed upon the BSA speakers. Considering nothing in What Hi-Fi? ever gets one or two stars, these speakers must suck. Bad.

Here is the second batch of show reports from this year’s CES and THE Show, which took place January 8-11 in Las Vegas, Nevada. These links are in addition to those already published in Part 1 of this post. The Absolute Sound: H, I, J, K, L Audio Federation: A, B, C, D, E, F Computer Audiophile: A, B, C DAGOGO: A, B Enjoy the Music.com: J, K, L Positive Feedback Online: B, C, D,

On the heels of its recent show coverage, SoundStage! Network has published a handful of new reviews. Among them: Zanden Audio Model 9600 tube mono amplifiers ($51,975/pair) Arcam FMJ A38 integrated amplifier ($2,299) Rotel RCD-1072 CD player ($699) Read the reviews, then check out SoundStage’s newest feature, The Digital Domain, a column by Colin Smith. It’s dedicated to PC audio, and while it ignores Mac-based systems almost entirely, it does cover the Windows-based side nicely.

6moons has published three new reviews, each of which covers a different part of the modern hi-fi domain: desktop audio, vinyl, and tubes: Qinpu A6000MkII / V1.8 / SW5 tube desktop system ($627) Grado Reference Sonata 1 cartridge ($600) WLM Sonata tube integrated amp (EUR 2,990) Also check out year-end awards from the 6moons team, as well as 2008 favorites from their syndicated colleagues, fairaudio.de.

Australian Hi-Fi has published a new issue which includes the following high-end audio component reviews: Marantz CD 5003 CD player Klipsch Image X5 earphones JBL LS80 floorstanding speakers (AUD $5,999) Krix Harmonix floostanding speakers Parasound Halo JC2 preamp and JC1 power amp Check out the table of contents for the latest issue and decide if you want to subscribe or not. I keep hoping they will publish more reviews online, but it looks like paper

Here is the first batch of show reports and previews from this year’s CES and THE Show, which took place January 8-11 in Las Vegas, Nevada: The Absolute Sound: A, B, C, D, E, F, G Audioholics: A AVRev.com: A Enjoy the Music.com: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I Positive Feedback Online: A Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity: A, B, C SoundStage! Network: A, B, C, D, E, F, G,

What Hi-Fi? has posted new reviews of the following high end audio components: Naim Nait XS integrated amplifier (GBP 1,250) DALI Ikon 7 floorstanding speakers (GBP 1,200/pair) Neat Motive 1 floorstanding speakers (GBP 1,295/pair) Aurousal VS floortstanding speakers (GBP 1,600/pair) Check out the full reviews, then tell me what you think of the “Write your own review” feature at the bottom of each page. Are you inclined to write one, or would you be more

Audiophile Audition has posted a pair of new phono preamp reviews, both by Brian Bloom: Whest TWO phonostage ($1,895) PS Audio GCPH phono preamplifier ($1,000) I have to say, Brian’s honest approach to both of these reviews impressed me. At one point he even says: I can’t profess to be an expert in this category and there are a quite a few other pieces in this range. How often do you hear such a thing