Blog draft

6moons has come out of the new year gates running with a handful of new reviews. Among them: Thorens TEP 3800 preamp (EUR 15,000) Zu Audio Presence floorstanding speakers (EUR 10,400/pair) Hegel P10 preamp (EUR 6,000) and H10 power amp (EUR 8,000) If you’re interested in the Hegel gear, you will want to act fast. Only 30 units of each one will be made. Oh, and you can get any color you want, as long

Computer Audiophile has reviewed an interesting device for getting bits from a computer to a DAC: the Gefen Digital Audio Extender ($150). The device is actually a pair of compact units (photo) which have both optical and coax digital connections, and are capable of sending “digital audio up to 330 feet over a ubiquitous category 5e (CAT-5e) Ethernet cable.” According to reviewer Chris Connaker, the units are bit-perfect and can handle up to 24/96 data.

DAGOGO has published its January issue. Included are the following high end component reviews: Isoclean 80A3 Audio Grade Filter ($4,200) Legacy Audio Helix loudspeaker system ($43,000) Lindemann 820S SACD player ($21,700) Raidho Ayra C1.0 mini-monitor speakers ($14,000/pair) Check out the entire issue, then leave a comment with your guess as to the origin of the DAGOGO name. I’m betting drugs were involved…

SoundStage! has posted its 2008 A/V award winners. The following components won awards: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexandria X-2 Series 2 Loudspeakers ($158,000/pair) Bryston BP 6 C-Series Preamplifier ($1,995) Infinity Primus P162 Loudspeakers ($318/pair) PSB Synchrony One Loudspeakers ($4,500/pair) Grant Fidelity RITA-880 Integrated Amplifier ($5,299) Definitive Technology Mythos STS SuperTower Loudspeakers ($2,998/pair) Tri-Planar Mk VII UII Tonearm ($4,750) Ultra Audio products of the year include: Reference 3A Grand Veena Loudspeakers ($7,995/pair) Weiss Minerva Digital-to-Analog Converter ($4,500)

Positive Feedback Online has published its January/February issue. Lots of new content has been posted, including reviews of: E.A.R. Disk Master turntable ($17,000) Audience Au24-e and powerChord-e cable system ($482-1554) Merlin VSM-MXe loudspeakers ($11,500/pair) Cathedral Sound Acoustic Panels ($179/pair) – A second take Audiomachina Maestro loudspeakers ($49,500/pair) Xavian Electronics Mediterranea loudspeakers ($10,500/pair) Check out the reviews, then take a look at the CES and T.H.E. Show Preview (and recap). What’s up with all the close-up

HomeTheaterReview.com has posted a whole mess of new-ish reviews. Among the audio components reviewed are: Krell Evolution 707 AV preamp ($30,000) Bowers & Wilkins 703 floorstanding speakers ($3,000/pair) Vandersteen 1C floorstanding speakers ($995/pair) Bowers & Wilkins 685 bookshelf speakers ($600/pair) Audio Research LS26 preamplifier ($5,995) Classe Audio CA-M400 mono power amplifiers ($10,000/pair) Revel Performa M22 monitor speakers ($2,000/pair) I’m not sure why so many of these reviews are of older equipment. The Classe monos, for

Enjoy the Music.com has posted the January edition of its Review Magazine. Included are reviews of the following high-end components: fo.Q audio damping accessories ($40-615) Juicy Music Peach II linestage tube preamp ($1,695) TJ Full Music Carbon Plate 300B tubes ($459-700/pair) Cables Galore – Part 3 – Power Chords ($199-2,495) Marantz SA8003 SACD player ($999) Thiel SCS4 monitors ($990/pair) with SS1 SmartSub subwoofer ($2,900) Check out all the reviews, then have a look at a

Stereophile has posted a review of the Eminent Technology LFT-16 bookshelf speakers ($950/pair). These have “retro-technoid looks” (photo) and consist of a “push-pull planar-magnetic tweeter and midrange unit” and a “6” plastic-cone woofer.” Reviewer John Marks compared them to the Renaissance MLP-403.5 ($1,090/pair) and had this to say on the differences: The Renaissance’s sound is a touch darker and definitely weightier. The LFT-16 has more clarity in the midrange and treble, and overall a brighter,

I’m a little late with this one, but TNT-Audio has reviewed the Opera M15 horn floorstanding speakers (EUR 8,000). These are large, retro-looking units (photo) with 3″ compression drivers and 15″ main drivers. Reviewer Geoff Husband was impressed by their flawless finish, unfatiguing sound, and big presentation: … the ‘Bigness’ comes from effortless dynamics and a completely uncompressed performance from the top to the bottom. That 15″ driver will obviously shift a hell of a

6moons has published another pair of syndicated reviews from German publication, fairaudio: Astintrew At2000 hybrid integrated amplifier (EUR 1,800) Nubert nuVero 4 bookshelf speakers (EUR 1,140/pair) Check out the reviews, and again, let’s hear it for the translators!