Blog draft
Audio Asylum inmate davehg has written a nice review of the now-discontinued Air Tight ATM 3 tube monoblock power amps. According to the reviewer, these are EL34 monoblocks with 55wpc in triode mode and 110wpc in ultralinear that retailed for $15,000/pair when new. Here’s an excerpt: With my VAC Avatar SE, ultralinear mode meant more power but at the expense of that “you are there” sense you get with with triode. With the Air Tight,
Polish online magazine HIGH Fidelity has posted extensive reviews for several new components as part of their November/December issue: Monitor Audio Platinum PL100 speakers ($4,800/pair) Mark & Daniel Maximus-Monitor speakers ($2,980/pair) Elac BS243 bookshelf speakers (PLN 1,946/pair) Abbingdon Music Research CD77 CD player/DAC (PLN 28,000) Also included in the new issue is a cable comparison from the Krakow Sonic Society, as well as an editorial entitled, “Death to the Dome Tweeters!”
As previously reported, this year’s Rocky Mountain Audio Fest took place October 10-12 in Denver, Colorado. The show included over 300 exhibitors and 160 rooms of high-end gear. Here is the complete list of show reports as of this writing: Audio Federation Big Black Disk Computer Audiophile DAGOGO Enjoy the Music.com Positive Feedback Online: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 SoundStage! Stereo Times StereoMojo Stereophile Trelja (Audiogon member) Check out the full reports,
6moons, arguably the most prolific review site on the web, has reviewed another batch of eclectic and interesting components: Kondo Gakuoh monoblock tube power amps (GBP 48,000/pair) Van Medevoort MA350 integrated amp and CD350 CD player (EUR 1,990 each) Wyred 4 Sound SX-1000 monoblock class D power amps ($2,398/pair) JohnBlue Audio Art JB8 single-driver speakers ($4,260/pair) Check out the full reviews, then take a look at the list of previews and upcoming reviews.
Stereophile has published new reviews for the following high-end components: MBL 6010 D preamplifier ($23,800) Harbeth M40.1 loudspeaker ($12,995/pair) MIT CVT Terminator 2 interconnect ($499/1m pair) and speaker cable ($999/8′ pair) Read the entire reviews, then cast your vote in the latest Stereophile poll: “Typically, how loud do you listen to your music?”
Hi-Fi+ magazine has published its October Issue (#61), which includes their 2008 Product of the Year Awards as well as a ton of new high-end reviews. Here’s the list: MartinLogan CLX Full-Range Electrostatic Loudspeaker Wilson Audio Duette Loudspeaker Wadia 581 CD/SACD Player PS Audio Power Plant Premier David Berning Quadrature Z Mono-Blocs Cairn Tornado 192 CD Player Thorens TD160 HD Record Player Copland CTA 405 Integrated Amplifier Spendor SA1 Loudspeaker Grand Prix Audio Monaco Turntable
Ultra Audio has reviewed the Reference 3A Episode speakers ($5,500/pair). These are Canadian-made three-way floorstanders with a claimed sensitivity of 91dB and an impedence of 8 ohms. Reviewer Jason Thorpe liked the midrange and treble, but was (initially) conflicted about the bass. He said the following of the midrange sound: I hate to harp on this midrange business, but this was where the Episode’s magic lay. Perhaps it had to do with Reference 3A’s penchant
SoundStage! has reviewed the ultra-expensive Wilson Audio Specialties Alexandria X-2 Series 2 speakers ($158,000/pair). At 6 ft tall and 700 lbs each, these are not your typical floorstanders. Of course, reviewer Marc Mickelson loved them. After comparing them to his own Wilson MAXX Series 2 speakers ($48,900/pair), he said the following: The X-2 Series 2s simply pulled off the illusion of real instruments in real space more readily and thoroughly than any other speakers I’ve
The Absolute Sound (TAS) is out with their November issue. “The Speaker Issue” includes no less than nine speaker reviews, plus a few component reviews as well. Here’s an partial list of contents: Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2 speakers ($148,000/pair) Triangle Titus EX mini-monitor speakers ($995/pair) Chario Premium 1000 Tower speakers ($2,100/pair) Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers ($3,695/pair) ProAc Response D Two bookshelf speakers ($3,500/pair) Quad ESL-2905 electrostatic speakers ($12,000/pair) Hyperion Sound Design HPS-968 speakers ($7,000/pair) Thiel
6moons has published another handful of extensive audiophile reviews. The following three have been posted in recent days: Haigner Rho speakers (EUR 2,600/pair) Geithain ME150 speakers (EUR 5,000/pair) JoLida JD-9A tube phono stage ($450) Read all the reviews, then check out Srajan’s preview of the Yamamoto Sound Craft YDA-01 DAC (JPY 228,000).
Jonathan Valin just gave the ATM3’s a rave review in the Dec. edition of TAS. Check it out.