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Enjoy the Music.com has published October editions of Superior Audio and the Review Magazine. Along with a bunch of new articles, the editions include many new high-end audio component reviews: Antique Sound Labs Monsoon DT MKII tube monoblocks ($4,000/pair) Aaron No.1.a integrated amp (EUR 3,490) Manley Labs The Wave tube preamp with DAC ($7,500) Kharma CE2.3c speakers w/ ceramic tweeters ($12,000/pair plus $1,750) Aperion Audio 6T floorstanding speakers ($1,390/pair) Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK-3iX tube
Stereo Times has reviewed the Audio Analogue Maestro Duecento integrated amp ($10,000) and Maestro CD player ($3,400). Reviewer Dave Thomas compared these Italian-made beauties to units from Classé and Vitus Audio. His conclusion? The Audio Analogue Maestro CD player and Maestro Duecento integrated amp are musically spectacular performers that are as lovely to look at as they are to listen to. Read the entire review, then check out other recent reviews which include components from
6moons has reviewed the German-made Accustic Arts CD Player I MkIII ($8,700). Reviewer Frederic Beudot compared it to the similarly-priced Esoteric X03-SE: All discs sounded warmer than with the X03-SE as though imbued by a gentle golden hue. This golden hue which I could hear on every disc reduced the tonal diversity the AA player would otherwise have been capable of. On the other hand, it was responsible in no small part for its ease
HIFICRITIC, an ad-free print-only magazine from UK, has published its 11th issue. It includes an excellent assortment of reviews and articles, two of which focus on comparisons: Four Quality Stand-Mounts (Focal, Guru, Opera, Sonus Faber) Four Inexpensive Phono Stages (Creek OBH-15, among others) Naim HDX hard disk player Wilson Sophia 2 floorstanding speakers AcousticRevive cables Subjective Sounds (PMC IB2) Hi-Fi Myths: Crossovers Check out the entire table of contents, then pay a visit to the
Stereophile continues to republish archived reviews on its web site. When possible, they even group reviews of multiple generations of the same component, as in the case of the VPI HW-19 turntable: VPI HW-19 Mk.I, II, and III turntables ($730-1,800) Chario Academy One speakers ($2,300/pair) Reviewers of the VPI turntable included J. Gordon Holt, Anthony H. Cordesman (twice), and Guy Lemcoe. Larry Greenhill reviewed the Chario speakers.
TNT-Audio has reviewed a new Class-T integrated amplifier; the Virtue Audio Audiophile.ONE ($249). When used with the included 24v power supply, the unit produces 30 watts into 8 ohms. With the optional 30v power supply ($29), power output jumps to roughly 50 watts. Reviewer Nick Whetstone came to some interesting conclusions after making two key comparisons: Compared to the four-channel regulated Gainclones the Audiophile.ONE sounded very slightly clearer, and more neutral than the warmer sounding
Polish online magazine HIGH Fidelity has posted reviews for several new components as part of their September/October issue. Editor-in-chief Wojciech Pacuła wrote the following in-depth reviews (translations by Krzysztof Kalinkowski): KR Audio Kronzilla SXI-S tube integrated amp (PLN 39,000) Weiss DAC1-MkII DAC (PLN 18,000) Audiomatus PP03 preamp (EUR 1,039) and AM500R monoblock power amps (EUR 4,956/pair) Emme Model β floorstanding speakers (EUR 2,970/pair) Check out the new issue, then explore past issues.
Audiogon member Blindjim has posted a detailed review of the Running Springs Audio Haley AC power filter ($1,400). Upon comparing it to the PS Audio Duet, the reviewer notes: In contrast to the PS Audio Duet, which I am in favor of owning as I own two of them, the Haley leaps ahead in the degree of speed and flow the musical picture develops. There is more dynamic thrust, and pace to it’s tempo than
Audio Ideas Guide has reviewed two models of Crystal Cables; the CrystalSpeak Micro semi-biwire speaker cables with splitters ($2,512 per 2 meter pair), and CrystalConnect Micro interconnects ($738 per 1 meter pair). Reviewer Andrew Marshall used a Bryston 3B SST amplifier and Paradigm Reference Studio 20, V.4 speakers to compare the Crystals to his Kimber BiFocal and Select cables. He had the following to say of the CrystalSpeaks’ sound: So this cable is not inexpensive
Steve Guttenberg, aka The Audiophiliac, has written a post about the Cayin A-50T all-tube integrated amp ($1,295). Obviously impressed with the sound for the money, Steve writes: It’s warm and juicy, like a wet kiss, but I never felt the A-50T was soft or lacking in midrange or treble resolution. Bass is wonderfully ripe, what can I say, 35 watts never sounded this potent before. Read the whole post, then check out his full review