Blog draft
Enjoy the Music.com has published an update. It includes reviews of the following high-end equipment: Acoustic Arts CD-Player I MK3 ($8,700) and Power I MK2 ($8,500) Ayon Audio Triton tube integrated amp ($8,450) Bryston 7B SST2 C-Series monoblock power amps ($7,990/pair) Gemme Audio Green Gem three-piece speaker system ($37,500) Musical Laboratory Paeonia preamp ($1,895) and Bosangwha monoblocks ($2,900/pair) Reimyo DAP-999EX DAC ($9,000) THIEL CS2.4SE floorstanding speakers ($8,000/pair) Check out the reviews, then take a look
The Absolute Sound has posted a handful of reviews on its web site: Chario Premium 1000 Tower Loudspeaker Cambridge Azur 840E Preamplifier and 840W Power Amplifier Arcam Solo Mini and April Music Aura Note CD-Receivers Thiel CS3.7 Loudspeaker Wilson Audio Specialties Alexandria X-2 Series 2 Not sure why it’s difficult to clearly indicate the price for an item being reviewed, but, for some reason, TAS has not figured this out yet. Happy hunting!
TNT-Audio has reviewed the XTZ 99.36 floorstanding speakers (EUR 800/pair). These are Swedish-designed, Chinese-made 2.5-ways with ribbon tweeters and 6.5″ SEAS drivers (photo). Reviewer Maarten van Casteren compared them to his Dynaudio Contour 1.8 mk2 speakers. His conclusion? They can sound impressive, but they will need a good source, a big amp, a big room and a solid floor to sit on. Even then, they do lack refinement and coherence and ultimately offer more hifi
10 Audio has reviewed the Nuforce Reference 9 V2 SE monoblock power amps ($5,000/pair). These are compact units (photo). Reviewer Jerry S. compared them to his Marantz Reference MA-9S2 300W monoblocks ($15,000/pair). His conclusion? The Nuforces start and stop a note instantaneously, and can go from dead silent to quite loud without any delay. However, the easy feeling offered by the big Marantz amps of unlimited dynamic ability is largely missing and big orchestral crescendos
Audioholics, an “Online A/V Magazine” with online shop, has published the results of its $1500-$2000 Floorstanding Speaker Shootout 2009. The following speakers were included: DALI LEKTOR 8 ($1,800/pair) Infinity Classia C336 ($1,798/pair) Krix Phoenix ($1,700/pair) Salk Sound SongTower QWT ($1,895/pair) The verdict? Participants preferred the Salk Sound SongTower QWT in both sighted and non-sighted tests. Check out the full article for all the details.
Audiophilia has posted a review of the Clearaudio Titanium moving coil cartridge ($7,500). This high end cartridge looks like jewelry (photo) and has a price to match. Reviewer Anthony Kershaw used it with his Fortissimo tonearm and Musical Life Basic turntable. He had this to say of its sound: It caressed the music, cajoled the musicianship out of every bar. I can’t imagine what heavenly sounds it would coax from a Manley Steelhead phono stage,
Stereomojo has posted a new pair of exclusive, “World’s First” reviews: Shenda Music Van tube CD player ($899) Arcaydis SM 35 bookshelf speakers ($1,295/pair) Enjoy!
HIGH Fidelity has published an update. Included are reviews of the following high-end components: Wavelength Brick USB Tube DAC (EUR 1,800) A.R.T. Loudspeakers Moderne 10 floorstanding speakers (GBP 5,000) Accuphase E-250 integrated amp (PLN 16,900) + Ayon CD-1s CD player (PLN 10,900) Check out the reviews.
The Absolute Sound has posted a bunch of new reviews in recent days. Here’s the rundown: Hyperion Sound Design HPS-968 Loudspeaker Triangle Titus EX Loudspeaker Wadia 170 iTransport iPod Dock Cable Research Lab Silver Speaker Cable and Interconnect Sonos Multi-Room Music System Bryston 28B Monoblock Power Amplifier Gradient Helsinki 1.5 Loudspeaker Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Mystère IA21 Tubed Integrated Amplifier AV123 X-Statik Loudspeaker Looks like they might start posting new reviews on a regular
Stereophile has posted a half dozen new reviews in recent days. Here’s the list: Chord SPM 650 power amplifier ($4,995) Simaudio Moon Evolution P-7 line preamplifier ($6,900) Aurum Cantus V2M loudspeaker ($1,295/pair) YG Acoustics Anat Reference II Professional loudspeaker ($107,000/pair) Check out the reviews, then tell me which you’d rather have: one pair of YG Acoustics Anat Reference II Professionals or 82 pairs of Aurum Cantus V2Ms. The Aurums could make a lot of Christmas