Computer Audiophile has reviewed the Focal Electra 1007 Be bookshelf speakers ($4,500/pair). These are two-way bass reflex designs with 6.5″ mid-bass drivers and 1″ pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeters (photo).
Reviewer Chris Connaker was impressed with the build quality:
Good looks and good sound can be an elusive combination unless the product designers are very skilled. Matching a Beryllium tweeter with the aluminum face plate, piano gloss lacquer, and beautiful wood finish is a winning combination for Focal.
Chris also was impressed with the sound:
From the hard punch of a drum solo to the painfully accurate vocals of Lauryn Hill to legendary rock and roll to relaxing, non-fatiguing piano, the Focal Electra 1007 Be bookshelf loudspeaker can transparently reproduce a very wide range of music despite its small footprint.
Read the entire review.
SoundStage! Network has published an update. It includes reviews of the following:
Also check out publisher Doug Schneider’s latest editorial, in which he reaffirms GoodSound’s committment to reviewing affordable gear. Bravo!
Positive Feedback Online has published a new issue. It includes reviews of the following:
Check out the rest of the new issue, then tell me if you think the world actually needs another cable review…
Bound For Sound, a print-only magazine of the ad-free variety, is out with a new issue. It includes reviews or articles on the following components:
- Reference 3A Episode floorstanding speakers
- SP Technology Timepiece Mini bookshelf speakers
- Magnepan 1.6Q floorstanding speakers
- Onkyo DX-7555 CD player
- Bartha mod for Cambridge Audio 640p outboard phono stage
- Eastern Electric M156 power amp
Check out the full contents of the new issue, then look into subscribing.
TONEAudio, the “e-journal of analog and digital sound,” has published a new issue. It includes reviews and articles on the following high end components:
- Old School: Audio Research SR-3 Preamplifier
- Cambridge Audio DacMagic upsampling DAC ($449)
- Ortofon 2M Blue MM cartridge ($200)
- MartinLogan Purity floorstanding speakers ($3,295/pair)
- Primare DVD-i 10 all in one system ($2,495)
- Rega P3-24 turntable ($1,295)
- Nagra BPS phono preamp ($2,395)
- Magnepan 1.6 floorstanding speakers ($1,895/pair)
- NAT Plasma R tube preamp ($5,600)
- WLM LaScala monitor speakers ($4,500/pair)
- Conrad-Johnson Classic tube preamp ($1,795-2,495)
- Conrad-Johnson LP66S tube power amp ($4,395)
- Rega Elicit internal phono stage ($145-175)
- Grado Reference Series Master 1 cartridge ($1,000)
- DeVore Fidelity The Nines floorstanding speakers ($6,500/pair)
- Grado SR-60 i headphones ($79)
Also included is a review of the HP TouchSmart IQ500T PC ($1,199). This is a touch screen all-in-one design with Microsoft Vista OS and Zune music player software. Despite its apparent inability to play uncompressed audio files, the unnamed reviewer RAVES it as an Apple iTunes killer due to its superior fun factor. OK…
Anyway, download the entire issue for free (48MB PDF), then check out the magazine’s redesigned web site. I think it’s a huge improvement, but my jaw almost hit the floor when I realized the review index does not link to the reviews it indexes–it only provides the issue and page of the PDF file in which they appear. Come on, guys. I thought this was an “e”-journal!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Stereomojo has reviewed the Nightingale AFS-30 tube power amp ($5,100) and PTS-02 tube preamp ($2,390). These are Italian made components with walnut cabinets and classy, retro styling (photo). The power amp is a Class A design with 30Wpc, while the preamp has both MM and MC phono inputs, an attached power cord, and no headphone jack.
Reviewer Mike Peshkin loved the amp/preamp combo overall. He did prefer his Hagerman Piccolo phono preamp to the phonostage(s) in the PTS-02, however. In conclusion, he writes:
Summing it all up I have to say that this combo is one of the great duos out there…I loved my time with it, loved its adaptability with phono playback (I made it even more so with the addition of the Piccolo), and was thrilled with how CDs sounded. Loan me some money and I’ll keep them…OK?
Read the entire review, then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the Leo Kottke album, 6 and 12 String Guitar, that Mike gushes over in this review (and others). It’s a “must-have” in my book.
Friday, February 27, 2009
FairAudio has posted, by way of 6moons, its review of the Trends Audio TA-10.1 Class D integrated amp (EUR 199). This is a Tripath based design with a tiny but solid build (photo), and a “clean 10 watts on tap for 4 ohms. Into 8, you can count on between 5 and 6.”
Reviewer Ralph Werner compared the Trends to several other Class-T amps, including the KingRex T20 (EUR 270), Scythe Kama Bay (EUR 49), and Sonic Impact T-Amp (EUR 99). For reference, he also compared it to the Myryad MXI 2080 integrated amp (EUR 1,592).
His conclusion? I think I am going to let you read it for yourself. For what it’s worth, his impressions of this little gem mirror mine exactly. With the right speakers, the sound is remarkable, and the value is off the charts.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Stereophile has posted a pair of new reviews:
Enjoy!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
HIGH Fidelity has published their March issue. It includes reviews of the following:
Check out the reviews, and don’t miss Wojciech’s editorial on new CD formats, such as SHM-CD, HQCD and Blu-spec CD. Very informative!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Hi-Fi World has published its April issue. It contains reviews and articles on a variety of components, including:
- Kingsound Prince II floorstanding speakers
- JohnBlue JB4 single-driver speakers
- PMC GBIi floorstanding speakers
- Arcam FMJ T32 tuner
- YBA YC-201 CD player
- Astin Trew At2000 integrated amp
- Yamaha A-S700 integrated amp and CD-S700 CD player
Subscribe to the digital edition to read the reviews.
