Tuesday, January 13, 2009
SonicFlare has posted a review of the Analysis Omega floorstanding speakers ($22,000/pair). These are “full range and boxless” ribbon panels (photo) built in Greece and described as two-way dipolar radiators.
Reviewer Robert Learner is a fan of ribbons and likes them in the mid and high frequency drivers of his less expensive VMPS RM40, to which he compared the Analysis Omegas. Conclusion?
The Omegas are benchmarks of speed, precision, transparency, and spatial layering.
I did, however, note slight macrodynamic compression at higher volumes and a lack of deeper bass force and dynamic punch.
Check out the full review. I’d say leave a comment with your thanks to Robert for such an informed and thoughtful review, but it looks like SonicFlare doesn’t allow comments on its reviews anymore. Shame.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
AudioFile, a section within The Star, Malaysia newspaper site, has posted a review of the Paradigm Atom v6 bookshelf speakers (RM 1,380/pair). These are unique in appearance (photo) and described as “Two-way bass-reflex design speakers.”
Reviewer Lam Seng Fatt compared them to the much more expensive Focal JM Lab Micro Utopia Be speakers and had this to say:
Despite losing out in transparency and detail to the Micro Utopia Be, on the whole, the Atoms’ sound quality is totally enjoyable and you will want to move with the lively and energetic beat.
Lam also noted the “Big soundstage. Lively and rich upper bass, smooth mids and extended highs,” as well as the “Lack of low bass,” which he recommends addressing by using a sub, if needed.
Read the entire review, then check out other recent reviews by this little-known resource. Although the depth of the reviews is sometimes lacking, I am impressed by their enthusiasm and willingness to cover hi-fi in the context of a traditional news source. Keep it up!
Hi-Fi Choice has published its February issue and it’s a doozy. Included is an Ultimate Group Test for affordable DACs, as well as a smattering of other reviews. Here’s the rundown:
I’m not sure what the folks at TechRadar are smoking, but the Hi-Fi Choice reviews they publish are often late and miscategorized. I guess we still have to subscribe to the old fashioned paper version to get it complete and accurate. Behold, the Internet Revolution!
Bound for Sound, an ad-free print-only monthly (?) magazine, has published its 190th issue. Included are reviews of the following:
- Clearaudio Concerto cartridge
- Dynavector DV XX 2 MK II cartridge
- Shelter 7000 cartridge
- Transfiguration Phoenix cartridge
- DH Labs Power Plus power cord
- Skywire 1400 interconnects
- Herron Audio VTPH-2 tube phono preamp
- LessLoss Firewall AC line filter
- Eastern Electric M156 tube monoblocks
Check out the table of contents of the current issue for more detail, as well as a synopsis of the moving coil cartridge survey mentioned above.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
HIFICRITIC has published its 12th issue. In addition to several interesting looking articles, the following components are reviewed:
- Naim SuperLine phono preamp
- Wadia Digital 170 iTransport digital iPod dock
- MSB M200 Platinum power amp
- LFD NCSE integrated amp
- Conrad-Johnson ACT2 Series 2 preamp
- Transparent Reference XL MM2 cables
- Audio Note TT-2 turntable
Check out the entire table of contents, then go ahead and subscribe. Looks like they are now publishing four issues per year instead of six, but the subscription cost has been reduced by roughly half. Hey, and no ads!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
StereoMojo has published exclusive “World’s First” reviews of the following high-end audiophile speakers:
StereoMojo apparently “redesigned” their site recently. I honestly didn’t think it could get more difficult to use, with all the enormous graphics and multicolored text. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Affordable$$Audio has published its January issue, which includes several new component reviews as well as their Best of 2008 list. Reviewed components include:
- Almarro A205A single-ended pentode tube integrated amp ($960)
- Aperion Audio 4T speakers ($650/pair) and Bravus 8″ subwoofer ($499)
- Clear Day Audio speaker cables ($150)
- DIY Project: TNT Audio Stubby speaker stands ($18)
2008 Products of the Year include:
- Totem Acoustic Forest floorstanding speakers ($3,195/pair)
- AV123 ELT 525M bookshelf speakers ($299/pair)
- Audio Space Ref 3.1 tube integrated amp ($3,390)
- Virtual Dynamics David cables (various)
- Stager Silver Solids interconnects ($125)
- Ideal Innovations Elite 80+ tube power amp ($599)
- Emotiva XPA-2 power amp ($799)
- VMPS 626JR bookshelf speakers (price unknown)
- Audiosmile Modified Behringer SRC2496 DAC (price unknown)
- AudioMagic Pulse Gen ZX RF suppression/filter (price unknown)
- Xindak MT-3 tube integrated amp ($830)
- Acoustic Revive RWL-III acoustic panels ($950 each)
- Planet 10 HiFi FE127eN drivers ($240/pair)
- Yamaha MX-D1 Class D power amp ($5,000 list)
- Acculine A3 floorstanding speakers ($499/pair)
- Mark & Daniel Maximus Mini monitor speakers ($1,199/pair)
- Promitheus DAC ($405)
- Audioengine USA AW1 wireless USB adaptor ($149)
- April Music Aura Note CD/receiver ($2,350)
- Grant Fidelity B-283 tube buffer ($219)
Download the entire issue (18 MB PDF) by going to the Affordable$$Audio web site and clicking the January 2009 issue link in the left column.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
HomeTheaterReview.com has published (or republished) another set of high-end component reviews, most of which were written by the great Ken Kessler. Among them:
Check out the audio review archive for more. Not sure why this new batch has no photos and rarely mentions prices. Go figure.
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity has reviewed the Emotiva XPA-1 monoblock power amps ($1,998/pair). These are well-built units (photo) with a “fully differential design that takes full advantage of the balanced inputs.” They are capable of 500w RMS into 8 Ohms and 1000w into 4 Ohms.
Reviewer Chris Groppi was amazed at the value the XPA-1s represent:
Other manufacturers typically ask at least $3000-$4000 a piece for amps like this. The MSRP is $999, with an introductory special price of $899 each (January, 2009).
He had this to say of their sound:
The dynamics delivered by the XPA-1 were the first stunning aspect of these amplifiers.
The XPA-1 is very detailed and has lots of high frequency extension. This extension could be unkind to poor recordings, or components that sounded hard on top.
In conclusion, he writes:
They are some of the best amplifiers I have ever heard, period, and they will have to be be pried out of my cold, dead fingers.
Now that’s an endorsement! Check out the entire review.
Stereo Times reviewer Mike Silverton has posted another column focusing exclusively on cables and tweak products from Japanese maker Acoustic Revive. Here are the products:
- Acoustic Revive XLR-1.5 SPA Single-Core interconnects ($1,200)
- Acoustic Revive SPC-PA 2.0 Single-Core speaker cables ($1,650)
- Acoustic Revive RIQ 5010 quartz insulators ($625 per set)
- Acoustic Revive REM-8 EMF canceller ($550)
Check out the entire column, then refresh your memory on the first one, then take a look at the factory tour, then see my previous comments about carbon fiber outlet covers…
