6moons has come out of the new year gates running with a handful of new reviews. Among them:
If you’re interested in the Hegel gear, you will want to act fast. Only 30 units of each one will be made. Oh, and you can get any color you want, as long as it’s black.
Computer Audiophile has reviewed an interesting device for getting bits from a computer to a DAC: the Gefen Digital Audio Extender ($150). The device is actually a pair of compact units (photo) which have both optical and coax digital connections, and are capable of sending “digital audio up to 330 feet over a ubiquitous category 5e (CAT-5e) Ethernet cable.”
According to reviewer Chris Connaker, the units are bit-perfect and can handle up to 24/96 data. As for the sound, he writes:
Sonically the Gefen Digital Audio Extender is really good. I spent many hours with these units in my audio system and suffered no listening fatigue.
Listening via the optical output from my Mac Pro directly into my DAC was better sounding than with the DAE in place, but the difference was not show-stopping.
The DAE certainly has it’s own sonic signature, but the flexibility the units provide may easily turn this signature into a minor detail fro many listeners.
Read the entire review, then take a minute to tell us if you are interested in PC audio by answering our new poll. See it in the right column of this page.
DAGOGO has published its January issue. Included are the following high end component reviews:
Check out the entire issue, then leave a comment with your guess as to the origin of the DAGOGO name. I’m betting drugs were involved…
SoundStage! has posted its 2008 A/V award winners. The following components won awards:
Ultra Audio products of the year include:
GoodSound! products of the year include:
Now, on to the 2009 reviews…
Positive Feedback Online has published its January/February issue. Lots of new content has been posted, including reviews of:
Check out the reviews, then take a look at the CES and T.H.E. Show Preview (and recap). What’s up with all the close-up headshots of exhibitors? I vote we stick to pics of the equipment, guys.
HomeTheaterReview.com has posted a whole mess of new-ish reviews. Among the audio components reviewed are:
I’m not sure why so many of these reviews are of older equipment. The Classe monos, for instance, are several years old now. Reviewer Jerry Del Colliano actually wrote a different review of them back when they were new. This seems weird to me, but hey, the more reviews the better. Right?
Enjoy the Music.com has posted the January edition of its Review Magazine. Included are reviews of the following high-end components:
Check out all the reviews, then have a look at a preview of CES and THE Show. I love the idea and appearance of the Gemme Audio Green Gem speaker trio (photo) that will be on display. Too bad about the price, though ($50,000). Too bad for me, anyway!
Stereophile has posted a review of the Eminent Technology LFT-16 bookshelf speakers ($950/pair). These have “retro-technoid looks” (photo) and consist of a “push-pull planar-magnetic tweeter and midrange unit” and a “6” plastic-cone woofer.”
Reviewer John Marks compared them to the Renaissance MLP-403.5 ($1,090/pair) and had this to say on the differences:
The Renaissance’s sound is a touch darker and definitely weightier. The LFT-16 has more clarity in the midrange and treble, and overall a brighter, faster, slightly lighter sound.
On balance, John concluded:
The Eminent Technology LFT-16 is a quirky but high-value loudspeaker: $$$ for outstanding value.
Check out the entire review, then take a look at John’s review of the Renaissance MLP-403.5 ($1,090/pair). Thanks for the reviews, John!
I’m a little late with this one, but TNT-Audio has reviewed the Opera M15 horn floorstanding speakers (EUR 8,000). These are large, retro-looking units (photo) with 3″ compression drivers and 15″ main drivers.
Reviewer Geoff Husband was impressed by their flawless finish, unfatiguing sound, and big presentation:
… the ‘Bigness’ comes from effortless dynamics and a completely uncompressed performance from the top to the bottom. That 15″ driver will obviously shift a hell of a lot of air … but the horn tweeter matches it punch-for-punch beyond threshold-of-pain.
He did think they lacked somewhat in imaging and detail:
Compared to the very best, my Loth-x Polaris for example, the M15’s do swallow ultra-fine details and lack some of the air beloved of some hi-fi fans, but if that’s the price for Technicolor wall-of-sound presentation, and a listen-all-night presentation then so be it.
In conclusion, Geoff notes:
Anyone looking for big-sounding and valve-friendly speakers that has that kind of money to spend and a suitable room should definitely give them an audition.
Read the entire review. I haven’t heard these, but based on my experience with lesser horn designs, I think they could be quite exciting–as long as the treble is uncolored. Hey, I can dream, right?
6moons has published another pair of syndicated reviews from German publication, fairaudio:
Check out the reviews, and again, let’s hear it for the translators!
