Friday, December 12, 2008
Computer Audiophile has reviewed the Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC ($5,000). This is a slim (photo) and full-featured DAC capable of accepting hi-res, 24/192 input. It was designed by the same team who brought us HDCD, so it decodes that format too. Plus, it has a high quality digital volume control, so it can be connected directly to a power amp.
“Indispensable” is how reviewer Chris Connaker described its feature set. After connecting it to a variety of PC front ends, using a variety of connections, he remarked:
The single most recognizable and talked about characteristic of the Alpha DAC is its soundstage. I describe the soundstage as expansive, transparent, and three dimensional. The soundstage produced from the Alpha DAC is unlike anything else. It is perhaps what makes the music reproduced through the Alpha DAC sound live instead of recorded.
In comparison to the Weiss Engineering Minerva DAC ($4,950), Chris said it came down to personal preference:
The Minerva has a much more focused soundstage that may be narrow to some listeners. On the other hand this focused and tight soundstage is exactly what some listeners are seeking.
Read the entire review, and the Weiss review, then check out the Computer Audiophile Suggested Hardware (CASH) list for more well-regarded DACs, laptops, and external hard drives. I burned and boxed my CDs over a year ago. My only regret is not doing it sooner!
Friday, December 12, 2008
SonicFlare, taking a break from its auto show coverage (?), has reviewed the Ducale bookshelf speakers ($3,950) from Goldenote (formerly Bluenote). These Italian “bombshells” (photo) employ a 2-way double front reflex design and inverted ceramic tweeters.
Reviewer Danny Kaey compared them to his Harbeth Super HL5 speakers and observed:
I can say with all certitude that at least with rock music, I preferred the Ducales over my Harbeths. Despite the Ducales being smaller, they excelled in lending rock tracks a gritty pace, a propulsive forward momentum.
In conclusion, he notes:
As the clichés go, no speakers are perfect. With gritty rock, solo piano and voice recordings, as well as jazz ensembles, I’ve hardly heard other speakers draw out so much purity out of the recordings, with such transparency. In certain orchestral works with a bigger scale and sweep, I did wish for a touch more refulgence, a bigger presentation.
Read the entire review, then take a look at SonicFlare’s Sonic Circle. It’s an interesting method for describing the “flavor” of audio components. Despite the tiresome car metaphors, I think SonicFlare has developed a valuable classification tool here. What do you think?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Stereophile has posted its products of the year awards. Some of the components included in the list are:
Read the entire article, then tell me if you’re planning to spend $10K on a Sooloos music server. Personally, I think you could get the same advantages with a good laptop, basic external storage, and a nice DAC. The $5,000 you save could buy a lot of music…
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
6moons has published a pair of syndicated reviews from German publication, fairaudio:
Check out the reviews, and be glad people are willing to translate reviews like these. Thank you!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
6moons has reviewed the Thorens TD-550 turntable with Ortofon AS-309S tonearm ($11,900) and EMT TSD15SFL cartridge ($1,800). Reviewer Ken Micallef was enamored with the unit’s Maccassar wood and chrome finish (photo), as well as its sound. Ken felt its strength fell into the categories of microdynamics, bass response, naturalness, and flow. He concluded:
The Thorens TD550 is a stellar piece of LP playback machinery. Though its lack of setup diagrams was frustrating, its sound was typically glorious. Transparent to the source, highly resolving with powerful bass notes (when on the recording), the TD550 table was also very illustrative of the entire musical picture the respective LPs presented. Every LP was a different experience, with its local color, effects, hall or studio ambience and tonality its own.
This last sentence reminds me of an evaluation technique I read about a while back. I can’t remember who the original author was, but his idea was a simple one. Instead of using the same, familiar music to audition audio systems, he suggested using as varied and unfamiliar a set as possible. The more different the records sounded, the better the system was. Makes a lot of sense to me, although I still don’t use it…
Anyway, read the entire review, then let me know if you have a link to the evaluation method described above.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Hi-Fi Choice has published a new issue (#315), or at least reviews from the new issue are showing up on parent site, TechRadar. New reviews include:
Check out these reviews, then take a look at the archives for more.
Affordable$$Audio has published its December issue. Included are the following HIGH-end component reviews:
- Bolder Cable Ultimate IV Squeezebox Power Supply ($950)
- Grant Fidelity B-283 Tube Processor/Buffer ($219)
- LaJoie SJ1 Jumpers: Multi-Writer Mini-Review ($75)
- Pathos Acoustics Classic One MK III hybrid integrated amp ($2,995)
- Marigo Audio TR ($659) and VX ($699) Mystery Feet
- A Fun Comparison: Three Fine Monitors: Era Design 5, Polk LSi9, and Totem Rainmaker
The new issue includes Part Two of Stew Nelless’ “Spirit of Orion” DIY speaker project. It also features an article by Brad Mitchell called “Another Philosophical Perspective on Audio and the Crazy People Who Consider It a Hobby.” I especially like the third principle:
No matter what you do, half of your CDs will still sound like crap.
Download the entire issue (9 MB PDF) by going to the Affordable$$Audio web site and clicking the December 2008 issue link in the left column.
TNT-Audio has reviewed the Lehmann Black Cube Statement phono preamp (EUR 300). According to reviewer Geoff Husband, this is a “very flexible stage, offering not only the usual MC/MM option, but also variable loading via DIP switches.” He compared it to his Black Cube SE, and noted:
The SE now pulled out a clear lead, most noticeable was a sense of focus it gave to the soundstaging. The Statement could sound rather diffuse, almost as if phase wasn’t handled quite as well as the SE…
This system showed another area where the SE had an advantage, and that was in the area of bass control and extension. The Statement was again perfectly agreeable to listen to, but the SE added some real punch in the bottom octave and seemed to play bass tunes slightly better.
Check out the entire review, then take a look at Werner Ogiers’ new article on “the effects of tonearm geometry and mass distribution on the measurement of VTF.”
What Hi-Fi? has reviewed the Rega Elicit integrated amplifier (GBP 1,498). The “review” clocks in at just over 300 words and can be summarized as follows:
It’s a decent amplifier, but not outstanding at this price level.
Perhaps more surprising than the brevity of the review is the number of stars the reviewer bestowed on the product: only three. This is a welcome change to the everything-gets-five-stars approach… Wow, that amp must really suck!
Read the entire review.
Positive Feedback Online has published a new two-part review covering the following components:
Reviewer Dean Seislove summed up the pairing of these two pieces as follows:
The combination of the TWO and the Silverline Audio Preludes really worked well together. For roughly a grand and a half, you can enjoy an audiophile experience that should cost many times the price. They may not please the most discriminating audiophile, but they’re perfect for those who love to listen without worrying about the exam.
Read the entire review, then thank goodness for thoughtful, brief, and levelheaded reviews such as this. Bravo!
