Hi-Fi World, one of a handful of old school “hi-fi” magazines from the UK, has published its December issue. It includes reviews of the following:
- Roksan Xerxes.20 Plus turntable
- Monitor Audio PL300 floorstanding speakers
- Linn Sneaky Music DS network music player
- Cambridge Audio DacMagic DAC
- Supertest of CD players under GBP 1,500
- Spendor S3/5R vs. Amphion Prio 510 speakers
- Icon Audio Stereo 25 tube integrated amp
- Promitheus TVC preamp
- Arcam FMJ CD17 CD player and A18 integrated amp
- Benchmark DAC1 Pre/DAC
- Chord Chordette Gem DAC
Unfortunately, Hi-Fi World has no love for its web site readers, as it hasn’t posted a new review on its site for about six years. You can download single issues, however, for a reasonable cost (GBP 1.90), and subscriptions to the electronic edition are available (GBP 20.00).
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Enjoy the Music.com‘s new DIY magazine has reviewed the Hawthorne Audio Sterling Silver Iris Duet speakers ($2,500). These are open baffle three-way designs with 15″ drivers and 95dB/W/m rated efficiency. Apparently they can be ordered as a kit or assembled. Reviewer Clarke Robinson was impressed:
The visceral impact and rhythmic drive of the 15-inch drivers proved incredibly involving and fun to listen to. There’s a reason why muscle-car guys and subwoofer guys share the mantra “there’s no replacement for displacement”: the effect of having four 15-inch drivers in your listening room is unmistakable.
Read the entire review, then check out the rest of the reviews and articles in the newest DIY issue.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
6moons has reviewed the Yamamoto A-09S tube stereo power amplifier (JPY 680,000-780,000). This is an “8wpc 300B stereo amplifier with tube rectification via 5U4G EML mesh plate.” Reviewer extraordinaire Srajan Ebaen liked it a lot and concluded:
This amplifier’s gain structure and drive potential, especially when fitted with EAT or EML 300Bs and EML’s 5U4G rectifier, exceeds the norm to make it suitable for somewhat counter-intuitive loudspeakers. Benign LF load impedance behavior remains important for best performance but 90dB voltage sensitivity isn’t too low at all even with a preamp of only 12dB of gain. In short, don’t overlook this amp based on its 8wpc paper specs.
Read the entire review for all the details.
6moons’ review of the Classe CA-M400 monoblock amps (AUD 24,000/pair) was written by Edgar Kramer and originally published in Australian Hifi magazine. Each of these amps “weighs 37kg and is rated at a powerful 400 watts RMS at 8 ohms and doubles-up to 800 watts into 4 ohms (not measured 20Hz-20Khz but at 1Khz).” On balance, Edgar concluded:
The Classé CA-M400 monoblock amplifiers are superbly built and — as far as amplification devices go — comprehensively featured. They have the hallmarks of expertly engineered electronics and they are bound to last a lifetime. What’s more, they have an engaging sound that is dynamic, smooth throughout the frequency range, accurate in detail and spatially massive. Classy indeed.
Read the entire review, then check out Srajan’s review of the award-worthy Acoustic System Liveline interconnect cables (EUR 599).
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Computer Audiophile has reviewed the Bryston BDA-1 DAC ($1,995). This is a defeatable upsampling design with “two independent linear power supplies and dual Crystal CS-4398 DAC chips.”
Reviewer Chris Connaker liked its build quality and ergonomics but wished for a volume control and remote. He thought the soundstage was slightly closed-in compared to his Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC ($5,000), but he described the overall sound as top-notch. Here’s an excerpt:
The Bryston BDA-1 external DAC is an incredible bargain at only $1995. The sound quality, build quality, and feature set are equal to or better than other DACs I’ve heard at twice the price. That’s not a review cliche, that’s the honest truth.
Check out the entire review, then take a look at a review on TNT-Audio of a piece of gear aimed squarely at computer audio listeners: the Trends Audio UD-10.1 USB converter.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
StereoMojo has reviewed the Xindak MT-1 tube integrated amp ($579). This is a Chinese-made unit that is described as “a small class A integrated tube amplifier rated at a modest 12.5 watts per channel.”
Reviewer William Schuchard was alarmed by a loose screw inside the unit (as well as what he called “Bright Blue LED Syndrome”), but he thought the amp sounded better than his Bryston B100 SST integrated amp ($2,999). He concluded:
The mighty little Xindak MT-1, at 12.5 watts is recommended but only for a very select group that meet this specific criteria in order to be overwhelmingly happy with it. Not meeting any of this criteria is a recipe for a let-down.
Check out the entire review.
TONEAudio has published another epic issue. At 159 pages, it appears to have a little something for everyone. The magazine has increased its music focus, with a wide variety of interviews and artist features, but it still has room for a dozen or more equipment reviews. Here’s the list:
- AV123 EL525T floorstanding speakers ($799/pair)
- Nagra VFS vibration control platform ($1,500)
- Loiminchay Chagall floorstanding speakers ($48,500/pair)
- Whest Audio PS.30R phono stage ($3,500)
- Paradigm Reference Signature S1 speakers ($1,699/pair)
- McIntosh MA7000 intergrated amp ($7,500)
- Furutech AG-12 phono cable ($425)
- Eficion F200 bookshelf speakers ($3,400/pair)
- Red Wine Audio Isabella preamp ($4,000-6,000)
- RSA Dmitri power conditioner ($3,995-5,795)
- Audioquest SUB-3 interconnect cable ($220-610)
Download the entire issue (59MB PDF), but skip the story on Loiminchay pens(?) and the ads for high-end jewelry and sportscars… Is anyone still rich these days?
Sterophile has published its review of the Fried Compact 7 bookshelf loudspeakers ($1,795/pair). These are two-way designs apparently created in the spirit of the original Fried Q from 1976. Reviewer John Marks heard some top-end roll off and hollow coloration, both of which were confirmed by the uneven frequency response measurements. On the positive side, he noted:
In their favor, the Compact 7s were incisively dynamic, and created a large and well-defined center image.
Read the entire review, then check out the manufacturer’s comment. In it, Fried COO David Finley ascertains that the review samples were likely defective, the result of a hurried assembly outside the normal production run. Oops!
Ultra High Fidelity (UHF), a 26-year-old Canadian hi-fi magazine, has reviewed the Sugden A21SE integrated amp (CAD 4,999). This is the “Special Edition” version of Sugden’s venerable A21a integrated amp (CAD 3,249). The A21SE is a Class A design with 30 watts per channel into 8 ohms (40 watts into 4 ohms).
Editor Gerard Rejskind, along with reviewers Reine Lessard and Albert Simon, liked the amp’s finesse and grace, but were less impressed with its hot front panel, cheap remote, and crosstalk between inputs. Compared to the standard A21a, Rejskind asserted:
…the A21a costs much less but is so good. Indeed, I suspect that, in many systems, the extra finesse of the SE version would not be apparent. For most systems, therefore, the other amp is the one to get. Re-read our review in UHF No. 82, and compare.
To read the entire review, download the free version of the issue (8.3MB PDF). To get the full version of the issue, which includes a review of the Vecteur Ai4 integrated amplifier (CAD 1,190) among other things, you must pay. Luckily, the cost of downloading a single issue is reasonable, as is the cost of subscribing the old fashioned way (requires paper, ink, fuel, etc.).
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Home Entertainment has reviewed the BG Radia Z-92 floostanding speakers ($2,500/pair). Reviewer Steve Guttenberg was impressed with their innovative design (which includes a planar-ribbon tweeter), as well as the lifetime(!) parts and labor warranty. He also liked the crisp treble and spacious soundstage. For high volume listening, however, he noted:
…the Z-92 handled power like a champ, but the music’s dynamic sock was a little restrained. As I played other discs I noted the same thing, the Z-92s lacked the last degree of impact I crave from rock.
Read the entire review, then check out Steve’s entertaining but unfortunately-titled blog, The Audiophiliac. Does that sound unnecessarily icky or what?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Hi-Fi Choice, publishing online as part of TechRadar, has reviewed the Guru QM10 Proaudio two-way standmount speaker (GBP 1,595/pair). Although this model appears to be aimed at the pro market, reviewer Paul Messenger evaluated it for home use. He liked its time coherence but had issues with its mid-bass hump and “cuppy” speech performance. Ultimately, he gave it a five star rating(?) and concluded:
Although it might superficially seem costly, the Guru QM10 represents an excellent choice for anyone who wants to get into the music, while keeping the speakers physically well out of the way.
Read the entire review, then check out another British hi-fi magazine that Paul is involved with: HIFICRITIC.