LATEST ADDITIONS

Munich 2019
Vienna Acoustics Mozart Speakers, Vincent SP-T700 Amplifiers, Pangea Cables
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 13, 2019  |  0 comments
Given the background noise, it was a little difficult to focus on the music from Yello and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd in the system from Vienna Acoustics and Vincent, but this little system's ability throw a large, ear-catching ambient soundstage was its strong point. Speakers were the Vienna Acoustics Mozart (€1800/pair). Vincent electronics included (I think) the new DAC-7, which handles up to 32/384 and DSD256 and has a tube output stage, along with the SA-T7 preamp (€2499), SP-T700 mono hybrid amplifier (€1999/each), CD-S7 hybrid CD player (€2199), and PHO-701 phono stage (€649). Cables were from Vincent and Pangea.
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Munich 2019
Raidho TD1.2 Speakers, Chord Ultima 2 Amplifiers, Pear Audio Blue Turntable, Top Wing Cartridge, Gamut Cabling
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 13, 2019  |  0 comments
Raidho Acoustics' new TD1.2 speaker ($24,000/pair), whose unveiling I missed at AXPONA, resurfaced in Munich. Hearing a track from the Ray Brown Trio's Soular Energy led me to write, in my notebook, "Pretty amazing how well these small speakers create such a big soundstage." Transparency around solo instruments and percussion was quite exceptional. Save for a touch of dryness, which could have been room-related, this system sounded excellent.
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Munich 2019
PMC Does Miles in Dolby Atmos
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 13, 2019  |  4 comments
Thanks to Michael Fremer, whom I ran into at the MOC while we both waited for the show to open on Day 3, I ended up at a private listening session in the PMC room. There, after Michael pulled out his video camera and engaged in a thorough, only-Michael-would-know-enough-to-ask-such-questions Q&A with PMC's Maurice Patist—it will appear at AnalogPlanet.com—we listened to two revivified tracks from Miles Davis's iconic Kind of Blue that have been given the full Dolby Atmos surround treatment.
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Munich 2019
Aavik M-300 Amplifiers, Børresen 05 Loudspeakers, Ansuz Cabling
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 13, 2019  |  0 comments
Having heard at previous shows the pairing of Aavik electronics, Børresen loudspeakers, and Ansuz cabling, I've been trying to find language adequate to describe the quality of its earth-rooted bass and midrange. There's a very special, aged-in-wood component to its bass sound that I find fascinating. Combined with clear highs that, while not shy, are capable of conveying intimacy, the system made Anette Askvik's "Liberty" compelling listening.
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Munich 2019
Estelon Forza Loudspeakers, Kronos Pro Turntable, Bassocontinuo Racks, Kubala Sosna Cabling
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 11, 2019  |  9 comments
The "Ocean Mystery" colored Estelon Forza loudspeaker (€110,000/pair) made quite a statement all by itself. Paired with a Kronos Pro turntable (€37,600) with SCPS1 power supply (€13,500), Black Beauty tonearm (€8400), and ZYX Universe 3 cartridge (€8100); Bassocontinuo racks; Kubala-Sosna Realization cabling; Audes ST-3000 power conditioner (€3900); and Furutech NCF Booster-Signal (€2780), it conveyed electric guitar with natural bite, relayed all instruments except Eugene Istomin's somewhat tinkly piano on the Reference Recordings' LP of Mozart Piano Concerto No.21 with natural timbres and a strong midrange, and, on my Channel Classics SACD of the Mahler Symphony No.2, nailed the great expanse and natural timbres of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, along with some brightness on top.
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Munich 2019
Vitus SIA-030 Signature Amplifier, Thrax Yatrus Turntable, Schroeder Tonearm, Sculpture A Cartridge, Stillpoints Isolation Devices
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 11, 2019  |  2 comments
Lovely, smooth sound, fine timbres, and a very large soundstage in the nearfield were the hallmarks of a system that was dominated by Vitus Audio's brand new, "hardly broken in" SIA-030 Signature integrated amplifier (€35,000). The SIA-030 has a fully regulated power supply for its output stage and a 22kW transformer, and claims 400,000 microfarads capacitance prior to regulation. It operates in two modes, either 30Wpc class-A or 200Wpc class-AB, and has a volume control that adjusts by 0.5dB steps while using only one resistor in series with the signal.
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Munich 2019
Absolare Passion Amplifier, Rockport Atria Speakers, ReQuest Raptor Plus Server, Echole Cables and AC Conditioner
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 11, 2019  |  0 comments
Wonderful, truly musical warmth and clarity were the hallmarks of a system built around the Absolare Passion integrated amplifier ($26,500), ReQuest The Raptor Plus music server (1TB version with DAC that handles PCM up to 32/384, and DSD up to 256: $15,900), Rockport Atria speakers ($21,500/pair), Echole Limited Edition Power Center power conditioner ($20,000), and new Echole Infinity cabling ($TBD).
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Munich 2019
The Devore Fidelity Orangutan Reference
Jim Austin  |  May 11, 2019  |  20 comments
Why travel all the way from New York City to Munich to hear (and see) a loudspeaker made in Brooklyn? Because it's easier to get from the Munich High End press room to the Devore Fidelity listening room here than it is to get from Manhattan's upper west side to the Brooklyn Naval Yard, where the Devore Orangutan Reference loudspeakers are made.
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Munich 2019
New from Cary: DMS-550 and DMS-600 Network Audio Players; SLI-100 Integrated Amplifier
Jim Austin  |  May 11, 2019  |  1 comments
On static display: three products from Cary that just started shipping earlier this year.
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Munich 2019
Zesto Eros 300 Monoblocks, Merrill-Williams REAL 101.3 Turntable, Verity Amadis S Speakers, Purist Cables, Stillpoints Equipment Supports
Jason Victor Serinus  |  May 10, 2019  |  2 comments
The big news in this excellent-sounding system was the two new power cables from Purist Audio Design. First was the Purist Diamond Limited Edition AC Power Cable ($6300/1 meter, with an ultimate length of 1.8 tip to tip). Composed of 10-gauge Nano silver, the cable includes a five-stage filter box intended to counteract RMI and EF from outside forces and the internal workings of equipment. Beneath that baby lies Purist's all-new Diamond Revision Neptune AC Power Cable ($3800/meter), which contains 8-gauge copper wrapped with strands of Nano silver.
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