Digital Sources: dCS Rossini DAC & Scarlatti clock, Aurender A10 network music player/server, Linksys router with TP-Link gigabit Ethernet media converters & multimode duplex fiber-optic cable, iPad Pro, Apple iPhone 7.
Preamplifier: Lamm Industries L2.1.
Power Amplifiers: Pass Laboratories XA200.8 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia 2.
Headphones: Audeze LCD-X, Thinksound On2.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Diamond, Nordost Odin 1 & Odin 2, Wireworld Platinum Starlight Cat8 (Ethernet). Interconnect,…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: dCS Paganini SACD/CD transport & Rossini DAC (6V output) & Scarlatti clock; Oppo Digital BDP-93 NuForce Edition universal BD player; Apple MacBook Pro computer with Intel i7, SSD, 8GB RAM; external hard drives, USB sticks.
Power Amplifiers: Pass Labs XA200.8 (monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Diamond (FireWire, Ethernet), Kubala-Sosna Elation!, Nordost Odin 1 & Odin 2 & Valhalla 2 (USB). Interconnect, Speaker, AC: Kubala-Sosna Elation! (all), Nordost Odin 2 (…
"What the heck?" Behind the Master Class Area was a giant tan-colored hooded construction, looking like a giant Zamboni machine and labeled "Wynn Audio," with a viewing window at the front.
Sticking my head under the enclosure, all was revealed. A pair of the Crystal Cable Arabesque Minissimo Diamond minimonitors ($19,995/pair with stands) that I reviewed in October 2016 was being driven by Crystal's 180Wpc CCi integrated amplifier, with source a Kalista DreamPlay One CD player ($43,000), all connected with Crystal's 15th anniversary Future Dream cables, which combine…
In the Nordost/Raidho suite, I was very impressed by the spacious, delicate, detailed sound made from a system comprising Raidho C1.1 standmounted speakers ($20,000/pair, including dedicated stand), a Simaudio CD player, Hegel amplification, Quantum Resonant Technology (QRT) power conditioning, and, of course, Nordost cabling.
Other than its cabinet which is made in China, every component of the very attractive Raidho speaker is manufactured in the company’s Denmark facility. Rather than place emphasis on the cabinet, Raidho decided to concentrate on the parts of a loudspeaker “that…
As Jason Victor Serinus mentioned last week, T.H.E. Show Newport Beach is now being held at two hotels—the larger Hilton (T.H.E. Show Newport West) and the Atrium (T.H.E. Show Newport East), shown here.
Today’s weather was absolutely gorgeous—80 degrees, sunny, and with low humidity—and because both the Hilton and Atrium offer so much natural light, moving from room to room was always pleasant. In that sense, this show is somewhat like a smaller scale Munich High End Show—the wealth of sunlight and air is just as good for the gear as it is for us, and puts…
With Quad's reworking of Peter Walker's "Wonder," the full-range ESL-2912 electrostatic, featured on its cover. Inside you'll find John Atkinson on Rockport's Avior II loudspeaker; Herb Reichert on an affordable amplifier from Emotiva and cost-no-object headphones from Abyss; Art Dudley on a Bryston's CD player; Michael Fremer on Brinkmann's MQA-capable Nyquist DAC and Ortofon's Windfeld Ti cartridge; and Jim Austin on PS Audio's ultimate monoblock.
The August issue kicks off with Jason Victor Serinus declaring it's time we stopped referring to our shared love for recorded music with high…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: dCS Paganini SACD/CD transport & Scarlatti clock & Vivaldi DAC & Network Bridge network player; Mytek HiFi Manhattan II DAC; Intel NUC7i7BNH computer with 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD running Roon; iPad Pro, external hard drives, USB sticks.
Power Amplifiers: Pass Laboratories XA200.8 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Diamond (FireWire, Ethernet), Wireworld Platinum Starlight Cat8 (Ethernet), Nordost Odin 1 & Odin 2 & Valhalla 2 (USB). Interconnect, Speaker, AC:…
Zesto's Téssara tube phono preamplifier takes pride of place on the July Stereophile's cover, to accompany Mikey Fremer's review inside. Add to that Jason Victor Serinus on the expensive Audionet Max monoblocks from Germany, John Atkinson on an affordable DAC from Arcam, Larry Greenhill on the awesome No.536 monoblock from the revitalized Mark Levinson company, Art Dudley on the Lamm L.21 preamplifier and the Serbian Soulines Kubrick DCX turntable, and Herb Reichert on turntables from Analogueworks and Palmer, and you'll see why we think this issue is rad! (JA's daughter says "Don't say that…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Apple 27" iMac, 2017 model with 3.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB RAM; Apple 15" MacBook Pro, 2017 model with 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB RAM; both running Roon 1.7 (build 667). Mytek Manhattan II D/A Converter; Arris SB8200 modem and Linksys MR8300 v 1.1 mesh router with HDPlex 200 linear power supply.
Loudspeakers/Amplification: Dragonfire Acoustics Mini Dragon DFA 2.1 desktop playback system with Mini Dragon Satellites (2), SB-8P subwoofer, MD-4 amplifier, and SHD. Dynaudio Focus 200XD wireless active…
Our July issue hits newsstands and mailboxes this weekend. Jason Victor Serinus kicks things off by asking whether CES will remain a major show for high-end audio, but occupying pride of place on the cover is Zu Audio's Soul Supreme speaker. A big paper-cone driver (with a whizzer cone) operated full-range—we all know that can't work, right. But Herb Reichert and John Atkinson found their preconceptions blown away by the sound.
Ken Micallef lives with the Italian Unison Research Unico Primo amplifier; Brian Damkroger rewires his system with Nordost Valhalla2 cables; John Atkinson ups his…