Digital sources: dCS Varèse five-piece music system, Innuos Nazaré music streamer-server, PhoenixNET; Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModule Deluxe with Sonore Audiophile Linear Power Supply; ATGBICS AFCT-5710PZ-C single-mode fiber optic modules (2); ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro and Netgear Nighthawk modem with Nordost QSource linear power supply; ASUS AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro satellite mesh routers; Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS with Ferrum Hypsos linear/switching hybrid power supply; Apple 2023 iPad Pro and 2025 MacBook Air.
Preamplifiers: Audio Research…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Two high-performance preamplifiers were subjected to further listening in recent issues. Jason Victor Serinus wrote about Rotel's Michi P5 in September 2022; Jim Austin auditioned the Audio Research Reference 6SE in October 2022.
For his FollowUp, Jim Austin compared the tubed Audio Research Reference 6SE ($18,000) with the solid state Pass Labs XP-32 ($18,375). "I wanted to experience the differences in the short term and then take note of how those differences panned out over time," he wrote. His conclusion? "These two preamps are zeroing in on the same sound from opposite directions. I…
Digital Component of the Year
HoloAudio May (Level 3) D/A processor ($4998; reviewed by Herb Reichert & John Atkinson, August & September 2020, Vol.43 Nos.8 & 9 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order)
AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt D/A processor/headphone amplifier ($299.95; reviewed by John Atkinson, December 2019, Vol.42 No.12 Review)
Chord Hugo M Scaler Signal Processor ($4795; reviewed by John Atkinson, March 2020, Vol.43 No.3 Review)
T+A MP 3100 HD SACD player–D/A processor ($21,000; reviewed by Jim Austin, June 2020, Vol.43 No.6 Review)
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When I ran into Tyler Beebout and Jackson Paddon, they were all wide-eyed and jittery.
"Have you seen those alien speakers yet? You have to check them out! After listening to them, I feel like I've spoiled myself for the rest of my life. I don't know what to do now."
Shit, I hadn't seen the alien speakers yet. They were talking about ViV Laboratory's exotic Evanui Signature single-driver horn-loaded loudspeaker ($60,000/pair).
"Wow," I said. "It kind of looks like a flower."
"No, E.T.!" exclaimed the Evanui's designer, Koichiro Akimoto.
The…
At home, I’ve been playing around a little bit with my new Anniversary Ringmat 330 replacement platter mat for my Rega P3-24 turntable. However, I haven’t been in the best mood for comparative listening sessions—I came home from work with a headache the last two nights, and I’ve still been suffering from some post-static stress disorder (PSSD) while playing LPs—so I’m not ready to make any value judgments.
This isn’t the best time for inserting new variables into the system.
I did receive the latest LP from Not Not Fun Records, a split 12-inch featuring…
Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: dCS Varèse five-piece music system, Rossini CD/SACD transport; EMM Labs DV2i DAC, Innuos Nazaré Music Server and PhoenixNET network switch; Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModule Deluxe (2); Broadcom/Avago AFBR-5718PZ 1GB SX-SFP, Gen 5 Fiber Optic modules (2); Nordost QSource linear power supply (2); Sonore Audiophile Linear Power Supply; Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS with Ferrum Hypsos linear/switching hybrid power supply; ASUS AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro mesh routers and Netgear Nighthawk modem; Apple 2023 iPad Pro and 2025 MacBook Air.
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: dCS Varèse five-piece music system, dCS Rossini CD/SACD transport; EMM Labs DV2 DAC, Meitner MA3 Integrated DAC; Innuos Statement Next-Gen Music Server and PhoenixNET network switch; Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModule Deluxe (2); Broadcom/Avago AFBR-5718PZ 1GB SX-SFP, Gen 5 fiberoptic modules (2); Nordost QSource linear power supply (2); Sonore Audiophile Linear Power Supply; Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS with Ferrum Hypsos linear/switching hybrid power supply; ASUS AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro mesh routers and Netgear Nighthawk modem; Apple…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: dCS Varse five-piece music system, dCS Rossini CD/SACD transport; Innuos Nazaré Music Server, NazaréNET, and NazaréFLOW; Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModule Deluxe; ATGBICS AFCT-5710PZ-C and Finisar FTLF1318P3BTL single-mode fiber optic modules; Nordost QSource linear power supply (2); Sonore Audiophile Linear Power Supply; Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS with Ferrum Hypsos linear/switching hybrid power supply; ASUS AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro mesh routers and Netgear Nighthawk modem; Apple 2023 iPad Pro and 2025 MacBook Air.
Preamplifier:…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: dCS Varèse five-piece music system; Innuos Nazaré Music Server, NazaréNET, and NazaréFLOW; Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModule Deluxe with Sonore Audiophile Linear Power Supply; ATGBICS AFCT-5710PZ-C single-mode fiber optic modules (two); Netgear Nighthawk modem and ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro mesh router with Nordost QSource linear power supply; ASUS AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro satellite mesh routers; Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS with Ferrum Hypsos linear/switching hybrid power supply; Apple 2023 iPad Pro and 2025 MacBook Air.
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Photo: Laura LoVecchio
The Chicago Show is happening this weekend at the Westin O'Hare. Showgoers are greeted by this display of Stereophile's May issue and Jason Victor Serinus's live reporting will start shortly.