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April Music, Eximus, Stello, Verastarr

April Music presented the new Eximus DP1 DAC-preamplifier ($2995), which offers six digital inputs, including USB 2.0; two analog inputs, including a front-panel Aux; three analog outputs, including a front-panel headphone jack; and supports resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz.

Someone should review this thing. But not me. JA? ML? JI? EL? AD?

Oh: It also looks kinda cool, with pretty little leaves engraved on the top panel and little dots on the side panels that work to disseminate heat.

Meanwhile, April Music’s new Aura Vivid CD player offers balanced and single-…

GTT Audio: YGA, Tenor, Soulution, Bryston, Kubala-Sosna

In addition to the Long Valley Pub & Brewery and Valley Shepherd Creamery, here’s one more reason to visit Long Valley, NJ: GTT Audio & Video, carrying YG Acoustics, Tenor Audio, Soulution, Kubala-Sosna, Bryston, and many other respected brands.

GTT Audio & Video built a cost-no-object system: YG Acoustics Anat III Pro Signature loudspeakers ($119,000/pair), Tenor Audio 350M monoblock amplifiers ($100,000/pair), Tenor Audio line stage ($75,000), Kubala-Sosna cables ($6000/1m), Soulution 540 CD/SACD player ($32,500), and Bryston BDP-1 digital music player ($2500).

I…

YGA, Devialet, Bryston, PS Audio, Kubala-Sosna

In a much smaller room next door to GTT Audio's main suite, YG Acoustics’ Carmel loudspeakers ($18,000/pair) were driven by a Devialet D-Premier integrated amplifier/DAC ($16,999). Source components were Bryston’s BDP-1 digital media player ($2250) and PS Audio’s Perfect Wave Transport ($3000). Cables were Kubala-Sosna’s Emotion.

Again, I listened to “Watershed” from Mark Hollis, and, again, I was impressed by the overall scale&#151just as well-balanced as in the larger GTT Audio room, but only appropriately smaller. Tonal qualities were similar to those found in the larger room…

Music Hall: Hi-Fi for Everyone

My kind of style in the Music Hall room, where the featured system came in at under $4000: Music Hall’s new a70.2 integrated amplifier ($1499), MMF-2.2 turntable ($449) with Cruise Control 2.0 power supply and speed control ($299) and cork record mat ($50), a15.2 CD player ($499), the new DAC15.2 ($299), and Epos Epic 2 loudspeakers ($799/pair; see our reviews in the November and December issues).

The a70.2 integrated amplifier delivers 125Wpc and has a built-in phono section (yes!) and a home theater bypass. The DAC15.2 has USB, coaxial, and optical inputs and uses a Burr-Brown DAC.…

The Sound Organisation: Rega & Dali

Speaking of affordable, high-quality audio, The Sound Organisation was showing Rega’s new Fono Mini moving-magnet phono stage with USB output ($175). I want one.

Sources were Rega’s sweet RP3 turntable with Elys cartridge ($1095; see Mikey Fremer’s review in December) and old-school Apolla CD player ($995). Rega’s DAC ($995; see our reviews in the May and October issues) and the new 50Wpc Brio-R integrated amplifier ($895; see Sam Tellig’s review in December) also got in on the fun.

I listened to the new Dali Zensor 1 loudspeakers ($475/pair), as well as the great-looking Dali…

The cutest thing I saw at RMAF

How do we get more young people interested in hi-fi?

Audioengine’s New A5+ and D1 DAC

Audioengine’s new A5+ ($399/pair in gloss black and white; add $70/pair for bamboo) adds a remote control, RCA and mini-jack inputs, a rear-panel USB charge port, rear-panel heatsink, upgraded speaker binding posts, and a variable preamp audio output. In addition, the A5’s large circular ports have been replaced by narrow slotted ports, said to provide a smoother, cleaner low end. (Who doesn't want that?)

And I thought the A5 had a smooth, clean low end to begin with! If you haven't heard Audioengine's line of powered loudspeakers, now's a great time to check them out. They look and…

Wes Bender Studio NYC

Wes Bender’s been in the hi-fi business for a long time and he’s finally decided to open up his own shop. Wes Bender Studio NYC is perhaps the newest audio salon in New York. I say “perhaps” because new hi-fi dealers seem to be popping up like mad around here. I can't keep up. This is a good thing. The more good places we have to listen, the better chance we have of growing.

Bender explained that manufacturers needed a place where they could display their products and where customers could hear those products. He currently represents Wavestream Kinetics, Hansen Audio, Redpoint Audio…

Avatar Acoustics

Avatar Acoustics’ Darren Censullo always puts together an impressive system. Every aspect seems carefully considered, made to complement the whole.

Rosso Fiorentino Sienna loudspeakers ($26,995/pair); Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable ($7995) with DFA 12.0 tonearm ($1495); AMR CD-77.1 CD player ($10,995), PH-77 phono preamp ($11,995), AM-77.1 integrated amplifier in mono-vertical biamp mode ($9995), and DP-777 DAC ($4995); AMI-HIFI Mini Server music player ($2995). Accessories included Acoustic System International cables, interconnects, power cords, equipment racks, and feet…

VTL’s Siegfried Series II monoblocks

Bea Lam discusses the voicing process. Photo: John Atkinson.

VTL opened the 2011 RMAF with a special press event, introducing the company’s new Siegfried Series II Reference monoblock power amplifiers ($65,000/pair).

The redesigned audio circuit is now fully balanced and employs a shorter, faster negative feedback loop and zero global negative feedback. In addition, VTL’s variable damping factor feedback control allows the user to precisely adjust the amplifier’s output impedance to best suit the loudspeaker load. Mundorf silver oil capacitors are said to provide a sweeter, more…