A J. Sikora Standard Max Turntable ($22,995), with a J. Sikora KV Max 9" Tonearm ($11,750), mounted with an Aidas True Stone Gold Web Cartridge ($5995), fed sweet analog signals to a Doshi Audio Evolution 2MC Phono Preamplifier ($21,995).
Not to be outdone, an EMM Labs DA2i two-channel D/A Converter with…
Aretai’s entry-level Contra 100S stands 8.25" x 15.75" x 10" (WxHxD) and weighs 33 lb. It’s a 2.5-way, acoustic-suspension design with a pair of 6" polypropylene woofers—one up front, another around back. Bass response is…
A Soulnote D-3 DAC ($22,900), with a Soulnote X-3 Clock Generator ($5495), sent signal to a Soulnote P3 Preamplifier ($22,900), followed by Soulnote M3 monoblocks ($21,900/pair). Also on board were an AirTight Reference Phono Stage ($34,975) and an AirTight ATH2 SUT ($6975). A BennyAudio Odyssey Turntable ($36,190) fed signals into these before reaching the rest of the…
The Montreal audio show had one of its best years last year, and this year’s edition, so far, looks promising. I see it as proof that our hobby, and the love of good…
These mighty electronics fed a pair of 2.5-way bass-reflex, high-sensitivity Acora MRC-2 speakers ($17,000/pair), which extend to 23Hz and sport a gorgeous Natural Marble Stone finish. Sources were a Grimm MU streaming preamp ($17,…
The one I sat down to listen to was the main one abutting the far wall, which consisted of a 200Wpc NAD M23 Master Series power amp ($4899) and M66 streaming preamp ($7499) feeding a pair of DALI EPIKORE-9 speakers ($50,000/pair). Cabling was by Kimber Kable from the company’s Carbon line.
As I’ve come to expect from the synergy between the DALI and NAD gear, the sound was robust, detailed, transparent, and bass-propelled, with a well-delineated soundstage populated by bold,…
Along with a Network Acoustics Muon Pro Ethernet filter ($2760), a Yeti Acoustic Reference switch ($3240), an Antipodes Oladra server/streamer ($39,995), a Rockna Wavedream…
Standing at the end of a chain centered around the new and versatile Eversolo DMP-A10 network streamer with DAC and preamp stage ($5299) and a 200Wpc Eversolo AMP-F10 power amp were two SVS Pinnacle standmounts ($7999/pair), a speaker already rated to deliver bass tones down to 37Hz, plus two SVS SB17 Ultra subwoofers ($4250.50…
"On Dark Moon, you hear the essence of when we discover a song," she said during a recent interview. "We had very brief rehearsals, and then went in and recorded. I had a lot of faith in this band, and that's why I cherry-picked them. They know me, they know I'm a minimalist, and we were able to arrange…
Lorenzo’s assemblage included the classic Linn Klimax LP12 turntable ($32,880) and Linn Klimax DSM ($45,500)—an all-in-one preamp/streamer featuring Linn’s Organik DAC. Also on hand was the new Linn Klimax Solo 800 power amp ($90,000/pair), which delivers 800W into 8 ohms (and up to 1.2kW into 2 ohms).
Driving the recently introduced Linn 360 loudspeakers ($71,500/pair)—Linn’s flagship that uses their Passive with Aktiv Bass (PWAB) technology—familiar flat Nordost cables connected…