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Listening
With the indicator light green, I positioned the Hana Umami Blue MC cartridge, mounted on the VPI FatBoy tonearm, over the lead-in section of a 1960s stereo pressing of The Beatles' Rubber Soul (Odeon 1C 072-04 115). The angular electric guitars of "Drive My Car" flared. I was immediately taken by the EVO 300's energy.

The PrimaLuna conjured a panoramic stereo stage for the Beatles; this was the most balanced, cohesive reproduction of this album's music I've heard. Familiar elements remained but seemed subtly rearranged due to the increased clarity, presence, power…

Description: Hybrid tube input/solid state output, dual-mono integrated amplifier with headphone jack and remote, outputting 100Wpc into 8 ohms (20dBW), 150Wpc into 4 ohms (18.75dBW) at 0.2% THD. Tube complement: 6 12AU7 (2 input, 4 driver). Inputs: 5 pairs single-ended (RCA), one pair single-ended home theater bypass (RCA). Outputs: Two pairs loudspeaker output terminals, tape (RCA), stereo/mono sub (RCA), headphone (6.35mm). Frequency response: 10Hz–80kHz ±3dB. THD+N <0.2% (measured at 1kHz, 100W into 8 ohms). Signal/noise ratio: 105dB, A-weighted. Damping…

Analog sources: VPI Avenger Direct turntable/VPI 12" FatBoy tonearm/Hana Umami Blue MC cartridge.
Preamplification: PrimaLuna EVO 100 phono stage, Aurorasound Vida phono stage.
Integrated amplifiers: PrimaLuna EVO 400, Riviera Labs Levante.
Loudspeakers: Devore Fidelity O/baby, Quad Revela 1, Volti Audio Razz.
Cables: Interconnects: Agent Pur, AudioQuest Pegasus, Triode Wire Labs Spirit II (RCA). Speaker: AudioQuest William Tell. AC: AudioQuest NRG Z, Triode Wire Labs Obsession NCF.
Accessories: Pro-Ject VC-S2 ALU RCM, HumminGuru…

I performed a complete set of measurements on the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. I preconditioned the amplifier by following the CEA's recommendation of operating it at one-eighth the specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes before I started the testing. At the end of that time, the amplifier's side-mounted heatsinks were almost too hot to touch, at 135.1°F (57.3°C). The temperature of the top panel was 101.8°F (38.8°C). This amplifier needs plenty of ventilation.

The review sample wasn't fitted with the optional moving…

I have never really enjoyed…

At this point, Roon had digested all 35TB of my main music cache, so there was room to roam. I had just heard Mahler's Symphony No.6 at Carnegie Hall performed by Simon Rattle and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, so I scanned my library and Qobuz for it. I found a 2024 recording (24/96 FLAC, Qobuz) by the same conductor and orchestra I heard live. No one would expect any system or recording to recreate what was experienced from a fifth row center seat at Carnegie Hall; I was hoping that if the playback is even marginally credible, my memory and imagination (and a good bourbon)…

Description: Music streamer with system control for digital and analog sources, D/A conversion, and switched-relay–based analog volume control. Operates as a Roon Server and Roon End Point and offers playback from local files, network files, and online streams from Tidal, Qobuz, and KKBOX. Intel i3 processor and 8GB RAM running Tiny Core Linux and Roon Core, 3.5", 480×320 pixel color TFT display, and optional internal SSD for music data storage. Digital audio inputs: one each AES3, coaxial S/PDIF, TosLink S/PDIF. Digital audio outputs: None. Analog audio inputs:…

Digital sources: Oppo Digital UDP-103 universal disc player, Custom Intel/Win11 music server running JRiver Media Center v32 and Roon, Merging Devices Hapi II multichannel DAC. QNAP TVS-873 NAS.
Power amplifiers: Benchmark AHB2, NAD C 298.
Loudspeakers: KEF Blade 2 Meta (L/C/R) with IsoAcoustics GAIA II feet, KEF LS60 Wireless (SL/SR). 2 JLAudio e110 and 1 SVS SB-3000 subwoofers.
Cables: Digital interconnects: Mogami Gold AES TD DB25-XLR0 snake. Analog interconnects: Mogami Gold AES TD DB25-XLR snake, Benchmark Studio&Stage XLR-XLR. Speaker…

The Grimm MU2 adds analog outputs and inputs to the Roon Ready MU1 streamer that I very favorably reviewed in March 2021. I measured the MU2 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system, repeating some of the tests with the higher-resolution Audio Precision APx555 system. The review sample was fitted with the v0.9.6 firmware, and while the wheel on the top panel allows access to the settings menu as well as volume and input selection, I preferred to use the MU2's webpage. Once the Grimm is connected to the user's network, this page can be found by scanning the QR code…

It's also one of my earliest memories: Windows down and heater up on a cloudy February morning, sitting backseat in an Arby's parking lot before kindergarten, the sound of heresy on the airwaves. Its replacement was Smooth Jazz. We—my father and my 6-year-old self—hated it.

My late father never had words to explain the emotion behind his angry expletives. I just knew…