The audiophile community is filled with kind, generous people who are fiercely passionate about good music and good sound. But it is no secret that there are a small number of audiophiles on the dark-side (and not of the moon) whose sole purpose in life is to sour it up for the rest of us. They are foul beings of the dark underground hi-fi network that globally infiltrates hi-fi shows, dealers, regional clubs, and even the occasional Can-Jam. I won't even begin to tell you about my findings on their black-ops missions with…
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AXPONA is the show that breaks barriers and defies stereotypes.
A couple of months ago, I listened to a prototype of the Sonoma Acoustics electrostatic Model One Headphone System ($5000) at CanJam NYC, so I was excited for the opportunity to have some more one-on-one time with a production model of the system at AXPONA. (No major changes have been made since CanJam NYC.) The Model One Headphone System includes electrostatic headphones made with Warwick Technologies' High-Precision Electrostatic Laminate audio transducer (HPEL), and a proprietary class-A Energizing Amplifier. Sonoma booked an entire hotel room where more than a handful of headphone…
The most outstanding system I heard on the first day of AXPONA 2017 sang magnificently in the Kyomi Audio room of Chicago dealer/concert pianist George Vatchnadze. Whether I was listening to hi-resolution files of Melody Gardot and Lori Lieberman, as supplied by distributor Philip O'Hanlon's On a Higher Note and played through a Merging Technologies NADAC ($14,000) and MBL 1621A CD transport ($28,000), or to the LP version of Chet Baker's 1981 Someday my Prince will Come, played on a TechDas Air Force Three turntable ($29,750) with Graham Elite 10" tonearm ($12,000) and Koetsu Jade Platinum…
The first of two Auralic-sponsored systems I encountered featured an Auralic Polaris wireless streaming amplifier ($3800), Ryan R630 speakers ($5000/pair), and AudioQuest cables—the idea being to present a minimalist, all-in-one, hassle-free setup that still offers high value and high performance.
In the room next door, Auralic featured a system at a higher price point than the above, including the Auralic Altair wireless streaming DAC ($1900), an Auralic Taurus preamplifier (discontinued), Auralic Merak 400W monoblocks ($5000/pair), YG Acoustics Carmel 2 speakers ($24,300), and Kubala-…
While I hadn't actually been in several years, the Tenth Anniversary of Record Store Day on Saturday, April 22 was, despite a rainy afternoon in NYC, quite a success. Everywhere I went lots of LPs, RSD special releases, and vintage vinyl alike, were steadily flying out of the bins. Stores were crowded. The energy levels were off the map. And it did my `ol 331/3 heart good to be shoved out of the way, at Academy Records in Brooklyn's Greenpoint district, by vinyl-mad teenagers who'd grown impatient with my aimless grooving to Let It Bleed and my serious abuse of the free Stumptown Coffee.…
Anything that involves DIY or contains the word "kit" is of automatic interest to me, nearly to a fault. It began with homemade stuffed animals (read: ugly felt objects) and miniature inedible pastries (God knows why), which later evolved into headphone mods
and now, my current learning project: a Pete Millett Butte DIY headphone amp, recommended by Sir Tyll Hertsens.
This obsession brought me to the wondrous room of SB Acoustics, a high-end audio division of the Indonesian manufacturer Sinar Baja Electric Group. Until now, SB Acoustics has mainly been a supplier to other high-end…
Someone on Audio Asylum wrote, "When it comes to hi-res audio, Herb is a babe in the woods." This is true, though probably not in the way this person imagined. High-resolution master David Chesky has been my friend forever, and I used to write for his website HDtracks.com. Todd Garfinkle, founder of and producer for MA Recordings, and Kavichandran Alexander, of Water Lily Acoustics, are not only valued friends, but I own most of their stunning recordings. In short, I'm no stranger to SACD or 24-bit/192kHz playback. But compared to most audiophiles, I've been a bit slow in appreciating the…
Through the Hegel Mohican, the track "Milanó" sounded like 21st-century religious music. Synthesized tones and sparkling textures seemed to literally flow and expand. Bass was firm and dense, with color as well as form. The high frequencies were nicely open, making Jónsi's voice sound even more androgynous and extraterrestrial than usual.
Among the numerous encounters of Mohican and Sigur Rós I witnessed were moments, here and there, when the Hegel's usual transparency morphed into opacity, its businesslike lucidity into confusion. Overall, though, the Mohican revealed itself to be an…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: CD player with Sanyo disc transport. DAC resolution: 16-bit/44.1kHz. Analog outputs (fixed, line level): 1 unbalanced (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR). Digital outputs: 1 BNC, true 75 ohm. Maximum output level: 2.6V RMS. Output impedance: 22 ohms unbalanced, 44 ohms balanced. Frequency range: 0Hz–50kHz. Noise floor: –145dB. Distortion: 0.0015% typical.
Dimensions: 16.93" (430mm) W by 3.14" (80mm) H or 3.93" (100mm) H with feet by 11.42" (290mm) D. Weight: 14.3 lbs (6.5kg) net, 20 lbs (9kg) shipping.
Finish: Black steel.
Serial number of unit…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Integra DPS 7.2 used as transport, Mytek HiFi Brooklyn, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DACs.
Preamplifier: Pass Labs HPA-1.
Power Amplifiers: First Watt J2.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93.
Headphones: Audeze LCD-X, HiFiMan HE1000 V2, Sony MDR-Z1R.
Cables: Interconnect: AudioQuest Cinnamon & Big Sur & Golden Gate, Auditorium 23, Kimber Kable Silver Streak, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 7. Speaker: AudioQuest Type 4 & GO-4, Auditorium 23. AC: AudioQuest NRG-2.
Accessories: AudioQuest Niagara 1000 Low-Z…