Written by Jeff Fritz from www.soundstageultra.com So there I was, listening to the MSB Technology S202 stereo power amplifier ($29,500, all prices USD) paired with my own MSB Discrete DAC ($9950 base price, $21,380 as configured) through Magico A5 loudspeakers ($24,800/pair). I marveled at the system’s resolution and quietness—“blacker” backgrounds I’d never heard. The sound of this system was so good, so right—so everything—I kept thinking that if I were an audiophile who didn’t have to review gear for a living and I owned such a system, where could I go from here? Would I need to “go” anywhere at all? I was so impressed by the sound that…
Author: Dimitris
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Art Dudley from stereophile.com In late 1996, as Listener magazine entered its third year of existence, the Spendor SP100 became my reference loudspeaker, and would remain so for a considerable time. My decision to try the SP100 was influenced by John Atkinson’s review of its antecedent, the nearly identical Spendor S100, in the December 1991 issue of Stereophile. But my purchase decision came down to two things: The SP100 did virtually everything one could ask a modern loudspeaker to do, requiring in the process far less amplifier power than usual. Just as important at the time, it sold for only $3300/pair—which explains how I could…
By Steve Huff from stevehuffphoto.com Nagra Classic System Review. Pre, Amp, DAC. As I sit and write this review I am listening to music and watching for the snowstorm that is supposed to bring us a direct hit within the next few hours. I am hearing “the biggest snowstorm in 100 years” though I have my doubts. It’s currently coming down as sleet. I am not worried though. When I was a kid in Chicago I lived through the Blizzard of 79. It was awesome as a kid but I am sure it was not so much fun for my Dad…
Karl Sigman from audiophilia.com Allnic Audio H-5500 Phono Stage Analog, Star Component Award Allnic Audio with their ‘Tube Amp Done Right’ slogan has been on a roll in the last several years with a slew of well received amps, preamps, phono stages, and even phono cartridges. I had the pleasure of reviewing their splendid and well priced Rose MC cartridge about a year ago, and I am happy to report that yet again it is in my possession (on loan once more) but for a different reason: This time to help review the new Allnic Audio H-5500 Phono Stage, all tube.…
CHRISTIAAN PUNTER from www.hifi-advice.com/ Pylon Audio Jasper 25 Review samples supplied by Hexagon Audio Retail prices in the NL including 21% VAT, per pair: Black or White Lacquer, Matte: € 5.500 Black or White Lacquer, High Gloss: € 6.000 Any RAL color, Matte or High Gloss: +10% One of the benefits of being a reviewer is that relatively unknown brands still have a way of finding me. Of course, it also helps if a given distributor (Hexagon Audio in this case) has an eclectic portfolio. Established in 2011, Pylon Audio currently has a wide range of loudspeakers, of which I will be…
Anthony Kershaw from www.audiophilia.com What an interesting audio component Roon Labs has produced. Ostensibly, its reason for being is to support Roon’s wildly popular music library organization software, now in its 1.8 version and reviewed right next to this one by Audiophilia’s Assistant Editor and Roon Whisperer, Karl Sigman. The Nucleus Plus (NP) ($2559) is an Intel-based computer. But, it’s so much more. The NP uses an Intel i7 processor/NUC board with 8GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD solid-state drive. It has a single gigabit Ethernet port and two USB 3.0 ports that can be used to connect external…
From: www.stereophile.com At the same time, let’s not become too blasé about our more familiar tubular friends: the 12AX7, the KT88, and the EL34—especially the EL34. That classic pentode tube, introduced in 1954 by Mullard Ltd., has been at the heart of some of my favorite amplifiers, most of which commit the equally counterrevolutionary sin of being push-pull instead of single-ended. How I would hate to wind up in a world in which fondness for push-pull EL34 amplifiers is met with the same scorn as love for Elton John records, some of which are actually pretty good. Today I’m enjoying…
Marc Phillips // parttimeaudiophile.com My review of the Merason Frerot DAC is the first time I’ve ever done a formal review of a stand-alone digital-to-analog converter. I do have plenty of experience with DACs over the last few years, but in most cases we’re talking about an inboard DAC or a digital product that includes a DAC because, well, why not? I use DACs to stream Qobuz, and most of the time I’m merely using an AudioQuest DragonFly—the Black, Red and Cobalt models are the only DACs I’ve actually owned or used for longer than a few weeks. Lately I’ve had a hankering to…