Christiaan Punter
Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
18 May 2025
Laiv Harmony uDAC
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The Harmony µDAC is an ultra-compact, high-performance DAC that fits the LAiV Harmony R-2R Ladder Network Architecture and a discrete Class A output buffer in a beautifully sculpted seamless unibody enclosure milled-from solid aluminum.
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18 May 2025
Qobuz Connect is here!
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Qobuz Connect establishes a direct link between Qobuz and your paired audio device. Unlike headphones, Bluetooth, and AirPlay, the music no longer passes through the smartphone or other control device.
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18 May 2025
As in 2022, HFA will cover the Munich High End show using photos sent by friends in the industry. Over the course of the next days, this page will be continually updated.
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17 May 2025
As in 2022, HFA will cover the Munich High End show using photos sent by friends in the industry.
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16 May 2025
As in 2022, HFA will cover the Munich High End show using photos sent by friends in the industry.
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15 May 2025
As in 2022, HFA will cover the Munich High End show using photos sent by friends in the industry.
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9 May 2025
Artesania Audio, the high-end rack company, will introduce new products at Munich High End 2025. The brand will have a dedicated room and lots of collaborative exposure.
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6 May 2025
WestminsterLab's company motto is "Experience music as it is". The company is all about not choosing any single aspect and instead allowing the whole to reveal itself.
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5 May 2025
XACT Audio, a brand known for uncompromising digital audio engineering, is proud to announce the release of the XACT N1, a groundbreaking audiophile network switch developed entirely from scratch to meet the demands of the most discerning listeners.
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27 April 2025
The muon2 is the ultimate version of the muon cable range, and Network Acoustics' new Reference Balanced Digital Cable.
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24 April 2025
The Modular Suzi system is designed to offer various usage options and to offer existing Hugo2 / Hugo2 + 2Go users an amplifier with ULTIMA technology in a similar space-saving housing as BerTTi did before in the TT series.
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14 April 2025
A high-quality yet affordable system with a seductively fluid, spaciously enveloping, and toe-tappingly engaging sound that positively encourages long listening sessions.
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11 April 2025
How often does it happen that I come across two products in a row that both truly amaze me? Indeed, very rarely. But just like the MPD-8 Dream DAC before it, the MPT-8 Dream Transport delivers an absolutely amazing performance.
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9 April 2025
This update showcases the Driade Premium Model 9 a special custom finish, that will be the HFA monitor speaker reference in its price class, and quite a bit beyond.
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24 March 2025
Playback Designs MPD-8 Dream DAC
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Every once in a rare while, review components manage to amaze me, and this was the case with the Playback Designs components. The range is called Dream Series, and with very good reason!
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23 March 2025
Vermouth Audio introduces two beautiful Studio Monitors, intended for mixing and mastering: the Reference 01, and the Reference Mini.
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8 March 2025
muon2 Balanced Digital Cable Restless innovators Network Acoustics are excited to introduce the reference muon2 Balanced Digital Cable, the ultimate version of their award-winning muon cable. Engineered with a host of proprietary innovations, every detail has been painstakingly refined through relentless research and development. From materials to manufacturing, every element has been obsessively tested and […]
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18 February 2025
Main System 16 – February 2025
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A summary of the Main System and its operational components in February 2025.
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18 February 2025
When several reviewers raved about the Technics Grand Glass models, I was intrigued. Would they really be so different from the classic SL-1210MkII I know so well? And how would the various models compare? So, I set out to compare the SL-1200G, SL-1200GR2, and SL-1300G with the SL-1210MkII.
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30 January 2025
When I reviewed the Laiv Harmony DAC in September last year, a complete range of other Harmony products was on the horizon. Three of those anticipated products are now available. In this review, I will cover the HP2A and the LExt IN2.
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30 January 2025
Listening show at AudioExpert Caste with Riviera Audio Labs and Estelon, Saturday, 15 February 2025, 11:00-17:00.
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30 January 2025
XACT Introduces the IMMOTUS Series: Precision Anti-Vibration Footers for the Ultimate Listening Experience.
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8 January 2025
PS Audio PowerPlant 15 and 20
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The inspiration for writing a review sometimes stems from a personal desire to investigate something. This is the case here, but I must add that my situation is far from unique. I suspect the lessons I learned will apply to many systems.
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24 December 2024
The Wattson Audio Madison and Madison LE are compact streaming DACs supporting Roon/UPnP/Airplay/Qobuz Connect/Tidal Connect with Leedh volume control and a great built-in headphone amplifier.
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22 December 2024
The SW1X DAC III is available in three base versions, which can be further distinguished into special derivative versions. In this review, I'll compare two DAC III versions: the DAC III and the DAC III Balanced SP (Special Edition).
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21 December 2024
JPLAY, the premier software for audiophiles seeking ultimate sound quality, has released a new version of its music playback application, introducing groundbreaking features to elevate the listening experience even further.
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5 December 2024
Main System 15 – November 2024
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A summary of the Main System and its operational components in November 2024.
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4 December 2024
The subjects of this review are the brand-new Carbon Fiber and Panzerholz Decoupling Discs for use primarily with the Exoteryc Audio Racks and Aire Floor Platform. However, when pairing them with optionally available Artesania 100-mm Stainless Steel discs, they can be used with any other spiked rack, platform, or speaker stand.
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26 November 2024
Driade Premium Model 9
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The Premium Model 9 is an advanced yet natural-sounding monitor speaker with a linear reproduction for the entire frequency range. While the famous Rogers LS3/5A has inspired some of its qualities, it also has a lot in common with the larger Driade Model 2S floorstander, topped off with a remarkable twist all of its own.
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10 November 2024
JCAT unveils the NET Card XE EVO
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JCAT, a leader in high-performance streaming-specific products, is thrilled to announce the release of the NET Card XE EVO, a next-generation network card that sets a new benchmark for audiophile-grade network audio.
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23 October 2024
The Melco E100A audiophile hard disk drive offers an extra 8 TB of audio-grade storage for all audio systems relying on HDD storage. Naturally, this includes Melco Digital Music Libraries, as well as systems running Windows 11, MacOS, exFAT-compatible Linux-based equipment, and the Raspberry Pi.
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14 October 2024
With the AUVAs, British manufacturer Stack Audio developed an alternative to spikes and compliant couplers. Enclosed within the AUVA’s machined aluminum cases are cells containing a mixture of particles which, when excitied by vibrations, dissipate the energy virtually instantaneously, removing remove masking vibrations.
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1 October 2024
Velikinac Audio Lab Sirius
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The Sirius is a four-way speaker using a mix of compression drivers for treble and midrange and conventional drivers for the lower midrange and bass, designed to convey the soul of the music in the purest manner.
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22 September 2024
Laiv Harmony DAC
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Building on an extensive background in industrial automation, Singapore company Laiv is passionate about revolutionizing the world of audio through innovative and user-centric design in which technology adapts to us, not the other way around. In this review, I will listen to the gorgeous looking Harmony DAC.
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10 September 2024
Mafico is proud to announce a new brand in their already quite impressive brand portfolio. From now on they distribute the Morel Hifi brand in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.
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8 September 2024
XACT is proud to announce the launch of two groundbreaking products that set new benchmarks in high-fidelity audio performance: the XACT S1 EVO Music Server and the XACT PHANTOM USB and LAN Cables.
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18 August 2024
Main System 14 – August 2024
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A summary of the Main System and its operational components in August 2024.
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17 August 2024
In addition to the existing UPnP, HQ Player, and HQ Player Core + NAA modules, Aqua has introduced a Squeezelite renderer module for the LinQ Network Interface, adding ongoing significance to this streamer's future-proof nature.
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9 August 2024
XACT S1 Music Server
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With a custom 100% linear power supply with 100% linear regulation, a fully custom motherboard, a custom Operating System written from scratch and optimized for the hardware, and proprietary Femtoserver software running, all under control from the superb JPLAY for iOS app, the XACT S1 is a truly unique proposition.
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3 August 2024
Network Acoustics are excited to introduce the all-new eno2 range of 1Gb/s Ethernet products: eno2 Ethernet Filter, eno2 Streaming Cable, and eno2 Streaming System.
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2 August 2024
Melco N5-H50
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The Melco N5 Digital Music Library features a sleek build and very solid build quality. The N5 has all-new electronics, with a new mainboard, high-grade low-noise internal linear power supply, and extensive pro-grade Amphenol and Neutrik connectivity.
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1 August 2024
This is a follow-up to the main review, now including a second turntable with different cartridges, leading to new insights and an updated conclusion.
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16 July 2024
Mad Scientist Audio Prime USB
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This brand new Mad Scientist product is called Prime not just because it is the company's best cable but mainly because it uses prime numbers to define the sizes and positions of various elements to create a non-resonant "bad antenna" design that reduces noise and interference. Does this cable really make a unique proposition, or have we heard it before?
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11 July 2024
JCAT Unveils USB Card XE EVO
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JCAT Unveils USB Card XE EVO: The Next Generation of USB Audio Performance.
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9 July 2024
With the AMG STA-SE, the company has issued a successor to the AMG STA. With this new model, the company sought to narrow the gap between the different sound characteristics of models such as the ST-10 and Evolution STA on the one hand, and the AMG STA on the other
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2 July 2024
Media Room v5 – July 2024
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A summary of the Media Room and its operational components in July 2024.
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23 June 2024
Main System 13 – June 2024
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A summary of the Secondary System and its operational components in June 2024.
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20 June 2024
From the collaboration of Jesús Alejos (ATM-audio) and Daniel Reina (Admire Audio), three products associated with the AA4, AA3, AA2, and Monitor models are born.
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8 June 2024
Denafrips Ares 12th-1
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Based on the entry-level model Ares II (recently renamed to Enyo), the Ares 12th-1 is Denafrips' Anniversary Edition DAC, offering various performance enhancements over the Ares II/Enyo.
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6 June 2024
Clarisys Audio Minuet Plus
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Remember how smitten I was with the Clarisys Audio Minuet when I heard it one year ago (2023) at PUUR hifidelity? Now, go figure that the speaker company issued an improved "Neodymium" model called Minuet Plus that does everything the previous Ferrite model did but with higher efficiency and improvements across the board.
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27 May 2024
Manunta offers the richly-featured EVO Phono 3 MM/MC phono stage at a very attractive price. In this review, I will compare it with its higher-end stable mate, the M2Tech Nash.
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23 May 2024
After I don't know how many room changes, breaking down walls, re-adding them, removing others, and seemingly forever shuffling the functions of the kitchen and former hallway and bedroom areas as a result of ever-changing priorities, I think (and really hope) I have finally found the most efficient use of the available space.
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20 May 2024
A visit by Rick Paap of Dynamic Solutions proved invaluable for me and a true turning point after following his advice positively transformed the acoustics of my room, and with it, the sound of my system.
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19 May 2024
Media Room v5 – May 2024
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A summary of the Media Room and its operational components in May 2024
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15 May 2024
Highlights from Munich High End at the MOC and HifiDeluxe 2024 at the Marriott Hotel
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9 May 2024
Artesania Audio, the high end rack company, will be at Munich High End and HifiDeluxe, with two dedicated rooms and lots of collaborative exposure.
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8 May 2024
Recently, Thorens issued a new tonearm, the TP 160, which is now fitted as standard to the TD 1600 and TD 1601 turntables instead of the TP 92 arm. In this review, I will assess how these two arms compare using Thorens TAS 1600 and TAS 1500 MC cartridges.
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29 April 2024
Chord Ultima Integrated
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Chord products have always appealed to me, and I love the bold industrial aesthetic. Yet, somehow, a review never materialized. Until now!
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4 April 2024
Honestly, I did not think the moment would come that another transistor amplifier would put up serious competition for my treasured CH A1.5, but here we are. Read all about it in the review.
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25 March 2024
Main System 12 – March 2024
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A summary of the Main System and its operational components in March 2024.
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22 March 2024
In this review, I will compare the Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro Ethernet Switch with the new Bonn NX Ethernet Switch, first on its own and then augmented by the Genesis GX Word Clock.
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4 March 2024
Diptyque DP 140 MkII
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With sleek and stylish new looks, improvements in structure and rigidity, optimized PPBM technology and higher tolerances across the board, the DP 140 MkII defines the sweet spot for Diptyque.
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1 March 2024
Thorens TAS 1500 and TAS 1600
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Further to my review of the Thorens TD 1600 with the new TP 160 tonearm, I've taken the time to carefully compare the TAS 1500 and TAS 1600 cartridges, using the new arm as well as the older TP 92 arm.
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15 February 2024
Network Acoustics tempus
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tempus is the most recent addition to the Network Acoustics portfolio, a precision ultra-low noise Ethernet Switch with dedicated hybrid power supply.
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14 February 2024
Antipodes G4 K22
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Review samples supplied by Antipodes Audio Retail price (world) USD 9.000 excluding storage Upgrade price G3 to G4 USD 2.000 Storage can be included at purchase or later installed by the user Available in Black or Silver Part of the KALA series, the Antipodes K22 offers the best performance the New Zealand company can squeeze […]
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31 January 2024
Ansuz PowerSwitch X-TC3 and D3
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The Ansuz X-TC3 and D3 PowerSwitches are hugely effective products with almost magical properties. But don't dismiss the Ansuz ethernet cables, especially the D2 with its active Tesla Coils, when powered by one of these PowerSwitches.
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