Reviews

12 January 2015
432 EVO Music Server premium
Music Server with a special twist.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
Accuphase DC-37 premium
Luxurious DAC that can handle any file format.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
21 May 2011
Accuphase DP400 CD Player premium
No doubt the DP400 is a fine looking unit. But how does it compare to the Mark Levinson no.390s?
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
2 June 2014
Accuphase DP410 CD Player premium
Successor to the popular DP400, the DP410 promises improved sound and adds USB input.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
Acoustic System International – Liveline Powercable premium
Changing the standard Yarbo connectors to IeGO 24k Gold cryo connectors
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AcousticMatters premium
Speaker- and listening seat positioning are the most important matters, but you can't achieve perfection without careful treatment of the room. This is where a specialized company such as AcousticMatters comes in.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
Aequo Audio Stilla premium
While sleek and elegant in appearance, these are not lifestyle products but seriously high-end speakers that tick all the audiophile parameter boxes. All it takes is a single demo to understand their brilliance.
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Aequo Audio Stilla Active premium
After having reviewed the Hybrid (partially-active) Aequo Stilla, the model under review here concerns the fully active version. Whereas the hybrid Stilla still requires the use of an external amplifier, the fully-active Stilla contains internal amplifiers for all of its drivers, thus eliminating the cost and worry of using an external amplifier while freeing up extra space in the listening environment.  
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AG Lifter Apollo Modular Rack premium
The AG Lifter design philosophy is to build a rack for music lovers. Apollo is the top-of-the line product with a modular nature which allows users to start with a single module and build out the system precisely as needed.
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AG Lifter Crescendo Power Amplifier Stand premium
The AG Lifter design philosophy is to build a rack for music lovers. The Crescendo Power Amp Stand is a relatively affordable standalone product that offers a very large chunk of what a full AG Lifter rack solution can do for an audio system.
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Akiko Audio GEM1 Gold and E-Tuning Gold premium
Gemstones and gold: not only are they a girl's best friend: starting now they're also a man's best friend!
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Akiko Audio Tuning Stick premium
A novel idea, carried out beautifully
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Analysis Audio Epsilon premium
The Analysis Audio Epsilons produce a sound so clean, clear, open, transparent and so utterly uncolored that many traditional cabinet speakers can only aspire to.
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22 October 2012
Analysis Plus Silver Oval XLR Interlink – Mini Review premium
Not unlike the Solo Crystal Oval but with a lot more air in the treble, a more forward character and a leaner, better articulated bass.
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22 October 2012
Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval XLR Interlink – Quick Impression premium
Neutral and relaxed but with some added gravy.
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1 August 2023
Ansuz Darkz Resonance Control premium
As I wrote review after review of Audio Group Denmark products, Darkz Resonance Control footers were always involved in one way or another. As I quickly found, Darkz have a profound impact, leading to my using several sets in my two systems as well as in many other reviews since then. But so far, the info was scattered across various articles. To make the info more easily attainable, I decided to create a separate article.
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Ansuz Mainz8 D2 and Mainz8 D-TC Power Distributors premium
Here is an in-depth review of the Ansuz Mainz8 D2 and Mainz8 D-TC Power Distributors, enhanced with an assortment of Ansuz Mainz D2 power cables and Darkz T2 and T2 Supreme Resonance Control Footers.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
31 January 2024
Ansuz PowerSwitch X-TC3 and D3 premium
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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13 February 2022
Ansuz Sparkz and Sortz premium
Whether or not one is into tweaks or enhancers such as Ansuz Sortz and Sparkz, my tests have shown that there is simply no debate whether or not they work. Even the addition of a single Sparkz or Sortz in an otherwise standard setup already makes a large difference.
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Anthem Room Correction and Martin Logan Renaissance ESL 15A premium
As my experiments show, Room correction is not only beneficial for heavily compromised setups and terrible rooms. Even when the speakers have already been positioned ideally, the results are still far from subtle.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
Anthem STR preamplifier and power amplifier premium
Encased in a simple but robust cabinet, the STR series has refreshingly different looks, but these components also distinguish themselves from the masses in terms of sound.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
ANTI-CABLES Speaker Cable and ANTI-IC’s Interlink – Mini Review premium
Over the last few years, several people have recommended the Anti-Cables to me.
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Antipodes CX + EX Music Server and Renderer premium
There comes a time when a reviewer just lacks the superlatives to describe the latest experience and for me, this is it. This combination is, quite simply, the very best digital front end that I have heard.
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Antipodes DS Base Music Server premium
After having reviewed the costly Antipodes DX and proclaiming it my new reference, here is a product of the same manufacturer, but at the other end of the cost scale. At 1995 euro, it is far removed from the DX' lofty 6000+ price, but does it offer comparable sound quality? Read on to find out!
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Antipodes DX2 Music Server premium
Ones and zeros are not just ones and zeros and music servers are not all created equal
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Antipodes EX Music Server premium
With its ODAPS2 power supply, four separate shielded chambers, and user-installable storage, the relatively affordable EX server marks the start of a new Antipodes range.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
Antipodes G4 K22 premium
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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16 January 2024
Antipodes G4 Oladra premium
The original Oladra performed better than any Antipodes server before it. While some of the Oladra technology has recently trickled down into the other models, these latest G4 updates ensure the Oladra comfortably retains its head start.
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Antipodes K41 and K22 Music Servers premium
Antipodes servers have always offered a wide range of server and player apps and this makes them unique in a world dominated by single-purpose servers and streamers. But the brand's core quality is that they are all about conveying the soul of the music.
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Antipodes K50 Music Server premium
Having reviewed several Antipodes Music Servers and having owned the CX and EX for close to two years as my references, I was excited to hear of the OLADRA project and even more so the arrival of an all-new range with the K50 as the King of the Hill.
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Antipodes K50 Music Server – Update Nov 2021 premium
Recently, Antipodes updated the firmware to from V3.0 to V3.1 to support the upcoming changes in how Roon runs on home servers and they took this opportunity to also further streamline and enhance their User Interface. Interestingly, I also noticed significant sonic benefits with the K50!
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
25 May 2023
Antipodes Oladra premium
The Oladra offers the familiar Antipodes qualities such as deep tonal saturation, lushness, liquidity, and organic flow but is more articulate, crisper, more expressive, airier, and more highly resolving than ever before. Amazingly, it does all this without sounding even the tiniest bit cooler or more analytical.
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APL DSD-AR DAC premium
While resolving the heck out of everything you play with retina-like resolution and lightning-fast transients, the DSD-AR simultaneously has an almost subconscious easy-going aspect, a certain organic quality that makes for highly lyrical music making and an immediate emotional involvement that makes one forget about all the technical details.
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Apogee Diva premium
Apogee Listening Sessions: Diva in my reference setup, and comparisons with Duetta Signature.
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Apogee Duetta Signature premium
Apogee Listening Sessions: Duetta Signature in Toine's listening room and in my reference setup, and comparisons between refurbished and original models.
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Apogee Duetta Signature – Graz KLM5 MRTW ribbons with new interfaces and wired returns premium
Installing Graz’ latest KLM5 MRTW ribbons with new interfaces and wired returns This is a follow-up review of the initial Duetta Signature review. In speaking with Graz about my experiences with the original and refurbished Duettas, he suggested I install new MRTW ribbons, not only because the KLM5’s are hugely improved over the older KLM2’s, […]
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Apogee Scintilla premium
Apogee Listening Sessions: Scintilla at Stanley's place.
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Apogee Scintilla – rebuild premium
Dismantling and rebuilding the Apogee Scintilla
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
Aqua Formula xHD DAC premium
State of the art NOS R2R ladder DAC with DSD compatibility. Current HFA reference!
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Aqua Formula xHD v2 Output Board upgrade premium
Who says that electronics circuits are for nerds? I mean, look at this board! Isn't it a work of art? With the V2 output board, the Formula xHD's position as the King of the Crop is reaffirmed.
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1 December 2021
Aqua La Diva M2 premium
Ever since I was aware that a new model was coming, I had been awaiting its arrival with immense anticipation. Fortunately, the M2 delivers on its promise. It is not only a successor with a different CD mechanism but indeed a wholly different player.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
4 February 2022
Aqua La Diva M2 – Part 2 premium
After my review of the La Diva M2, Marco of Hexagon Audio was so kind to leave both La Diva models with me for some time. This has allowed me to carry out some more comparisons.
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30 October 2022
Aqua La Diva M2 – Part 3 premium
Of late, ongoing changes on the streaming front have led to my reassessing the CD medium. But more pertinently, I have made a very interesting discovery that led to a newfound admiration for the Aqua M2 drive.
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Aqua La Scala mkII DAC premium
Giving away very little compared to the Formula xHD, costing less and possessing of that midrange magic that only tubes seem to bring, the La Scala mkII DAC may well hold the sweet spot in the Aqua DAC lineup.
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Aqua LinQ Network Interface premium
Never before has a digital interface, network or otherwise, behaved so utterly consistently and dependently. The LinQ has the uncanny ability to improve the quality of upstream components but it does this while refraining from imposing any discernible character onto the proceedings.
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5 November 2020
Aqua LinQ Network Interface – Part 2 – HQPlayer Module premium
he addition of the HQPlayer module allows using Roon and all of its benefits along with even better sound than was possible using the now-discontinued RoonReady module. Additionally, Aqua's modularity ensures that the product remains up to date.
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Aqua LinQ Network Interface – Part 3 – Core + NAA Module premium
The Core + NAA module marks the perfection of the LinQ as the universal and class-leading network player.
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Arcam rDAC premium
Never judge a book by its cover!
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Aries Cerat Heléne DAC and Incito S preamp premium
When you frequently review products, and especially when the target is usually the high-end segment, true surprises are few and far between. So, it's a treat when a product comes along that truly brings something new to the table.
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Artesania Aire Floor Platform premium
These sophisticated platforms do not merely add the last nth of quality, they actually transform the sound, in a musically meaningful manner.
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16 September 2022
Artesania Aire Floor Platform – Update August 2022 premium
Recently, the Artesania Aire floor platform received a couple of aesthetic updates. This article highlights the specifics.
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Artesania Carbon Fiber Linear Arm upgrade for Exoteryc Racks premium
As a result of on-going efforts to further improve Jose Luis Lafarga's designs, Artesania introduced a superb upgrade for the Exoteryc rack: the Carbon Fiber Linear Arm upgrade. Made of 100% Carbon Fiber they replace the metal arms into which the component feet are attached as well as the component feet themselves. The result is nothing short of stunning.
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Artesania Exoteryc Audiorack premium
The most stunning audio rack I have ever seen, and my new reference
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Artesania Exoteryc Audiorack 3-shelf version premium
Due to my ever-expanding CD player collection I was running out of space in my Artesania rack. The solution: to add more racks.
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Artesania ISBAIEBW Standalone Isolation Bases premium
These Standalone Isolation Discs are not specific for Artesania Audio Racks: they can be placed under any component and be used on any surface.
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Artesania ISBAWB30, 60 and 100 Beechwood Isolation Bases premium
These Isolation Bases don't only work with Artesania racks but are universally applicable. I use them not only for racks but also for speakers. The Bases now come with 3 disc materials to tune precisely as preferred.
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Owner of Hifi-Advice.com
Artesania ISDIWB Beech Wood Component Isolation Discs premium
Considering their high-grade finish, their very positive influence on the sound and also taking their pricing into consideration, they are virtually a must for owners of Artesania racks.
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Artesania KSH2 Krion shelf premium
The Artesania HSH2 Krion Shelf comes highly recommended, even if your components do not strictly require it, and even if you don't own an Artesania rack!
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Artesania Organic Line Modular Floor Platform premium
For some people, the sound is all that matters but for me, aesthetics are also very important. Fortunately, the Artesania Modular racks and floor platform are utter eye-candy. But don't underestimate them due to their pretty looks - they also offer a very serious upgrade over any standard rack.
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Artesania Organic Line Modular Rack premium
As with the Absolute Rack, the Modular rack is made from a combination of Krion and Tankwood but in this case these materials are applied only in the levels themselves. The rack can be assembled exactly as required from 1, 2, 3, or however many layers and it can always be extended or reduced very easily, hence the term "Modular".
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Artesania Platforms and Dampers premium
First installment of an extensive review of some mightily impressive add-ons for the superlative Exoteryc racks.
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16 May 2016
ASI Liveline Speaker Cables – Mini Review premium
The LiveLine cables combine solid-core copper conductors for the hot run and solid-core silver for the return. Added are 2mm splices of the five resonator alloys to all ends.
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2 August 2009
Audio Aero Prestige Signature SACD Player premium
How does this beautifully crafted player stack up against the Audiomeca Enkianthus and the Mark Levinson 390S?
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Audio GD R8 DAC, Master 1 preamp, Master 3 power amp, and Magna Hifi ACSS cables premium
Designed and built in China, Audio GD products provide serious competition for much higher priced European or American gear. Part 1 contains the introduction, info about Magna Hifi and a description of the performance of the complete Audio GD system.
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10 March 2018
Audio Note Lexus LX premium
Smooth and fluid yet highly precise sounding speaker cable.
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Audio Physic Caldera premium
The Caldera's belong to my friend Jeroen who has them set up in quite a small room and he long wondered what they would sound like in a bigger room
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