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11 September 2021
Aries Cerat Heléne DAC and Incito S preamp
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.
12 February 2018
PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium – Tube Rolling – KT150
Used in the DiaLogue Premium, KT150’s are super-powerful tubes that really have incredible tube-untypical bass and a very different perspective than EL34's.
31 March 2023
Playback Designs MPD-6
The Playback Designs MPD-6 is a discrete DAC with integrated analog volume control. As part of the Edelweiss series, the MPD-6 has its roots in the Dream series from which it borrows key technologies and combines these with new ones to create a more compact and cost-effective package.
12 January 2022
Aries Cerat preamplifiers compared – Incito S and Impera Reference
The Impera Reference is easily the most powerful-sounding preamp that I have heard. Its bass rivals that of many solid-state preamplifiers in terms of solidity, precision, and drive while its overall impact, expression, and dynamic slam are either on par with or actually outperform other preamplifiers.
14 June 2022
Analog Preamplifiers in a Digital Streaming World
Now that most DACs are equipped with volume control so that they can be connected to a power amp directly, what could there be to gain by switching another component in the signal chain? In other words, when everything on the source end is digital, what is the use of a pure analog preamp? With this article, I hope to shed some light on this quandary.
4 September 2016
Wooden Bull Turntable Mat
Technics SL1210, Technics SL-7, Pioneer SL-L1000, Yamaha PX-2, Avid Volvere, Linn LP12 and Thorens TD160MKII.
21 November 2017
Show Reports
All Show Reports, in Alphabetical Order Chattelin Audio Systems Master of Sound event at Chattelin Audio Systems Chattelin Audio Systems Master of Sound event 2 Enosound by Audioclub Premier Enosound audioshow by Audio Club Premier […]
9 July 2022
Kora TB140 Integrated Amplifier
The Kora TB140 is one of those rare products that truly surprise. It sounds nothing like a stereotypical tube amplifier but neither does it sound like a traditional transistor amplifier.
26 December 2017
PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium
Remarkably dynamic and communicative performer with lots more power than its humble rating would suggest.
11 October 2015
Links
Follow HFA on Social Media Twitter: twitter.com/hifiadvice Facebook: facebook.com/HFA.reviews Instagram: instagram.com/hifi.advice.com_cp YouTube: youtube.com Streaming Audio Music Library Management Dan Gravell has written an extensive document covering all aspects of digital music playback/streaming audio. It not […]
10 April 2018
CH Precision C1 + A1
The C1+A1 combination sounds ultra-transparent, clean and controlled but also smooth and fluid, and organic, wholly musical and absolutely convincing.
31 March 2019
Audio GD R8 DAC, Master 1 preamp, Master 3 power amp, and Magna Hifi ACSS cables
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.
27 June 2022
Aavik U180, U280, and U580 integrated amplifiers
With the U-180, U280, and U-580, Aavik has introduced an interesting range of amplifiers with a built-in DAC and distinctive aesthetics that are surprisingly potent and sound weighty, spacious, and tonally full.
12 February 2018
Franco Serblin Accordo
By always allowing the listener to focus on the emotional message, not the technical details, the Accordo's encourage to stop the upgrade process and just enjoy the music.
2 July 2020
Aqua LinQ Network Interface
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.
17 April 2019
Bricasti M21 DAC and M15 power amp
It baffles me why the Bricasti brand does not pop up everywhere, it certainly should. Beautifully sculpted and with immaculate build quality, these components are not inexpensive but in context, they surely are also not extravagantly priced.
29 August 2023
Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) EXR Audio Stand
For the past five years, HRS has worked on the EXR system to get the performance and modularity on the desired level while also offering a 30% cost reduction over the model it replaced. As a result, the EXR Stand System is the brand's most cost-effective system to date.
27 October 2018
Zanden 8120 and 3100
Combining the best of transistors and tubes while avoiding all of the typical flaws of either of these designs, these components provide technical excellence and a highly emotional performance in equal measure.
30 September 2021
Grandinote Shinai Class-A integrated amplifier
It's the seemingly unachievable: a very neutral and linear, and robust amplifier that is fast, expressive and dynamic, but equally lush, liquid, and seductive. Seems unbelievable? Better believe it!