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Steven Stone seeks out more super budget components and emerges with a two-way that does it all, a nifty no-brainer bluetooth adapter, and a small but mighty amp.
The Vinyl Beat digs up notable vinyl nuggets like INXS’s “Kick” 45 RPM reissue, Sheila E’s salsa debut, and Rachel Z’s introspective jazz trio recording.
Asked by a friend for a budget turntable setup, Simon Wilce suggested the WiiM Amp for its streaming prowess and flexibility, confirming it as a top-value choice after testing.
Claude Lemaire presents standout jazz LPs from his 12,000-strong vinyl collection, including Thelonious Monk’s “Brilliant Corners” and Charles Mingus’ “The Clown.”
Cambridge Audio’s Melomania M100 IEMs deliver impressive sound quality and comfort, making them a top pick for wireless listening, despite some minor quirks.
“Sonically, what’s new here is that, compared to the original 2007 CD and LP releases, the sound is now fuller and warmer, with more low-end response and a generally more muscular presentation.”
“What Dalibor was asking me to do was remove nearly $8000 in equipment from my system, and replace it with a DAC only slightly larger than a deck of cards that retails for $150.”
An inexpensive, great-sounding in-ear monitor worthy to be added your collection.
The ported, two-way, CA$ 6000/pair standmount Yamaha NS-800A oozes quality—it’s hefty, feels impeccably built, has a curvaceous body, and comes with big, robust binding posts that feel like iron door knockers between your fingers. It also comes in a beautiful black finish, said by Yamaha to be the same signature gloss finish used on the…
“Manufacturers of hi-fi equipment like to brag about their flagship products, but in any company’s product lineup, the key role is played by the models that simply sell best.”
The Vinyl Beat is a new column that will dig up notable vinyl nuggets, past and present.
“I’ve grown to appreciate not only how they function as a company, but also how they manage to produce such remarkably beautiful and functional products that are all essentially hand-built.”
“Wonderful loudspeakers that deserve to be front and centre of a two-channel system. These are mini speakers with a massive sound and which represent something unusual in audio – genuine value for money.”
The SIVGA P2 PRO boasts several features that set it apart from the competition. Its most notable feature is SIVGA’s new sapphire vibration circuit, a so-called first in the industry designed to enhance audio performance.
Welcome to my series Treasures from the Vinyl Vault. In it, I will feature select gems from my approximately 12,000 ever-growing vinyl collection, accumulated over a 45-year period and counting.