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Steven Stone rounds up three ultra-budget audio components—the Fosi ZD3 DAC, iFi Zen Phono 3, and FX Audio R07Plus—that rival gear costing far more. After blind tests and strategic upgrades, Stone finds the ZD3 indistinguishable from elite DACs, the Zen Phono nearly noise-free, and the R07Plus a neutral powerhouse across headphones.
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Howard Milstein calls the Musician Pegasus II R2R DAC a “giant killer,” rivaling pricier models with its smooth mids, deep bass, and spacious soundstage. In NOS mode, it delivers an organic, natural presentation, making it a standout choice. Milstein hails it as a must-hear for audiophiles seeking top-tier musicality.
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It’s that time of year again—the season of giving! In that spirit, I’ve put together a list of Holiday audio gift ideas that even Scrooge might approve of.
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Tom Gibbs didn’t just like the performance of the US$ 1000/pair XSA Labs Vanguard monitors—he was gobsmacked!
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Paul Cash reviews the Wharfedale EVO4.2, praising its rich tone, clear separation, and ELYSIAN-inspired features—asking, is this the best audiophile speaker for $1,000?
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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.
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Cambridge Audio’s Melomania M100 IEMs deliver impressive sound quality and comfort, making them a top pick for wireless listening, despite some minor quirks.
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Tom Gibbs dismantled $8,000 worth of high-end gear—only to find a $150 Topping E30 II DAC paired with Euphony’s Mozzaik upsampler delivered better, more analog-like sound than ever before. Mind blown, wallet intact.
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The Tanchjim 4U IEM impresses with its customizable bass tuning, refined sound, and sleek build at just CA$99.99—though its subtle low-end may leave hardcore bass fans wanting more.
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Tom Gibbs defends the value of Chi-Fi in high-end audio, spotlighting PrimaLuna’s EVO 300 tube amp and budget marvels from Vera-Fi, Gustard, and Topping—while calling out the fearmongering and hypocrisy in anti-Chinese gear rhetoric.
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Magnat’s Signature Edelstein bookshelf speakers may be small, but their robust construction, clever engineering, and surprisingly weighty, detailed sound prove they’re no gimmick—just serious value and musicality in a compact package.
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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.
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A DAC fails, a speaker hums, and a $299 bookshelf impresses—this column dives into the fickle alchemy of system synergy, budget excellence, and why great specs don’t always mean great sound.
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“The Denon Perl wireless earbuds offer a unique combination of features, including personalized listening with Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology (AAT), active noise cancellation, and long battery life.”
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This roundup highlights three budget-priced components—the Sabaj A20a amp, A20D DAC, and Semibreve DA50—that defy expectations with reference-level sound, solid build, and serious value, proving hi-fi excellence doesn’t have to cost a fortune.