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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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“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.”
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An inexpensive, great-sounding in-ear monitor worthy to be added your collection.
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“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.”
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“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.”
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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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“Why You Could Hate the Budget Component I Love; Warranty Time for a DAC; and the New Vera-Fi Scout Loudspeaker”
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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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“When I discover a component priced well under four figures that performs well, that excites me. Those are the kinds of products that raise the bar for everyone.”