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“What I’m going to say now with 100% certainty is that I had never heard these two recordings sound better than they did in that room.”
“The NT-07 supports streaming services, USB, and network file playback via connection to outboard D/A converters.”
Prices listed in CA$. This was probably the most different room from the others of the entire show. There was no stack of electronics in sight, just a small Wattson Audio Emerson Digital network streamer ($2095) connected to all-in-one speakers outfitted with every signal input you can imagine. One component made up 90% of the…
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital music, the quest for pristine sound quality amidst the convenience of digital formats has led to the creation of an array of lossless audio codecs. These formats serve as a beacon for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike, offering a sanctuary where the integrity of sound is preserved in its…
Bowers & Wilkins 800 speaker series has a long history, and the D4 is the latest line in that series. According to the company’s own description, its flagship 801 D4 is the most advanced 801 it has ever produced, and its “Signature Series” version ($55,000/pr)—the one demoed at the Audiofest—is an optimized version of it. Driving…
Prices listed in CA$ unless otherwise note. When I first heard Audio Physic speakers (the Classic 15) at Audio Element in Pasadena, California, I was immediately impressed. They were featured in PMA Magazine’s “Best Audio Systems For $10,000” series. I couldn’t believe that speakers costing less than US$ 5000/pair could sound so accomplished or have…
“Some of the best values pass unnoticed. This series—Steven Stone’s Super Budget Components—will be an attempt to remedy that a bit.”
“I certainly prefer the weight and presence… musicality, of the Stream-XR”
“I’ve downloaded digital files from Qobuz and HD Tracks that were compressed by as much as 80%!”
“Holy ‘Groove Echo’, Batman!”
No time to read? Click here to access our easy-to-understand grid covering what you need to know. Welcome to our beginner’s guide to understanding streaming. This guide is designed to help individuals with little to no knowledge of the streaming industry understand which service best caters to their needs, without delving too deeply into technical…
The microscopic world on a vinyl record is full of unusual things.
Prices listed are in CA$. This compact setup in one of Motet’s several rooms at the show surprised me. I didn’t expect it to sound this good. Fronting it was an Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition streamer ($2000) feeding FLAC files into a class-A, single-ended Audio Note M2 preamp ($9000) and a class-A, directly heated triode…
Prices listed in CA$. The Hegel room was showing off its Viking CD player ($6000), on static display when I visited, and 308Wpc, dual mono, DAC-equipped H600 integrated amplifier ($15,000). The source was FLAC files streamed from a laptop hard drive, while the speakers were Magnepan’s model 3.7i ($11,875/pair), which looked taller to me, and…
I can’t imagine bigger audio news this year than that of Audio Research filing for something akin to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Fearing that such an iconic company – one I always took for granted as being indestructible – might possibly go under and disappear from the audio landscape was disheartening and unsettling to me.…