Category: Reviews
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Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M Review: This Affordable Dac Amp Is Breathtaking!
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in Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, Streaming, Uncategorized, Videos, WirelessSummary Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic DACs have long provided solid functionality and impressive performance for the money. Their latest DacMagic product, the DacMagic 200M, is their most admirable effort yet. The 200M supports the highest bit rates ever decoded in a DacMagic DAC (32-bit/768kHz), handles DSD and MQA, plus has built-in aptX Bluetooth (previous models needed…
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Best Buys: The Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $500! (2021)
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Planar Magnetic headphones (read how they work here) are hot right now. That’s because compared to headphones with traditional dynamic drivers, headphones with planar magnetic transducers often sound crisper, more controlled, and have better extension for the trailing edges of sounds. It’s those trailing edges that give instruments and other sounds realism, so it’s no…
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OneOdio Pro-50 Studio Review: Affordable Headphones With Massive Bass And Hi-Res Audio!
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There’s something fun about discovering a good-sounding pair of cheap headphones. It’s really satisfying to pick up a pair of $30 headphones and get much of the musical satisfaction you get from a $300 pair of cans. That’s probably why the Koss KPH30iK are so popular. For $29.99, you get a nice engaging headphone with…
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Meet Evo: Cambridge Audio’s New Premium All-In-One Music System Has It All!
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in Bluetooth, DACs, Deals, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Shows, Software, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessToday Cambridge Audio unveiled its new Premium All-In-On music system named Evo. The system is based on two streaming integrated amps, the $3000 EVO 150 with 150 amps per channel and the $2250 EVO 75 with 75 watts per channel. The EVO 150 also has more connections, along with an option for hooking up two sets of…
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World Premiere! THX Onyx Review: Their First DAC/Headphone Amp Combo Is Marvelous!
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in Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, SoftwareOverview The portable DAC/Amp market is a crowded one. I’ve reviewed a bunch of them, and I have a couple on deck waiting for evaluation. To make noise in this product category, you have to come up with something special. Enter THX and their new THX Onyx, a $199 DAC/Amp that happens to be their…
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Triangle GENÈSE Trio Review: Gorgeous Bookshelf Speakers With Massive Scale And Impressive Midrange!
Since discovering France’s Triangle HiFi a few years back, I have gained a serious appreciation for their speakers. They’re typically lively with an organic midrange which is the type of sound I go for. Careful pairing is needed, but Triangle speakers can provide a highly engrossing presentation once you find synergy. Besides that, they come…
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DALI OBERON 7 C Active Floorstanding Speaker Review: A Thrilling Powered Speaker System With Remarkable Refinement!
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in Bluetooth, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessSummary A little over a month ago, I gave my first impressions and discussed the setup of DALI’s OBERON 7 C active floorstanding speaker system, a wireless version of DALI’s sensational OBERON passive speakers. I loved the passive versions when I did that review, so I was pretty excited to hear what their wireless counterparts…
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Technics EAH-AZ70W Review: These Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds Are Still Among The Best!
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Summary On the market for about a year now, the Technics EAH-AZ70W is still one of the most capable True Wireless Earbuds available. They are built to last, look great, and have strong noise-canceling to block out unwanted sound when you travel (and they do it without a lot of hiss). They also have decent…
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Cyrus One Cast Review: A Remarkably Capable Integrated Amp With Chromecast And Apple Airplay Built-In!
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Cyrus Audio + Google Home App & Apple Airplay = Spellbinding Sound! It’s been about two years since Google discontinued their Chromecast Audio music streaming device, and I still don’t understand why. It was a handy little device that allowed you to stream or “Cast” music from your Android smartphone or tablet with just a…
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Best Buys: The Best Music Streaming Devices Under $1000! (2021)
While CDs and Vinyl still hold a special place in many an audiophile’s heart, wireless music streaming devices have become commonplace on the racks of hi-fi enthusiasts. That’s because they offer flexibility and a range of music discovery not possible in the olden days. With a good streamer, combined with a music service like Tidal…
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#NewMusicFriday March 12th: New Record Releases You Need To Hear feat. Nubiyan Twist
Every #NewMusicFriday, I pick a bunch of the best-sounding new albums so you can get your audiophile music fix!… As usual, it’s a very eclectic mix (Albums are arranged with more traditional audiophile genres like Jazz and Blues at the top, and the non-traditional audiophile stuff towards the bottom). (TIDAL streams below) This week’s Album of the…
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iFi iDSD Diablo Review: The Best Portable Dac/Amp Combo?
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in DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, VideosIFi’s Latest Portable Dac/Amp Combo Has Unrivaled Power And Refinement At Its Price! It’s no secret that I have a bit of a soft spot for iFi products. Their combination of innovative design, thoughtful features, and build quality is unmatched at their price points. They always seem to give you more for your money. The…
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Cambridge Audio Unveils Melomania 1+, A Massive Upgrade For Their Popular True Wireless Earbuds
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Cambridge Audio Adds Some Spice to Their Original Wireless Earbud Recipe! Today Cambridge Audio released Melomania 1+, an upgraded version of their original True Wireless Earphone, the $99 Melomania 1. The new model adds a bunch of features originally introduced as part of their flagship wireless earbuds, the Melomania Touch (Our Review Here). This includes…
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Which Is The Best Bookshelf Speaker? Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 vs. Q Acoustics 3030i Comparison Review!
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Two British Brands. Two Budget Bookshelf Speakers. Two will enter, one will leave! Sorry, got carried away there! But anyway, today I’m doing a comparison review of two popular Bookshelf Speakers under $500, the Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 ($499) and Q Acoustics 3030i ($399). Both have garnered rave reviews, so I wondered how they would stack…
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#NewMusicFriday…New Record Releases You Need To Hear feat. Femi & Made Kuti + 12 Other Artists!
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in Downloads, First Impressions, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Reviews, Streaming, VideosEvery #NewMusicFriday, I pick a bunch of the best-sounding new albums so you can get your audiophile music fix!… As usual, it’s a very eclectic mix (Albums are arranged with more traditional audiophile genres like Jazz and Blues at the top, and the non-traditional audiophile stuff towards the bottom). (TIDAL streams below) My Album pick of the…
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Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 Bookshelf Speaker Review: Is This The Best Bookshelf Speaker Under $500?
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in Best Buys, Budget, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, VideosWharfedale is back with yet another impressive Diamond bookshelf speaker! Wharfedale’s Diamond speaker has been a cornerstone of their product line for almost forty years, basically ushering in the popularity of inexpensive 2-way bookshelf speakers. Because of this line, it became en vogue for hi-fi enthusiasts to start their journey with affordable yet capable mini-monitors…
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Now That’s A Good Question…What’s A Good DAC/Amp For The Hifiman Sundara?
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in Budget, DACs, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Power Amps, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessChoosing a DAC Amp for the Best Value Headphone under $500! A Reader Writes: I’m wondering if you can give me your recommendation for pairing up a DAC for the Hifiman Sundara headphones. I have not purchased either item but I’d like to do so as soon as today. I’ve been unable to confirm what…
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Affordable High-End Audio Guide (2021): Building A Home Hi-Fi System For Less Than $1000!
Building A Astounding Hi-Fi System Around The Affordable PSB Alpha AM5 Powered Bookshelf Speakers! When you’re talking about setting up a Hi-Fi System for less than 1000 dollars, a set of good powered bookshelf speakers can go a long way. If designed well, you get a quality set of speakers, a decent amplifier, and a serviceable…
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#NewMusicFriday…New Record Releases You Need To Hear feat. Fred The Godson + 13 Other Artists!
Every #NewMusicFriday, I pick a bunch of the best-sounding new albums so you can get your audiophile music fix!… As usual, it’s a very eclectic mix (Albums are arranged with more traditional audiophile genres like Jazz and Blues at the top, and the non-traditional audiophile stuff towards the bottom). (TIDAL streams below) My Featured album pick of…
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Khadas Tone 2 Pro Review: This Revolutionary DAC Amp Will Make Your Headphones Sing!
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in Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Preamps, Reviews, Videos, WirelessI’ve reviewed quite a few dongle style DAC/Headphone Amps over the last year or so, and I must say I dig them. Their compact size coupled with their affordability makes them an ideal way to upgrade a smartphone or laptop’s sound while on the go. Recently, I was really wowed by the $99 HELM Audio…