Category: Reviews
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SVS Prime Wireless System Review: These Powered Speakers Give You The Total Hi Fi Package For Only $599
SVS has built up a crazy following around their massive active subs and passive Prime Series speakers. Their products are designed to offer the enhanced dynamics and excitement needed to build a quality home theater, but at the same time offer enough refinement for audiophile level music presentation. The cool thing is they do all…
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PS Audio Sprout100 Integrated Amplifier Review: Simple And Elegant Hi Fi
Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessPS Audio is known as much for its personable co-founder and CEO Paul McGowan as it is for its relatively value priced high-end audio separates. But a few years ago, Paul’s son Scott decided they needed to create a compact integrated amplifier that fit the needs of younger and most likely space deprived audiophiles. He…
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MAS Audio Science X5h On-Ear Headphone Review: A Unique Product
The MAS Audio Science X5h On-Ear Headphone is a unique product that aims to offer audiophile sound on the go. Most of the time “on-the-go” means you have to choose between a wired or wireless connection, but not in this case. The X5h is part of what MAS Audio Science calls an “Ecosystem,” meaning they…
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NAD Electronics D 3045 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier Review: Flexible And Affordable
Bluetooth, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, Music, Power Amps, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessAt one point in time, other than being known as one of the best stereo amplifier brands, NAD was known for nondescript grey audio components that sounded great and didn’t cost a lot of money. Features and fluff were kept to a minimum, with the bulk of the budget put into high-current amplification. That way…
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Audiolab 6000A In The House: A Truly Versatile Integrated Amplifier
Bluetooth, DACs, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Hi-Fi, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, Wireless35 years ago, Audiolab shook things up with their 8000A Integrated Amp, a product still revered today for its bulletproof build quality and high-end sound. Now they have distilled the essence of the 8000 series down (along with adding digital capabilities!) into the more affordable 6000 series, and the $899 6000A Integrated Amplifier is the cornerstone.…
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Brainwavz B200 (V2) Dual Balanced Armature IEM Review: Among The Best Wired Earbuds
As I said when I reviewed their $299 B400 Quad-Balanced Armature earphones, the $120 B200 Dual Balanced Armature IEM is part of Brainwavz plan to offer a more refined product with the same value/price proposition as their $20 earbuds. The B400 was a smashing success, offering rich holographic sound comparable with multi-driver IEMs several times…
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PSB Alpha P5 Review: One Of The Best Speakers Under $500
PSB Speakers first released their entry-level Alpha series back in 1991, and from the beginning, they aimed to deliver remarkable value and performance. Based on the stellar reviews, I’d have to say they succeeded. This year at CES 2019, they announced an all-new Alpha series redesigned from the ground up, with brand new drivers, cabinets,…
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KZ ZS-10 Pro In-Ear Monitor Review-The Best KZ IEM…For Now
(Hey KZ Fans: Check out our review of the new KZ ZSX Terminator! It’s probably the best KZ IEM out right now!) It seems like I just can’t resist trying out new KZ earphones. I know I just wrote about the recently released ZSN Pro, but as usual, they are coming out with new models at light speed,…
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One Of The Best Audiophile Headphones Now Selling For A Crazy Low Price!
The Focal (Pronounced Foe-kal) Elear came out in 2016, as part of the French High-End audio company’s bid to grab market share in the audiophile headphone segment. They were made in France with technology inspired by Focal’s flagship headphone, the $4000 Utopia, but at the time, they sold for $1000. They were seen as a…
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HELM Audio True Wireless Earbuds Review-Wireless Headphones With Good Fit and Sound
Since Apple released its conspicuous wireless earbuds at the end of 2016, the true wireless earbud market has exploded. Tons of companies are releasing their own versions. Even Ray-J, of reality TV’s Love & Hip Hop, has a couple of pairs he sells via his Raycon website, rayconglobal.com. The segment is very competitive. HELM Audio,…
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Triangle Elara LN01A Active Bookshelf Speaker Review-Bluetooth Speakers Fit For An Audiophile
Triangle is a French manufacturer of high-end speakers and the Elara is their entry-level series of speakers. The range is made up of both passive and active variants, and what I’m looking at today is one of the active models, specifically the $649 LN01A bookshelf speaker. They also make an active floorstanding model, the LN05A. As…
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KZ ZSN VS. ZSN PRO IEM REVIEW: WHICH IS THE BEST KZ IEM?
(Hey KZ Fans: Check out our review of the new KZ ZSX Terminator! It’s probably the best KZ IEM out right now!) When the KZ ZSN IEM came out, many reviewers including myself, immediately put it at the top of Knowledge Zenith earphone lineup. It improved upon the KZ formula in many ways, starting with…
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iFi xDSD Bluetooth DAC/Headphone Amp Review-Must Have Companion For Audiophile Headphones
Best Buys, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Portable Audio, Reviews, WirelessSo not too long ago, I reviewed the iFi xCAN Bluetooth headphone amp, and today I’m reviewing its sister unit, the iFi xDSD combination Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier. As I said in that review, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two by just looking at them, but basically, the xCAN is…
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NAD D 3045 Hybrid Digital DAC Integrated Amplifier In The House!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, DACs, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, Power Amps, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessNAD D3045 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier ($699) – I call it a little wonder box…Integrated Power Amp, High-Current Headphone Amp, USB DAC w/ MQA and DSD, not to mention an APT-X HD Bluetooth Reciever. There’s not much this relatively small box can’t do. I can’t wait to put it through its paces! Stay tuned for the review……
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#NewMusicFriday feat. Joshua Redman & Lion Babe
Every Friday, I pick a bunch of the best sounding new albums so you can get your hi-fi fix…here are my picks for this week, including a cool new project from Jazz Master Joshua Redman and a new recording from one of my fav indie R&B groups Lion Babe…(Click on the album covers for the…
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5 Best Sounding Earbuds/Earphones Under $30
Man the game has really changed over the last year or so. Not so long ago, you couldn’t find many earphones under $30 that sounded decent. Now there are tons of them out there, filling the need for some inexpensive everyday carry earphones/earbuds that sound good for your daily commute. Or maybe you’re just rough…
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PSB Speakers Alpha P5 Bookshelf Speakers In The House! (+ Unboxing Pics)
As an audiophile, there’s nothing I love more than bookshelf speakers. It never ceases to amaze me how speaker designers can stuff amazing musical performances in such relatively tiny little boxes. One tiny little speaker that bowls me over is the PSB Speakers Imagine Mini. I first heard them hooked up to a Rega Brio Integrated Amp, and…
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TRIANGLE ELARA LN01A Active Bookshelf Speaker In The House!
Powered, or Active Speakers are becoming a big thing in the 2-Channel audio world. For those who are turned off by the prospect of matching an amp to a set of speakers, or even hooking up stereo equipment, active speakers are a simple way to get into audio with a minimum amount of fuss. There…
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Brainwavz B400 Quad Balanced Armature Earphones Review
Amazing soundstage and imaging put you in your own private concert. My first experience with Brainwavz was a few years back when I read a glowing review about their Delta earbuds, a product considered by some to be the best sounding earphones under $50. The Delta, with its combination of well thought out features and…
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10 Building Blocks for Your Budget/Affordable 2-Channel Audiophile System! (2019)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, DACs, Deals, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Wireless(Check out our new post on this topic: How To Build A Mind-Blowing Affordable Hifi System In 5 Steps!) While I spend a lot of time covering headphones, earphones, and headphone DAC/Amps, 2-channel audio systems are my first love. While headphones can create a wonderful listening experience, they can’t re-create the sound of a well-matched…
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