Audiophilia

Accessories

This Chinese-made, $200 Amazon stop-gap device had audiophile mediocrity written all over it.

First, a story.

My power conditioner (PC) blew an onion, and the short to ground left it humming badly and tripping the breakers for the music room and kitchen!

The only casualty was a $100 electrician visit plus the conditioner fault blew a $100 Sylvania NOS 4U5AG rectifier tube in the $16,500 phono stage’s power supply.

I’m waiting for a few stellar, expensive PCs from three very capable companies, but, in the meantime, threw in this $200 unit.

Dec 20

Dec 20 MBL N51 Integrated Amplifier

Integrated Amplifier, Star Component Award

It’s been a bumper few years at Audiophilia on the integrated amplifier front. There have always been outstanding examples mating a preamplifier and power amplifier in one chassis and playing nicely together, but more and more high end companies are designing and manufacturing expensive integrated boxes with varying topologies.

In fact, my reference power/pre is the Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 Integrated Amplifier ($10,000) which has served me spectacularly well—it’s a Capri II preamp ($5,500) on top of a 400W Class D power section. It is not only much improved Class D—as seen and heard over the past decade—but Class D as sanctified by Jeff Rowland. Which means it’s a gorgeously transparent, sweet, very powerful solid state component.

Dec 13

Dec 13 Pangea Audio Record Doctor VI Record Cleaning Machine (20th Anniversary)

Accessories

Complimenting the ongoing upsurge in LP sales, one can find a variety of record cleaning machines in the market place from which to choose, anywhere from a low of $30 to a high of $6000 (CLEARAUDIO - Double Matrix Professional Sonic Record Cleaning Machine, fully automatic). They can look in appearance anything from a toaster to a turntable.

Certainly one of the classics (at $600) with a history going back decades is the VPI Industries HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine, combining both an 18 RPM turntable motor (while you clean with fluid and brush) and a high-powered vacuum (to remove the fluid from the grooves after cleaning)—I currently use one as my reference. Machines of this sort can be heavy and large and there are various other companies that follow this route.

Dec 6

Dec 6 Audiophilia Products of the Year 2019

Audiophilia Staff

Miscellaneous

Our writers are lucky to intersect with the gear we do. Even luckier to have the kit in our homes and review it for you. There are numerous requests for reviews that we just do not have the manpower to cover. Imagine the thousands of pieces we miss?

With that in mind, please take into account our 'winners' and rate accordingly. The equipment chosen is for a small list we admire unreservedly. We hope you get a chance to listen to the kit in your system. We loved it in ours.

Dec 6

Dec 6 Audiophilia Recordings of the Year 2019

Audiophilia Staff

Miscellaneous

The finest recordings/performances we listened to this year. We discussed some of the recordings on our social media channels, used them in our equipment reviews, reviewed them on YouTube or they received full reviews at Audiophilia. For the latter and YouTube, clicking on the image will take you to the review.

Format and initials of nominating reviewer appear under the selection. The CDs and LPs are available at many online or artist sites, or, as streamed on Qobuz or Tidal HiFi. Recordings must be released or rereleased in 2019.

In no particular order:

Nov 21

Nov 21 Streaming the Classics/The Firebird—Stravinsky

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.
It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.
No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Nov 14

Nov 14 Streaming the Classics 7/Mahler 9 Symphonies Box Sets

Charles Brown

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

Recording must be on both Qobuz and Tidal HiFi.
It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.
No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Nov 13

Nov 13 van den Hul Colibri Master Signature Moving Coil Phono Cartridge

Analog

van den Hul is a Dutch company, created in 1980 by renown A.J. (Aalt Jouk) van den Hul (VDH) that designs and manufactures high-end moving coil phono cartridges, audio cables and other audio electronics. (Bowers & Wilkins, for example, among others, are known to use van den Hul internal wiring in their speakers.)

On an early Autumn phone call from Mat Weisfeld, President of VPI Industries, I was informed that VPI had become the sole USA distributor for their phono cartridges and I was offered a chance to review van den Hul’s newest top-of-the-line moving coil cartridge: the Colibri Master Signature, entirely hand made and tuned by A.J.—now in his 80s—and with a retail price of $11,995. Now that I use a VPI Industries HW-40 Direct Drive turntable as reference, I thought this may be an intriguing match. Besides, it uses a high-density wood for its enclosure, and I happen to be a fan of that (my current reference cart is the Grado Labs Aeon). Last, but not least, I was attracted to the simple van den Hul philosophy of cart design in which they claim to provide ‘The link between technique and emotion’:

Nov 12

Nov 12 Master & Dynamic MH40 Over-Ear Headphones: 5th Anniversary New Wireless Model

Headphones

Five years ago, at the New York Audio Show, I came across a new Manhattan-based headphone Company, Master & Dynamic, debuting their first headphones. The MH40, at $399; was an over-the ear closed model. I was impressed, and planned on trying to get a review sample at some point soon after.

Coincidently, the next day I went back to the show with my then 3-year old daughter and started by having lunch in the hotel restaurant. At the table next to me, I recognized the two very nice ladies who had been working the show table for Master & Dynamic and they recognized me. They were lunching with a gentleman I did not know; the ladies introduced him to me: Jonathan Levine, Founder and CEO of Master & Dynamic. We had a very pleasurable conversation about his new company, and we ended up with a beautiful and priceless (to me) photo (taken by Levine using my camera) of my daughter in my lap wearing a pair of the MH40. Soon after I wrote a review of the MH40, and in my summary, I stated:

Oct 24

Oct 24 Martin Vatter—Homeland

Martin Vatter is a German pianist/composer playing and writing in the New Age genre. New Age music is often described as optimistic, life affirming and relaxing. Not Muzak. And definitely not Muzak in the case of this gifted German artist.

Musically, the twelve tracks of his latest recording, Homeland include titles such as ‘Exciting’, ‘Soulful Moments’, ‘Forgotten Love’ and ‘Your Tears Will Dry’. The titles, if compared to the greatest art works, could be considered of one focus. But don’t let that bias put you off listening to this lovely, musical album.

Oct 22

Oct 22 Master & Dynamic MW07 True Wireless Earphones: The new GO and PLUS models

Headphones, Star Component Award

About one year ago, New York City based Master & Dynamic debuted the terrific and classy MW07 True Wireless Earphones at $299.

On October 17th, 2019, Master & Dynamic introduced two new versions of the MW07 to replace the original, and I report upon these here: the MW07 True Wireless Go ($199) and the MW07 True Wireless PLUS ($299) pictured above. I am grateful to Jonathan Levine (CEO of Master & Dynamic) and his team for alerting me of this new development and sending me review samples.

Although both new models use the same superb custom 10 mm Beryllium drivers, both have significant advantages over the original. For example, both now utilize Bluetooth 5.0 (and support both aptX and SBC) as opposed to Bluetooth 4.2 and now with a connectivity range of 30+ meters up from 20, both pack longer battery life, both charge faster, and both have a higher water resistance level. But there are differences between the two that depend on one’s needs or lifestyle. Think of the GO as a more rustic, smaller and lighter version of the MW07 meant for sports in particular (jogging, biking, going to the gym, etc.), and think of the PLUS as a premium, luxury version.

Oct 10

Oct 10 Streaming the Classics 6/Bruckner 9 Symphonies Box Sets

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.
It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.
No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Oct 4

Oct 4 PS Audio DirectStream (DS) DAC: Windom Update

Digital

About 9 months ago PS Audio released a significant software upgrade, Snowmass, for their DirectStream (DS) DAC; I was impressed and wrote about it.

I stated that ‘I think the most apparent changes are in soundstage, imaging and reduction of noise. Snowmass throws a larger/deeper soundstage with a more stable imaging of instruments that synchs so well with my new amps; kindred spirits.’

Oct 1

Oct 1 Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones

Headphones

Before rapper Dr. Dre became a billionaire by selling his eponymous headphone company Beats by Dr. Dre to Apple, he propelled the company into first place among the lucrative millennial mobile/computer/home headphone market with relentless marketing and colourful products that were deemed ‘cool’ by the kids. And in marketing and profitability, nothing beats ‘cool’.

His first headphone, the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio (2008), was a bass monster. And not in a good way. Listening to anything but rap or electronica on those things was a waste of time. Complex classical? Forget it. Coherence was a mess. I remember a laughable Mahler 1.

Sep 26

Sep 26 Alta Audio Alec Loudspeakers

Loudspeakers, Star Component Award

At the recent 2019 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest (RMAF), Alta Audio premiered a new $10,000/pair 2-driver loudspeaker (1 tweeter, 1 woofer) named the Alec. Unlike Alta’s flagship FRM-2 Celesta ($15,000/pair), which also has 2-drivers but is monitor sized and sits on stands, the Alec is a floor standing model, with a larger (8.75” versus 6”) woofer, and 20 more pounds in weight (75 pounds versus 55 pounds). In the showroom at RMAF, Alta’s President, Mike Levy, joined forces with VPI Industries for the source (an HW- 40 direct drive turntable loaded with an Audio Technica cartridge, and VPI phono stage) and Krell Industries for the amplification (amp, preamp). Not only was Levy in the room, but so was Mat Weisfeld, President of VPI, and Walter Schofield, Chief Operating Officer of Krell.

Whenever I entered the room, it was abuzz with crowds of listeners and was widely acclaimed as one of the finest sounding rooms at RMAF. Audiophilia, for example (including yours truly), found the room superb sounding and unanimously placed it in the top two rooms. You can imagine then my surprise and satisfaction when two weeks after RMAF, Levy pulled up to my apartment in a car with a gorgeous pair of the Alec in black Onyx for my perusal (they are also available in Rosewood); hence this review. I add that the Celesta are my reference for speakers for almost 4 years now, and the VPI HW-40 serves as my reference for vinyl.

Sep 19

Sep 19 The Power of the Orchestra—Analogue Productions 200g vinyl reissue

For audiophiles of all stripes, The Power of the Orchestra, a 1962 Kingsway RCA, produced by Charles Gerhardt and engineered by Kenneth Wilkinson, is the stuff of legends.

A top ten classical vinyl on most lists.

Gerhardt probably came up with the cool name—he was one of the most enlightened musicians/producers working at the time—but in reality, it’s simply a recording of Mussorgsky’s two best loved works, Night on Bare Mountain and Pictures at an Exhibition.

Aug 30

Aug 30 Allnic Audio L-7000 Preamplifier

Preamplifiers, Star Component Award

David Beetles of Hammertone Audio, the North American distributor for Allnic Audio electronics, gave me a nod that an L-7000 Preamplifier was available for review. The new linestage is the $16,500 replacement of the L-3000 ($13,900). After my continuing musical experiences of the most passionate and intense kind with Allnic’s similarly priced H-7000 Phono Stage, how could I pass up the opportunity to hear Allnic’s linestage equivalent?

The L-7000 is not your grandpappy’s 300B tube linestage preamp. It is a single gain stage unit and is transformer coupled. But, to shake things up completely, designer Kang Su Park uses the much-loved DHT 300B tube, not in the audio chain, but in the power supply chain as a voltage regulator.

Aug 26

Aug 26 Mahler: Symphony No. 3–Adam Fischer/Düsseldorfer Symphoniker

Charles Brown

Yet one more performance of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony for one’s library, a symphony ranked 10th out of 20 of the greatest symphonies in the canon by 151 British conductors in a BBC Music Magazine poll of 2016.

Maestro Adam Fischer, appointed Principal Conductor in 2015, leads the forces of the Dusseldorfer Symphoniker, contralto Anna Larsson, with the fine choral assistance from the Women’s Choir of the Städtischer Musikverein zu Düsseldorf and the Clara-Schumann Jugendchores.

The CD was released by CAvi on October 13th, 2018 with the recording done in the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Germany between November 9th and the 13th of 2017. If the recording is any indication of acoustic excellence, the Tonhalle is a very impressive venue for this fine orchestra.

Aug 8

Aug 8 Streaming the Classics 5/Elgar: Symphony No. 1

James Norris