Audiophilia

In 2016, after six years out of the SL-1200 turntable business, Japanese giant Technics retooled for a new, audiophile version of the popular turntable. Over the original’s 38 year life span, upwards of 3.5 million were sold. A remarkable HiFi story. A legendary product.

The old ‘table was more of a DJ ‘scratcher’ than purist product. The new ‘G’ turntable was aimed squarely at the audiophile market with an expected jump in price. Thus, in 2016, the $4000, SL-1200G turntable was born. To this day, it is usually snapped up as soon as it is in stores and is on constant back order. I’m surprised Technics took a six year hiatus from a real money maker.

Jan 29

Jan 29 iFi ZEN Phono

Maxwell Geiger

UK based iFi audio has been on a roll lately, releasing a handful of critically acclaimed budget components under the ZEN moniker. Accolades for the ZEN DAC and ZEN CAN headphone amplifier set high expectations for the most recent addition, the ZEN Phono.

US consumers spent $232 million on vinyl records last year so iFi were wise to include some analog action in their entry level line. As with their other product lines, iFi has carefully considered the features included in the ZEN products to differentiate them from the ‘swiss army knife’ or minimalist approach of some competitors.

ZEN components are priced at under $200—high enough to offer a quality piece of hardware but low enough to have mainstream appeal. Can the ZEN Phono, priced at $150, stand up to expectations and hold its own in a competitive segment?

Jan 29

Jan 29 HiFiman HE-R10P Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

Headphones, Star Component Award

Since its founding in 2007 in NYC (now located in Tianjin, China), Hifiman Electronics, known simply as Hifiman, has almost exclusively been offering over-ear, open-back planar magnetic headphones and more recently open-back electrostatic headphones. Noteworthy among their highly regarded planar magnetic releases include the HE400, HE1000 and HE1000se, the Sundara (review forthcoming) and Susvara, and even a wireless model, the Deva. Prices range from $169 for the HE400 up to $6000 for the highest-level planar magnetic model, the highly acclaimed Susvara.

Hifiman’s two electrostatic models are the Shangri-La Jr. and Shangri-La, each paired with a special electrostatic Hifiman amp and sold as a combo. The cost is $8000 for the Jr, reaching a mind-popping high of $50,000 for the truly extraordinary ‘Ultimate Flagship’ Shangri-La combo; its vacuum tube amplifier alone is a masterpiece of art—a must see (and hear, if you get a chance; I have been lucky to do so). There is no serious debate; Hifiman makes some of the finest such high-end audiophile quality headphones available, along with worthy competitors such as Audeze, Focal, Sennheiser, Grado, among others.

Jan 8

Jan 8 Apple HomePod mini

Loudspeakers, Digital, Star Component Award

For a deep dive into the big sibling of the new HomePod mini ($99), please refer to our review of the original, full sized Apple HomePod (and our six month follow up). Many HomePod features found at launch and in updates can be found on the new mini.

With the mini, Apple’s smart home ‘Homekit’ features have been improved. Even silly Siri is better and she has added a useful ‘Intercom’ feature. Security, as always from the mothership, is a priority. No ‘anything goes’ Alexa.

There are literally hundreds of reviews on the web and YouTube videos with in depth looks at the features of the mini. I’ll list some important ones below then jump right into our brief, with focus on its use and sound.

Nov 27

Nov 27 Tri-Art Audio B Series 4 Open Speaker

Charles Brown

Loudspeakers, Star Component Award

Down the ribbon of highway, due east from the frenetically paced GTA (Greater Toronto Area), lies the somnolent university town of Kingston, Ontario. Queen’s University, as an intellectual hub of all eastern Ontario, has been the centre of Kingston’s relevance for a century. But if one looks past this well established landmark, one finds a business of some significance that has been quietly sounding out its audio relevance for the last 10 years—Tri-Art Audio.

Arising out of the ashes of the great stereo retail shop of the 1970s and 80s, House of Sound, where Steve Ginsberg worked as a technician—that wonderful bricks and mortar place penurious Queen’s students like myself hung around in the few moments we had free—has come Steve’s and his sons, Simon and Evan’s extraordinary business adventure—a quality international seller of fantastically sophisticated paints and some of the hippest audio equipment on the planet—the fabulous jewel of Tri-Art Audio. A fantastically interesting business anomaly—paint and sound!

Nov 27

Nov 27 Innuos Statement Music Server

Digital, Star Component Award

If you would like a deeper dive into Innuos as a company and its philosophy, please read my review of their ZENith Mk3 1T Black Music Server ($4249). As promised in that review, here we have a review of Innuos’ top music server, aptly called Statement. The $13,750 Statement is a no-holds-barred entry into the super server sweepstakes. With apologies for the alliteration, the ‘super’ is appropriate—the Statement will be compared to some very serious high end digital players. With the Statement, Innuos has joined an exclusive club after only four short years of manufacturing. Quite remarkable.

Interestingly, as this type of storage device becomes more de rigueur in a high end system, prices have been creeping up. A music server is basically a computer with a high end audio personality, meaning incredibly quiet power supplies (and many other attributes) bringing extraneous noise down to micro levels (there’s so much of it on standard computers through processing, apps, etc), leading to smoother, effortless digital sound for the DAC to apply its magic. Expect to spend several thousands to get top quality servers.

Oct 16

Oct 16 Allnic Audio L-8000 DHT Preamplifier

Preamplifiers, Star Component Award

This spectacular, $22,900 audiophile work of art came to me as a stop gap between distributor and dealer. Victoria is not exactly midpoint between Kelowna BC and Portland OR, but I was very grateful to distributor David Beetles of Hammertone Audio and US dealer John Ketchum of Kevalin Audio for their kind consideration. As such, the L-8000 DHT Preamplifier was here for a good time, not a long time.

Beetles has been slowly tormenting me with better and better Allnic Audio products to review, which I’m happy to accept on behalf of myself and our readers; a couple of which have been generously given on long term loans (H-7000 and L-7000) to use as references in my system. So, with full disclosure, I offer you my unencumbered story of what is probably the finest and certainly most expensive component to have graced my listening room.

Sep 25

Sep 25 Innuos ZENith Mk3 Music Server

Digital, Star Component Award

I first heard an Innuos product and the considerable buzz about this fairly new Portuguese company—formed in 2016 in the sunny Algarve—at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Audio Show. The Innuos unit I heard at length was the Statement Music Server, the top of the line unit (up to $15,000—review unit requested). In fact, numerous Innuos units were placed in several rooms—all rooms sounding uniformly collaborative. I heard Innuos models serving products from Spatial Audio, Anticables, QLN Loudspeakers, and Vinnie Rossi integrated amplifiers, amplifiers and preamps. They were all singing Innuos’ praises and the Innuos servers, right back at them. In fact, rarely have I been so engrossed in different showrooms playing digital content.

I enquired about a review unit of any of their products for our readers. Then came the typical, glacially-paced song and dance between reviewer, distributor, dealer and manufacturer after the craziness of a show. When we did finally connect, I found the Innuos chain, from US distributor Well Pleased Audio Vida to Portuguese home base, efficient and patient. As such, I’d like to thank Mark Sossa of Well Pleased Audio Vida and Mandy De Castro, Event Manager of Innuos, for their kind considerations.

Sep 14

Sep 14 IsoAcoustics zaZen Isolation Platform

Accessories, Star Component Award

I’ve had a lot of success using isolation devices under high end components (platforms, pucks, feet, etc). My early platform days were with a Townshend Seismic Sink (metal casing with air bladder) under a series of Rega turntables, a brief flirtation with the wondrous and very expensive Vibraplane, some home builts, including a tall ceramic planter filled with soil and a bog standard patio stone perched on top for my turntable (remarkably effective, if a little too ‘Flintstones’). From the exceptional Vibraplane, to demos of superb and expensive HRS (Harmonic Resolution Systems) gear, to supportive feet too numerous to mention, I’m a big fan of isolation gear. And utterly convinced of their efficacy.

Jackie Smiley, of Starscream Communications (a PR firm representing IsoAcoustics among others), suggested I review the newest IsoAcoustics product, the zaZen Isolation Platform. In fact, the product is debuting today.

Sep 11

Sep 11 Nordost Frey 2 Speaker Cables, Interconnects and Power Cords

Cables, Star Component Award

Cables are notoriously difficult to review. Capturing the subtle, even minute changes good cables make can be challenging to describe on the page. The ear is a much better arbiter than the written word. Thus, the description must be super accurate if the writer has a whisker of a chance convincing cable naysayers. Also, long term thinking is required to really hear the positive effects cables have on your system.

Connecting two or more cables from a ‘loom’ from one manufacturer makes things even more difficult, even though multiple products of the same design in the system should make changes seem more obvious. Literally, too much information in one sitting can lead to confusion (ever wonder why on black box recordings pilots ignore obvious multiple klaxon warnings when in deeply stressful situations?). As Emperor Joseph II says to Mozart, ‘Too many notes’.

Aug 28

Aug 28 Allnic Audio Rose MC Cartridge

The new Allnic Audio Amber MC Cartridge ($4500) was recently reviewed very favorably by Audiophilia where it was also mentioned that Amber had an equally new twin sister, the focus of my review here: the Rose MC Cartridge which retails at the significantly lower price of $2900.

Although not an identical twin of Amber—for it comes in a beautiful rose-colored Duralumin 5052 housing (versus amber-colored) with the name ‘Rose’ written elegantly in white on its right side—it is identical looking otherwise, almost identical in construction and, like the Amber, is handbuilt by master Allnic Audio designer Kang Su Park. As I discovered and will elaborate on in this review, the Rose is a true bargain, handily performing above its price point, so beautiful to look at and very easy to install.

Aug 14

Aug 14 Icon Audio Stereo 40 MkIV 'Plus' Integrated Amplifier

Amplifiers, Star Component Award

Icon Audio’s Canadian distributor, Warren Lavender, has been excited to share products with Audiophilia for review. I echoed his excitement for Icon’s remarkably good phono stage, the PS1 Mk.II. It was such good value at $2400, I purchased the unit for my mono setup (it has a rare ‘mono switch’).

Lavender was equally excited about Icon amplification and preamp designs, including integrated amplifiers. As Icon owner/designer David Shaw calls them, ‘All Valve’. Brit-speak for tubes. As such, Lavender requested a review of the 50W (Ultralinear) 30W (Triode) Stereo 40 MkIV Integrated Amplifier. The MkIV is a KT88 based design. The 4 KT88s are a matched set.

Jul 24

Jul 24 Allnic Audio Amber MC Cartridge

The star products from South Korea’s Allnic Audio continue to arrive on the island for review. Usually, the delivery guy/gal is cussing me under his/her breath wrangling the massive boxes in which the Allnic tube amps and preamps arrive. This time, no grumbling. A tiny cartridge.

The new Allnic Audio Amber Moving Coil Cartridge, in fact, the more expensive sister to the equally new Rose MC Cartridge ($2900—now in Karl Sigman’s hands—review up late August). The MSRP of the Amber Moving Coil Cartridge is $4500.

Jul 3

Jul 3 SONOS Arc

Digital, Loudspeakers, Star Component Award

Driving with cabriolet top down on a particularly sunny Spring day last month, I heard the CEO of Sonos, Patrick Spence, being interviewed by Nilay Patel of The Vergecast. Spence was particularly smooth and spoke mostly in corporate talk but did take responsibility for the debacle last year where some bright spark at Sonos decided to brick older products when new software updates were applied. Even with a healthy discount, my older purchased review units were expensive and not ready for the landfill. As such, the anger was not typical of the ‘faux-outrage’ you read every day on social media. It was visceral.

The tenor of the Verge interview got me thinking about the birth of Sonos and its exponential growth based on superior engineering and brilliant marketing. Word of mouth, too. And then my thoughts turned to more challenging days—the massive layoffs, the paradigm shift to ‘smart’ speakers and how Sonos navigated those minefields. Finally, the transition to the new products and post debacle marketing.

Jun 26

Jun 26 Mojo Audio Mystique EVO Pro D/A Converter

Digital, Star Component Award

The vast majority of modern audio DACs use a Delta-Sigma DAC chip because such chips are now tiny, manufactured by companies that sell them in mass relatively cheaply, and have become outstanding in quality. Examples of such chips include the California USA Company’s ESS Technology 9038PRO SABRE chip used in many of the highest-end DACs. Even their slightly lesser chip, the ESS Technology 9028PRO SABRE has been used impressively in some high-end DACs with which I am familiar such as the Mytek Brooklyn DAC + at only $2195.

There are, however, a few companies that use other methods. One novel alternative is illustrated by PS Audio’s DirectStream (DSD) DAC at $6000 that stands out because of its use of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) which is a circuit board that is programmed with software (that can be upgraded on a regular basis) to perform the essential conversion, and does so using DSD. This FPGA method for use in Hi-Fi audio, however, requires sophisticated software to run which most audio designers do not have the knowledge to assure (PS Audio, for example, leads their effort with one incredibly talented man: Ted Smith). The DirectStream DAC has been my reference for a number of years now.

May 15

May 15 Audio Art Cable Statement e2 AC Cable

Cables, Star Component Award

After two reviews of Audio Art Cable products already under my belt, I am now presenting the 3rd: Audio Art Cable Statement e2 Cryo AC Cable. It is a power cable at 15A, IEC, with solid, classy-looking, silver colored Furutech Nano Crystal Formula FI-50(R) NCF and FI-48(R) NCF plug sets.

They retail for $1, 380/metre; I was sent two for my review to use with my monoblock amps. As with the other two cables I reviewed, this AC cable is from the Statement series, their flagship level of cabling, and has a similar, attractive Techflex sleeving. It is the thickest of the three cables, about 1” in diameter, but relatively easy to manipulate and connect. The wiring is a 10 gauge, 6N pure single crystal UP-OCC copper/silver plated UP-OCC hybrid array. The Furutech plug sets used are considered some of the very finest available for power cable termination.

May 8

May 8 Allnic Audio M-2500 Monoblock Amplifiers

Amplifiers, Star Component Award

The new Allnic Audio M-2500 Monoblock Amplifiers are available in three tubed versions: PX25, 300B (both Triode) and the subject of this review, KT150 (Pentode). The MSRP for the KT150 tube model is $14,500/pair.

Audiophilia has reviewed a number of Allnic products, preamps, phono stages and cables, but no power or integrated amplifiers. All reviewed so far have received Star Component Awards and a few were included in our Products of the Year lists.

May 1

May 1 Audio Art Cable Statement e IC Cryo Interconnect Cable Pair Silver XLR

Cables, Star Component Award

This is my second review of Audio Art Cable products; the first review was for speaker cables. This time round, a pair of balanced (XLR) interconnects: Audio Art Cable Statement e IC Cryo Silver XLR; again from their Statement series which is their highest level.

These XLR cables offer the same attractive grey look with a braided Techflex sleeving as the speaker cables, but are thinner (3/8” diameter versus 1/2”). The cable’s MSRP is $960/1 metre pair. I was sent a 1.5 meter pair for this review at $1040. This is not expensive in the realm of high-end audio where a pair of XLR interconnects can be found at prices that can compete with a car.

Apr 24

Apr 24 Alta Audio Celesta FRM-2M Loudspeaker