THE REVIEWS
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THE DAN CLARK EXPANSE - REVIEW
Over the past several years, I have become very familiar with Dan Clark’s line of both electrostatic and planar magnetic headphones. And every single Dan Clark headphone that I reviewed was enjoyable, technically proficient, and musical. I must, however, confess to having a particular penchant for Dan Clark’s electrostatic headphone, the CORINA. At $2,000 less than the STAX SR-X9000 flagship, it is every bit its equal and on certain measures, its better.
GRACELINE WAGNER REFERENCE CABLE LOOM - REVIEW
The Graceline Wagner References cables as translators of information—digital and analog—from component to component are the best I have yet heard. The key in this is their extraordinary ability to translate every aspect of musical, technical, and spatial information from component to component to one’s ears, to the sole benefit of the music.
ALLNIC RHDA 7500 DAC - REVIEW
Value in high-end audio is often difficult to define. The least expensive component is rarely the best value, while the most expensive often offers diminishing returns. The RD-7500 occupies an enviable position between those extremes. Its engineering is genuinely original rather than derivative, its build quality reflects meticulous craftsmanship, and its sonic performance competes comfortably with converters commanding considerably higher prices.
BOENICKE W5 LOUDSPEAKER - REVIEW
Their modern Bauhaus design, willowy stature and form–follows–function construction all speak of honesty, not artifice. Every time I parked my keister to listen, I found myself annoyed if drawn away. There are some other great sounding speakers in this price range, but none I can think of that combine understated style and outsized sound in such a diminutive package.
MEZE EMPYREAN II - REVIEW
The Empyrean II is the chair ‘just right’, the porridge ‘just right’, the bed ‘just right’ and it is superb in its ‘just right’ pursuit of conveying high-fidelity music. In this, the Empyrean II surpasses the Abyss AB1266 Phi TC headphone via its incredible bass response coupled to its resolution, its transparency, its detail, and refinement. The Empyrean II represents a new standard for bass response for a Meze headphone.
SONNET KRATOS AMPLIFIERS - REVIEW
Sonnet Audio is offering excellent value here with the Kratos mono block amplifiers, taking into consideration the harmonically rich and spacious sound. It was essentially impossible to find a flaw with these beautifully built amps, and they had plenty of power to drive 4 Ohm speakers.
EXASOUND AUDIO s82 STREAMER - REVIEW
There are numerous digital options out there these days, from media players to streamers to digital transports, as well as CD players and CD transports, of course, which should not be forgotten in the event of a momentary internet glitch—just saying. And in truth, streamers and their like have come a very long way in terms of their technical abilities and sound quality. When matched to a Top of the Line (TOTL) DAC (Mola Mola, Bricasti Audio, etc.), the resulting sound can challenge all formats.