THE REVIEWS
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PASS LABS HPA-1 HEADPHONE AMP - REVIEW
I did not expect to be as impressed as I am with the PASS LABS HPA-1, given its 2016-17 introduction and the various technical improvements that have come to other headphone amplifiers made in the interim, but time has not touched the viability, technical prowess, or wonderful musicality of the PASS LABS HPA-1. In truth, it has few rivals among those I’ve reviewed in recent years, regardless of price.
ALLNIC HPA-10000 OTL/OCL HEADPHONE AMP - REVIEW
Breathtaking transparency, resolution, and musicality that compel one to listen for hours on end, Single-Ended palpability, electrostatic dimensionality, and the power and gravitas of dynamics move it past all comers. Handy remote control is icing on the cake. Beautifully designed.
GRIMM AUDIO MU2 STREAMING/DAC/PREAMP - REVIEW
The Grimm Audio MU2 as a complete streaming DAC is unparalleled in its ability to render one’s music in a way that is technically superb, while bringing unquestioned musicality that rivals some of the best and most expensive analog rigs.
AUDIONET PRE G2 AND AMP - REVIEW
Spectacular! Not every day does a preamp and amplifier duo come into your life and raise the “living dead,” figuratively speaking, from their musical graves. Well, if you’ve made it this far, the reference to the “living dead” may well be clear. But I digress.
HEED THESIS LAMBDA PREAMPLIFIER AND GAMMA AMPLIFIER - REVIEW
We are hard pressed to think of separates at this price point that perform as well as the Heed Thesis components. The Gamma has more than enough power to drive the Spendor A2 speakers we used, and we loved the volume range available on the preamp. For those upgrading from an integrated amplifier and looking to delve into the world of separates, the Heed gets our highest recommendation!
THE MOLA MOLA KULA INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER - REVIEW
The Mola Mola Kula integrated amplifier is, to our ears, a state of the art in one box amplification solution. The rich midrange, the perfectly articulated and controlled bass, along with the amp’s overall grip on the music and speakers, makes it one of the great integrated amps of our time, and we have heard a few.
DAYENS AUDIO- REVIEW
The Serbian designed and built Dayens Ampino preamplifier and mono block amplifiers deliver a heck of a lot of good sound for their modest prices. The preamp is a no-nonsense clean sounding, transparent linestage, and the amplifiers will drive most speakers without breaking a sweat. Both sets of products do benefit from good cabling and proper placement.