THE REVIEWS
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BURSON AUDIO PLAYMATE 2 - REVIEW
The Playmate 2 is an unassuming desktop digital–to–analog converter (DAC) plus unbalanced headphone amp (HPA) from Aussie operational amplifier specialists Burson Audio.
QLN ONE SPEAKER - REVIEW
The Qln One monitor is a beautifully designed stand mount that offers elegance in its sonic presentation, and class in its physical appearance. It is clear the Qln One should be matched with well chosen amplification and cables, as this will pay dividends. The more transparent the source, the more the One will rise to the occasion.
MERASON FRÉROT DAC & POW1 - REVIEW
Despite my misgivings about outdated tech, there were no instances where I felt the frérot + pow1 was left wanting. The design path that was taken results in a refreshingly straightforward solution for digital audio playback.
BRICASTI DESIGN M1SE - REVIEW
The Bricasti Design M1SE has proven itself even beyond what the research had led me to believe. Perhaps it was the synergy conjured up by so many exceptional reference components at the time of its review. And, no doubt, the M1SE’s prodigious ability as a high fidelity DAC with a host of options—15(!)—so as to be tailored for most, if not all listening preferences, is but another star for its abilities.
GRIMM AUDIO MU1 - REVIEW
The Grimm Audio MU1 streamer is easily at the forefront of technological progress and stands as testament to the fact that high-fidelity musical reproduction is light years ahead of where it was just a few short years ago, let alone the days of my youth. But that is only half of the picture!
AUDIO HUNGARY QUALITON PHONO PREAMPLIFIER - PREVIEW
Audio Hungary made quite an impression on us with their X200 tubed integrated amplifier. We were eager to hear more of the company’s products. The Qualiton tubed phono stage arrived to satisfy that desire. Our review unit came smartly finished in polished stainless steel, and features an outboard power supply. The unit retails for $5000.
BLUE HAWAII SPECIAL EDITION - REVIEW
The first thing one notices about the Blue Hawaii SE is its naturalness, its ease, and its gravitas—or its ability to put flesh on the bones of real performers/performances across the frequency spectrum—its palpability. There is no thinness, nor ghost-like apparitions wafting about the stage with hollow voices. There is instead the solidity of female and male vocalists, a strummed viola-de-gamba, a plucked upright bass, a raging Steinway, etc.