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HiFi Media Features News,
Reviews & More
HiFi Media's
latest issue features AV news, gadget news, plus reviews of the TAD-D1000MK2 CD / SACD / USB player, Audiovector R 3 Signature loudspeaker, Q Acoustics 3030i speaker, Arcam Solo Uno streamer with built-in amplifier, Denon Home 250 wireless speaker and IKEA Symfonisk Wi-Fi bookshelf speaker. Other reviews include the LG OLED55C9PLA 4K OLED TV, Strong SRT 8550
DVB-T2 receiver, Audio-Technica ATH-CK3TW & ATH-CKS5TW headphones, Jabees Firefly 2 IEMs, JBL Tune 120 TWS wireless IEM, and Audioquest DragonFly Cobalt USB
DAC.
---> See what's within this issue of HiFi
Media.
Lector Strumenti Audio Grounding Box
Lector Strumenti
Audio's new Grounding Box (€4700 including two cables) is based on the company's big
Aamorph low noise capacitor built within their laboratory. The unit features large copper plate and a round disk made by copper fitted over pillar on top plate. The
grounding capacitor is isolated by aluminum box and closed by silicium pills for to reduce humidity.
Grounding Box offers a supply with very low noise ground (GND-Earth) terminal for optimal interface with your audio
equipment.
---> More about Lector Strumenti Audio's Grounding Box.
HIFICRITIC Latest Issue's
Reviews & More
HIFICRITIC's
latest issue features retailer Absolute Sounds founder Ricardo Franassovici looking back on high-end culture wars and the early days of his company, Stan's Safari
where he's not convinced by expensive streaming hardware, getting your record player's cartridge aligned perfectly for accurate tracking of the record groove, and having interviewed PMC founder Peter Thomas
HIFICRITIC reviewer Kevin Fiske found himself intrigued enough to try some of the company's speakers. There's also a review of Bryston's
BP-173 / 3B3, Focal Stella, Clear, & Archie, Audeze LCD-X headphones, and Novafidelity / Cocktail Audio HA500H headamp / DAC /
preamplifier.
---> See what's within this issue of HIFICRITIC.
McIntosh MC830 Amplifier & C8 Tube Preamplifier
McIntosh's new MC830 solid-state monoblock amplifier and C8 vacuum tube stereo preamplifier ($4000 and $3500 respectively) feature styling reminiscent of the company's 1950s and 1960s designs. McIntosh's MC830 is a monoblock amplifier with direct-coupled output that produces 300 Watts @ 8 Ohms (480 Watts @ 4 Ohms). A fast-responding dual scale Watt meter gives an accurate readout of power output for both speaker impedances. McIntosh Monogrammed Heatsinks add visual appeal and will keep the MC830 running cool for optimum
performance.
---> More about McIntosh's MC830 & C8 tube
preamplifier.
Harmonic Resolution Systems Helix
Footer
Harmonic Resolution Systems'
(HRS) new Helix ($450 for a set of three) is designed to significantly reduce the negative impact of air and structure-borne noise on your audio / video component performance. Naturally they can be used in combination with HRS Damping Plates when needed to control both top and bottom chassis noise. The very low profile design is virtually invisible under most components, so it is ideal when you wish to maintain the original look of the
component.
---> More about Harmonic Resolution Systems Helix footer.
The HiFi Summit Q4 2020 By Joe N Tell
The journey continues with The
HiFi Summit Q4, from October 22nd through 26th, as 2020 has been a true test for many of us personally and professionally. Companies who have adapted to our new reality are seeing unprecedented growth. While we would love to get together for a physical trade show to talk with colleagues and friends, that's not possible quite yet. So now
what?
---> More about The HiFi Summit Q4 2020 By Joe N Tell.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition Wireless Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition over-ear wireless stereo headphones ($399.99) includes adaptive noise-cancelling. Since
2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Bowers & Wilkins first-ever headphone design, their new PX7 Carbon Edition highlights the use of carbon-fiber composite reinforcement in its construction. Special diamond-cut detailing on each ear cup creates a premium look, which is inspired by the company's original P5.
---> More about Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition Wireless
headphones.
Sennheiser HD 800 S Anniversary Edition Headphones
To celebrate 75 years of audio history, Sennheiser has announced their Anniversary Edition HD 800 S stereo headphones
($1700) that is limited to 750 units worldwide. The HD 800 S Anniversary Edition comes in an exclusive matte gold colorway, each unit made truly unique by a laser engraving with the individual serial number on the headband. With a frequency range of 4Hz to 51kHz make the HD 800 S an audiophile and studio
headphone.
---> More about Sennheiser's HD 800 S Anniversary Edition
headphones.
Mytek Empire DAC / Streamer / Preamplifier
Mytek proudly introduces the Empire DAC / streamer / preamplifier ($19,995) as an 'all out' assault on the state-of-the-art hi-fi. The streamer is Roon-ready and features internal Roon Core that can drive both this ultra-high performance unit and external Roon endpoints. There is a dual mono fully balanced differential analog preamplifier with an ultra quiet phono stage for both MC and MM cartridges. Going one step further, a high current, dual mono, fully balanced headphone amplifier is part of this extraordinary
package.
---> More about Mytek's Empire DAC / streamer
/ preamp.
Futuresource Consulting Audio Collaborative Event
This just in: Futuresource Consulting is delighted to announce that their well renowned Audio Collaborative event will be shifting to an all-virtual experience for the first time in six years. With health and safety being of prime importance during the coronavirus outbreak, Futuresource must ensure all co-workers, exhibitors, thought leaders and attendees feel at ease to best experience and deliver the range of fascinating topics lined
up. Taking place over the 4th and 5th November, Audio Collaborative 2020 will continue to be an event to share industry
insights.
---> More about Futuresource's Audio Collaborative Event.
Noble Zephyr Hybrid In-Ear Monitor
Giant killer!
Review By Gary Alan Barker Of Headphone.Guru
It is little secret that
the Noble Katana is my favorite IEM, in fact, it is the best sounding headphone
I have in my possession period, and has only been outperformed by the very best
in electrostatic headphones (which puts them on a par with a minimum $5,000
investment). That being said, the Katana is not the end of the Noble IEM story.
At $1,850 the Katana is no longer even the top of the Noble IEM line (a position
filled by the Noble Sultan, an IEM I have yet to have an opportunity to listen
to, in fact, when I began testing the Noble Zephyr I was under the mistaken
belief that I was reviewing the Sultan).
--->
Read the Noble Zephyr Hybrid IEM review.
AURALiC Aries G1 Streaming Transporter
Polish, software, and beautiful case
work.
Review By Sam Rosen Of Positive Feedback.
When it comes to
streamers, my point of view is simple: software is king. Good software can make
a streamer, and bad software can break a streamer. For example, I have a
streamer that sounds wonderful; however, it crashes at least once a listening
session. For a time I tolerated these crashes, however, with no fix coming from
the manufacturer, and the crashes becoming a consistent part of my audio
experience, my frustration grew. As my frustration hit its peak the AURALiC
Aries G1 arrived for review. The end to end experience with the Aries G1 was eye
opening....
---
Read the AURALiC Aries G1 Streaming Transporter review.
Sonus Faber Nova II Floorstanding Speakers
These are immensely sexy speakers with the build quality, and attention to detail, that you would expect
on an Italian sports car.
Review By Dean Cacioppo
Let's get
this started with a hi-fi thought exercise. When does a loudspeaker become
something that is considered a luxury item? Is $1000 per pair of speakers a
luxury item? How about a $5000 pair? What about those that are priced at
$100,000? Although we all may have a different idea of what luxury is, we all
know when we are in the presence of something that is truly luxurious.
--->
Read our Sonus Faber Nova II speaker review.
SVS Pinnacle 3.5-Way Floorstanding Speakers
These speakers can rock, plus produce excellent macro and micro dynamics too!
Review By Dr. Matthew Clott
SVS
came on the scene several years ago and impressed everyone with their range of
high performance subwoofers. They established themselves as a high value to
performance product and sold primarily dealer direct. Their subwoofers come in
multiple sizes, multiple price points and in both sealed and ported versions to
seamlessly mesh with home audio and home theater systems. With their success,
speaker production was an obvious progression and they introduced a 5.1 HT
system, bookshelf speakers, dedicated surround speakers and floorstanders.
--->
Read our SVS Pinnacle speaker review.
Synergistic Research Foundation Cables
Oracles house themselves within temples of the humble.
Review By Rick Becker
Like with climate change,
it's hard to believe there are
still cable deniers in this world, but they show up in the forums with a loud
voice. You would think the multitude of High End cable manufacturers would be a
clue. After all, if high end cables were all snake oil would so many companies
exist? Would so many people buy them? And importantly, would brick & mortar
stores, who build their reputations and depend on repeat customers, be selling
them? At audio shows nobody runs generic power cords or interconnects.
---> Read
our Synergistic Research Foundation cables review.
Top Wing Suzaku/Red Sparrow MC Phono Cartridge
Perhaps the last cartridge you will ever need.
Review By Tom Lyle
A few years
ago I reviewed
the Van den Hul Crimson Stradivarius phono cartridge. I began that
review by expressing my love-hate relationship with phono cartridges. The love
stems from my love of music, and the fact that I prefer music reproduced by
vinyl, and that the phono cartridge converts vibrational energy from the grooves
of the records into an electric signal and then this electrical signal is
somehow converted into the music that comes forth from our speakers.
--->
Read our Top Wing's Suzaku / Red Sparrow MC review.
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