Here I am finally reviewing the SOtM sMS-100, a very simple, feature loaded Network Player that’s become a keeper in my audio chain. The main purpose of the sMS-100 network player, is to get rid of a computer in the living room for a more direct, convenient way to access to the music. I have… » Read the full article
This post points to several problems related to the Stax SR-009 headphones. Despite their high price tag, several models seem to be affected by channel imbalances developing over few months upon purchase. There have been several reports on Head-fi lamenting this situation. It seems that most problematic headphones come from grey market sources such as… » Read the full article
This is a mini review for the Grado RS1i, which I had owned a few years ago, with the sources I had at that time (Melior Bitstream DAC and AMB Gamma 1), and the AMB CKKIII headphone amplifier. The Grado RS1i, just like its RS1 predecessor, is a headphone voiced for rock music, and to… » Read the full article
I would like to present this set of scripts, prepared by Computer Audio Design, aimed to optimize Windows 8, 8.1 and Mac computers by stopping unnecessary background processes. The first time, the user launches an executable file. A console prompt opens, where the user is asked three questions: – if he wants to fully disable… » Read the full article
Here I am reviewing one of the best sounding (if not the best sounding) DAC’s I have ever heard. It’s the Metrum Hex. I have purchased this after having liked the Metrum Octave Mk2 quite a lot. In a convenient form factor, the Octave was offering a warm, lush, bloomy signature albeit a bit too… » Read the full article
Here is my take on the AMR DP-777 DAC, which I have been listening to for several month, and mentioned in various of my latest articles. AMR has been (co)founded by Thorsen Loesch, one of the people mainly involved in studying the Philips TDA1541 DAC chip through the years, which is usually regarded as one… » Read the full article
Reporting some impressions from Head-fi forum member Catscratch (not just a man whose ears I trust blindly, but also the main “culprit” to introduce me into Hi-Fi over ten years ago). These are his first impressions about the Westone Pro 50, which apparently suffer of bass excess overwhelming the mids. Here are some excerpts from… » Read the full article
The Zodiac Gold is the top of the Antelope Audio dac line. The Gold is considered an improvement over its lesser siblings because of its high quality stepped attenuator, and because of the board modifications made to use such attenuator. There is a motor which lets the attenuator move either when commanded from the computer… » Read the full article
I have got interested in this DAC after having owned Halide Design Bridge, which I enjoyed a lot as a very clever, super compact solution, with which I could get rid of many digital cable and jitter-related paranoias. When I purcahsed the Bridge usb/spdif only, I was a long term user of Moray James digital… » Read the full article
This is a review for the JCAT USB card, one of the first experiments in making an audiophile USB card, implementing special filters for providing clean power in order to minimize USB-related noise mess in the digital signal path. The USB card is the second product I purchased from the JCAT lineup, following the JCAT… » Read the full article
