The Latest
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- Written by Mark Busby Mark Busby
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
YBA Passion PRE550 MkII Preamplifier & Passion A650 Power Amplifier
This review covers two chic looking products from French audio designer Yves-Bernard André who started the YBA brand in the early 1980s. A multi-faceted and thoroughly modern pre amplifier, the YBA Passion PRE550 MkII and a powerful solid state amplifier, the Passion YBA A650 Power Amplifier. The PRE550 caters for analogue and digital sources and has its own twin DACs on board. How will these French audio fashionistas perform?
At the Starter Gate – Munich High End 2023
Yours truly, smashing a Helles at the Englischer Garten, will once again join the rest of the SoundStage! Network team at Munich High End 2023. We’ve been in Munich for a couple of days, in fact, arriving early in preparation for the world’s biggest event in Hi-Fi. Visit SoundStage! Global for our network’s coverage and stay tuned for SoundStage! Australia’s 'Feature' on our favourite rooms at the show.
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- Written by Peter Katsoolis Peter Katsoolis
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 15 May 2023 15 May 2023
Audio Research I/50 Integrated Amplifier
I opened the crisp white shipping carton of the new Audio Research I/50 integrated amplifier and did a double take. Staring back at me was a user manual bedecked in bold block primary colours in the manner of Piet Mondrian – and Shonen Knife. I have been fortunate to own a few ARC models in the past, not in the least an SP-10 preamplifier and the criminally underrated CD2/DAC3MkII digital combo. Each came with a plain wrapper manual that, like 1970’s Letraset, would not have been out of place on founder William Z. Johnson’s boffin bookshelf. Here from the get-go was a statement of clear intent on the part of the freshly independent Audio Research. Had it come wrapped in red towelling and tied with some cool plastic dice you might have thought the I/50 was shipping from fellow Minnesotans, the ultra-hip ZVEX guitar effects company. ARC is the granddaddy of American tube audio equipment. But the I/50 integrated ain’t gonna be your granddaddy’s tube amplifier.
Iconic Bowers & Wilkins’ Nautilus Reaches a Milestone
Few, if any, loudspeaker designs have achieved iconic status while in continuous production for three decades – Bowers & Wilkins’ classic Nautilus is the example and a special version is unveiled to celebrate its 30th Anniversary as the company’s flagship.
DS Audio Unveils DS Master3 Optical Cartridge
Japan’s DS Audio continues to innovate and expand its analogue offerings with the new third-generation DS Master3 “semi-flagship” optical cartridge.
Audio Solutions Launches Overture O306F Loudspeakers
Lithuanian acoustics specialist Audio Solutions has unveiled the O306F, a key product for the company and its first “large scale” Overture line floorstanding speaker.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 08 May 2023 08 May 2023
Finding Nirvana – Melbourne’s Newest High-End Audio Store
Did you know that a place of enlightenment is but a short drive away? Believe. Yes, ‘Bodh Gaya’ can be found in the heart of Melbourne. I’m talking about Nirvana Sound, where visitors will be elevated and inspired by the veritable treasures of high-end exotica. On my recent visit, I chatted to the good people at Nirvana Sound who, with their discerning taste, are responsible for bringing to market some of the world’s most luxuriously exciting audio products.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 03 May 2023 03 May 2023
Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 – Part 2
In Part 2, I continued the journey of discovery as I progressed along the long dual carriage corridor, going room-to-room, on level 9 of the Novotel Central Hotel Sydney.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Features Features
- Published: 02 May 2023 02 May 2023
Australian Hi-Fi Show 2023 – Part 1
In an audio enthusiast-invigorating return to Sydney, the Australian Hi-Fi Show staged its much-awaited comeback at the Novotel Central Hotel to eager crowds while presenting a medley of hi-fi from entry level to the high-end.
Marten Mingus Septet Loudspeakers Announced
Marten, the Swedish loudspeaker manufacture renowned for evolved driver technology implementation and innovative cabinet designs, continues to expand its high-end portfolio with the new Mingus Septet.
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- Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer
- Category: Reviews Reviews
- Published: 01 May 2023 01 May 2023
Totaldac d1-triunity Digital to Analogue Converter
A few years ago, after having a Totaldac digital-to-analogue converter in for review and being seduced by its sonic excellence, no doubt due for the most part to its proprietary discrete R2R ladder digital conversion technology, I enthusiastically added the review sample to my then reference system. That was Totaldac’s d1-core and it’s the company’s entry point to this day. It was killer. Yes, killer. In defiance of its relatively modest price, its sound had an almost intangible magic and a certain… rightness. Even juxtaposed, at the time, with my own high-end CD player which employed multi-bit DA conversion (the legendary TDA1541 chip). Ever since, I’ve been using Totaldac’s converters exclusively as the blood source of my reference system’s central nervous system. Four years later, d1-core stepped aside for the purity and tonal precision of the d1-direct. Now, the Totaldac story progresses with a new, just announced chapter. The d1-triunity. Will the story of dominance lead to a new possession?
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- Written by News Editor News Editor
- Category: News News
- Published: 17 April 2023 17 April 2023
Piega Announces New Premium Gen2 Loudspeakers
Swiss speaker specialist Piega has announced updated second generation versions of its acclaimed Premium line speakers which can function as passive, fully active and/or wireless systems.
