SoundStageAustralia.com

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 01 December 2017 01 December 2017

Vermouth Audio Black Pearl Mk.II Interconnect, Speaker & AC Power Cables

Back in August 2017 I had the pleasure of living with the Vermouth Audio Little Luccas Mk.II Limited Edition loudspeakers in order to assess them and, subsequently, formally review them on SoundStage! Australia here. I was thoroughly taken by these Indonesian speakers’ engaging sound based on the superb RAAL ribbon tweeter, SB Acoustics mid-bass driver, high quality crossover componentry and solidly-built solid timber enclosure. I also admired the pleasing aesthetics, the world-class finish and a number of other design choices which served as evidence of a passionate and dedicated designer capable of thorough attention to detail. Move forward some time to the present and here, in situ for review, is the company’s Black Pearl Mk.II loom which sits at the top of Vermouth Audio’s cable line-up.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 29 November 2017 29 November 2017

Super! Supratek Back Making Superb Preamplifiers

Western Australia’s Supratek is back in business making highly-evolved valve-based preamplifiers. While the company is now offering the Cortese preamplifier – a recently-refined 6SN7-based preamplifier – company founder and designer Michael Maloney has told SoundStage! Australia that he’s working on a new entry level preamplifier for possible launch in Q1 2018.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 26 November 2017 26 November 2017

Audio Research VT80SE Power Amplifier

Audio Research has announced a new Foundation Series ‘Special Edition’ version of its VT80 power amplifier, the VT80SE, which ups the original’s potential by replacing the amplifier stage’s KT120 matched valves with the new high-performance KT150.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 17 November 2017 17 November 2017

Devialet ‘Activates’ New Phantom Elevate Models

No small speaker system extant has either the power capacity, inherent features list, ultra-cool design aesthetic and overall performance potential as Devialet’s high-tech Phantom speaker. Now, the company ups the stakes with a new Phantom Elevate range of upgraded units.

Details: Written by Peter Katsoolis Peter Katsoolis; Category: Reviews Reviews; Published: 15 November 2017 15 November 2017

HiDiamond D3 Balanced & D7 Single-Ended Interconnect & D7 Speaker Cables

Audio cable prices continue to sky rocket with statement pieces often costing as much, if not more, than the rest of a music system combined. Competing technologies continue to proliferate at a rate matched only by often garish advertising and boastful claims of patent (-ed) superiority. Cables are, of course, a crucial means of transferring those precious signals from your source to your speakers but are so system dependent that reviewing them causes me some trepidation in seeking to do so.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 13 November 2017 13 November 2017

Lumin D2 Network Music Streamer

The very successful Lumin D1 Network Music Streamer has been revamped in the new D2 which aims to upgrade several areas of the highly-acclaimed original music player.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 10 November 2017 10 November 2017

McIntosh MC1.25KW Monoblock Power Amplifier

McIntosh’s new ‘Quad Balanced’ MC1.25KW brute-force-in-a-velvet-glove monoblock amplifier is the company’s most powerful offering and reinvents the highly-acclaimed MC1.2KW with significant circuit improvements and overall refinements.

Details: Written by News Editor News Editor; Category: News News; Published: 10 November 2017 10 November 2017

Hulgich Audio Ella Mk.II Speakers

Up-and-comer Hulgich Audio has been steadily developing a concise line of quality loudspeakers and has just announced the all-new Ella Mk.II. The design’s performance and overall build quality impressed the SoundStage! Australia team at the recent Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Features Features; Published: 08 November 2017 08 November 2017

Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show 2017 - Part Four

The Pure Music Group and Sonic Purity’s system configuration was extremely well-chosen. Analogue was fluid and musical via an all-Kuzma rig (just over AU$23K) while digital sounded equally enticing with the Antipodes Audio DX Gen 3 Music Server (AU$6900) and Playback Designs’ Merlot DAC (AU$9100). Amplification used was all Audionet in the PAM G2 Phono Stage (AU$8,500), EPX Power Supply (AU$8,500), PRE G2 preamplifier (AU$21,200) and Audionet MAX Monoblocks (AU$28,000). Speakers were the medium-sized floorstanding Gauder Akustik Cassiano Mk II in gorgeous Makassar Ebony (AU$22,700) while cabling was via Argento Flow. The massively-built Ictra Designs KEO rack from Germany looked extremely serious with a commensurate price at AU$54,900! Kii Audio KiiTHREE speakers were on static display at the time of my visit.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Features Features; Published: 07 November 2017 07 November 2017

Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show 2017 - Part Three

The Sound Gallery in conjunction with Absolute Hi End showed a system par excellence. A Gold Note turntable package including the PH-10 phono stage was the analogue source of choice while digital was provided via DigiBit Aria 2, Weiss DAC502 and Bel Canto. The Bel Canto Black EX amplification was cycled with the excellent new Audia Flight FLS-10 integrated while speakers were Franco Serblin’s speaker-porn Accordo and Wilson Benesch Endeavour standmounts. Tara Labs provided the wiring throughout while GigaWatt was the AC filtering of choice. A welcoming and enveloping sound in this room.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Features Features; Published: 06 November 2017 06 November 2017

Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show 2017 - Part Two

Sennheiser Australia had a multiple headphone display (including a showing of the new HDV 820 digital headphone amplifier) while also holding private sessions showcasing the masterpiece flagship HE 1 system.

Details: Written by Edgar Kramer Edgar Kramer; Category: Features Features; Published: 06 November 2017 06 November 2017

Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show 2017 - Part One

Now in its second year, the Melbourne International Hi-Fi Show has firmly made its mark on the audio show calendar in this country. And indeed that mark is a robust one and may become indelible; the show is efficiently organised, is well-supported by exhibitors and enjoys a wide demographic including future audio enthusiasts.