Category: Review

Hegel H160

H160Hegel introduit un nouvel amplificateur intégré très prometteur, le H160. Il se distingue des autres modèles proposés par ce fabricant norvégien par la présence d’un port Ethernet et la technology AirPlay, permettant ainsi de diffuser la musique en streaming depuis un ordinateur ou une tablette, Smartphone, etc. De plus, cet ampli reprend toutes les qualités de ses frères H80 ou H300, avec une puissance RMS annoncée à 2 x 160 Watts / 8 Ohms, une construction symétrique et une superbe amplification Classe A/B au rendu très analogique. En revanche, le circuit interne aurait été amélioré avec une nouvelle génération de DSP et un DAC intégré très puissant. Le Hegel H160 propose une connectique très intéressante avec une entrée USB-B, trois entrées Optique, une Coaxial, un port Ethernet, une entrée symétrique XLR stéréo, une entrée analogique, un Bypass pour attaquer directement l’étage de puissance, deux sorties (REC et PreOut), une paire de bornier. On remarque également une sortie casque amplifiée sur Jack 6.3mm. Prix suggéré : $4000.

If there were any justice, this £2,350 integrated amplifier shouldn’t just be driving £3,000 loudspeakers; it could be powering £30,000 loudspeakers and replacing big fat power amps with something just as good, for a fraction of the price, the size, and the electricity bill of what went before. A great amplifier with an excellent headphone amplifier and an extremely fine DAC all rolled into one awesome giantkilling package” — Hi-Fi +

Spendor SP2/3R2

“The latest version of the long running SP2 is the best yet. and can teach cutting edge rivals plenty when it comes to sound quality. …These speakers are very much capable of worrying the cream at this price. The combination osp23r2
f a new tweeter – straight from the SA1 mini monitor – and an extensively reworked version of Spendor’s in-house 21cm polymer-coned mid/bass works seamlessly. The result is a wonderfully natural-sounding midrange sandwiched between a sweet and insightful treble and weighty bass. Like earlier versions of the SP2, these speakers sound glorious with classical music. Whether something small-scale from Arvo Pärt or the sonic thunder that is The Dark Knight OST, these Spendors deliver in full. Stereo imaging is expansive yet focused, and the sense of authority is class-leading. …Move on to music by the likes of Lily Allen or Kanye West and the R2s sound right at home. There’s punch, dynamics and the kind of precision to timing that earlier Spendors barely hinted at, while voices are incredibly full-bodied. …The SP2/3R2 is easy to underestimate. Its traditional appearance hides a speaker of uncommon ability. … a truly amazing achievement.” — What Hi-Fi? 5 Star winner.

Prix suggéré : $5995./pr

Harbeth Monitor 30.1

monitor-30-cherry-2Harbeth est synonyme à travers le monde de son fidèle de très grande qualité et surtout d’un très grand naturel dans la reproduction musicale… Fluidité et naturel avec une qualité de timbres se rapprochant toujours de la musique vivante… Dès le départ Harbeth a toujours innové sur deux points essentiels : utiliser de nouveaux matériaux offrants le moins de coloration possible et l’étude de filtres sophistiqués apportant un grand respect de la phase ( image réaliste et absence de son de boite ). Conçu pour remplacer le BBC LS3/9, le Monitor 30.1 bénificie du nouveau grave/médium RADIAL2 et offre une amélioration considérable de résolution et intégration sonore et offre une performance médium parfaitement neutre du Monitor 40.1 avec lequel il partage les mêmes deux enceintes supérieures et donc aussi le son. Prix suggéré : $4999./pr

” …the Monitor 30.1 produced “ravishing” midrange texture, tonality, and resolution…”Stereophile, Class A Recommended Component.

“The new version of Alan Shaw’s Harbeth Monitor 30.1, which I am reviewing now, is the best compact two-way speaker system I have ever heard, regardless of design type, cost, or complexity. It’s an updated version of the original Monitor 30, a speaker that was so good that improvement was difficult within the terms of its brief, which is a speaker made to a certain size so that it can be used in various professional setups where high accuracy in a not-large enclose is required. I put it that way to emphasize that the Monitor 30.1 is not a mini-monitor; rather it is somewhat smaller than the standard two‑cubic-foot enclosures long regarded as the norm for home listening. As befits its monitor status, the 30.1 boasts high neutrality, low coloration, low distortion, and a matching of drivers that is equaled in my experience to of dynamic loudspeakers only by Shaw’s flagship, the Monitor 40. This thing speaks with one voice in a way reminiscent of Quad ESLs, and it is of similar low coloration, neutrality, and musical authority. The Monitor 30.1 is a constant joy and pleasure to listen to, consummately natural, unbelievably beautiful. It is highly revealing, yet owing to its natural tonal balance it doesn’t accentuate the bad qualities of bad recordings, which in effect it makes them much easier to listen to, while good recordings come through without editorializing. This is a reference-caliber speaker that is also gloriously musical.”The Absolute Sound.

iFi Audio Micro DSD DAC

iDSDmicro_ArtsExcellence_Part2_DACLe constructeur japonais iFi Micro s’impose comme l’un des leaders sur le marché de produits portables haut de gamme à petit prix. Le Micro iDSD est un petit DAC équipé de deux convertisseurs de haut niveau capable de décoder des signaux numériques PCM jusqu’à 24 bits / 768 kHz et DSD 512, et d’un ampli de casques très puissant. Il est capable de s’adapter à tous types de casques des plus simples aux plus gros. Sa sortie casque 8v/4000mW en fait l’un des amplificateurs pour casques les plus puissants. Cet appareil a vocation à être associé à un ordinateur, un iPhone, un iPod touch ou un iPad (avec Camera Kit) ou tout smartphone Android compatible USB OTG. La batterie intégrée permet une autonomie de 12 h en mode éco. Le iFi Audio Micro iDSD est un puissant DAC audio portable doté de qualités audio exceptionnelles. Prix suggéré : $599.

As this month is Enjoy the Music.com’s annual Blue Note Awards, am sure you can already tell that the iFi Audio Micro iDSD has earned not just my highest of respect, but my personal fave award for best portable DAC/amp combo too! For only $499 US the ifi Audio Micro iDSD delivers and incredible value, can handle every conceivable digital music file type today and for the foreseeable future for many years to come. You also get a variety of settings for filtering, XBass, 3D Holography, variable amplification output setting, plenty of amplifier power and it can even charge your USB-powered device too! It can also serve as a headphone amplifier and as an external DAC for your high fidelity audio system. The bottom line here is that it will be very hard for any such unit in the years to come to sound better while also providing so many features at this price. In this word of disposable and cheaply made audio devices, I foresee the iFi Audio Micro iDSD unit being one of those products you will be gladly using 10 years from now. A decade from today it should still handle everything you can throw out it from modern digital music files, an external DAC, plus handle everything from custom IEMs and those hard-to-drive planar magnetic headphones too. Smart audiophiles can stop wasting their hard earned cash with typical DAC-of-the-month products and instead get a device that can keep them happily enjoying the music today and for many years to come.” — EnjoytheMusic.com

Chord Hugo

Chord Hugo2099_scrLe Chord Hugo est un convertisseur numérique/analogique portatif de haut niveau, compatible avec les fichiers audio PCM jusqu’à 32 bits/384 kHz ainsi que les fichiers DSD64 et DSD128. Il est équipé d’un amplificateur de casques, d’un préamplificateur et d’un contrôleur Bluetooth apt-X. De plus, le Hugo est pourvu de deux piles rechargeable offrant plus de 12 heures d’autonomie et l’avantage d’une source de courant stable et sans pollution.

Contrairement à la majorité des DAC audio du marché, le Hugo n’est pas équipé d’un convertisseur numérique/analogique acheté auprès d’un fabricant tiers (Burr Brown, ESS Sabre, Wolfson, etc.), mais intègre plutôt un puissant circuit de conversion propriétaire développé par Chord. Il s’agit d’une conception qui emploie un processeur XIlinx Spartan 6 de type Field Programmable Gate Array Spartan. Le Hugo se présente sous forme d’un boitier compact en aluminium de qualité aéronautique doté de deux entrées mini-USB, une entrée Toslink, une entrée numérique coaxiale ainsi que deux sorties casque jack 3.5mm, une sortie casque jack 6,35mm et une paire de sortie analogique sur RCA. À cela s’ajoute deux petits boutons poussoirs pour la sélection de source et le filtre Crossfeed. Sur le dessus de l’appareil se trouve un système d’éclairage par diodes de couleurs pour indiquer la fréquence d’échantillonnage du fichier audio en cours de lecture mais également la source active et le niveau de charge de la pile. La molette de contrôle du volume, également sur le dessus de l’appareil, change également de couleur en fonction du niveau sonore. Prix suggéré : $2895

The Chord Hugo is nothing less than a stunning achievement – a multi-talented device that will transform your music listening so much you’ll wonder what you ever did without it. ” — What Hi-Fi magazine.

The DAC section of the Hugo, however, is just mind-blowingly good. How good is it? I’m still conducting listening tests, but let’s just say that prior to writing this blog, I was listening to the Hugo in DAC-configuration and discovered that it could give the terrific AURALiC VEGA digital audio processor a pretty convincing run for its money. That is simply astounding performance in light of the Hugo’s size and price.” — Hi-Fi + Blog.

It possesses that elusive ‘X’ factor, which marks the difference between very good products and truly special ones that touch on greatness.” — Hi-Fi+

The Hugo is another giant leap for digital kind. I implore you to have a listen.” — HiFi Choice

Hugo is a tour-de-force of engineering and delivers fabulous sound quality.” — Hi-Fi World

If you want the best, this is it.” — T3 magazine.

If you can afford a Chord Electronics Hugo, purchase one. Now!” — Enjoy The Music.com.

Zesto Bia 120 – Un amplificateur exceptionnel

Zesto_Audio_Bia_120_1_BigZesto Audio introduit son tout premier amplificteur de puissance, le Bia 120. Ce nouvel ampli développe une puissance de 60 Watt par canal en pure Class A avec une structure de type Push-Pull Ultra Linéaire et une alimentation double mono est très soignée. Malgré le peu de temps qu’il est disponible sur le marché, le Bia bouleverse tous ceux qui l’écoute ! Prix suggéré : $17 640.00.

Groundbreaking! Powerful! Huge dynamics! Distortion Free! Ultra quiet! More definition than my system has ever produced! Realism at new levels of perfection! Perfect highs, perfect mids, perfect bass! Dimensional without boundaries! Micro dynamics are spectacular! Faster than any tube amp ever! Textural cues are perfection! Most neutral tube amp ever created! Best imaging of any amp at any price. Unequaled clarity. Gigantic soundstage. Impossible to distinguish whether tube or solid state!

Most important tube amp produced in a generation! MSRP is grossly undervalued with performance equal to or exceeding $50,000 amplifiers! Beautiful styling and very fine fit and finish! Not too large and not too heavy at 66 pounds! A Bonafide Masterpiece! That’s right. What George delivered to me to review was not just another very fine piece of Zesto gear to match his excellent efforts to date. What he delivered to me was the best tube amp I have heard in 50 years. Actually, it is the best amp, tube or solid state, I have heard in 50 years. …That it costs $12,500 US is a boon to audiophiles everywhere, and a minor miracle. What a value!”
Positive Feedback.

Is the Bia perfect? Well, of course, nothing’s perfect, but no matter what I threw at it, I couldn’t make it sound anything less than beautiful. …the Bia is the only amplifier costing more than $10k that I’ve heard that I might actually consider buying for the sheer love of the way it makes almost every recording I have sound beautiful. … This is the kind of design around which passionately enthusiastic cults form…” The Absolute Sound.

Naim NAC-N 272 préampli / lecteur réseau

nac n 272Le NAC-N 272 combine les dernières innovations en technologie numérique audio avec un pré-amplificateur classique analogique. Associé à un amplificateur de puissance NAP 200, NAP 250 ou même un NAP 300 vous aurez ainsi un système avec lecteur réseau pilotable avec les applications iOS et Android et les performances d’éléments séparés. Entrées disponibles: streaming UPNP jusqu’à 24bits/192kHz, connection Spotify, radio internet, Bluetooth (aptX), USB, multiroom, 6 entrées digitales et 3 analogiques. Un tuner DAB/FM est disponible en option.
Il est possible d’augmenter les performances du NAC-N 272 en lui ajoutant une alimentation séparé Naim XP5-XS, XPS-DR, or 555 PS-DR. Prix suggéré : $7495.

…the NAC-N 272 turns out to be a superb performer regardless of source. …It sounds great, it’s full of life and has the ability to make music, no matter how complex, make sense. Then factor in the box-count reduction, lack of extra cabling and the fuss-free way it operates, and this unit looks like something of a bargain (in high-end terms at least). Highly recommended. — What Hi-Fi? 5 Star rating.

Martin Logan

ML-Montis1Les panneaux électrostatiques du célebre constructeur américan Martin Logan sont maintenant disponible chez Codell Audio. Basé dans l’état de Missouri, Martin Logan est considéré comme le plus grand spécialiste des enceintes électrostatiques. Le modèle Ethos, somme de nouvelles technologies sonores avancées et inédites, ouvre une nouvelle voie en matière de conception audiophile. Descendante des fabuleuses MartinLogan CLX, l’Ethos utilise la technologie électrostatique avancée XStat associée à un filtre Vojtko exclusif, atteignant ainsi de nouveaux sommets de transparence sonore, de dynamique et de précision. Son woofer PoweredForce ultra dynamique, couplé à un radiateur passif utilisant un processeur 24-bit “Vojtko Digital Signal Processing Engine” et un puissant amplificateur de 200 watt en classe D, génère une précision, une extension et une dynamique de grave phénoménale jusqu’à 34 Hz.

The Ethos is an exceptional speaker and a bargain at its price. This speaker does so much, so well, it’s incredible. It does so much, at such high standards; excellent integration of woofer to panel, seamless and world-class midrange and treble, excellent soundstage and a most articulate, clear, transparent sound while at the same time, being sweet, musical, life-like, and musically engaging. And the tonal balance is also spot-on. I have to tell you, when MartinLogan finally asked me to return the Ethos to their factory after a very generous amount of review time, thank you MartinLogan, it was the hardest piece of equipment I have received or reviewed to “let go” of. Within two days, I sent an email to Mark Aling and Erin Philips stating I was suffering from “MartinLogan withdrawal anxiety” and the only cure for that illness was for them to send me another MartinLogan product to review, preferably the Summit X. I’m waiting, Mark! I got it bad. For all the above reasons I’ve stated in this review, the Ethos is a first-class product that will bring joy, emotional satisfaction, and the inner soul cleansing that music can bring. Bottom line, this is one phenomenal loudspeaker and a good-looking one, to boot. What a deal! And speaking of deals, it a great deal considering its price, too.” Dagogo.com.

Considering that the Ethos is one of the most musically satisfying speakers I’ve heard in my room, I also have to say that, at $6495, it’s a flat-out bargain. Buy a pair if you can swing it. …the Ethos offers a startling musical experience and one you should try to hear if you can. In important ways this is one of the best loudspeakers on the market and, in some senses, a snip at the price.” — Hi-Fi World.

Martin Logan’s XStat panel in the Ethos is probably the best electrostatic driver I have ever heard, and this alone hoists it way up above most other loudspeakers. ” — Soundstage.com.

Introduction du nouveau Harbeth Super HL5 Plus

HARBETH-HL5-PLUSLa très populaire Super HL5 recoit une mise à niveau. La Harbeth SHL5 Plus est la septième génération de la légendaire HL Monitor. Elle est maintenant dotée du nouveau transducteur de médium / grave RADIAL 2, exclusivité de Harbeth. Le filtre séparateur s’est vu aussi revisé pour maximiser les performances de ce nouveau haut parleur. Le résultat est une nette amélioration de la transparence et de l’articulation mais tout en conservant ce très grand respect des timbres dont on connait des SHL5. En fait, c’est cette grande qualité de timbres que beaucoup considèrent comme étant une des grandes force des enceintes Harbeth, une force qui est jugée inégalée par ses concurents, sauf peut-être les “Classic” de Spendor. Prix suggéré : $6299/pr

Every once in a while in the endless flux of audio components, one encounters a truly great musical performer. The Harbeth Super HL5 loudspeaker is one such product. The HL5 has been in production since 1977, eons in the often-faddish world of audio. …it remains both state-of-the-art contemporary and part of a glorious loudspeaker design tradition …Never, at any price or design type, have I heard a speaker that so completely got out of the way and let the music speak for itself. Never have I heard a speaker that exceeds the HL5’s ability to reveal the artistic quality of the music and its performance. Never have I heard a speaker that does so many of the fundamentals of music reproduction so right: timbre, rhythm, phrasing, articulation, parsing, dynamic flow, sound stage reconstruction, placement of instruments, and the delineation of the ambience of the recording site are all produced with an ease and naturalness so convincing and so adept at evoking musical gestalts that immersion into the music was as easy as breathing.The Harbeth’s reproduction of instrumental timbre is exceptional, among the best I’ve ever heard.” — Stereo Times.

Zesto Audio Leto (préampli)

“…as I observed of the Andros, the really distinguishing characteristic of the Leto is a wonderful freedom from the usual sorts of sonic hype and electromechanical artifacts. …a naturaleness that soon becomeleto-1-5-final-web
s quite addictive is the order of the day with this preamplifier, though it is also lively in its dynamics and lifelike in its vividness and vitality. No wonder the Zesto rooms have turned up so often on the “best sound” lists of recent audio shows. …I am astonished at the sense of sheer power the Leto is able to convey. …Bass drums, tympani, trombones, tubas, bassoons, doublebasses have truly prodigious weight and definition. …The entire midrange is beyond criticism… The top end? Airy, extended and natural” — The Absolute Sound.

“New from Zesto Audio comes the tubed Leto Preamp, pushing the envelope in value and performance in its price range and beyond. With styling similar to the Andros Phono stage, the Leto is a powerful sounding, highly detailed, fantastically quiet, and superbly musical masterpiece that will complement the finest systems. …the Leto performed like a thoroughbred in every way musical, and was a joy to control and adjust. The fun factor while working with the Leto made me rethink what has been missing in minimalist preamps that cost even more money these days. What a jewel! The Zesto Audio Leto is a killer design to my way of listening and loving recordings, and may just be the preamp you will buy and keep for the very, very long haul. The Leto receives my highest recommendation.” — Positive Feedback.

Prix suggéré : $10 200.00.