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Equipment Reviews

Ultra Audio's site platform was changed in August 2010. For equipment reviews previous to that, use this link to transfer to the old site.

EMM Labs DV2 DAC-Preamplifier

Written by: Aron Garrecht
Created: 15 July 2020

Reviewers' ChoiceEMM Labs’ DV2 ($30,000 USD) digital-to-analog converter is the product of a three-way collaboration of Ed Meitner, EMM’s founder and chief designer, responsible for the DV2’s overall design, hardware, and layout; Mariusz Pawlicki, who engineered the DSP and firmware; and Kris Holstein, who designed the case and mechanics. The DV2 is based on the circuitry of EMM’s DA2 DAC ($25,000), but partners it with EMM’s VControl -- an all-new, very-high-resolution (50-bit), digital volume controller.

Read more …

Wells Audio Commander Level II Preamplifier

Written by: Jeff Sirody
Created: 01 July 2020

Reviewers' ChoiceMy chronic addiction to Audiophilia nervosa has lasted more than 30 years now, and in that time I’ve owned countless components. Family and friends often joke that I should install a loading dock outside my listening room, to ease the swapping of gear in and out. At one time or another I’ve owned products from almost every major maker of high-end audio equipment, and in some cases -- Conrad-Johnson, Magnepan, Mark Levinson, McIntosh Laboratory, etc. -- several of their current and past offerings.

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Audience frontRow Interconnects, Speaker Cables, and Power Cords

Written by: Garrett Hongo
Created: 15 June 2020

Reviewers' Choice“Electrons don’t care what kind of wires they’re in,” an electronics engineer once said to me. He was being glib, but I knew him to be a serious man when it came to audio. He builds great tubed and solid-state gear and has good taste in music.

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McIntosh Laboratory C1100 Preamplifier

Written by: Aron Garrecht
Created: 01 June 2020

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

McIntosh Laboratory is no stranger to that adage. Ever since its founding, in 1949, by Frank McIntosh and Gordon Gow, the company has designed and made audio components oriented more toward those who prefer to buy such a product once or, at most, twice in a lifetime. For that, I applaud them. In this industry, sustainable and profitable rarely go together -- you’re far more likely to see an only slightly revised version of the same product offered every two or three years instead of every five to ten, or even only once every decade or two. This may be forgivable for products in the rapidly evolving digital categories of streamers, DACs, even AVRs -- but for analog gear, and especially amplifiers and preamplifiers, it’s seldom necessary.

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Xavian Electronics Classic Quarta Loudspeakers

Written by: Hans Wetzel
Created: 15 May 2020

Despite all evidence to the contrary, there might still be some trusting souls who imagine that all audio reviewers are consummate professionals so seasoned in the ways of audiophilia that mistakes aren’t just few and far between, but nonexistent; that their judgment, honed through years or even decades of experience, is infallible; that the process of sitting down to conduct some critical listening is highly ritualized, even sacred. Let’s imagine what that rite might look like:

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Estelon YB Loudspeakers

Written by: Jason Thorpe
Created: 01 May 2020

I do love an elegant-looking speaker. There’s something to be said for architectural grace. After all, accepting into your life and home a pair of full-size speakers is a serious commitment. The damn things have to sit there, damn near in the middle of your room. You have to stare at them as you’re listening. I could live with a pair of boxes made of MDF wrapped in vinyl, but I sure as hell would rather not.

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Simaudio Moon 700i v2 Integrated Amplifier

Written by: Hans Wetzel
Created: 15 April 2020

I grew up in a family that adhered to self-discipline, hard work, and frugality -- in short, to the Protestant work ethic, a phrase first coined and a concept first formulated, in 1904-1905, by German sociologist and philosopher Max Weber, who attributed to this ethic the rise of capitalism. So the idea of spending a lot of money on something for how it looks and feels, instead of for its main reason for being -- its utility -- gives me pause.

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Shunyata Research Hydra Alpha A12 Power Conditioner and Venom NR-V10 Power Cord

Written by: Jeff Fritz
Created: 01 April 2020

Reviewers' ChoiceI go way back with Shunyata Research, and fondly remember the days of The World’s Best Audio System (TWBAS) events -- gatherings of manufacturers at my home for which I’d chosen and assembled into amazing systems the best audio components then available -- and the sense of discovery we all felt. My first TWBAS, in 2004, included products from Wilson Audio Specialties, EMM Labs, and Shunyata Research. TWBAS 2004 was a watershed for me -- at the time, it was, by far, the best sound I had ever attained in my home. Although that system’s sound would be greatly surpassed by subsequent TWBAS systems, the bar set by that first one was already very high. Shunyata was represented in TWBAS 2004 by their Hydra Model-8 power conditioner ($1995 at the time; all prices USD), various models of power cord from their Anaconda and Diamondback lines, and their Constellation Aries and Andromeda signal cables (these models were discontinued long ago; see archived articles for cable prices).

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Merrill Audio Jens Phono Stage

Written by: Jeff Sirody
Created: 15 March 2020

What most non-audiophiles say when they see my system for the first time -- after “Wow, those speakers are huge!” -- is this: “You still listen to records?” By which they mean vinyl LPs, their implication being digital playback formats are of course superior to analog, and that I should get with the times. As politely and non-condescendingly as I can, I try to explain that, in my opinion, the very best analog rigs reproduce recorded music with higher fidelity than the very best digital rigs. Their response is usually skeptical -- until I prove my point with a demonstration. Most doubters then become converts -- or at least feign agreement.

Read more …

Gryphon Audio Designs Zena Preamplifier

Written by: Howard Kneller
Created: 01 March 2020

Some audio products look downright menacing. I include in this group Wilson Audio’s Sasha and Devialet’s Phantom speakers, and the electronics from Metaxas Audio Systems. But perhaps no other audio manufacturer so consistently produces gear that looks bent on world domination than does Denmark’s Gryphon Audio Designs, whose aesthetic is striking, to say the least: ultramodern, often black, and pure badass.

Read more …

  1. EgglestonWorks Nico Evolution Loudspeakers
  2. Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III Loudspeakers
  3. Audience Au24 SX Interconnects and Speaker Cables
  4. McIntosh Laboratory MC1.25KW Mono Amplifiers
  5. Sonus Faber Heritage Collection Electa Amator III Loudspeakers
  6. Rockport Technologies Avior II Loudspeakers
  7. Theoretica Applied Physics BACCH-SP adio 3D Sound Processor
  8. PMC Fact Fenestria Loudspeakers
  9. GigaWatt PC-4 Evo+ Power Conditioner
  10. Luxman D-380 CD Player
  11. SGR Audio Model III Symphony Equipment Rack
  12. TAD Evolution One TX Loudspeakers
  13. McIntosh Laboratory MT10 Turntable
  14. Magico A3 Loudspeakers
  15. Merrill Audio Element 118 Mono Amplifiers
  16. Valve Amplification Company Master Preamplifier
  17. Constellation Audio Revelation Andromeda Phono Stage
  18. Audio Research Reference 6 Preamplifier
  19. Essential Sound Products MusicCord Pro Power Cord
  20. Gryphon Audio Designs Mojo S Loudspeakers
  21. Synergistic Research Galileo SX Interconnects, Speaker Cables, and IFT Jumpers
  22. Auralic Vega G2 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier
  23. Cocktail Audio X45Pro Music Server-DAC
  24. Luxman L-509X Integrated Amplifier
  25. Vivid Audio Kaya 45 Loudspeakers
  26. Audio Research Reference 160M Mono Amplifiers
  27. Weiss Engineering DAC501 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  28. EgglestonWorks Kiva Loudspeakers
  29. VPI Prime Signature Turntable
  30. AVM Ovation SD 6.2 Preamplifier-DAC-Streamer
  31. Shunyata Research Hydra Typhon QR Power Distributor
  32. Burmester Ambience BA71 Loudspeakers
  33. GIK Acoustics 2A Alpha Diffusor/Absorber Acoustic Panel
  34. Linnenberg Elektronik Telemann DAC-Preamplifier
  35. Top Wing Blue Dragon Phono Cartridge
  36. Simaudio Moon 888 Mono Amplifiers
  37. Synergistic Research SR25 Limited Edition Power Cord
  38. Balanced Audio Technology VK-53SE Preamplifier
  39. Sumiko Reference Starling Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge
  40. Tidal Piano G2 Loudspeakers
  41. ZYX Ultimate 4D-X MC Phono Cartridge
  42. European Audio Team E-Glo S Phono Stage
  43. Balanced Audio Technology VK-255SE Stereo Amplifier
  44. T+A Elektroakustik PA 3100 HV Integrated Amplifier
  45. Furutech NCF Booster Cable Holder
  46. Raidho Acoustics XT-5 Loudspeakers
  47. Waversa Systems WDAC3 Mk.II Digital-to-Analog Converter
  48. Rethm Maarga Loudspeakers
  49. Audience Au24 SX powerChord Power Cord
  50. McIntosh Laboratory MA9000 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  51. VPI MW1 Cyclone Record-Cleaning Machine
  52. Esoteric Grandioso G1 Master Clock Generator
  53. Pro-Ject RPM 10 Carbon Turntable with 10cc Evolution Tonearm
  54. Esoteric Grandioso K1 SACD/CD Player-DAC
  55. Sonus Faber Homage Amati Tradition Loudspeakers
  56. TAD Micro Evolution One Loudspeakers
  57. Paradigm Persona 7F Loudspeakers
  58. Dynaudio Contour 60 Loudspeakers
  59. VAC Signature 200iQ Stereo Amplifier
  60. Synergistic Research Galileo UEF Speaker Cables, Interconnects, and IFT Jumpers
  61. Mytek Digital Brooklyn DAC-Phono Stage-Preamplifier-Headphone Amplifier
  62. Moon by Simaudio Evolution 860A Stereo Amplifier
  63. Esoteric K-05X SACD/CD Player/DAC
  64. Audio Physic Codex Loudspeakers
  65. Furutech FI-50 NCF Series Power Connectors and FP-TCS31 Alpha PC-Triple C Bulk Power Cord
  66. Vivid Audio Giya G1 Spirit Loudspeakers
  67. Audio Research Foundation DAC9 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  68. Vandersteen Audio Model Seven Mk.II Loudspeakers and M7-HPA Mono Amplifiers
  69. JPlay JCAT USB Card and USB Isolator
  70. Monitor Audio Platinum II PL300 II Loudspeakers
  71. Audiodesksysteme Gläss Vinyl Cleaner Pro
  72. Gryphon Audio Designs Antileon Evo Stereo Amplifier
  73. Symposium Acoustics Osiris Stealth Ultimate Equipment Rack
  74. Focus Audio Liszt Concerto Mono Integrated Amplifiers
  75. Magico MPod Support System
  76. Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40 Mk.II Stereo Amplifier
  77. Synergistic Research PowerCell 12 UEF SE Power Conditioner
  78. van den Hul Crimson Stradivarius Phono Cartridge
  79. Devialet Expert 1000 Pro Mono DAC-Integrated Amplifiers
  80. Audience adeptResponse aR6-TSSOX Power Conditioner
  81. Audio Physic Avanti Loudspeakers
  82. High Fidelity Cables CT-1 Ultimate Digital Link, Interconnects, Speaker Cables, and Power Cords
  83. Gryphon Audio Designs Diablo 300 Integrated Amplifier-DAC
  84. Constellation Audio Inspiration Stereo 1.0 Amplifier
  85. Kharma Elegance dB9-S Loudspeakers
  86. Ayre Acoustics AX-5 Twenty Integrated Amplifier
  87. Luxman EQ-500 Phono Stage
  88. fo.Q Modrate HEM-25 Pure Note Insulators
  89. Constellation Audio Inspiration Preamp 1.0 Preamplifier
  90. Zanden Audio Systems Model 3100 Preamplifier
  91. YBA Passion PRE550A DAC-Preamplifier
  92. Skogrand Cables Ravel Speaker Cables and Interconnects
  93. Soulution 560 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  94. Synergistic Research Atmosphere Level 4 Speaker Cables and Interconnects, Atmosphere Level 3 Power Cords, Grounding Block and HD Ground Cables
  95. Merging NADAC ST-2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  96. Zanden Audio Systems AT-1 Acoustic Tubes and AP-1 Acoustic Panels
  97. Rockport Technologies Cygnus Loudspeakers
  98. Esoteric K-07X SACD/CD Player/DAC
  99. Moon by Simaudio Evolution 850P Preamplifier
  100. Stanford Research Systems PERF10 Rubidium Audio Clock
  101. Wadia di322 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  102. Reference 3A Nefes Loudspeakers
  103. Ayre Acoustics KX-5 Twenty Preamplifier
  104. Nordost Norse 2 Tyr 2 Speaker Cables, Interconnects, and Power Cords
  105. Ayre Acoustics MX-R Twenty Mono Amplifiers
  106. Aqua - Acoustic Quality La Voce S2 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  107. Magico Q7 Mk II Loudspeakers
  108. Highend-AudioPC AudiophileOptimizer Computer Audio Software
  109. Soulution 711 Stereo Amplifier
  110. Rogue Audio RP-5 Preamplifier
  111. Moon by Simaudio Evolution 760A Stereo Amplifier
  112. AudioQuest Cinnamon Ethernet Cable
  113. Spatial Audio Hologram M1 Turbo Loudspeakers
  114. Audio Research Reference 10 Preamplifier
  115. Bryston Middle T Loudspeakers
  116. Vienna Acoustics Imperial Liszt Loudspeakers
  117. Exogal Comet Digital-to-Analog Converter
  118. NAD Masters Series M22 Stereo Amplifier and M12 Preamplifier-DAC
  119. Ascendo C6 Loudspeakers
  120. Hegel Music Systems HD12 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  121. Esoteric Grandioso P1 SACD/CD Transport, Grandioso D1 Mono Digital-to-Analog Converters, and G-01 Master Clock Generator
  122. Blue Circle Audio BC60X1 Power Conditioner
  123. Octave Audio V 110 Integrated Amplifier
  124. JL Audio CR-1 Active Subwoofer Crossover
  125. fo.Q Damping Products and AB-4045 Audio Board Isolation Platform
  126. Devialet 400 Mono Integrated Amplifier-DACs
  127. Audio Research VSi75 Integrated Amplifier
  128. Triangle Magellan Cello Loudspeakers
  129. Audience Au24 SE powerChords, Interconnects, and Speaker Cables
  130. Zanden Audio Systems 120 Phono Stage
  131. Grimm Audio LS1 Loudspeakers and LS1s Subwoofers
  132. Aurender W20 Music Server
  133. Transfiguration Phoenix S Phono Cartridge
  134. M2Tech Young DSD Digital-to-Analog Converter
  135. Audio Research SP20 Preamplifier
  136. Magico S3 Loudspeakers
  137. Synergistic Research High Frequency Transducer (HFT) and Frequency Equalizer (FEQ) Room Treatments and XOT Crossover Transducer
  138. Ayre Acoustics KX-R Twenty Preamplifier
  139. Resonessence Labs Invicta Mirus Digital-to-Analog Converter
  140. Vivid Audio Giya G4 Loudspeakers
  141. Aurender X100L Music Server
  142. Sonus Faber Olympica I Loudspeakers
  143. Clarity Cable Organic Speaker Cables, Interconnects, Digital Interconnect, and Vortex Power Cord
  144. EgglestonWorks Nine Signature Loudspeakers
  145. Light Harmonic LightSpeed USB Cable
  146. David Berning Company ZH-230 Stereo Amplifier
  147. Esoteric Master Sound Works C-02 Preamplifier
  148. Vivid Audio Oval V1.5 Loudspeakers
  149. Daedalus Audio Argos v.2 Loudspeakers
  150. Octave Audio V 70 SE Integrated Amplifier
  151. KR Audio VA910 Mono Amplifiers
  152. T+A Criterion TCD 110 S Loudspeakers
  153. Birch Acoustics Raven Loudspeakers
  154. Monitor Audio Platinum PL200 Loudspeakers
  155. Essential Sound Products Essence Reference-II Power Cords and Reference-II Power Distributor
  156. JE Audio Dyad S400 Stereo Amplifier
  157. Dynamique Audio Celestial Speaker Cables, Zenith Interconnects, Firelight USB, and Infinite Power Cables
  158. Music Culture Elegance MC 501A CD Player-DAC
  159. KR Audio VA340 Mk.II Integrated Amplifier
  160. PMC IB2i Loudspeakers
  161. Cabasse Pacific 3 Loudspeakers
  162. Sonus Faber Venere 3.0 Loudspeakers
  163. Hegel Music Systems HD25 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  164. EMM Labs DAC2X Digital-to-Analog Converter
  165. Esoteric P-02 SACD/CD Transport and D-02 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  166. Vivid Audio Giya G3 Loudspeakers
  167. PBN Audio Scan-Speak B741 Loudspeakers
  168. Blue Circle Audio BC109 Preamplifier
  169. Dynaudio Confidence C2 Signature Loudspeakers
  170. First Watt J2 Stereo Amplifier
  171. Simaudio Moon Evolution 810LP Phono Stage
  172. Boulder Amplifiers 1060 Stereo Amplifier
  173. SMc Audio VRE-1C Reference Preamplifier
  174. Blue Circle Audio NSL Stereo Amplifier
  175. Audio Research Reference 250 Mono Amplifiers
  176. Von Schweikert Audio VR-35 Export Deluxe Loudspeakers
  177. Vitus Audio Signature SM-010 Mono Amplifiers
  178. YG Acoustics Kipod II Signature Loudspeakers
  179. Vandersteen Audio Treo Loudspeakers
  180. Magico Q1 Loudspeakers
  181. Hemingway Audio Prime Reference Mk.II Speaker Cables, Interconnects, and Power Cords
  182. Synergistic Research Element Copper, Tungsten, and Copper-Tungsten-Silver Interconnects and Speaker Cables
  183. Crystal Cable Arabesque Mini Loudspeakers
  184. EgglestonWorks Fontaine Signature Loudspeakers
  185. AudioQuest Diamond and Carbon FireWire 800 Cables
  186. Artos Audio Sunrise Loudspeakers
  187. Esoteric I-03 Integrated Amplifier
  188. NuForce DAC-9 Digital-to-Analog Converter
  189. Audience adeptResponse aR6-TS Power Conditioner
  190. EAR MC 4 Step-Up Transformer
  191. PBN Audio Montana InnerChoic Liberty Loudspeakers
  192. Simple Design Sonore Music Server
  193. Herron Audio VTSP-3A Preamplifier
  194. Copland CDA825 CD Player
  195. TW-Acustic Raven 10.5 Tonearm
  196. Artisan Silver MC Phono Stage
  197. MSB Technology Universal Media Transport
  198. Well Tempered Lab Amadeus Turntable
  199. Purity Audio Design Purity Reference Preamplifier
  200. Silverline Audio Sonatina Mk.IV Loudspeakers
  201. Ayre Acoustics DX-5 Universal A/V Engine
  202. Coda Technologies 15.0 Stereo Amplifier
  203. LessLoss Firewall Power Conditioner and DFPC Signature Power Cable
  204. Miyajima Laboratory Premium BE Mono Cartridge
  205. Magnum Dynalab MD 309 Integrated Amplifier
  206. Audio Research Reference 5 Preamplifier
  207. VAC Phi 200 Stereo Amplifier
  208. Ortofon Cadenza Mono Phono Cartridge
  209. Ultrasone Edition 8 Headphones
  210. YG Acoustics Carmel Loudspeakers
  211. Atma-Sphere Music Amplifier M-60 Mk.3.1 Mono Amplifiers
  212. AudioPrism Ground Control Grounding Cables
  213. Nordost Norse Frey Interconnects and Speaker Cables
  214. Ayre Acoustics KX-R Preamplifier and MX-R Mono Amplifiers
  215. Raysonic SP-300 Integrated Amplifier
  216. Synergistic Research Galileo Universal Interconnect and Speaker Cells, and Mini Power Couplers
  217. VAC Renaissance Mk.3 Preamplifier
  218. Accustic Arts Reference Tube-DAC II SE DAC and Reference Drive II CD Transport
  219. Silent Running Audio VR fp isoBASE Equipment Platforms
  220. EAR 890 Stereo Amplifier

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210x600 T+A R Criterion S (20240601)
Dynaudio Contour 20BE
Simaudio
Simaudio
Vitus Audio
Vitus Audio

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