Marcus Carlsen is an avid audiophile with a deep passion for hi-fi systems, high-end headphones, and premium speakers. Marcus constantly explores the latest audio technologies and equipment, from precision-engineered speakers to the finest headphones.
Vincent KHV-1 is a hybrid (Taraistor-tube) headphone amplifier with a 6.3 mm mini jack connector on the front panel. The design of the amplifier is non-standard; the amplifier is made in a vertical design. A special viewing window allows you to admire the enchanting glow of two working lamps (12AX7B). The brightness of the backlight can be adjusted […] More
Swiss audio company Nagra has released its first phono cartridge – the Nagra Reference MC model for the Nagra 70th Anniversary Reference tonearm. The Reference MC cartridge is available in 4 and 6 ohm versions. It uses a multi-layer transducer with a two-layer coil body wound on ultra-pure silver windings. The 6 ohm reference outputs 0.45 mV at […] More
It seems like just yesterday that FiiO introduced its first full-size headphones, the FiiO FT3, around six months ago. Yet today, the company boasts an impressive lineup of four full-size models: the dynamic FiiO FT3, its separate 32 Ohm version, the isodynamic FiiO FT5, and the new addition from Jade Audio, a sub-brand of FiiO, […] More
The new ACMEE Magic Sound V portable digital to analog converter and headphone amplifier is capable of decoding 32-bit/384 kHz PCM signals and native DSD256 streams . The DAC block in the model is built on the ES9038Q2M chip , and the headphone amplifier section uses operational amplifiers MUSES8920 and RT6863 . The maximum power with a balanced headphone connection is 980 mW at 32 Ohms. The model has an A2D function […] More
In 1989, engineer John Franks founded the company Chord Electronic in England. John previously specialized in the development of switching power supplies for AT&T and Pantheon. Currently, this legendary company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium audio products (hi-fi components, home theaters, professional audio equipment) and presents a wide range of equipment: amplifiers, […] More
Music streaming has finally defeated other formats, occupying as much as 67% of the market (as we wrote) and surpassing even performers’ concert tours in terms of earnings. Obviously, a modern music lover or audiophile, even a vinyl fan, cannot discount streaming services – especially since there are now enough options for high-quality streaming. 6. Spotify […] More
The Pioneer PD-50AE SACD player supports a wide range of media and formats, including MQA. Pioneer’s extensive experience in manufacturing optical disc devices has enabled this player to incorporate original grip control technologies and a low-noise anti-vibration drive mechanism into this player. And thanks to the ESS ES9026PRO DAC and analog-to-digital discrete power circuit, the Pioneer PD-50AE […] More
LETSHUOER has released a new generation of its in-ear planar headphones S15 . They feature a proprietary isodynamic driver measuring 14.8 mm with a double acoustic chamber. In addition, the design uses a Passive Filtering Module (PFM) acoustic filter, which harmonizes the passage of air flow in the nozzle and improves performance in the low-frequency range. The double waveguide also helps to equalize […] More
Magnat MC400 is a fully equipped Internet CD receiver: FM, DAB+, CD, Phono MM, HDMI, Bluetooth, streaming services, multiroom. Network capabilities are improved thanks to Ethernet and Wi-Fi, and the manufacturer promises certified Hi-Res Audio electronics. The built-in terminal is built on powerful transistors of a bipolar configuration with a peak power of up to 100 […] More
The HiBy company has begun accepting pre-orders for the top-end digital player R8 II , which features many interesting technical solutions. The player’s chassis is made of high-grade stainless steel, and the back panel is covered with Alcantara, which ensures a reliable grip on the hand. The digital-to-analog conversion unit uses Darwin-MPA architecture , which includes a 16-channel DAC with current output. […] More
Italian company Norma Audio has announced the development of a new discrete digital-to-analog converter, A-DAC , which will be used in the company’s digital sources. The DAC unit was designed and developed by engineer Enrico Rossi, in which he applied several original solutions that significantly improved the sound compared to traditional integrated chip designs. At the moment, it is […] More
After months of showing off at headphone shows, FiiO this week officially announced the R9 Android-based streaming DAC and headphone amplifier. The R9 takes the R7’s vertical form factor and takes it to a higher level with a glossy “all liquid metal bicolor” design, enveloping RGB lighting and a 6″ 1080p touch panel. FiiO told me via email this morning that the R9 […] More
