Darko.Audio
Recent Posts. In Berlin for review: Technics’ SC-CX700 streaming loudspeakers January 3, 2025; Buh-bye Spotify January 2, 2025; More thoughts on our ‘BEST OF 2024’ December 27, 2024 Darko’s Product of the Year 2024 December 24, 2024; Darko’s Best of 2024 (Part 3): OPRA from Roon December 19, 2024; Darko’s Holiday Gift Guide 2024 (video redux) December 17, 2024
Buchardt readies ‘uncompromised’ E50 standmount loudspeaker
Oct 26, 2024 · Uncompromised; Masterpiece; Danish — three words that leap from the page of Buchardt’s latest press announcement. The E50 is a new passive standmount loudspeaker that marries a 1″ custom Scanspeak textile dome tweeter to a 6.5″ Purifi long-stroke mid-bass driver – aided by two rear-firing extended-stroke passive radiators – for a …
Cambridge Audio readies EXA100 amplifier, EXN100 streamer
Oct 9, 2024 · New from Cambridge Audio: the EXA100 integrated amplifier and the EXN100 streaming DAC. Let’s dive in. According to Cambridge, the EXA100 is the spiritual successor to the Azur 851 range, promising 100wpc of Class A/B amplification from power transistors pulled from the company’s more costly Edge M monoblocks.
In Berlin for review: Musical Fidelity’s A1 | Darko.Audio
Oct 7, 2024 · Achtung! Warning! “Caution: hot surface. The whole top of the A1 is a heat sink, may become very hot and may cause burns. Do not touch. Special care should be taken in the presence of children and vulnerable persons.
SMSL’s T2 VMV is more than just a CD transport | Darko.Audio
Nov 20, 2024 · “Got any interesting CD transport suggestions, John?” — a mastering engineer pal from the UK was checking in. You know what, Dave, I just might…. SMSL’s T2 VMV CD transport, formally announced a couple of months back but sailing under my radar until now, is a top loader that, unlike the similar-looking Shanling ET3 (review here), can spin discs without its oven lid locking down the ...
Bose buys McIntosh, Sonus faber & Sumiko | Darko.Audio
Nov 19, 2024 · FULL PRESS RELEASE. November 19, 2024 – Today, Bose Corporation, a company synonymous with delivering amazing, premium audio experiences since its founding, announced the acquisition of McIntosh Group, the parent company of renowned high-performance and luxury audio brands that include McIntosh and Sonus faber. McIntosh Group manufactures the world’s finest amplifiers, speakers, turntables ...
In Lisbon for review: KEF’s Q Concerto Meta | Darko.Audio
Nov 11, 2024 · If you think you’re seeing double it’s because you are. We’ve already previewed KEF’s new Q Concerto Meta in Berlin (US$1299/pair) so why are we doing it again a month later and almost 3000km away in Lisbon?. The answer: the quest for helpful side-by-side comparisons. Long-time readers will know of my aversion to comparisons pulled across time windows unable to support them; audio ...
Rega soups up Planar 3 turntable with RS Edition | Darko.Audio
Nov 19, 2024 · UK manufacturer Rega wants to pull on our coat about a special edition of its Planar 3 turntable. The Planar 3 RS Edition uses a CNC-machined custom pulley and Rega Reference EBLT drive belt to drive the 12mm glass platter — just like the standard Planar 3.
Rotel introduces Michi Q5 CD player, CD transport & DAC
Sep 20, 2024 · Rotel is expanding its line-up of Michi-branded high-end electronics.The incoming Q5 is a large CD player/transport and DAC whose disc mechanism is spring-mounted.
Shanling begins shipping its SM1.3 touchscreen streaming DAC
Nov 4, 2024 · After teasing it at Munich High-End 2024, Shanling has formally announced the SM1.3: a touchscreen streaming DAC where an Android 12 OS runs in conjunction with Wifi-6 (or Ethernet) and a 5.8″ touchscreen to support streaming apps from Spotify, TIDAL, Apple Music, Apple Classical and Amazon Music.The touchscreen’s horizontal orientation suggests these are customised whitelisted apps ...