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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.

Constellation Audio Revelation Andromeda Phono Stage

Written by: Jason Thorpe
Created: 15 June 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceAs soon as Doug Schneider approached me about my reviewing Constellation Audio’s Revelation Andromeda phono stage, I hopped on their website and snooped around.

You gotta love these guys. They offer two -- count 'em -- phono stages, and not just because LPs are now big on Instagram. No, Constellation Audio is spreading analog love around, like soft butter on toast.

Read more …

Audio Research Reference 6 Preamplifier

Written by: Aron Garrecht
Created: 01 June 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceIn late 1972, Audio Research Corporation released what would become one of ARC’s bestselling preamplifiers of all time: the SP-3. While available, the SP-3 earned praise for its low noise levels, wide soundstages, and awe-inspiring transparency. More than one audio publication described its overall sound character as “a straight wire with gain.” ARC sold thousands of SP-3s at $595 USD before discontinuing the model in 1976, but what I find interesting is how much of the SP-3 remains evident in more recent ARC models. By today’s standards, the SP-3’s faceplate of brushed bronze over satin black, rotary analog controls, and big pushbuttons look dated, but the three-box segregation of the faceplate and orientation of controls aren’t all that different from those of ARC’s SP-20 preamplifier ($9000, recently discontinued). Then there was the SP-3’s tube complement: six 12AX7s in the analog stage with two 12AX7s in the tone control circuit. This arrangement in the analog stage, albeit with different tubes, can be found under the hood of the subject of this review: ARC’s Reference 6 preamplifier.

Read more …

Essential Sound Products MusicCord Pro Power Cord

Written by: Tom Mathew
Created: 15 May 2019

I was so impressed with Rethm Audio’s Maarga loudspeakers, which I reviewed last year, that I spoke to Mark Sossa, of Rethm’s US distributor, Well Pleased Audio Vida, to arrange to buy a pair of Rethm’s magnum opus, the Saadhana. My timing was serendipitous -- Jacob George, the sound architect at Rethm, told me he’d made some improvements in the Saadhana, and that I’d be sent the first pair of units to incorporate them. The changes included a complete redesign of the bass chamber and driver configuration, improved woofers, and new isolation footers -- George promised substantial improvements in the already excellent bass reproduction.

Read more …

Gryphon Audio Designs Mojo S Loudspeakers

Written by: Jeff Fritz
Created: 01 May 2019

Gryphon Audio Designs’ very first loudspeaker was the Cantata, a stand-mounted two-way, released in 2002. But the Danish company had been founded 17 years before, in 1985, by Flemming Rasmussen, who retired in 2018. Until the Cantata came along, Gryphon had been known only for their massive class-A power amplifiers and other electronics. With the Cantata, an all-Gryphon system had become a reality, and to this day, many of their customers have systems in which every link in the audio-signal chain, cables included, is a Gryphon product. The Cantata was produced until 2008, and in 2009 Gryphon launched the original Mojo, which remained in production until 2016. By then the Mojo had been joined by several other Gryphon speakers, all rather large floorstanders. The Mojo S, reviewed here, was debuted at Munich’s High End in May 2016, and is the only minimonitor among Gryphon’s four current speaker models.

Read more …

Synergistic Research Galileo SX Interconnects, Speaker Cables, and IFT Jumpers

Written by: Howard Kneller
Created: 15 April 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceDiscontinued well over a decade ago, Synergistic Research’s quantum tunneled X-series cables ran with the best in terms of soundstaging, three-dimensional imaging, transparency, speed, leading-edge detail, noise reduction, and dynamics. However, as I wrote at the time, those cables could sound a bit harsh and grainy in the upper frequencies. And given the great amounts of detail they could convey, and their somewhat forward sound, they could be fatiguing in some systems.

Read more …

Auralic Vega G2 Streaming DAC-Preamplifier

Written by: Jeff Fritz
Created: 01 April 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceI sit and read with sadness as insecure audiophiles on various audio forums denigrate each other’s six-figure stereo systems. Grown people ought to know better. If you’re used to watching Vikings and The Walking Dead, well, the carnage can be just about as gory.

Read more …

Cocktail Audio X45Pro Music Server-DAC

Written by: Aron Garrecht
Created: 15 March 2019

There’s no arguing that playing music from a digitally stored library is more convenient than getting out of your chair, sorting through shelves of CDs, and spinning discs one by one. But there’s a catch -- first you must build that digital library. That process can take hours, days, even weeks, depending on the size of the collection.

Read more …

Luxman L-509X Integrated Amplifier

Written by: Jeff Fritz
Created: 01 March 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceI begin forming strong opinions of an audio component at the unboxing stage. While some audiophiles will tell you that they pay only for sound quality, and that any black-anodized case will do, anyone in the real world of 2019 knows that high-end audio components costing close to five figures also need to look like luxury audio gear if they’re going to succeed in the marketplace. Consumers pay enough money for this stuff -- they want to have their cake and eat it, too. The Luxman ticks both boxes with bold pen strokes.

Read more …

Vivid Audio Kaya 45 Loudspeakers

Written by: Jason Thorpe
Created: 15 February 2019

Reviewers' ChoiceReview components come and go, and for the most part it doesn’t take me long to get their measure. Speakers, especially, don’t take much time to figure out, and I’m fairly confident in my speaker-analyzing skillz. It’s a mature technology, right? A mechanical device with three, maybe four moving parts: drivers and crossover in a box.

Read more …

Audio Research Reference 160M Mono Amplifiers

Written by: Aron Garrecht
Created: 01 February 2019

It could be said that 1970 was a tumultuous year: the Apollo 13 accident, President Richard Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, and Paul McCartney’s announcement that the Beatles had officially disbanded. On the other hand, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was put into effect, Boeing had just introduced the world to the 747 Jumbo Jet, and William Zane Johnson founded Audio Research Corporation (ARC) -- the same month Aerosmith was born.

Read more …

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

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210x600 T+A Solitaire P SE (20230726)
Gryphon Audio Essence
Simaudio
PMC Fenestria
Vitus Audio
Vitus Audio

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