Audio Arc: Audiophile Blogs Digest – Aug 01, 2023
Hello and welcome to a new edition of Audio Arc!
We take a broad sweep across a diverse range of blog posts to bring you a comprehensive and exciting perspective on everything sound-related. Let’s take a look at the highlights from this week.
The 8 Best Affordable Turntables of 2023
By: Audiophile On, www.audiophileon.com
This blog post discusses the 8 best affordable turntables of 2023. Despite their budget-friendly price tags, these turntables offer impressive features and performance to enhance your vinyl listening experience without compromising quality. The turntables mentioned in the post include the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X, Victrola Vintage 3-Speed, ION Audio Max LP, and Crosley C6, among others. Each turntable is described in terms of its pros and cons, including features such as built-in speakers, adjustable tonearm, and USB port for digitization. Overall, this post provides a helpful guide for those looking to purchase an affordable turntable. Read more
AV Quick Takes: Prime Video’s New ‘Dialogue Boost’ Feature
By: www.audioholics.com
Amazon Prime Video has launched a new feature called Dialogue Boost, which allows users to increase the volume of dialogue relative to background music and effects. This feature is designed to improve the viewing experience for customers who are hard of hearing or who watch content on devices with limited audio reproduction fidelity. Dialogue Boost uses artificial intelligence to analyze the original audio signal and enhance the dialogue to make it clearer and easier to understand. Users can select different levels of Dialogue Boost via the audio and subtitles drop-down menu. This feature is available on any device that streams Prime Video. Read more
Canadian Hi-Fi Trilogy: Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab—All Under One Expanding Roof
By: Doug Schneider, soundstagehifi.com
The blog post discusses the history and success of Canadian audio companies Axiom Audio, Bryston, and Magnum Dynalab. Axiom Audio was founded in 1980 by Ian Colquhoun and is known for its high-quality speakers. The company also operated as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for other brands. Bryston, founded in 1962, specializes in amplifiers and has a reputation for its durability and reliability. Magnum Dynalab, founded in 1984, focuses on high-end FM tuners and has received numerous awards for its products. The post highlights the achievements and contributions of these Canadian audio companies in the industry. Read more
Auralic Aries G1.1 Music Library/Server Review
By: Audiophilepure, audiophilepure.com
The blog post is a review of the Auralic Aries G1.1 Music Library/Server. The reviewer praises the device for its ability to deliver high-quality sound without adding any additional sound of its own. They mention that it performs well with different types of music and has flexible storage options. Overall, the Auralic Aries G1.1 is described as a versatile and high-performing music server. Read more
Hegel teases the H600: a new flagship integrated amplifier
By: John, darko.audio
Hegel has announced the upcoming release of its new flagship integrated amplifier, the H600. This amplifier will replace the H590 and offers slightly more power, with a rating of 303 Watts of Class A/B power into 8 Ohms. The H600 also features a new DAC design, a rebuilt streaming section, and various other improvements. It will be available for shipping at the end of September with a price tag of €11,500 or US$12,500. Read more
TRIANGLE COMETE 40TH ANNIV (YOUTUBE)
By: Paul Rigby, theaudiophileman.com
The blog post discusses the Triangle Comete 40th Anniversary stand-mount speakers. The author, Paul Rigby, wonders if they sound as good as they look. The post also includes links to a video review of the speakers. Read more
Hampton Hawes / At The Piano
By: humorem, ontherecord.co
The blog post discusses the album “At The Piano” by Hampton Hawes, highlighting its excellent sound quality and emotional performances. The post praises the natural sound of the recording and compares it to other piano trio albums. The author recommends listening to the album on a vintage pressing for the best sound experience. The post also mentions the qualities to listen for in the album, such as energy, big sound, transient information, tight bass, and transparency. Read more
Piega MASTER LINE SOURCE 2 GEN2
By: press release, www.audiophil-online.com
The blog post discusses the features and specifications of the Piega MASTER LINE SOURCE 2 GEN2 speakers. These speakers are designed to create a three-dimensional soundscape with a sense of depth. The aluminum baffle and matte finish of the cabinet give the speakers an elegant appearance. The speakers use four line source driver ribbons for mid and high-frequency reproduction, providing clarity and precision in sound. The cabinet construction is designed to minimize resonances and optimize the drivers’ performance. The speakers also feature woofers with aluminum membranes for precise and dynamic bass. The ribbon technology used in the speakers is known for its exceptional sound characteristics and efficiency. The speakers also include acoustic lenses and backward lamellae for optimizing the acoustic properties and creating a perfect soundscape. The symmetric line source design allows for direct sound projection without reflections, and the woofers with aluminum membranes ensure fast and accurate pulse response. The speakers have a recommended amplifier output of 20-500 watts, a sensitivity of 92 dB/W/m, and an impedance of 4 ohms. They have a frequency response of 20 Hz – 50 kHz and weigh 98 kg. The speakers are available in different versions with various finishes. Read more
Focal Naim North America Will Now Handle Distribution For AVIDHIFI Turntables
By: AudioHead, audio-head.com
Focal Naim North America has announced that they will now handle distribution for AVIDHIFI turntables in the US and Canada. This adds to their already wide range of Focal speakers, headphones, amplification, and another turntable from Naim. Focal Naim North America is dedicated to offering complete audio solutions and will now offer five new turntable bundles that include turntable, tonearm, and cartridge. The prices for these bundles range from $1,999 to $33,999. Read more
Marten Parker Trio
By: Christiaan Punter, www.hifi-advice.com
The blog post is a review of the Marten Parker Trio passive speakers. The Parker series is a more affordable range from Marten, known for their high-end Mingus and Coltrane series. The Parker Trio is a 2.5-way floorstanding speaker with a cabinet made from M-board, a multi-layered material that reduces resonance. The speakers feature custom-designed Ceramic drivers by Leif Olofsson and produced by Accuton. The review praises the Parker Trio for its performance and value for money. Read more
Audio Advice Live in Raleigh This Weekend!
By: Stereophile Staff, www.stereophile.com
Audio Advice Live is a three-day home theater and hi-fi show hosted by Audio Advice. The event will showcase equipment from almost a hundred brands, including Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, and Monitor Audio. The show will feature both two-channel audio and home theater, with affordable gear and flagship products on display. There will also be retrofit demo rooms for Dolby Atmos, deals on products, and giveaways. The event will kick off on August 4th at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Raleigh and will run through August 6th. Showgoers will have the opportunity to learn about and demo high-performance audio and video products, attend expert panel discussions, and see new product launches and debuts. Read more
BE@RBRICK Portable Bluetooth® Speaker in 400% Size
By: Michael Lavorgna, twitteringmachines.com
The blog post discusses the release of the BE@RBRICK Portable Bluetooth Speaker in a 400% size. The speaker, created by Ukrainian acoustic engineering company RINARO ISODYNAMICS, stands 11″ tall and features a pair of tweeters and woofers driven by 2x 10 Watt amps. It has a battery life of 6 hours and an omnidirectional sound technology called QUAD’360™. The speaker will be available in November 2023 in clear, black, or smoke ‘skins’ for a retail price of $499. Read more
Conclusion
And that’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Audio Arc. Don’t forget to join us again next week for another compilation of compelling audiophile content. Until then, happy listening!
