One Line Reviews! - Anything i have heard.
Mar 31, 2023 15:12:19 GMT
antonio, optical, and 1 more like this
Post by Bigman80 on Mar 31, 2023 15:12:19 GMT
Readers of these one line reviews....don't take it too seriously! They are from a 9 year journey where everything has changed system wise. It's just a record of what i thought at the time.
Cartridges:
Acutex 412 - Detailed, neutral and dynamic. Slam and delicacy. Get a fair amount of surface noise though.
Acutex 312e - Paid £15 for one 3 years ago and I couldn't believe how good it was. as good as the GR2100. Easily.
AT110 - A bit sharp in the HF's and rough sounding. Got a bit busy in the mix.
AT95e - Can't fault it for the money. HiFi's biggest bargain.
AT120 - Bit more polished than the 110, but it didn't hang around long.
AT540ML - MM carts aren't in the ball park when you listen to good MC's, but this one didn't do too badly. Good for those starting in vinyl.
AT33PTG - Good refinement like the best MC carts but lacked a bit of solidity in the bass. Sounded a bit soft at times..
AT33PTGII - Improved where necessary on the PTG but I still felt bass lines had a soft leading edge. Couldn't ignore it.
AT-OC9II - I like this cartridge. Clean, fast and detailed.
AT-ART7 - Erred on the warm side, narrow soundstage. Needs a really quiet phonostage to get it to anything like a sensible volume without noise.
Decca Super Gold - No LF extension and it had enough HF to break glass. Extraordinarily lean sounding, Shocking build quality.
Decca Gold - I genuinely don't understand the appeal. Hard, lean and grainy. Shocking build quality.
Decca Blue (Alnico) - Best of the Decca carts by a decent margin, but lack of bass is perplexing. Still...I did use it for a few days. Shocking build quality.
Denon 103 - OK, but not as good as the 103r
Denon 103r - If you're in need of a cheap MC cartridge, This wont let you down but it's not for detail lovers, and it certainly wont pull up any trees.
Denon 301 - A proper gem. Has the typical Denon sound but manages to be lively and dynamic. I liked this a lot.
Denon 304 - If you like filigree and detail, without any effort or drive, this is heaven. Bit laid back for me.
Denon DL-S1 - Good at detail. Felt 'cold', emotionless. Terminator like. Overhyped IMO.
Dynavector Karat - Big sound, lots of detail and generally easy to listen to.
Goldring Electra - I like this a lot for the money. Good all rounder but on the warm side of neutral.
Goldring Eroica - Like the Rondo, good but lacked the panache of the better MC carts
Goldring 2100 - Balanced and musical without sacrificing detail. Still dirt cheap too.
Goldring 2200 - As above, no complaints. Handles everything you throw at it and more.
Linn Asak - See Goldring Eroica for a carbon copy opinion.
Linn Troica - Decent MC cartridge, does little wrong, but not sure what the hype is about.
Lyra Helikon - Excellent cartridge. Genuinely good listen, but definitely warmer than neutral. not entirely transparent either.
Lyra Clavis - Excellent in all areas. an equal to the KB but the bodied sound of the KB won it for me. Slightly. I'd buy one.
NWA-DH1 - As transparent as the invisible man. Bit lightweight sound wise, lacked a bit of weight or slam but stunningly clear. Pretty much a more expensive DL304.
Ortofon Windfeld Ti - Top of my tree. Does everything the PW does and maybe a little more. More neutral than the PW to me, which i appreciate...you may not.
Ortofon Windfeld PW - Transparency and resolution took on new levels with the PW. Special cartridge. Realism is aurally shocking.
Ortofon Black - Clean, clear and coherent. Lots of detail and space in the presentation, maybe slightly smooth.
Ortofon Bronze - Signature Ortofon sound but a little fuller in the midrange, and warmer sounding overall. Sounds less detailed as a result.
Ortofon Vienna - Transparent, highly detailed and very balanced. Dynamic and Punchy.
Ortofon 2M Black - Wonderfully timbred, slightly edgy in the HF. That was with a valve amp so SS users be careful.
Ortofon 2M Black with FGS retip - As above but with improved detail, refined HF and improved soudstage. Far better overall.
Ortofon Kontrapunkt b - Great all rounder with wonderful vocal reproduction.
Ortofon Rondo Red - A good taste of MC quality but a bit rough around the edges.
ZYX R50 Bloom - Boogie monster. Great for parties but don't expect the Philharmonic to sound anything other than "chunky"
ZYX R100 - Slightly more refined and better balanced but I always felt the ZYX carts were bass heavy.
Phonostages:
Audio Detail NV-06 - Absolutely dire. sounded like id filled my ears with mud
Aqvox - Bit bass light but excellent in all other ways. Could have been the system it was in...I'd love to try one again.
Arkless 651p - It's a modded Cambridge....
Avalon - The most invisible phonostage to ever grace my ears. Specs to make the big boys green with envy. It's a privilege to have one, let alone make them
Bigbottle MK1 - In retrospect, it was a little unrefined at times.
Bigbottle BB3 - Put everything right from the MK1. Very quiet, good detail, resolution, and accuracy of tone.
Bigbottle BBU - BB3 on steroids. Everything improved, still love it to bits.
Croft 25 - A Glenn Croft Phonostage, which sounds like a Glenn Croft Phonostage. Awesome timbral qualities but HF is rolled off and LF gets a little boost too. Quite dark sounding but I liked it.
Clones PA1 - Meh!
Digna - Sounded a little odd. Has all the good stuff but it didn't seem to mesh. A bit like Silver Plated Cable. Dunno how better to describe it.
Decware Zen Triode - Looked like the Titanic, sounded like it after it had sunk. Utter garbage.
EAR 834p - Flat and heavy sounding. Soundstage is just flat and stuck together. No idea how this got so popular.
Firebottle Vivant - Lots of Air and space.
Firebottle OTP1, 2 & 3 - Budget Phonostages that sound like they should cost more. The '3' Is the best, and is easily a bargain.
Jolida JD 9II - This could possibly nudge it's way into most systems IF you swap a couple of Caps and the Opamps. Can sound a bit 'shiny' if you don't.
LDA Jfet - Imagine the above phonostage made to be affordable. It's 80% of what you get from the MFA
Lounge Audio LCR - If you want a phonostage that doesn't do what a phonostage should, then look no further! Honestly, the WORST designed of any phonostage I have ever heard. Even the Project Phonobox tried to get the RIAA curve close. POOR.
Music First Reference - Was my reference point for phonostages for a while. Not anymore, but if you have one you will enjoy it.
NVA Phono 2 x 2PSUs - Quite enchanting at times, musical and spacious sound. Highly susceptible to noise and interference from electronic devices. RIAA was off (measured to confirm)
NVA Phono 3 x BBPSU - Too much bass. Overpowered the sound. Preferred the NVA2. Also susceptible to Interference.
Project Phonobox - Utter shite.
Ray Samuels Nighthawk - Sounded like Eddie Hall was sat on it. Flat, heavy and lacked dynamics.
Russell technologies - Had a lot of good qualities but ultimately had a bit of edginess and could sound quite shrill on some material.
SIMaudio LP5.3rs - Lacks any artifice or grain and replay is neutral. Soundstage is a little flat.
Trichord Dino - Dull as ditchwater. No soundstage width.
Tron Convergence - Wonderful imaging, fluid sound, like syrup flowing from the speakers but soundstage was too narrow and the skewed RIAA gave it an overly rolled rolled off sound.
Trilogy 907 - Fast, detailed, expansive and far too expensive. The SIMaudio is better to my ears and it's £1000 less.
VAS Phonostage - Shine wore off after an extended listen. Not as transparent as I like. Still superb though.
Vincent PHO-700 - Superb Valve jobbie. Soulful and highly addictive.
Valve Wizard MM - Small Soundstage, wonderfully timbred mids and loads of bass extension. I liked it but not in the same class as the more expensive stuff.
Valab LCR MK2 - For the money, it's hard to criticise but I will. The RIAA response is audibly off (measured to confirm) just can't forgive that. Bit rough around the edges. Unrefined.
D/A Converters:
AQVOX USB2D/A MKII - Incisive, precise and revealing. A touch lean.
Modded AQVOX USB2D/A MKII with LPSU, super regs and full recap - As before but now tonally superior. My favourite DAC of all time.
Holo Spring 3 KTE - Texture, transients and tonality. Brilliant DAC.
TAD DA1000 - Expensive and beautiful to look at. Didn't win me over but wasn't in my system.
Soncoz - Bland but harmless.
Topping D30 - Sounded sharp and edgy to me. Really didn't enjoy it
Topping D50 - As above but less so
Topping D90 - Sounded ok...uninspiring presentation. No oomph or swing.
Parasound 1600HD - Beastly bass monster. Highly textured and smooth...lacked finesse and HF extension.
Soekris 1541 - When digital started to make sense. Properly designed, cheap looking, good sound. Slightly leaner/neutral presentation. Improved in tone greatly by removing SMPS and replacing with LPSU
Soekris 2541 - I think this is the closest in sound to the modded Aqvox, one you change the PSU.
Teradak - Bloated LF, Rolled off HF, veiled...a bit sh*t really
NAIM 1704 DAC - Actually, this was a good DAC. Would like longer to listen to one before committing to an opinion
Gustard X16 - Described to me as "shop bought Sh#t" by the owner. I didn't disagree
Cartridges:
Acutex 412 - Detailed, neutral and dynamic. Slam and delicacy. Get a fair amount of surface noise though.
Acutex 312e - Paid £15 for one 3 years ago and I couldn't believe how good it was. as good as the GR2100. Easily.
AT110 - A bit sharp in the HF's and rough sounding. Got a bit busy in the mix.
AT95e - Can't fault it for the money. HiFi's biggest bargain.
AT120 - Bit more polished than the 110, but it didn't hang around long.
AT540ML - MM carts aren't in the ball park when you listen to good MC's, but this one didn't do too badly. Good for those starting in vinyl.
AT33PTG - Good refinement like the best MC carts but lacked a bit of solidity in the bass. Sounded a bit soft at times..
AT33PTGII - Improved where necessary on the PTG but I still felt bass lines had a soft leading edge. Couldn't ignore it.
AT-OC9II - I like this cartridge. Clean, fast and detailed.
AT-ART7 - Erred on the warm side, narrow soundstage. Needs a really quiet phonostage to get it to anything like a sensible volume without noise.
Decca Super Gold - No LF extension and it had enough HF to break glass. Extraordinarily lean sounding, Shocking build quality.
Decca Gold - I genuinely don't understand the appeal. Hard, lean and grainy. Shocking build quality.
Decca Blue (Alnico) - Best of the Decca carts by a decent margin, but lack of bass is perplexing. Still...I did use it for a few days. Shocking build quality.
Denon 103 - OK, but not as good as the 103r
Denon 103r - If you're in need of a cheap MC cartridge, This wont let you down but it's not for detail lovers, and it certainly wont pull up any trees.
Denon 301 - A proper gem. Has the typical Denon sound but manages to be lively and dynamic. I liked this a lot.
Denon 304 - If you like filigree and detail, without any effort or drive, this is heaven. Bit laid back for me.
Denon DL-S1 - Good at detail. Felt 'cold', emotionless. Terminator like. Overhyped IMO.
Dynavector Karat - Big sound, lots of detail and generally easy to listen to.
Goldring Electra - I like this a lot for the money. Good all rounder but on the warm side of neutral.
Goldring Eroica - Like the Rondo, good but lacked the panache of the better MC carts
Goldring 2100 - Balanced and musical without sacrificing detail. Still dirt cheap too.
Goldring 2200 - As above, no complaints. Handles everything you throw at it and more.
Linn Asak - See Goldring Eroica for a carbon copy opinion.
Linn Troica - Decent MC cartridge, does little wrong, but not sure what the hype is about.
Lyra Helikon - Excellent cartridge. Genuinely good listen, but definitely warmer than neutral. not entirely transparent either.
Lyra Clavis - Excellent in all areas. an equal to the KB but the bodied sound of the KB won it for me. Slightly. I'd buy one.
NWA-DH1 - As transparent as the invisible man. Bit lightweight sound wise, lacked a bit of weight or slam but stunningly clear. Pretty much a more expensive DL304.
Ortofon Windfeld Ti - Top of my tree. Does everything the PW does and maybe a little more. More neutral than the PW to me, which i appreciate...you may not.
Ortofon Windfeld PW - Transparency and resolution took on new levels with the PW. Special cartridge. Realism is aurally shocking.
Ortofon Black - Clean, clear and coherent. Lots of detail and space in the presentation, maybe slightly smooth.
Ortofon Bronze - Signature Ortofon sound but a little fuller in the midrange, and warmer sounding overall. Sounds less detailed as a result.
Ortofon Vienna - Transparent, highly detailed and very balanced. Dynamic and Punchy.
Ortofon 2M Black - Wonderfully timbred, slightly edgy in the HF. That was with a valve amp so SS users be careful.
Ortofon 2M Black with FGS retip - As above but with improved detail, refined HF and improved soudstage. Far better overall.
Ortofon Kontrapunkt b - Great all rounder with wonderful vocal reproduction.
Ortofon Rondo Red - A good taste of MC quality but a bit rough around the edges.
ZYX R50 Bloom - Boogie monster. Great for parties but don't expect the Philharmonic to sound anything other than "chunky"
ZYX R100 - Slightly more refined and better balanced but I always felt the ZYX carts were bass heavy.
Phonostages:
Audio Detail NV-06 - Absolutely dire. sounded like id filled my ears with mud
Aqvox - Bit bass light but excellent in all other ways. Could have been the system it was in...I'd love to try one again.
Arkless 651p - It's a modded Cambridge....
Avalon - The most invisible phonostage to ever grace my ears. Specs to make the big boys green with envy. It's a privilege to have one, let alone make them
Bigbottle MK1 - In retrospect, it was a little unrefined at times.
Bigbottle BB3 - Put everything right from the MK1. Very quiet, good detail, resolution, and accuracy of tone.
Bigbottle BBU - BB3 on steroids. Everything improved, still love it to bits.
Croft 25 - A Glenn Croft Phonostage, which sounds like a Glenn Croft Phonostage. Awesome timbral qualities but HF is rolled off and LF gets a little boost too. Quite dark sounding but I liked it.
Clones PA1 - Meh!
Digna - Sounded a little odd. Has all the good stuff but it didn't seem to mesh. A bit like Silver Plated Cable. Dunno how better to describe it.
Decware Zen Triode - Looked like the Titanic, sounded like it after it had sunk. Utter garbage.
EAR 834p - Flat and heavy sounding. Soundstage is just flat and stuck together. No idea how this got so popular.
Firebottle Vivant - Lots of Air and space.
Firebottle OTP1, 2 & 3 - Budget Phonostages that sound like they should cost more. The '3' Is the best, and is easily a bargain.
Jolida JD 9II - This could possibly nudge it's way into most systems IF you swap a couple of Caps and the Opamps. Can sound a bit 'shiny' if you don't.
LDA Jfet - Imagine the above phonostage made to be affordable. It's 80% of what you get from the MFA
Lounge Audio LCR - If you want a phonostage that doesn't do what a phonostage should, then look no further! Honestly, the WORST designed of any phonostage I have ever heard. Even the Project Phonobox tried to get the RIAA curve close. POOR.
Music First Reference - Was my reference point for phonostages for a while. Not anymore, but if you have one you will enjoy it.
NVA Phono 2 x 2PSUs - Quite enchanting at times, musical and spacious sound. Highly susceptible to noise and interference from electronic devices. RIAA was off (measured to confirm)
NVA Phono 3 x BBPSU - Too much bass. Overpowered the sound. Preferred the NVA2. Also susceptible to Interference.
Project Phonobox - Utter shite.
Ray Samuels Nighthawk - Sounded like Eddie Hall was sat on it. Flat, heavy and lacked dynamics.
Russell technologies - Had a lot of good qualities but ultimately had a bit of edginess and could sound quite shrill on some material.
SIMaudio LP5.3rs - Lacks any artifice or grain and replay is neutral. Soundstage is a little flat.
Trichord Dino - Dull as ditchwater. No soundstage width.
Tron Convergence - Wonderful imaging, fluid sound, like syrup flowing from the speakers but soundstage was too narrow and the skewed RIAA gave it an overly rolled rolled off sound.
Trilogy 907 - Fast, detailed, expansive and far too expensive. The SIMaudio is better to my ears and it's £1000 less.
VAS Phonostage - Shine wore off after an extended listen. Not as transparent as I like. Still superb though.
Vincent PHO-700 - Superb Valve jobbie. Soulful and highly addictive.
Valve Wizard MM - Small Soundstage, wonderfully timbred mids and loads of bass extension. I liked it but not in the same class as the more expensive stuff.
Valab LCR MK2 - For the money, it's hard to criticise but I will. The RIAA response is audibly off (measured to confirm) just can't forgive that. Bit rough around the edges. Unrefined.
D/A Converters:
AQVOX USB2D/A MKII - Incisive, precise and revealing. A touch lean.
Modded AQVOX USB2D/A MKII with LPSU, super regs and full recap - As before but now tonally superior. My favourite DAC of all time.
Holo Spring 3 KTE - Texture, transients and tonality. Brilliant DAC.
TAD DA1000 - Expensive and beautiful to look at. Didn't win me over but wasn't in my system.
Soncoz - Bland but harmless.
Topping D30 - Sounded sharp and edgy to me. Really didn't enjoy it
Topping D50 - As above but less so
Topping D90 - Sounded ok...uninspiring presentation. No oomph or swing.
Parasound 1600HD - Beastly bass monster. Highly textured and smooth...lacked finesse and HF extension.
Soekris 1541 - When digital started to make sense. Properly designed, cheap looking, good sound. Slightly leaner/neutral presentation. Improved in tone greatly by removing SMPS and replacing with LPSU
Soekris 2541 - I think this is the closest in sound to the modded Aqvox, one you change the PSU.
Teradak - Bloated LF, Rolled off HF, veiled...a bit sh*t really
NAIM 1704 DAC - Actually, this was a good DAC. Would like longer to listen to one before committing to an opinion
Gustard X16 - Described to me as "shop bought Sh#t" by the owner. I didn't disagree
