Best Of
Re: Dalby Vinyl Stabilizer Weight - most exquisite ever made
Who can resist the temptation of Dalby Vinyl Stabilizer? The exclusivity of it and the sonic improvement brought over far exceed the price tag. I mean it seriously.
wavac
1
Re: Audio Exotics Singapore!
Dylan Ryche’s Playtime is already a masterclass in precision fingerstyle guitar—but through horn speakers, the experience becomes visceral.
The track opens with percussive clarity and tonal nuance that horn-loaded drivers elevate to another level. Each pluck, tap, and harmonic snaps into the room with lightning-fast transients, yet there's no harshness—just unfiltered immediacy. The Cessaro Horns capture the crisp articulation of Ryche’s right-hand attack with pinpoint dynamics, while the warmth and wood of the guitar body resonate with astonishing presence.
The midrange—where much of the guitar’s expressive character lives—is rendered with holographic realism. You don’t just hear Playtime; you feel the strings bend, the wood vibrate, the air move. The low-end body thumps subtly but with authority, adding grounding without ever muddying the mix.
What’s most striking is the scale and energy: horn speakers don’t just reproduce sound—they project it. The listening (and recording) position is about 5m away from the speakers. Playtime becomes a live performance, playful and intricate, unfolding just a few feet in front of you. The room disappears, and it’s just you, the guitar, and the air between.
Re: Audio Exotics Singapore!
Posting a track on Facebok that always brings back good memories as a kid glued to the TV watching this show every week! Hope you enjoy it! - Mohan Veloo
1) DaVinciAudio Labs GmbH Gabriel turntable with Miyabi Fuuga cartridge
2) JMF Audio PHS 7.3 phono pre-amp
3) Robert Koda K15EX pre-amp
4) Robert Koda K160 amps
5) Cessaro Horn Acoustics Liszt
Re: 資本 Capital 2024年 十月號: 御品音響 劃時代音響哲學 塑造極致體驗
無言感激
我選擇了日本藝術家 ”早川克己”（Katsumi Hayakawa)的作品給予Aaron為今年的生日禮物。早川是畫「光」的能手，這幅名為《Signal 》的作品，設計概念原自他的香港演唱會其中一個造型。從他的欣悦反應，我估計Signal已經觸動了他的藝術感知。
我也帶了兩本Capital雜誌，給他作為留念。如果沒有遇上他，AE的發展將會變得平淡。他為《御品》題字的一幅書法，一直掛在發跡的上環展示室內，以作策勉之用。他對我的啟發與鼓勵，成為了強大的精神支柱，增強了信心不停突破，走上一條新的路線，所以我一直心存無限感激。
昨天Aaron對我說：”Chris，今次這個封面，是你的一個里程碑，大家繼續互相勉勵。”
當我要求他在雜誌內的專題報道上簽個名時，我萬想不到，佢先拿了支筆給我，請我在他那本上，簽我的名字作為留念。
這一刻的感動，並非文字可以表達到。
梁兆基
Re: The Fuuga - long live the King !!!
Hi all
Just wanna follow-up my 1st review with a quick & short update.
In my last review - I said that at the 33.5-hour mark - almost everything "snapped" into place. Then, as I continued to use the Fuuga, the cartridge showed more "goodies" and evolved until the 100-hour mark or so, I thought. Most cartridges that I have used - usually "stopped" evolving around the 100-hour mark - but NOT the Fuuga. In fact, it still gives you the good stuff, until around the 130-hour mark (though, the evolution is a lot less, after the 120-hour mark). So, be patient and have patience when you run-in the Fuuga. It provided me with plenty of surprises (good ones) along the run-in journey.
Whatever I have said in my 1st review has been reinforced time and again during the run-in process - the PRAT, the "rightness" of the start-stop of notes (from drum bass, guitar bass, shimmering cymbals, etc) to the dynamism of the whole music & soundstage, and the crystalline quality of vocals (esp. female ones) - remains the same, from the first impressions.
For full disclosure - my Fuuga tracks at 2.03g; with 66dB gain and lowered to 75 ohms (from the previous100 ohms loading), from my tubed phono stage.
There is only 1 more thing to say - I will be getting a spare Fuuga - hopefully soon !!!
You getting yours ? soon ? 🤣
Just wanna follow-up my 1st review with a quick & short update.
In my last review - I said that at the 33.5-hour mark - almost everything "snapped" into place. Then, as I continued to use the Fuuga, the cartridge showed more "goodies" and evolved until the 100-hour mark or so, I thought. Most cartridges that I have used - usually "stopped" evolving around the 100-hour mark - but NOT the Fuuga. In fact, it still gives you the good stuff, until around the 130-hour mark (though, the evolution is a lot less, after the 120-hour mark). So, be patient and have patience when you run-in the Fuuga. It provided me with plenty of surprises (good ones) along the run-in journey.
Whatever I have said in my 1st review has been reinforced time and again during the run-in process - the PRAT, the "rightness" of the start-stop of notes (from drum bass, guitar bass, shimmering cymbals, etc) to the dynamism of the whole music & soundstage, and the crystalline quality of vocals (esp. female ones) - remains the same, from the first impressions.
For full disclosure - my Fuuga tracks at 2.03g; with 66dB gain and lowered to 75 ohms (from the previous100 ohms loading), from my tubed phono stage.
There is only 1 more thing to say - I will be getting a spare Fuuga - hopefully soon !!!You getting yours ? soon ? 🤣
Re: Divin Laboratory visited by Stereo Sound of Japan
Roman兄，十分精采嘅分享，從文字感受到你當天的興奮。自己和老媽也親身體驗過，明白那一種震撼，雖然我們是聽粵劇，但係一樣是藝術。我喜歡你的寫作。
RE: PRANAWIRE GROUND INTERCEPTOR LEVEL TWO
Harprit (AE Singapore) installs new cartridges on my Da Vinci analog rig (Unisone TT/Grandezza Ref tonearm). When he came to install a newly repaired Koetsu Blue-Lace Platinum cartridge - he innocently suggested I audition the PranaWire Ground Interceptors. He had a pair of Level Two interceptors which he connected to the negative terminals of my Tidal speakers. I was pleasantly surprised.
The Interceptors improved the sound significantly. Background was "quieter". Music was subjectively "louder". The highs/trebles were more prominent without sounding harsh. I was getting separation and hearing details that I didn't notice before. At the same time - the midrange was denser and richer. In short - it made the listening experience much more enjoyable.
AE Singapore is a purveyor of great looking, impressive sounding but often very expensive audio gear. I can't afford most of the stuff that they sell. They also sell a range of remarkably effective accessories. These aren't inexpensive by any means. However - they are not restricted to those who own GCBs, drive Bentleys or who have private bankers looking after their wealth.
PranaWire Interceptors are "grounding devices". Apparently they "clean" the system by draining away harmful RF and EMI. They are not mainstream high-end audio devices. Some "technical experts" remain unconvinced. One skeptic wrote ... these devices work "tremendously well" for audiophiles looking for "emotional support" to validate they were doing something to "clean up their grounding and improve their system". If you are looking for published measurements to validate their benefits - I doubt you will find them. One critic alleges that the grounding device that he tested ... even added noise by acting as an antenna.
However - there are enthusiastic reviewers who are impressed with grounding devices - claiming they were remarkably effective in "cleaning-up sound", "lowering the noise floor", "opening up the soundstage" and "making instruments and vocals more full and realistic". One reviewer even wrote that the grounding device that he tested unpacked low frequencies from congealed symphonic passages revealing "unsuspected subterranean lifeforms".
PranaWire website claims the improvements from these Interceptor include "lower noise, more decay and openness" and "greater bass energy and drive" making listening more "immersive and involving". I can attest to these benefits. I have had the Interceptors Level Two in my system for 1-2 weeks. I am very pleased with them. The background is "quieter" and "darker". The highs are more pristine. The mid-range sounds richer and more saturated. Listening to music ... has become much more enjoyable.
The Interceptors improved the sound significantly. Background was "quieter". Music was subjectively "louder". The highs/trebles were more prominent without sounding harsh. I was getting separation and hearing details that I didn't notice before. At the same time - the midrange was denser and richer. In short - it made the listening experience much more enjoyable.
AE Singapore is a purveyor of great looking, impressive sounding but often very expensive audio gear. I can't afford most of the stuff that they sell. They also sell a range of remarkably effective accessories. These aren't inexpensive by any means. However - they are not restricted to those who own GCBs, drive Bentleys or who have private bankers looking after their wealth.
PranaWire Interceptors are "grounding devices". Apparently they "clean" the system by draining away harmful RF and EMI. They are not mainstream high-end audio devices. Some "technical experts" remain unconvinced. One skeptic wrote ... these devices work "tremendously well" for audiophiles looking for "emotional support" to validate they were doing something to "clean up their grounding and improve their system". If you are looking for published measurements to validate their benefits - I doubt you will find them. One critic alleges that the grounding device that he tested ... even added noise by acting as an antenna.
However - there are enthusiastic reviewers who are impressed with grounding devices - claiming they were remarkably effective in "cleaning-up sound", "lowering the noise floor", "opening up the soundstage" and "making instruments and vocals more full and realistic". One reviewer even wrote that the grounding device that he tested unpacked low frequencies from congealed symphonic passages revealing "unsuspected subterranean lifeforms".
PranaWire website claims the improvements from these Interceptor include "lower noise, more decay and openness" and "greater bass energy and drive" making listening more "immersive and involving". I can attest to these benefits. I have had the Interceptors Level Two in my system for 1-2 weeks. I am very pleased with them. The background is "quieter" and "darker". The highs are more pristine. The mid-range sounds richer and more saturated. Listening to music ... has become much more enjoyable.
If you have an opportunity to evaluate the Interceptors in your sound system - I suspect you will like the effect that it will have on your sound system.
cchua1
2
Re: Skogrand and USB cables
I got a Hemingway Audio USB cable to try out and it just blows away any of the other cables I have and my reference. The YFS Custom Reference and Albedo were both very good and close to each other (both broken-in) but the Hemingway brand new out of the box just left everything else in the dust. Some serious South Korean engineering going on inside this cable. Top to bottom, for me everything was perfect and not lacking in any area (speed, attack, width/height/depth, neutrality, presentation). Interested to see what it can do after 2 days which is the expected break-in time.
yhajtko
1