Prior to releasing an official apology, it is meet to be up front about the performance of my AK100 which Mezzo Hifi modded. Next to the one I reviewed at Headfonia, and the one I previewed here at ohm, it is piss-poor. At my request Mezzo agreed to look again at the same unit. If it was out of spec, they would fix it. The results speak for themselves.
Read moreRMAA: JDS Labs The Element 24-bit
There's really no point in publishing 16-bit performance anymore, which JDS Labs's The Element proves like 2+2=4. If you'd like my subjective opinion on it, mosey over to Headfonia: Review: JDS Labs Element – Bravado.
Read moreRMAA: Astell&Kern AK380 24-bit
My publish order is totally off. Yesterday, Headfonia published my review of the Astell&Kern AK380. The AK380 is a sometimes-awesome, sometime-awful DAP, chock full of hardware potential which is wrecked only by its painfully angular design, poor marketing copy, and comparatively poor lazy amp design.
Read moreRMAA: Astell&Kern AK Jr 16-bit & 24-bit
Astell & Kern's daft copywriting strikes again, this time belittling the performance of its AK Jr. Jr, which goes for 499$ USD -- or about a fifth the price of AK's biggest mindshare devices -- is, in many metrics, able to stand toe-to-toe with the AK240 and AK380; in some arenas, it blows them out of the water. I will be reviewing it at Headfonia sometime next week. Until then, let the following impressions stand in:
Read moreRMAA: ALO Audio CDM (Continental Dual Mono) 16-bit & 24-bit loaded/unloaded
Subject: ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono (CDM)
I got into valve amplification late. The first valve amp I really latched onto was the Woo Audio WA3+ (reviewed here). As you know, I'm a firm believer in ALO Audio's Studio Six (reviewed here) and the lovely Bender, Pan Am (reviewed here).
RMAA: Cozoy Astrapi 16-bit & 24-bit loaded/unloaded
Subject: COZOY Astrapi
High praises have been heaped on this little guy. It's no wonder: Astrapi is tiny, beautifully machined, and powerful. On paper, Astrapi is a headphone amp/DAC every audiophile should desire. It does iOS, Android, and PC/Mac. But in reality, it is just another audio device that sacrifices almost every thing in pursuit of volume.
RMAA: Fiio X3 2nd gen 16-bit & 24-bit loaded/unloaded
While Fiio's X3ii isn't as poorly designed as is the original X3 (which I reviewed here), it still isn't great to use. Seriously, what's with portable hi-fi manufacturers trying to re-tool the classic up-down-left-rigth cross pattern into X, Z, Y, or other unintelligible designs? If you don't agree with me, I have no hope for the mid-range Hi-Fi DAP. However, I reckon that you'll agree with me that the X3ii performs brilliantly. In fact, at least in 16-bit, it even marginally outperforms my favourite DAP, the iPod nano 7G, of which I posted these RMAA results.
Read moreRMAA: Shozy Alien 16-bit & 24-bit loaded/unloaded
Using the Shozy Alien is like being sentenced to opening child-proof bottles for life, but it sounds pretty good. Here are its RMAA results:
Read moreRMAA: Lynx Studio HILO
I have the LT-TB version of the Lynx Studio HILO ADC/DAC (~3000$) in office for another week, in which time I will continue to evaluate it as a pre-amp, a DAC, a headphone amp, as well as an ADC. My full review of it will be published at Headfonia. While I've not had time to formulate hard opinions on its DAC sound quality, I can say this: its ADC is as good as it gets this side of an audio analyser. Below are 16 and 24 bit / 44kHz RMAA test results for both its line and headphone outputs.
Read moreRMAA: iPod nano 7G various loads
The following are the results of Rightmark Audio Analyzer tests.
Source: iPod nano 7G
ADC: Lynx Studio HILO LT-TB
Computer: 2012 27" iMac
Cables: 1,5m Hosa Pro 3,5mm stereo to dual 3-pin XLR (around 8$)
Loads:
Earsonics SM2
Audio Technica ES7
Beyerdynamic DT880/600