Audiophile Equipment Reviews and News
Audio/HiFi equipment reviews of both new components and out-of-production audiophile gear.
Synthesis Action A100 Titan Integrated Amplifier
Synthesis Action A100 Titan Integrated Amplifier review – KT66 push-pull tube amp with that classic tube sound…
Western Electric 91E At Carytown Sound in Richmond VA
Just a short post to report on a fun trip up to Carytown Sound, in Richmond, VA. I took a drive up to see a couple of new items that are on my radar, including a nice Moon Audio 700i integrated and a Synthesis Titan A100 integrated. Surprise surprise...
Audio Mirror REFLECTION 45W mono blocks SET class A
Audio Mirror's "REFLECTION" monoblocks deliver a very healthy 45 Watts per channel and offer the potential to be a fusion of visual elegance and auditory excellence. At their heart are the fairly unusual 6C33C power tubes. The 6C33C is a high-power,...
Bob Carver Crimson 75 Stereo Power Amp And Some Bob Carver History
I bought the Bob Carver Crimson 75 at an estate sale along with several other pieces of audio equipment from a seller in Maryland. I wasn't able to test the amp as the fuses had been pulled and the screw cap fuse holders were missing. One generally...
Aurender N10 Music Server / Streamer Review Vs Lumin U1 Mini
A couple of years back I drove an Aurender N100, my first experience with a streamer/file server. The unit was fine, it functioned well, was ergonomically satisfying, and competed on par with CDs coming through an older Cambridge Audio 851C player used...
REL Carbon Special Subwoofer Review In 2 Channel System
Here's a look at the performance and setup of a pair of REL Acoustics Carbon Special subwoofers, my methods here apply pretty much to any sub from any manufacturer. Let's start out with a quick look around the REL Carbon Special. First a warning..... be...
Holo Audio May KTE DAC Review
If you've been to this website before you may know that I don't follow the typical industry format for reviewing audio equipment. The typical process for industry reviews in most common publications involves the acquisition of a review sample and some...
Klipschorns vs Altec Lansing Valencia vs Altec Lansing A7
Oris 150 custom horns to Klipschorns, this article pitches the Klipschorns vs Altec Lansing Valencia vs Altec Lansing VOTT A7 and provides a review of each.
ProAc D40R Review
It's been some time since I last experienced a set of ProAc speakers. My most recent encounter was at Capital Audiofest 2022, where I had the opportunity to listen to a compact bookshelf model, thanks to the folks at Deja Vu Audio. The performance left...
KRELL KSA 80 Power Amplifier
The KRELL KSA 80 is something of a legend in the world of vintage audio, a Class A power amplifier that has garnered a reputation for its exceptional build quality, uncompromising performance, and robust power delivery. The KSA 80 was introduced in 1984...
Review: Martin Logan Impression ESL 11A Speakers
When it comes US based high-end speaker manufacturers, Martin Logan is a name that stands out. Renowned for their electrostatic loudspeakers, Martin Logan has consistently pushed the boundaries of audio reproduction. The Martin Logan Impression ESL 11A...
PS Audio Directstream PowerPlant 12 Review
I've been a long-time user of PS Audio's power regeneration products. Well over a decade ago I used the P600 PowerPlant and later replaced it with a single P10. Recently I added a second P10 to handle power amp duties, and now, a new PS Audio PowerPlant...
Iconoclast Speaker Cable Review
Stuff comes and goes at an alarming rate in my system and I’ve chopped and changed core components many times since the Iconoclast Cables have been in use….
Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ Review – (Compared With Gustard X16 DAC)
The Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ is a high-end digital-to-analog converter that has been designed to meet the needs of audiophiles and music professionals alike. It is an improved version of the Brooklyn DAC, with additional features and enhancements to deliver...
Simaudio Moon W5.3 Special Edition Power Amp Review
A couple of weeks back I took a drive up to Midlothian, VA to collect a pair of Sonus Faber Cremona M speakers, which I've written about here: Sonus Faber Cremona M review. Since the drive up to Midlothian was a 4-hour round trip, I decided to have a...
Sonus Faber Cremona M Review
Review of the Sonus Faber Cremona M in stunning graphite finish – best speakers in the world?
Lyngdorf TDAi 2170 Review
Amplifier? Preamp? Dac? what exactly is the Lyngdorf TDAi 2170? I suppose the easiest classification would be an integrated amp, with an inbuilt DAC. But it doesn't really have a DAC, even though it converts bits into an analog output. If you mention...
Aperion Audio Dual Firing AMT Ribbon Super Tweeter Review
Around a decade or so ago I used super tweeters on a stacked Oris 150 horn system with good results. The speaker system came to me with the Fostex T900A tweeters already installed, so I had nothing to do other than enjoy the benefits of their extended...
Altec Lansing VOTT A7 Vintage Horn Speaker Review.
OK, this isn't necessarily a review of the Altec Lansing VOTT A7 speakers, it's more of an introduction to these classics and the opportunity to share some thoughts and impressions on how they sound and what it's like living with these behemoths in a...
Decware Zen Master Open Baffle Clone – Lii Audio F-15 Full-range Driver
I'm a big fan of boxless speakers. Over the years I've owned no-box speakers from Apogee, Magnepan, Carver, Spatial Audio, and now - a Decware Clone born in the style of the Decware Model ZF15M (let's call these new speakers "OBs", for the sake of...
VPI TNT MK I with Eminent Technology ET2 Air Tangent Tonearm
The next project on the bench is the VPI TNT MK I with Eminent Technology ET2 Air Tangent Tonearm. I picked this up a couple of weeks back as a project table, something to strip down, clean up, replace any worn parts and get it back to something like...
Altec Lansing Valencia 846b Crossovers / Lyngdorf TDAi 2170 (Page 4)
This is part 4 of a series focused on improving the performance of a pair of Altec Lansing Valencia 846b speakers. Here's what you've missed so far: Part One - Altec Lansing Valencia 846b Review Part Two - Adding Aperion Audio Supertweeters to Altec...
Dampening Altec Valencia 846b Horns (Altec 811-B)
There are varying degrees to which horn owners will go to dampen the 'ringing' from horns. I've read about people painting the horns with bitumen and even baking the coated horn in the oven to get the tar to set. There's some debate over whether or not...
Altec Lansing Valencia 846b / Aperion Audio AMT Ribbon Super Tweeters (page 2)
Continued from this page. If you landed here directly, please use the link above to get to the first page of this review of the Altec Lansing Valencia 846b. To quickly summarize where I'm at - I bought a pair of Altec Lansing Valencia 846b in fairly...
Yet Another Audio-Technica VM95 Cartridge Review
Recently, the launch of Audio-Technica’s affordable VM95 moving magnet cartridges have piqued the interest of customers and reviewers alike. In this article, I take a close look at A-T’s upper-end models sporting advanced styli. All six models...
Ultrasonic Record Cleaning
Here's my two penneth on recent vinyl washing experiences, with a bit of context. I've around 3000 LPs, perhaps two-thirds or more are still in a storage unit in Wisconsin waiting for me to get back there from VA to pick them up. There's a lot of other...
Basis Audio Debut Gold Standard Turntable Review
I've gone through a few different turntables in the past year or two, including two different Dr. Feickert Volares, an Origin Live Resolution, a Dr. Feickert Woodpecker, a Wilson Benesch Full Circle, and now, the Basis Audio Debut Gold Standard. The...
First Watt J2 Review – Early Listening Impressions
The First Watt series amps have been on my radar for a few years. So when a First Watt J2 appeared locally, I decided to hop in the car and take a drive across the border into North Carolina to pick it up. I justified the purchase loosely on the basis...
Altec Lansing Valencia 846B Restoration Project And Review
This is part one of a series of 4 posts covering my journey with the Altec Lansing Valencia 846b. You can jump between posts using the following links: Adding Aperion Audio AMT Super Tweeters to the Altec Valencia Dampening the Valencias horns Trying a...
![Quad ESL 57 Speaker Review [Retro]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzA4OjYyMQ==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDAwIDI1MCIgd2lkdGg9IjQwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNTAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
Quad ESL 57 Speaker Review [Retro]
Quad ESL57 speaker review looks at the feasibility of living with Quad 57s and using them as daily drivers, plus, how good is that Quad midrange? Let’s find out here….
Dr. Feickert Woodpecker / Kuzma Stogi S 12VTA Review
Review of the Dr. Feickert Woodpecker with Kuzma arm and a Benz Micro LP-S Cartridge….this review turned out badly, find out why….
Synergistic Research Power Filter and Tweak Demo – 2022 Florida Audio Expo
Guest Post by Jeff provides a show report from Florida Expo 2022 of a demonstration conducted by Synergistic Research owner highlighting their upscale power-line filter, grounding device, and ‘magic dots’…
AMR AM-777 SE Integrated Amplifier
I should probably file the following under 'Housekeeping'. I received an email the other day from a visitor to this website. He'd noticed a blurb on our homepage almost a year ago announcing an upcoming review of the Abingdon Music Research AMR AM-777...
Small Green Computer SonicTransporter i5 and Sonore UltraDigital Update
A follow-up review of the Sonic Transporter i5…how has it performed in my system? A keeper, or not?…
![Piega C40 Speaker Review [Retro]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzUzOjYwNQ==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDAwIDI1MCIgd2lkdGg9IjQwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNTAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
Piega C40 Speaker Review [Retro]
If you’re new to this website you may wonder why I’m writing about a speaker whose production was terminated before the internet became popular. Yes, the Piega C40 is that old, but is it still relevant in 2022?….
Spatial Audio X3 Speaker Review
These are Spatial Audio’s top-of-the-line speakers and cost a whopping $9,000. All Spatial’s current models appear to hold their value pretty well on the used markets, so it was a big outlay and an even bigger gamble –
Spatial Audio X3 Review Part II
(Continued from here) Spatial Audio X3 Review Part II - LISTENER FATIGUE I went around in circles with the Spatial Audio X3 for several weeks, trying to get them to work well in my space. This wasn't an acquisition intended solely for a review, these...
Denafrips Terminator DAC Review with GAIA DDC
Initially, the Denafrips Terminator DAC was slotted into my system as a straight replacement for my Sim Audio Moon 380D, using the same Aurender N100H and Cambridge Audio Azure 851c sources.
For the first week or so I listened mostly to the Denafrips Terminator DAC using my Cambridge Audio Azure 851C as a transport, connected to the DAC via a Synergistic Research Digital Corridor No. 2 RCA Digital Coaxial/SPDIF, and later via AES/EBU….
![Dunlavy SC-III Speakers [Retro Review]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NzkwOjYzMg==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNDAwIDI1MCIgd2lkdGg9IjQwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNTAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
Dunlavy SC-III Speakers [Retro Review]
This isn’t really a review of the Dunlavy SC-III, per se, it’s more of a shout-out to prospective future owners of this remarkable speaker. I bought my pair of Dunlavy SC-IIIs coming up on 3 years ago, after reading a good deal of positive information on the Dunlavy range, but never having heard them in the flesh.
Allnic Audio A-6000 300b SET Monoblock Review
At the time of production, the A-6000 monoblocks were Allnic Audio’s top-of-the-line power amplifier model. The A-6000 has been superseded in the range by the A-10000 DHT Monoblocks, which will set you back a cool $89,000….
Art Audio Carissa Signature Review
The Carissa delivers 16w/channel from a pair of 845 tubes, and they are 16 glorious watts the like of which I haven’t heard in my system since playing with some old Jadis gear many moons ago. That’s not to say the Carissa sounded anything like the Jadis JA30
miniDSP Bass Array – Swarm Subwoofer setup
A few months back I began dabbling with setting up what some refer to as a ‘subwoofer swarm’, or more commonly, a distributed bass array (DBA). The setup was done using a pair of Aerial Acoustics SW-12 upfront….
Klipsch Klipschorn Speaker Review
The K-horns are designed to fit tightly into the corners of the long wall, where the adjoining sidewalls become an extension of the bass horn itself. Thusly placed in the corners of a 16′ wall, the speakers cross at a point around 4 feet in front of the listening position, which is 16′ from the….
Music Server Project – SonicTransporter i5, ultraRendu, ultraDigital, iFi Zen Streamer
About a week ago I took delivery of a package from Small Green Computer containing a sonicTransporter i5, and a digitalRendu with the upgraded linear power supply option. The ultraRendu required to complete the install was….
Emotive Audio Epifania Preamp Review
If you learn more about the Epifania, the design considerations and the evolution from its stablemate the Sira, via the Sira-LE, you’ll come to know that Epifania designer Fred Voltz genuinely felt that there wasn’t a great deal of opportunity available to improve upon the performance of the Sira-LE. At least not without….
Looking For A New Turntable – Where Are People?
Subtitle - The Search For A New Turntable - Origin Live / Dr. Feickert Analog / Technics / Fern & Roby - (to be continued) A couple of months ago I started with the idea of improving on my vinyl front-end. Running two tables was fun, and useful at...
Latest Knutz & Boltz
Audiophile ramblings and chatter…
What Is An Audiophile – How Does One Become An Audiophile?
Okay, I haven't had a rant for a while, so let's try to get to the bottom of the question of what, exactly, is an Audiophile. So, for most of you, the above dictionary definition ought to end the controversy, not that there ever really was one, you're thinking. But...
Loudspeakers – Measurement Farce
Question: Is it possible to accurately assess the performance of a pair of loudspeakers by analysis of their test data alone, and furthermore, who would attempt such a thing? Somewhere along the way the above became accepted practice and a segment of the buying...
Audiophile Quality Vintage Gear Vs Modern Audio Equipment
I’ve lots of good memories from the early years of being an audiophile, and some bad ones…..here’s a rambling post from an Audiophile who has clearly lost his marbles…
Looking For A New Turntable – Where Are People?
Subtitle - The Search For A New Turntable - Origin Live / Dr. Feickert Analog / Technics / Fern & Roby - (to be continued) A couple of months ago I started with the idea of improving on my vinyl front-end. Running two tables was fun, and useful at some level, but...
Bass and Your $100 POS Plate Amp.
There's a very simple premise behind today's rant, perhaps even too simple. It goes like this: Roughly speaking, we can divide up the range of frequencies that interest us as musicphiles into 3 sections - Highs, Mids, and Lows. Or: Treble, Midrange, and Bass, if you...
PS Audio P10 Power Regenerator Review
I've listed this short review of the PS Audio P10 Power Regenerator under 'Things That Annoy Me', which, if you've been paying attention, you'll know that this category is reserved for stuff that I'd rather not have to have, but now that I've heard it, I can't live...
EQUIPMENT REVIEWS IN THE WORKS
Synthesis Titan A100 KT66 Integrated
Here’s a review of the Synthesis Titan A100 integrated amp. A KT66-powered marvel looking to take up permanent space in the smaller of the two music rooms.
Backert Labs Preamp
Upcoming review of an early issue Backert Labs linestage. Watch this space.
Audio Mirror REFLECTION 45W mono blocks SET class A
An upcoming review of the Audio Mirror REFLECTION 45W mono blocks SET class A. Project has started, follow here…
Holo Audio May KTE DAC
Review of the legendary Holo Audio May Kitsune Edition DAC. Is it as good as they say? Read review here.
Sonus Faber Cremona M Floorstanders
Here’s a ‘sneak peek’ of the Sonus Faber Cremona M speakers. Finished in graphite, these speakers look stunning, but do they sound better than the Cremona M stand mounts that were reviewed here some months ago?
Altec Lansing VOTT A7
The Altec Valencias were sold without my itch for vintage horns being fully scratched. Enter the mighty Altec Lansing VOTT A7 –
Altec Lansing VOTT A7 listening impressions and project overview.
Follow Our Altec Lansing Valencia 846B Resto Project
I’ll be doing some basic resto work on the classic Altec Lansing Valencia 846B, using the custom Altec Model 19 XO from Great Plains Audio, and hopefully, a fully active system from Phil Marchand.
Click Altec Lansing Valencia 846B Resto Project to monitor progress and join in.
Dr. Feickert Analog Woodpecker
Our new review deck came and went – the Dr. Feickert Analog Woodpecker with Sbooster upgraded linear power supply, Kuzma Stogi S 12 VTA arm and Benz Micro LP-S
Read the review of the Dr. Feickert Woodpecker / Kuzma combo here
Quad ESL57 - Classic 1957 design built in the mid 80's and stored for over a decade...
The last pair of Quad ESL 57 I owned was left curbside for the garbage collector when I moved from the UK to the USA 25 years ago.
Featured Review
Spatial Audio X3 Speaker –
Speakers come and go, but for the last year or more I’ve been looking for a permanent replacement for my Dunlavy SC-III speakers. When I bought the Spatial Audio X3 it was with the intention of keeping them as a long-term reference in much the same way as I had with the SC-III. So let’s find out what went wrong.
Previous Featured Review – Manley Labs Chinook VS Zesto Audio Andros 1.2 Phonostage Shootout….
Audiophile Equipment Reviews From Audio Resurgence
At Audio Resurgence we have many years’ experience reviewing high-end audio components and audiophile-quality systems. Selecting the right high-performing home audio components is a tough task, particularly in this day and age where most audio enthusiasts have limited opportunities to actually get out and listen to audio gear in an optimized setting.
We bring in carefully selected items for review, then provide an honest and thoughtful evaluation of how each component performs in our review system(s). We try to change things around so that we get to hear each piece of gear in a variety of configurations so our reviews are more beneficial to a wider range of people. We also appreciate the fact that many audiophiles seek value from the used markets, so our ‘Retro Reviews’ focus on integrating older, out-of-production gear into modern-day systems.
Obviously, we can’t go to a manufacturer and request a review sample of a component that is no longer made, so we simply buy equipment that looks interesting to us, then either keep it long-term or resell it from our website or through other channels.
Our Ex-Review Gear For Sale Here..
OUR PHILOSOPHY ON COST-NO-OBJECT
HIGH-END AUDIO GEAR
We’re of the firm belief that achieving excellent sound quality from a home audio system shouldn’t require one to take out a second mortgage. It should be attainable with a reasonable budget, particularly when one is prepared to weave used and demo components into the system mix.
This is our philosophy here at Audio Resurgence where we aim to provide our readers with fair and honest reviews and assessments and not to fill your heads with intoxicating hyperbole that encourages you to spend more than is reasonable for quality sound.
To this end we’ll review both current production home audio equipment and also used-gear which may be out of production but available via the used marketplaces. When we complete a review we’ll either send the review sample back to the manufacturer, sell it on the used markets if it’s something we’ve purchased, or in the case of used gear that we’ve purchased, keep it as part of our review system if it’s something we believe advances our our own reference systems.
