High-End Audiophile Equipment Reviews and News
Audio/HiFi equipment reviews of both new components and out-of-production audiophile gear.
![Piega C40 Speaker Review [Retro]](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=NDIyOjcxMQ==-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...
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=NDY3OjcxOA==-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 The A-6000 has been superseded in the range by the A-10000 DHT Monoblocks, which will set you back a cool $89,000….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...
Emotive Audio Sira LE
Emotive Audio Sira LE - Listening Impressions I've owned a couple of preamps that I would consider to be stand-out, or clearly special when compared to the rest. The Allnic Audio L-5000 DHT was one such preamp / linestage....
Devialet Expert Pro 220 CI – Review
This is a short review of the much-heralded Devialet Expert Pro 220 CI. I've been wanting to get my hands on one of the Devaliet units for well over a year, so when one popped up at a reasonable price, I had to jump on it....
iPhono 3 Review
ifi iPhono3 "Black Label" Phonostage Review The iPhono3 "Black Label" is the latest phonostage from AMR owned ifi Audio, a company with its HQ and development center based in Southport, England. If the name "Black Label" is...
Audio Research Reference 110 / KT 150 Review
I've never owned an ARC power amp and I don't recall ever having heard one in any system, anywhere. That's rather odd given the status of Audio Research and their position as one of the top tube amp manufacturers in the US...
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...
Castle Acoustics Harlech Speakers (Version 1)- Retro Review
EQUIPMENT USED IN THIS REVIEW INCLUDED:ANALOG Origin Live Resolution Turntable With Full Manufacturer's Upgrade Package Origin Live Illustrious Tonearm with silver wire harness upgrade ZYX Ultimate 100/Z Allnic Audio H-1202...
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M Review
We're delighted to have the Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor M in-house for another retro-review of these fine speakers from the Italian speaker builder. The stunning aesthetic along with the immaculate fit and finish of these...
ifi iPhono 3 Black Label Phono Review – First Look
ifi iPhono3 Black Label Review - Unboxing / Setup / First Impressions The iPhono3 Black Label is the latest phonostage from AMR owned ifi Audio, a company with HQ and development center based in Southport UK. The iPhono3 is...
Allnic Audio H-1202 Phonestage Review (Page Three)
Allnic Audio H-1202 Phonostage Review (Page Three) Continued From Here... I hadn't been 100% happy in the way I'd set up the Origin Live Illustrious tonearm with my ZYX Ultimate 100/Z cartridge some weeks ago, and after a...
Audio Mirror Tubadour MK III SE Non Oversampling DAC Review (Page Two)
The Present Day Continued from here There's a company called 'Audio Mirror' based in Eden Prairie Minnesota, and they've been in my peripheral vision for a number of years. I started to notice Audi Mirror when I had my...
Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE DAC Review
Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE DAC Review I was a little slow out of the blocks when it came to adopting the digital format, I didn't purchase my first CD player until 1985. Hardware from the joint Sony/Philips venture...
Allnic Audio H-1202 Phono Preamp Review
Allnic Audio H-1202 Phonostage Review The Allnic Audio H-1202 is the successor to the popular H-1201 and is Allnic Audio's entry-level Phonostage. So how did it fare in our system and could it compete favorably with the...
Allnic Audio H-1202 Phono Preamp Review (page two)
Allnic Audio H-1202 Phonostage Review (Page Two) Continued From Here... Lift-off was achieved around 15 minutes from getting the H-1202 out of the box, such is the simplicity of setting up and operating this unit. Messing...
Allnic Audio L5000 DHT Preamplifier – First Look.
We're all familiar with the law of diminishing returns and we all have our own perception of where the line can be drawn; the line beyond which ever-increasing amounts of cash do not readily translate to significant gains...
Subwoofer ‘Swarm’ With Aerial SW-12’s
A 'swarm' has arrived at Audio Resurgence, well kinda. Many of you audiophiles will have heard of the 'Swarm' subwoofer configuration, and if not, you've almost certainly heard of a Distributed Bass Array (DBA). I'm not...
Origin Live Resolution Turntable Review
This is a quick review / post to mention a special piece of gear that arrived at AR HQ over the Holidays, actually on New Year's Eve. We took delivery of a new Origin Live Resolution MK4 with Origin Live Illustrious...
Manley Chinook Vs Zesto Audio Andros 1.2 – Phonostages Compared
I'm so far behind on various writing and review projects that I feel I just have to get something out there so people know that I'm still alive! Of course I blame my visit to Capital Audiofest for falling behind with...
Zesto Audio Andros 1.2 Phonostage V Manley Chinook – Part II
I've seen Zesto Audio gear close up, specifically at the 2019 Capital Audiofest, and I find its appearance to be visually quite stunning. That said I was a tad disappointed in the standard of build when I unpacked my...
Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000 Power Amplifier – Reviewed
The Conrad-Johnson Evolution 2000 power amplifier is a beast of an amp, weighing-in at a shade below 115 LBS. It's quite physically imposing too, its dimensions, for those trying to figure out whether or not it will fit in...
Dr. Feickert Volare Turntable Review
The Volare turntable is the affordable path into the Dr. Feickert range of turntables, but just how good does it sound…
Mapleshade / SilClear contact enhancer
[Guest Post By Doc] One advantage of creeping into my middle years is that I still make the same mistakes over and over, but now I don't remember how often. SilClear is a silver-based contact enhancing paste that claims...
Equi=Tech Son of Q balanced power conditioner.
[Guest Post by Doc] GENERAL: More than a power strip, less than a power regenerator (though not less effective), the Son of Q power conditioner from Equi=Tech offers a clever, yet simple solution to cleaning up your dirty...
Blue Circle BC 86 AC Line Conditioner – Noise Hound
I bought a pair of Blue Circle BC 86 'Noise Hounds' from Kevin Allen of www.harmonia-audio.com in Canada a couple of weeks before the holiday. The Noise Hound is a small blue box with a fitted power cord that plugs into any...
Walker Audio SST (Super Silver Treatment) contact Enhancer
First Enuncement: The preliminary review of the Mapleshade SilClear will have to suffice. . .'cause I've just tried the Walker SST treatment and there's no goin' back! Second Enuncement: Everything you've read about this...
Magnepan MG-3.6r Speaker Review
It has taken me quite some time to come to terms with Magnepan's MG 3.6R speakers, to identify their strengths and weaknesses and ultimately begin to appreciate what the 3.6R does best. The reason for the long ‘break-in’...
Magnepan MG-12 Speaker Review
BACK STORY: I purchased my Magnepan MG-12 loudspeakers (list $1,100!) about 2 years ago through Audiogon. At that time, they were less than 9 months old. The seller had begun an upgrade but then decided to buy a pair of...
Gilmore Audio and Carver Amazing Speakers
I've just recently been introduced to the Carver Amazing loudspeaker system, with its dipole ribbon and dipole dynamic bass system. It's been over a decade since Carver ceased manufacture of the Amazing speakers, and I'm...
Sason Ltd Loudspeaker by Ridge Street Audio Design
Review/Report from WI Audio Society Meeting:- Sason Ltd Loudspeaker by Ridge Street Audio Design The North Eastern Wisconsin Audio Society were proud to play host to Ridge Street Audio Design (RSAD) on the weekend of 21/22...
Cambridge Audio Azur 840C up-sampling CD player (By Jeff LF)
I recently purchased for myself a nice “pre-Christmas” present a few weeks ago - an 840C. All I can say is that is really is everything that RH indicated in his review. This is the first digital source I have heard in my...
Purist Audio Design PAD Dominus / Venustas / Colossus (By Squiddy)
I've had varied and interesting results with Purist Cables ( www.puristaudiodesign.com) Their Dominus Interconnects are by far the best cables I've had the pleasure of auditioning in my system, and I live quite happily with...
Purist Audio Design Proteus Interconnect
[Guest Post by Nate] Purist Proteus review. As some of you may know I recently reviewed a pair of Purist Dominus. I also took a lot of grief from some of our fellow AudiogoNers for letting them get away. I had a couple of...
Purist Audio Design Dominus Interconnect Review
[Guest Post by Nate] As some of you may know I posted a thread asking which set-up would sound better; 1) using short interconnects and having the equipment rack between the speakers, or 2) moving the front-end equipment...
Magwire Speaker Cable REDUX
Don’t even read another sentence of this; it’s a complete and utter waste of your time. Why anyone would listen to another person’s opinion on the sonic attributes of a piece of junk wire, or any wire, or any component for...
Magwire Speaker Cable
Since the magwire apparently doesn’t improve with age, then I’m comfortable with my assessment of the cables, at least in my system.I began with the Bruce Dunlap CD, my initial reaction was WOW! The first thing I noticed...
Magwire Speaker Cable 2
MAG WIRES“Almost Perfect”At the June meeting, Foodman lent me the Mag Wires that Roozer had made for him. The next day, I inserted them into my system, taking out the double shotgun run of Audioquest Midnight II speaker...
Cryo Parts Power Cords Nucleus and Polestar Review
[Guest Post By Hoodman] Nucleus and Polestar After two weeks in my system these babies have really opened up. Let me explain. Here’s what I wrote two weeks ago after they had been inserted in my system for only several...
Audio Note Interconnects
[Guest Post by Hoodman] Over the last several weeks, I have had the pleasure of auditioning three different sets of interconnects: two lower-in-the-line Audio Note silver interconnects, AN-S and AN-V, and an Audio Note...
REVIEW OF A HARMONIC TECHNOLOGY INTERCONNECT- Harmonic Technology vs. Nirvana
[Guest Post by Hoodman] Forch dropped off his 1.5 meter runs of Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway II interconnects ($439 per meter), allowing me to borrow them while he went on vacation. (Generous guy, forch. Very good ears,...
Magwire Speaker Cable 3
MAG WIRES - some ramblings about cable theory.I've done a lot of experimenting and research into cables. Being from an Electrical Engineering background I find some of the more esoteric concepts interesting. For example,...
PEAR CABLE INTERCONNECTS: Comice (silver) and Bosc (copper)
[Guest Post by Hoodman] Ok; let me explain first the set-up protocol. I put a high-quality (i. e. solid metal, gold-plated) Y signal-splitter on the analogue output jacks of my Sony SCD-777 ES digital player. On one set of...
Latest Knutz & Boltz
Audiophile ramblings and chatter…
An Audiophile’s System Evolution – Component Reviews Part III.
This is Part III of the system evolution thread, click for Part I, or Part II Klipsch Klipschorns On the previous page, we reached the moment when the Klipsch Khorns entered the picture. Before the Khorns, I had acquired a...
Part II System Evolution and Component Reviews at Audio Resurgence
This is part II, for part i click here This is Part II of documenting a journey through reviewing and/or just buying and selling high-end audiophile speakers, amps, turntables, CD players, Dacs, Phonostages, and more. I've...
An Audiophile’s System Evolution – Component Reviews Part I.
I was looking through the photos on my iPhone the other day and realized there's a lot of equipment I've brought in over the recent years with the intention of providing a full review, but, for one reason or another, just...
Room Treatments, Bass Response and Other Things To Drive You Crazy
Sometimes, it's just damn cathartic to openly vent. When you've spent 5 years flogging a dead horse there comes a point where you just have to down tools, quit and start over. That's how I feel at the moment with my various...
Review to Rivalry: The Story Behind ASR’s Contentious Clash with Tekton and Carver
The Audio Science Review (ASR) website has become a significant player in the audio equipment review landscape, where its founder Amir Majidimehr conducts rigorous tests on various audio products and publishes the results...
Bob Carver Corp Closes Its Doors – For The Final Time?
I was sad to read today that Bob Carver Corp (Bob Carver Corp website) has closed its doors on new product production as of April 24th, 2024. There's a recap of events leading to the company closure on one of the Carver...
Tekton Speakers Reviewing Debacle And Manufacturer Bullying
What's this about? - In a nutshell, Eric Alexander, the owner of loudspeaker company 'Tekton Design, LLC', threatened 'litigation' over a published review of a pair of Tekton Design Troubadour speakers by YouTube reviewer...
Why You Should Never Trust A Cable Review(er)?
A look from an audiophile’s perspective on the sense of reviewing audio cables, and what you should spend…
LATEST EQUIPMENT REVIEWS / IN THE WORKS
Audiophiles in the Wild - A Serious Look at Audiophiles and Their Habits.
dCS Rossini Player & Rossini Master Clock
It’s here, finally, a review of the dCS Rossini Player/DAC & Rossini Master Clock. Powerhouse of digital tech from the UK, but is it worth the money? Review of the dCS Rossini Player/DAC & Rossini Master Clock.
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.
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 reference systems.
Visit us on YouTube and give us a ‘Like’ and ‘Subscribe’! [Channel is a work in progress 😉
Ex Review Equipment Offered For Sale
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Audio Mirror Reflection SET 45 [SOLD]
$2,000.00 -
Lumin U1 Mini With Sbooster LPS [SOLD]
$1,250.00 -
Veloce Audio LS-1 Platino Linestage [SOLD]
$4,700.00 - Sale!
Ars Sonum Filarmonia tube integrated amp
Original price was: $1,750.00.$1,250.00Current price is: $1,250.00. - Sale!
Veloce Audio Lithio Saetta Hybrid Tube Monoblocks
Original price was: $5,500.00.$3,700.00Current price is: $3,700.00.