John E. Johnson, Jr.

Antelope Audio Zodiac Platinum DAC with 10M Rubidium Atomic Clock Review

Antelope Audio is a company originally based in the USA, but is now based in Europe, with the factory in Bulgaria. The manufacture DACs and A/D converters for the pro industry (recording studios). However, they also offer these products in a high end consumer edition. The Zodiac Platinum DAC with an outboard 10M Rubidium Atomic Clock is their latest set of DAC components for audiophiles.

HiFiMAN HM-802 Portable High Resolution Music Player Review

HiFiMAN is probably best known for their headphones and headphone amplifiers, some of which we have reviewed, but they also manufacture portable music players as an alternative to the ubiqutious iPod. The HM-802 is one of several models, including the HM-700, which is less expensive than the HM-802, and the HM-901, which is more expensive. You also have the option of having a balanced amplifier module in the player or the standard unbalanced one. In this review, I cover the model HM-802, with the standard unbalanced amplifier card, as well as with the optional balanced amp card. It plays PCM music tracks up to 24/192 and DSD64, as well as wav, flac, mp3, alac, aac, and aiff files.

 

OPPO HA-1 Headphone Amplifier Review

Since headphones have become so popular, it seems only natural that dedicated headphone amplifiers would follow. Many have come to market, and the OPPO HA-1 headphone amplifier has just been introduced. It has numerous digital and analog inputs, and the output stage operates in Pure Class A. It also can handle digital audio in the new ultra-high resolution formats, e.g., 24/352.8 PCM and DSD128. A dynamite product from a dynamite company, the HA-1 is a champion in the ring!

OPPO PM-1 Planar Magnetic Over-the-Ear Headphones Review

OPPO, known for their very high quality universal players, including the latest OPPO BDP 105 Blu-ray player, has now ventured into another arena: headphones. Their first model, just released, is the OPPO PM-1, which is an over-the-ear design, using planar magnetic drivers. At a time when everyone seems to be offering headphones and/or earbuds as part of their product portfolio, only a handful really stand out as top notch performers. The PM-1 is destined to join that group. NOTE: INFO ON THE NEW OPPO PM-2 HEADPHONES IS POSTED AT THE END OF THIS REVIEW - APRIL 29, 2014.

The Secrets Salon Presentation – March 1 and 2, 2014

On March 1 and 2, 2014, Secrets hosted a Salon Presentation as part of our 20th Anniversary Celebration of publishing. The presentation consisted of three rooms containing state-of-the-art equipment, both solid state and tube, and both two-channel and home theater. It was a resounding success, with attendees stating that they had never heard such fantastic sound, and were totally unaware that certain items even existed. The Secrets Editor, John Johnson, presented all of the equipment, with CD, SACD, DVD-A, as well as vinyl and Blu-ray movies in the home theater room. The attendees were people who don't attend audio shows, but who want to have good quality components and are unable to find local shops that can demonstrate the products. The success of the Salon Presentation indicates that this may be a way of bringing new members into our audiophile community. The manufacturers are more than willing to put in their products. Some of our readers around the world need only invite them to participate in your own presentation, and consumers will come.

Linn Audio Athenaeum Horn Speakers

Horn speakers have been around nearly a century. They were used in movie theaters when the films became "talkies", and their advantage is that they are extremely efficient, which is good, because the power amplifiers in the theaters during the 1930's were very low powered. Linn Audio has built horn speakers for several decades, but most hi-fi enthusiasts may never have heard a horn speaker. They are characterized by wonderful, effortless midrange. The Linn Audio Athenaeum horn speakers are reviewed here.

ADE-24.1 Analog Digital Enhancer

The ADE-24.1 Analog Digital Enhancer is an accessory that has been around for a long time. It works at low voltage (e.g., RCA analog output from CD player, iPod, etc.) and manipulates the harmonics. I got one of these units at the California Audio Show and the demonstration definitely indicated that it could improve sound (make it sound more appealing, and widen the sound stage), so I decided to bench test it to see what it does.

Legacy Focus SE Floor-standing Speakers

Legacy Audio is well-known in the A/V community. They market speakers of all sizes from bookshelf to huge floor-standers, and they have been around for more than two decades. Their speakers are made in the USA, and since the company was founded in a cabinet-making shop, the quality of the wood finish is a hallmark of their designs. The sound fits the looks, and I have wanted to test a pair for quite a while. Legacy sent me their Focus SE's, which are floor-standing speakers and are full-range. The SE stands for Silver Edition, and it celebrates Legacy's 30th anniversary.

Pass Labs INT-30A Pure Class A Integrated Stereo Amplifier

Recently, we reviewed the Pass Labs INT-150 integrated amplifier, which is biased into Class A at about 5 watts, and leaves Class A into Class AB at 10 watts peak. It is a superb integrated amplifier. The INT-150's brother, the INT-30A integrated amplifier, is Pure Class A throughout its 30 watt output (into 8 ohms) specification. Chris Eberle originally reviewed the INT-30A in 2012, and in this review, I compare the INT-30A with the INT-150, and add bench tests which were not in Chris' review.

Musings of a Drummer

I have been a drummer for a very long time. I just turned 65 (August 21, 2010), and I started drumming in college when I was 20. At first, it was just four of us, one of my fraternity brothers played bass, I was on the drums, a singer...