John E. Johnson, Jr.

Setting up a Home Theater Speaker System that doesn’t Dominate the Room Decor – An Experiment with Axiom Audio Speakers

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Over the past decade, we have seen the number of speakers in a home theater system go from 5.1, to 7.1 and beyond. This presents a problem in having the space to put all these speakers. Although it is nice to have large speakers that will play loud for the current deluge of high impact movies full of mechanical monstors and massive guns, putting nine or more speakers in the den where your home theater is, will certainly set off an argument with your significant other, even if the speakers are beautiful. So, I decided to put together a 5.1 system of small, but high quality, bookshelf speakers and a good subwoofer. You will be shocked at the visual change this produces, and yet, this system still has good surround sound (just not quite as loud), and it looks attractive in the room without seeming like it is the centerpiece of the den.

Bookshelf Speakers

Pass Labs X600.8 600 Watt Monoblock Power Amplifier Review

John E. Johnson, Jr.

With the success of the Pass Labs Xs series, Nelson Pass set out to create a line of additional power amplifiers that have most of what the Xs series has, but at much more affordable prices. The model under current review is the X600.8, which is a monoblock specified at 600 watts RMS output, with the first 50 watts in Pure Class A, and the rest in AB. Do they sound close to the Xs amplifiers? Read on.

Power Amplifiers

Bryston BUC-1 USB Converter Review

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Modern DACs have asynchronous USB inputs to connect your computer for playing music files. This results in the bitstream being re-clocked to the outboard DAC's own clock, which is much more accurate than a computer's digital clock. However, older DACs, even expensive ones, don't have asynchronous USB inputs. The Bryston BUC-1 solves this by having a USB input for connection to your computer, and an accurately re-clocked digital output that can be connected to your old, and perhaps very expensive, DAC, giving you the essential asynchronous input.

DACs

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

John E. Johnson, Jr.

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.

DACs

HiFiMAN HM-802 Portable High Resolution Music Player Review

John E. Johnson, Jr.

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.

 

Portable Audio

OPPO HA-1 Headphone Amplifier Review

John E. Johnson, Jr.

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!

Headphone Amplifier Reviews

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

John E. Johnson, Jr.

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.

Headphone and Earphone Reviews

The Secrets Salon Presentation – March 1 and 2, 2014

John E. Johnson, Jr.

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.

Show Reports, Film Festivals and Concerts

Linn Audio Athenaeum Horn Speakers

John E. Johnson, Jr.

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.

Floor Standing Speakers

ADE-24.1 Analog Digital Enhancer

John E. Johnson, Jr.

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.

Audio Accessories Misc