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Reviews

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

Legacy Aeris Floor-standing Speakers Review

Jim Clements

Introduced in 2012, the Legacy Aeris speakers have become some of the most acclaimed speakers in recent memory. They are massive 4-way floorstanding speakers with dual powered 12" subwoofers in each tower. They are distinctive for many reasons with the most significant reason being their one of a kind room correction and time alignment capabilities.

Floor Standing Speakers

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

Revel Performa3 Series 5.1 Speaker System Review

Robert Kozel

The Revel Performa3 Series speakers offer a terrific blend of performance, quality, and value. In this review, I used the Performa3 Series speakers in a 5.1 configuration. The review system was comprised of a pair of Performa3 F206 floorstanding speakers, a pair of Performa3 M105 bookshelf speakers, a Performa3 C205 center-channel speaker, and a Performa3 B110 subwoofer. The speakers themselves are absolutely gorgeous, with a beautiful lacquered finish, pleasing lines, and modest physical sizes that should fit into most listening rooms.

Surround Sound Speaker Systems

HiFiMAN HE-400i Planar Magnetic Over-the-Ear Headphones Review

Stephen Hornbrook

The HiFiMAN HE-400i is an updated version of their entry model HE-400 featuring the new design changes introduced in the terrific HE-560 planar magnetic headphones. Believe it or not, at $499 the HE-400i is an absolute steal in the headphone world. Planar magnetic designs are often tricky, with drivers that require strong housings for the magnets which add extra weight along with needing plenty of wattage to drive. HiFiMAN has successfully solved both of these drawbacks with the HE-400i. They are easy to drive, light, and incredibly comfortable and that's just the icing on the cake. These bring phenomenal tonal quality, clarity, and depth to the music they deliver.

Headphone and Earphone Reviews

GoldenEar SuperCinema 3D Array XL Review

Carlo Lo Raso

GoldenEar has just expanded their SuperCinema sound bar product line with the introduction of the new SuperCinema 3D Array XL. While perhaps a little imposing, at a shade over 62 inches long, it has a depth of barely 3 inches making it perfect for wall mounting under your flat panel display

Soundbars

Denon AVR-X2100W 7.2 A/V Receiver Review

Gabe Lowe

Denon's IN-Command line of receivers puts network integration features at the top of the list. Combine them with the usual performance of a Denon receiver and you have a formidable entry in the mid-level receiver market. Here, we review their new AVR-X2100W 7.2 receiver.

Receivers

Anthem MRX 510 7.1 A/V Receiver Review

Chris Heinonen and Dr. David A. Rich

When it comes to room correction firmware in A/V procesors and receiver, Anthem Room Correction (ARC) stands above the rest. With more customization available to users, and better algorithms than competing products, it can help to improve your listening experience. Until recently, the only way to have ARC was with their expensive processors. Now, with the MRX 510 A/V receiver, you have full access to 7.1 channels of ARC in a $1,600 receiver.

Receivers

HiFiMAN HE-560 Planar Magnetic Over-the-Ear Headphones Review

Stephen Hornbrook

The newest planar magnetic headphones from HiFiMAN ushers in a new generation of design. A brand new single-sided driver allows for better imaging and sounds along with significant weight savings. Considerable thought has gone into the ergonomics of the new headphone and that has lead HiFiMAN to create the most comfortable over the ear headphone that I have had the pleasure to wear. Oh and they sound simply brilliant. A great buy in today's bustling headphone market.

Headphone and Earphone Reviews