Recommended Reference Component: Rotel Diamond Series DT-6000 CD Player–DAC

Recommended Reference ComponentRotel’s Diamond Series components—the RA‑6000 integrated amplifier–DAC ($4499, all prices in USD), reviewed by Roger Kanno last February, and the DT‑6000 CD player–DAC ($2299), reviewed by Roger last April—are touted as “celebrating 60 years of performance synonymous with the brand’s Japanese heritage.” In the case of the DT‑6000, this catchline seems particularly apt.

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Rotel Michi X5 Series 2 Integrated Amplifier–DAC

Recommended Reference ComponentIn 1993, Rotel released a series of flagship products under the sub-brand Michi: the RHB-10 power amplifier, RHC-10 passive preamplifier, and RHQ-10 equalizer. Although the Michi components were well received, Rotel did not pursue further developments for the Michi line and let it go dormant. Unexpectedly, in 2019, the company revived Michi with a new series of integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, and preamplifiers. In 2023, three decades after the original Michi launch, Rotel upgraded the Michi line to Series 2 status.

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Simaudio Moon 791 Streaming Preamplifier

Recommended Reference ComponentIn his review of the Simaudio Moon 791 streaming preamplifier, published on this site on December 1, 2023, Doug Schneider describes the 791 as a feature-rich successor to the company’s 740P preamplifier, released more than ten years ago. “The 740P was strictly a line-stage preamplifier [that] provided input switching for balanced and single-ended analog sources, gain for all incoming signals, and volume control,” Doug writes in his review. The 791 still provides these functions, but it also incorporates a phono stage that’s compatible with moving-magnet (MM) and moving-coil (MC) cartridges, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that supports nearly all of today’s music file formats, and Roon Ready streaming, wired or wireless (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth), via Simaudio’s MiND 2 platform. These additional capabilities partly account for the 791’s much higher price: $16,000, compared to $9500 for the 740P (both USD).

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: T+A Elektroakustik Solitaire S 530 Loudspeaker

Recommended Reference ComponentIn May, SoundStage! Ultra featured Hans Wetzel’s review of the T+A Solitaire Elektroakustic S 530 loudspeaker. Priced at $44,900 a pair (all prices in USD), the S 530 is the mid-level offering in the German brand’s Solitaire line, above the S 430 ($29,900/pair) and below the S 540 ($54,900/pair).

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Musical Fidelity M6x Digital-to-Analog Converter

Recommended Reference ComponentPhil Gold’s review of the Musical Fidelity M6x digital-to-analog converter appeared on this site on July 15. In his review, Phil explained that the M6x, which is priced at $2500 (all prices in USD), “replaces the M6sR, which itself replaced the M6s, one of the first DACs to use ESS Technology’s Sabre ESS 32-bit HyperStream II architecture.” The brand was founded by classical clarinetist Antony Michaelson in 1982, but Phil pointed out that Michaelson “sold Musical Fidelity to Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH, parent company of Pro-Ject Audio Systems, and returned to his first love, making music” in 2018.

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Hegel Music Systems H600 Integrated Amplifier-DAC

Recommended Reference ComponentNorway’s Hegel Music Systems has produced separate preamplifiers and power amplifiers since the early 1990s, but in recent years it has become best known for its DAC-equipped integrated amplifiers. In August 2023, Hegel introduced the H600, priced at $12,500 (in USD), which replaced the H590 as the company’s flagship integrated amp.

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Yamaha YH-5000SE Headphones

Recommended Reference ComponentIn his July 2023 review of Yamaha’s YH-5000SE headphones, SoundStage! Solo senior editor Geoffrey Morrison noted that Yamaha’s flagship headphones “come with a flagship price: $4999.95 (all prices in USD).” Unlike some competitors, these headphones have “no wood veneers, no fancy colors, just structural metal work, grilles, and a hint of yellow where the cables connect to the earcups”—a design that “shows purpose, and if you know what you’re looking for, they telegraph their price in perhaps an even more impressive way than some other, more visually bombastic headphones.”

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Meitner Audio DS-EQ2 Optical Phono Preamplifier

Recommended Reference ComponentIn Jason Thorpe’s July 1 review of the Meitner Audio DS-EQ2 optical phono preamplifier, he recalled that his “analog life was turned around in a way [he] did not expect” about a year ago. That turnaround happened in July 2022 when he reviewed the DS Audio DS 003 optical phono cartridge and its companion preamplifier. Jason was wowed by the superiority of the sound of that combination over any other phono cartridge and preamp he had ever heard before. So much so that he purchased a DS 003 cartridge to use as a reference, and then reviewed two more optical phono preamplifiers—firstly, the EMM Labs DS-EQ1, and now, the Meitner Audio DS-EQ2.

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Pro-Ject Audio Systems Phono Box S3 B Phono Preamplifier

Recommended Reference ComponentIn his June 1 review of the Pro-Ject Audio Systems Phono Box S3 B phono preamplifier, Philip Beaudette explained that when he reviewed Pro-Ject’s X2 B turntable last December, he “liked” the turntable, but it was the S3 B that “surprised” him because of “its combination of great sound and remarkable feature set.” As a result, after both the X2 B and S3 B had been returned to the distributor, he asked for the S3 B to be sent back so he could review it independently.

Read more ...

Recommended Reference Component: Bryston BR-20 Preamplifier-Streaming DAC

Recommended Reference ComponentWe’ve reviewed the Bryston BR-20 preamplifier and streaming DAC twice on SoundStage! Network sites. Gordon Brockhouse reviewed it for SoundStage! Simplifi in June 2021. Then, earlier this month, Evan McCosham reviewed it here on SoundStage! Hi-Fi. The reason for the two reviews has to do with the Bryston’s rich feature set, which makes it right at home on Simplifi, and its high level of sonic performance—desirable of course for Simplifi readers, but mandatory for Hi-Fi readers, who typically put far more focus on sound quality than features.

Read more ...

More Articles ...