I ran into Avatar Acoustics’ Darren Censullo, who was buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement over the new i-Fi Micro line of components. And rightfully so.

The i-Fi Micro products—there’s a DAC, a headphone amp, a power supply, a phono preamp, and more on the way—utilize technology tricked down from AMR’s state-of-the-art products, but place it in small, attractive packages, with far more attractive prices: $299 for the iDac, $249 for the iCan headphone amp, $199 for the iUSB Power Plant, and $399 for the surprisingly versatile iPhono MM/MC phono preamp.

Michael Lavorgna went home with the iDac, Michael Fremer went home with the iPhono, and I went home with…well, I’m just really tired now and can’t think of anything funny to say. But I’m looking forward to their reviews!

Source : stereophile[dot]com

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As familiar as I may be with the Playback Designs/Evolution Acoustics set-ups that Blue Light Audio's Jonathan Tinn brings to shows—one of these, with darTZeel electronics and much bigger Evolution Acoustics loudspeakers, received my Best of Show at T.H.E. Show Las Vegas a few years back—I constantly find myself amazed by the quality of the sound. This time, with Playback Design's MPS-3 DSD-capable high-resolution CD player with USB input ($8500), an Ampex ATR-102 open-reel recorder playing Puget Sound Studio's 15ips master tapes, and B.M.C. Audio's AMP CS2 integrated stereo amplifier ($8400) driving Evolution Acoustics' MMMicroOne 2-way monitor loudspeakers with stands ($2500/pair), the sound of a Shelby Lynne master tape of her new album, provided by Acoustic Sounds, blew me away with its solid bass, powerful slam, and great depth. True, there was a bit of an edge on Lynne's voice, but it may have been room-induced, and sure didn't stop me from writing "OMG" in my notes.

Then again, we were listening to a master tape, and comparing its sound to a double DSD copy played through the Playback Designs CD player. I didn't have time to linger, but I thought the DSD version sounded a bit warmer and smoother, which sure is a good thing.

I've learned over the years how important component supports and cables are. Here, the system benefitted from Wave Kinetics' A10-U8 Component Control System ($700/set of 4) and 2NS Loudspeaker Interface System ($1600/set of 8), and, from a company new to me, AFSC cabling. The latter included AFSC-S(pades) speaker cables ($1250), AFIC-X(LR) balanced XLR interconnects ($1250), AFSC-S(ource) power cord ($1250), and AFSC-A(mplifier) power cord ($1250).

Source : stereophile[dot]com

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