Recent content by Stefan

  1. Stefan

    Holo May vs Lampizator

    @WildPhydeaux, I can't comment on the difference between May and a Lampi, as I listened to a Lampi some time ago. A further caveat is that I am also the agent for Holo in South Africa. My steer would be to try to get a Holo Red streamer and use an I2S connection to the May KTE. The Red is a...
  2. Stefan

    Most beautiful amp and or preamp

    Pathos TT Anniversary
  3. Stefan

    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    On LV R25A, I agree 100% that they are exceptional with valve amps such as these 2 amps in the pic, with the Shindo Montile my preference, by a margin. However, I will not hesitate to pair them with an SS amp like the Sugden or the Moonriver if I have to recommend a system for a "friend" who...
  4. Stefan

    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    Although I haven't seen measurements of the R25A, I think Maarten Colloms from Hifi Critic is well-grounded in a measurement approach.
  5. Stefan

    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    One more biased input, if I may, but the Moonriver 404 Ref is, in its own right, a gem at its price point that worked well with the LV speakers.
  6. Stefan

    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    This is the one and only sceptical review of the R25A, and even though less enthusiastic some virtues of the speaker were hard to ignore. The list of over-the-top reviews is pages long. Somehow, I felt the ABS reviewer was trying to make an anti-statement in the sea of exceptional reviews. ;)...
  7. Stefan

    System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

    Another vote for the Living Voice Auditorium R25A. In my experience, it is an exceptional speaker at the price point and could be an anchor product for a musical system with many upgrade possibilities in the future. The beauty of R25A is that they sound good, with almost all amps I tried on...
  8. Stefan

    Best speakers at low volume

    I am hesitant to refer to specific speakers; suffice it to say that many designs with a BBC smilley curve might come to mind. Of course, this could spell less than optimal sound at higher sound levels. However, I think the Equal-Loudness curve does have some bearing on the topic. The Harman...
  9. Stefan

    Best speakers at low volume

    The topic is also interesting to me, and my experience, in line with many of the comments shared, is that higher-sensitivity speakers do better at communicating the essence of a recording at lower volume levels. I am delighted with the Living Voice Avatar range from the UK in this regard...
  10. Stefan

    DAC comparison and recommendation request

    @vermaxis, tinnitus must be difficult, especially for a music lover and enthusiast. A heads-up qualifier, I am the importer of Pathos and Holo in South Africa, so take my input with a pinch of salt. I also was the agent for Aqua ;) The Holo May is best used with USB or a very good streamer...
  11. Stefan

    Audiophile Sonic Terms Redux

    I also think "detail" is often over-valued in the audiophile community, but I would qualify my view. I think of this as a pseudo-detailed presentation. Often the detail is prioritised over tonality. In a loudspeaker, for example, if the response curve is "voiced" to accentuate the upper midrange...
  12. Stefan

    Audiophile Sonic Terms Redux

    A few years ago, which must be almost ten years, I wrote a short piece in which I grappled with the same issues that Karen raised far more eloquently than my attempt. For what it is worth, here is what I shared with friends and on a local hifi forum. I have not met many if any, audiophiles who...
  13. Stefan

    Audiophile Sonic Terms Redux

    I am intrigued and enthralled by Karen's post and general philosophy towards the challenge of reproducing music in our home environments. I share her scepticism about the typical "audiophile" vocabulary used by the enthusiast or the press. The concepts she refers to, such as pinpoint imaging...
  14. Stefan

    Who Are Your Favorite DAC Designers?

    Jeff Zhu earns his place on such a list with the Holo dacs.
  15. Stefan

    The Underlying Psychology of Ego and Audio

    Or the phallic symbolism of a big speaker ;)
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