Audio Video News

Focal Bathys Wireless Headphones: $799

Style over substance? Not a chance. The Bathys wireless headphones are both a work of industrial art and an engineering achievement — something we have come to expect from France’s Focal. Beyond the luxurious looks and impeccable build quality, is a highly capable set of over-ear ’phones built around homegrown 1.5-inch drivers that not only sound great but provide an excellent app with loudness compensation and EQ options, long battery life (about 30 hours), and active noise cancellation that gets the job done. And they come with a nice carrying case that includes an audio cable for those times when you just want to plug in.

Mark Henninger praised the Bathys for their balanced, dynamic sound, exceptional imaging, and wide soundstage. “Similar to high-quality speakers, the headphones create a sense of audio immersion that allows the music to take center stage. During my listening sessions, I found it remarkable how often the experience reached a level of refined audio fidelity that eludes many of its peers including Apple’s AirPods Max.” Put another way, these headphones are reminiscent of a great-sounding stereo system, while providing a tight but comfortable seal that makes them easy to wear for hours on end.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Exceptional sound quality
Impeccable build
USB DAC
Unique style
Minus
Noise canceling lags Sony and Bose
Non-folding design

Full Review Here (posted 3/1/23)

Arendal 1723 S Speaker System: $7,996 (as tested)

If you haven’t heard of Arendal you’re not alone. The brand hails from Norway where it’s been producing and selling speakers in Europe for more than a decade. We assembled a 5.1 home theater setup comprising four models from the well-crafted 1723 series: Pairs of Tower S and Bookshelf S speakers, a Center S, and the app-controllable Subwoofer 2S, which mates two 14-inch drivers with a 1,200-watt amplifier in a fairly imposing sealed enclosure. Everything is THX Ultra Certified for reference-level volumes in rooms up to 3,000 cubic feet with a 12-foot listening distance. A testament to the confidence it has in its products, Arendal offers a 60-day in-home trial and a generous 10-year warranty on everything but electronics, which is 5 years.

The system performed admirably with movies and music, producing sound that was balanced and neutral. As reviewer Jim Wilson put it, “The speakers are indifferent to volume and comport themselves when pushed, yet played with restraint they are just as revealing. I heard nuances in familiar songs that aren't anywhere near as evident with other speakers. I'm not kidding, I literally experienced details I didn't know were there. I could listen to these speakers all day every day, there is absolutely no fatigue or strain.” And the Subwoofer 2S, which earned a Top Pick in its own right, shrugged off the brutal opening sequence of Edge of Tomorrow — a torture test known to destroy lesser subs — producing powerfully deep, articulate bass. In a word, performance from top to bottom was impressive.

AT A GLANCE)
Plus
Impeccable build quality
Small in size, large in sound
Stylish design, superb engineering
Minus
Pricey
Subwoofer app a bit finicky

Full Review Here (posted 3/8/23)

NAD C 3050 LE Integrated Amplifier: $1,972

Beneath a refreshingly simple faceplate that evokes vintage NAD, complete with old-timey VU meters and prominent bass and treble controls, is a thoroughly modern integrated amp of considerable technological depth. App-based hi-res (wired or wireless) streaming comes courtesy of Lenbrook’s proven BluOS platform but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The C 3050 LE also supports streaming via aptX HD Bluetooth and is equipped with a 32-bit/384-kHz-capable digital-to-analog converter (DAC), low-frequency Dirac Live room correction for matching main speakers and subwoofers, a nice complement of digital and analog inputs — including an eARC-enabled HDMI jack and a phono input — and a cutting-edge Hypex UcD Class D power section rated to deliver an honest 100 watts into 8 ohms with undetectable noise and distortion.

Getting to the heart of the matter, veteran audio reviewer Dan Kumin didn’t mince words, describing the NAD’s performance as superb in every regard. “The presentation was punchy, dynamic, and transparent, yet unfailingly warm and girthy low down, with ample grunt to play any musical genre at any level I would ask in real life.” Listening to a performance of Ernest Bloch’s “Suite for Viola and Orchestra” streamed over Qobuz), Kumin was “mesmerized by violist Timothy Ridout’s resonant, woody tonalities and by Bloch’s characteristically colorful writing and orchestration, skillfully painted by the NAD against deep black silences.” The C 3050 LE is a fitting tribute to NAD’s half-century-strong legacy of making fine audio gear.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Superb sonic quality
Savory bass, audiophile-grade imaging
Dirac Live room correction
Streaming via the app-based BluOS platform
Retro-licious front-panel meters
Minus
Full-bandwidth Dirac costs extra
Only one analog line input
No multichannel pass-through

Full Review Here (posted 3/15/23)

Polk Audio Monitor XT10 Subwoofer: $299

If you crave subterranean bass output but are on a tight budget, Polk’s XT10 subwoofer is worth a look. Okay, for three hundred bucks it can’t hit the lowest of lows but it can deliver plenty of oomph down to 30 Hz and do so from a cabinet that’s reasonably small and lightweight. Inside, a 50-watt Class D amp feeds a down-firing 10-inch woofer. The port also fires from bottom of the enclosure so you won’t have to worry about mischievous cats or kids tossing Legos into it. Around back is a basic set of controls to adjust level, phase, and low-pass crossover (40- 160 Hz) plus a line-level LFE input and a set of stereo RCA inputs.

Though the bass tended toward boomy with music, resident bass expert David Vaughn was “pleasantly surprised by [the XT10’s] sub-30 Hz performance” with movies. “During the opening sequence of Overlord — one of the most bass-intensive discs out there — the XT10 was able to rattle pictures on the wall. As the German anti-aircraft guns attempted to repel the aerial armada approaching the French coastline, the bass dipped below 25 Hz and the explosions from the flak were surprisingly impactful.” While the lows are not as tight or accurate as what you’d get from a sub costing three to four times as much, Polk’s XT10 produces a generous amount of bass for the price, making it a solid value and a great soundbar companion.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Compact design
Plenty of output above 30 Hz
Wallet-friendly price
Minus
Weak output below 30 Hz
A bit boomy

Full Review Here (posted 3/22/23)

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