Audio Video News

The Gear Gods have been very good, bestowing upon us a steady stream of excellent if not eclectic gear. From what may be the world’s best sounding in-ear headphones to the latest DVR from the company that created the category to a gorgeous retro-styled integrated amplifier that sounds as good as it looks, there’s something for everyone. Let us refresh our memories.

Yamaha Aventage RX-A2070 A/V Receiver: $1,600

The 9.2-channel RX-A2070 delivers the up-to-date features and unadulterated sound you expect from an audio stalwart but includes at least one added attraction you won’t find in other brand AVRs: Yamaha’s masterful music listening modes. “Yamaha provides considerable fine-tuning control over DSP effect levels and delays,” observed veteran reviewer Daniel Kumin. “Though, even at its defaults, the Chamber mode — applied to a DSD of contemporary-classical brass-quintet and piano music — was altogether hair-raising. Reverb was grainless and deep but at the same time subtle. Dimensionality, including stage depth and height, was perfectly convincing. Together, they truly begged the “live-or-Memorex” question.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Impressive dynamics and clarity in both stereo and multichannel
Quick-response onscreen interface
Four-zone multiroom capability plus wireless MusicCast
Excellent, responsive streaming-audio client
Minus
Remote control is crowded and not illuminated

Full Review Here

 

Audeze LCDi4 In-Ear Headphones: $2,495

Make no mistake about it, the Audeze LCDi4 earphones are expensive. They also kick ass, thanks to a brilliantly executed open-back planar-magnetic design. Resident headphone guru Steve Guttenberg was blown away by their performance: “The Audeze LCDi4 are hands down the best-sounding in-ear headphones I’ve heard,” he gushed. “They’re the most transparent and open, have the flattest tonal balance, and the bass — OMG — is deeper and faster than any other in-ears on the planet!” If you find a more decisive recommendation, let us know.

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Extraordinary sound quality
Planar magnetic in-ear
Open-back design
Minus
Doesn’t block external noise

Full Review Here

 

Elac Discovery DS-S101-G Music Server: $1,100

Elac’s Discovery DS-S101 has no internal storage so it’s not a server in the classic sense. It’s an awesome music-management system with a high-performance digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to ensure the best possible sound quality. But what makes it special — and worthy of Top Pick status — is its use of the acclaimed music library and discovery platform from Roon Labs, which, among other things, integrates with Tidal’s high-quality streaming service so your Tidal library shows up as part of your larger collection. As reviewer Al Griffin put it, “Discovery’s compact form and minimalist design allow it to be integrated unobtrusively with an existing hi-fi rig.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Free app from Roon Labs
Wired and wireless multiroom playback options
Impressive sound from built-in DAC
Minus
Track count limited to 30,000 (without Roon subscription)
Requires wired LAN connection

Full Review Here

 

Astell & Kern KANN Music Player, $999

Audiophiles who want to take treasured hi-res music files along for the ride, will appreciate the craftsmanship and luxurious sound quality of Kann, the newest portable music player from Astell & Kern. “The KANN provides truly impressive performance for the just-under-$1,000 price — not much more than the cost of a loaded iPhone from a major carrier,” wrote reviewer Mark Fleischmann. “I found it just as fulfilling to my ears as the far pricier AK240 (reduced to $1,499) and the price-no-object AK380 ($3,499). If our reviews of those latter products whetted your appetite but their four-figure price tags held you back, the Kann might be the high-resolution audio player you’ve been waiting for.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Normal or high-gain output
Full and microSD card slots
Native 384/32 PCM and DSD support
Minus
Bulky
Not as pretty as some other A&K players
USB charger not included

Full Review Here

 

TiVo Bolt Vox DVR and Streamer, $200-$500 (plus service plan)

DVR pioneer TiVo continues to evolve the DVR art form with the 4K-compatible Bolt Vox. While not everyone will like the new interface, there’s no denying the appeal of its voice remote, which greatly streamlines search and is a lot more fun to use than an onscreen keyboard. The remote also sports a Skip button that makes bypassing annoying commercials a one-tap affair. “The new Bolt Vox and its voice remote definitely advance the platform and make changing the channel or searching for a program in an ocean of choices faster than ever,” wrote reviewer Michael Antonoff. “And just seeing that big green Skip button for the first time is remarkable in itself.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Voice-assisted search and channel changes
Skip button for vaulting commercials
QuickView feature
Minus
Voice control adds little to program navigation
New Experience interface is sometimes cluttered and confusing

Full Review Here