"All those hi-fi things we enjoy, such as a credible soundstage, detail and musical cohesion, were always present. The Super 10As handled everything I threw at them without missing a beat."
'Editor's Choice' review of the Auralic Altair G2.1 from The Ear!
' The Altair G2.1 is a fine all rounder, its strengths lie where Auralic usually shines, in streaming and digital to analogue conversion, in this respect it’s a serious contender for your budget at the price. You don’t get the Lightning Link option found on more dedicated G2.1 units but you do get almost everything most listeners need in a single, superbly executed product. What’s more it works beautifully without an ethernet cable. But ultimately it’s about the sound quality delivered with digital files and that is in the premier league '
Innuos PhoenixNET Audiophile Grade Network Switch - customer review
A customer recently took an Innuos PhoenixNET on an extended home loan and kindly offered to write a review for me.
How Do you make an already great sounding system (to my ears) better, a visit to Kantata sorted that out. John suggested that I try the new Innuos Phoenix Net Audiophile ethernet switch. I have only recently stumbled across this type of product and thought to myself, nonsense….. Improve the equipment, then power cables etc and interconnects.
I have been doing this with John using Audioquest for a couple of years now in my Linn Exakt system with fabulous results. I agreed to take this switch and let him know what my independent opinion would be. I have had such an unexpected positive experience with the Phoenix Net that I am now unable and unwilling to return it, I just cannot listen to my music without it. So unless you are ready to spend do not take this box for a demonstration.
It is a very well made “shoe box” sized device with a special OCXO clock which re clocks the incoming data more accurately , shielded 100mb high end ethernet ports and a linear power supply to give clean power to everything. Does all this make a difference? You better believe it!
The minute I tried the first few tracks via the switch I really liked the extra width and depth that I was hearing, the bass, the mid range and all those micro details had more nuances, space and texture, they were more real. They actually were more detailed or more there in front of you but without that ragged pushiness some equipment uses to achieve this. Yes, I really liked it. My wife came in for a bit of music and some wine and to listen if this box was any good, she's a very good judge as she's not technical and would prefer if I wouldn’t find the next must have Hi Fi toy.
However, she really liked what it was doing with the bass and the placement and accuracy of the instruments. We switched back and forth from the Netgear GS108 switch to the PhoenixNET and it was so easy to pick between them. She was a bit reticent about the voices and thought they were behind the performance of the rest of the music and needed to be more front and centre. We left it running and went to the tv room and watched a movie and something else, returning at about 10.30pm by this time the Innuos was running for about 8 hours, it wasn't run in by John so it was fresh out of the box. Immediately on hearing it the vocalists had come forward where they should be in front of the band but oh how they sounded more real, never harsh but much more emotive, all I can say was that it was a very late night as we just kept playing. We forgot that there was a new piece of kit in the room as the music just moved us and grooved us.
We both decided after another day listening and enjoying our favourite music of any genre that we couldn't live without it, I can tell you that it wasn't on her shopping list let alone mine, The improvement in our musical enjoyment was just too good to pass up. The only other time I heard such a profound change was when I heard my passive Klimax system converted to Akurate active Exakt.
Once the Innuos Phoenix Net is run in it stays that way, I have heard no difference from cold to playing for a few hours, its always left powered on. We love it even my son who listened on a Sunday for a few hours said Dad you have to buy it…..So its ours now and thankyou John for lending it to us and not trying to influence us by saying how good it was.
S.C. Newry
Innuos Launch Audiophile Grade Network Switch
Typical IT switches & routers are designed with the sole purpose of taking data from A to B with a noise floor and precision that is “enough” for the rate of transmission. This is fine for data networks but when sensitive components such as DACs and Pre Amplifiers are involved, it will have an audible impact on sound quality.
The PhoenixNet is the realization of Innuos’ philosophy of simplicity and signal purityapplied to the network switch. Having started with improvements to the ethernet ports’ clock on the flagship Statement, Innuos has now taken the concept to the next level with a completely new switch design tht focusses exclusively on audio use.
Kantata Audio is among the first dealers to have a PhoenixNET on demo and look forward to showing it off when COVID restrictions allow. In the meantime, an extended home demo is always possible.
Kudos Titan 808 Loudspeakers arrive on demo at Kantata!
The flagship Kudos Audio Titan 808 loudspeakers have arrived at Kantata and been run in ready for demo. Give us a call to audition these fabulous loudspeakers!
As with all of the models in the Kudos Titan range, the T808s can be run both passively and actively with only a few seconds taken to convert.
Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker arrives on demo at Kantata!
The amazing Innuos Phoenix USB Reclocker has arrived on demo at Kantata. This product transforms the performance of any of the Innuos products to a level way beyond the price point. It can also be used with any streamer using USB output. So what does a USB reclocker do?
Innuos say:
The PhoenixUSB Reclocker takes the USB signal from any source and completely regenerates it to an extremely high-precision signal to feed into your DAC, allowing it to perform at its best. The PhoenixUSB offers in one unit the equivalent of 3 separate components: A USB regenerator, a linear power supply and an external master clock with its own linear power supply. Innuos applied 3 main design approaches learning from their experience with the Innuos flagship music server, the STATEMENT: The USB chip regenerating the signal contains no switching regulators. All 3 independent voltages to the chip originate from an independent linear power supply with further regulation provided by 3 sets of LT3045 regulators. The use of a 3ppb OCXO clock running directly at 24MHz and connected via a board track just a couple of inches away from the USB chip. Therefore, no precision is lost within cables and connectors, as is the case when using an external master 10MHz clock with an additional 24MHz clock generator. Two independent Statement-level linear power supplies, one dedicated to the OCXO clock and the other used for powering the USB chip/5V USB line.
Hegel Launch the H95 integrated amplifier / streamer / DAC
Hegel have just announced the launch of the new H95 amplifier / streamer / DAC. The H95 replaces the now discontinued H90 as the baby of the Hegel range and, despite a number of improvements and upgrades, it retains the entry level price point of £1500. The H95 has an upgraded DAC as well as some tweaks to the amplifier section and will ship in September. Of course Kantata has a demo model already ordered!!
Auralic Announce Update to G2 Range & Introduce CD Ripping / Playing with Firmware Update!
Auralic has announced an update to their award winning G2 series. The update encompasses a new case with new feet and base plate. Inside the boards are encase in a copper shield and there is increased compatibility with USB DACS. Predictably prices have increased too for the G2 range only. Units are available to order now and will ship from 15th June. Auralic have also said that they will , for a limited period, produce the old style G2 as a bespoke order.
CD ripping and playing is now available across the current range with the introduction of V7.0 of the firmware. This facility allows the customer to connect a USB CD player to the Auralic unit and either play the CD or rip it or both! If the customer chooses to rip, then the music can be stored on a internal disk in the Auralic (Altair G1 and Aries G2 only) or to a NAS or an attached USB disk. This latest feature makes the Auralic devices very complete solutions indeed.