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Emerald Physics CS3 ($2,995/pair): After only a couple weeks into our relationship I was smitten by these rather unusual visitors from the future. The CS3 is the apartment-friendly baby of the Underwood HiFi managed/owned EP line and consists of two flat panel speakers employing very highly efficient large concentric drivers,whose power handling stats fall just shy of Metallica’s touring rig. The system is designed to be used with a sub – kind of a must as the main speaks hit bottom at about 70Hz or so. So now we’re talking ultra-high efficiency super high power handling large concentric drivers paired with a separate sub? Sounds like a mismatch in the making, right? And it would be if you my friend were controlling how it all blends. Thing is you aren’t. See, the crossover is external and completely digital and this processor also improves tremendously upon the system’s measured in-room performance, allowing for astonishingly flat in-room frequency response and ease of placement that would make a table radio jealous. But it all wouldn’t matter if this system didn’t deliver punishing dynamics, the best imaging I may ever have heard from a pair of loudspeakers (it’s really uncanny at times!) and lightning-quick pace. Yep, the computer-aided perfection extends to the tonality as well, making this system among the most amazing speaker systems I have yet to hear. Oh I should probably add at any price. (words by David Abramson: extra vote by Clement Perry, Editor) -
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93. Jolida JD202a with Level-1 Mods (integrated amp): Another value-oriented audiophile product that captures the passion of music without damaging your credit rating.
Quoting from Brian Kahn's review, we learn that "I know of no other integrated tube amplifier at anywhere near this price that can compete with the modified Jolida JD-202A.... Anyone who enjoys the sound of tubes and doesn't want to spend $2,000-$3,000 to hear them should check this unit out. When used within the parameters described above, the modified Jolida JD-202A excels beyond its diminutive size and price to a level beyond..."
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Shanling T-100 with Level-1 (CD player): One look at this CD player makes you want to own it. With the appeal of an old Oracle turntable, this CD player, with its performance mods, has the sound to back up its beauty.
Quoting from Augie Bettencourt's review, we learn that "... The combination of her vocal quality and piano playing had a natural sound that made me feel as if I were in a smoky jazz club somewhere. It had a level of naturalness I've never heard in my listening room before, one that my reference player, the Sony DVP-NS999ES or Arcam FMJ CD23, can only dream of achieving... the Shanling CD-T100 with the Level 1 Modification delivered impact, pace and powerful bass response rivaling any solid state CD player I've heard in my system. Eminem and Steven Tyler's voices had clarity and a level of smoothness that neither of my other players were able to achieve..."
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Shanling T-200 Level-1+ Mods (tubed SACD player): From Srajan Ebaen's review, we learn that "...I pressed my luck. In his opinion, how did the Zanden hold up against the latest and greatest number crunching assaults from the inventors of the RingDAC and Mr. DSD himself, Ed "the man" Meitner? Nadel grinned and reassured me that, though going about things in exactly the way I had come to identify and cherish, Yamada-San's recipe was indeed still "right up there", directly competitive with these other makes. For what that's worth, it suggests that by inference, the T200 Level-1+ player must be included on this list - and clearly ahead of the MkIII when mated to my transport and digital cable without the AR2000. Bloody impressive.
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And remember, this is for RedBook performance! In any comparison with the Zanden, that's all you may consider. Today's one-box player is thus a no-compromise CD player. It happens to also do SACD; give you two personalities for each; and all of that probably for 1/3th to 1/5th the price of the two/three box competition if you factor their associated necessity for stand-alone high-quality transports. In its one-box category, there are the Nuvista and Trivista pieces to consider. Any which way you slice it, rarefied company indeed.
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Unison Research Unico Level-2 (integrated amp). As part of 6moons' first annual reviewer roundtable Year-End awards, Paul Candy selected the Unico Level-2 with the following caption:
The Unison Research Unico with Underwood HiFi/ Parts ConneXion Level-2 mod gets my vote for best bang for your dollar this past year. For $2,295, you get an integrated amplifier that performs at a level far greater than its modest price would suggest. My only regret was not having the opportunity to compare it directly against the stock Unico and more expensive amplifiers such as the BAT VK300. However, considering the mere $300 above my Bryston B60, the Level-1 Unico, with the exception of low level noise, handily beat it. Furthermore, for an additional $400, I thought the Level-2's performance was a significant improvement over the Level-1. It had a full, rich midrange, airy treble, and considerable bass extension and power. The Level-2 Unico exhibited exceptional image density and was able to load a room with a wide, well-defined soundstage that you could walk into, with a wee dose of tube richness thrown in. Not bad for a few bucks shy of $2,300. Read the gory details in my review.
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From Paul's review, we learn that "... I will honestly confess that I've never yet cranked an amp to levels as uninhibited as the Level-2 Unico without being troubled by distortion. The amp was so clean and controlled that listener fatigue never became an issue. This was quite an incredible experience! The Level-2 had no difficulty with any musical genre or volume I chose to throw at it. It became child's play to identify the slightest system change effects such as a cable or support footer substitution. Not only was this a great analytical tool, it was a thoroughly involving, musical piece of kit with terrific immediacy and presence. Frankly, given the mere $400 cost difference, I was completely taken aback by the superiority of the Level-2 over the Level-1. I can only guess at the differences compared to the stocker. If I were contemplating upgrading an existing model or purchasing a modded unit, I'd spring for the Level-2. At only $2,295, Walter and Chris believe the Level-2 Unico bests the likes of the BAT or Mark Levinson integrated amps. I suspect a great deal of the noted sonic differences were due to the substitution of the stock opamps in the amplifier driver stage since greater resolution and high-frequency extension are two of the claimed characteristics of Burr-Brown's OPA-627..."
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