May 29, 2020

Affordable High Quality Schiit Concerto II PYST RCA Cable

Building a good pair of RCA cable is not cheap.

If you have build your own cables for your audio system, then you know how much you spent for a set of RCA plugs. Like me, I often using CMC RCA plug that cost me more than US$20 for plugs only without counting the cables yet. So, I wish there is an audio manufacturer can offer good quality RCA cable and of course at affordable price, and my wish granted. Here it is, the US$20 PYST RCA cable from Schiit. Early disclaimer, I am not sponsored with anyone or the manufacture it self, so this is purely what I am thinking about the product and I think it is worth to share.

May 22, 2020

Soundstream Class A 50 II Oldschool Car Amplifier Review

We are, who grow up in 90's probably know that the car audio at that time is full of great stuff. One of the most admirable car audio amplifier, at least for myself, is comes from Soundstream. The Soundstream Class A series built in very early 1991 and it is the high end car amplifier you can buy and put inside you car stereo system. I can tell you that this still the great sounding car amplifier until now.  Then why it is still great? Because it runs in Class A bias to achieve the best sounding amplifier. In audio world, the class A bias is well known as the highest rank in sound quality. The design that makes it great and the careful components chosen is what makes it run stable. I used to installed and playing this amplifier on my car ten years ago, but not this unit, it is a different type. At that time is the Soundstream Class A 100 II, dual channel 50 watt x 2 pure class A amplifier. This one in this review is the smaller version, the Soundstream Class A 50 II that only run 25 watt pure class A. When the first release, the price of this amplifier is US$400.

May 11, 2020

LG Hifi Plus B&O Play Vs. Audioquest Dragonfly Black

I wish you have read my LG Hifi Plus B&O Play first impression reviewed here and the Audioquest Dragonfly Black here compares to the LG V20. The purchase decision when buying the LG Hifi Plus is because of the B&O Play label on it. As you know the B&O is a hi-end audio manufacture that aim for lifestyle entertainment system and it is very true indeed. I personally impress on how good the LG Hifi Plus product is. But for the sound quality, I should takes more time to have audition with it. Currently I am using the Audioquest Dragonfly Black as my portable audio set-up. It is very practical for me to take this small USB thumb stick style DAC everywhere. Specification wise, both Dragonfly and LG Hifi Plus using ESS Sabre DAC chip. ES9010 for the Dragonfly and ES9028 for the LG Hifi Plus. The different is lay on the amplifier side which Dragonfly using the Texas Instrument TPA6130 and for LG Hifi Plus using Sabre9602.

May 5, 2020

LG Hi-fi Plus With B&O Play 32 bit Portable DAC & Amplifier

Since I already had the LG B&O Play earphones here, I guess it is not complete without adding the DAC from the same company as well. This LG DAC is special because it is still on collaboration with famous audio manufacture B&O. This is the LG Hi-fi Plus, the 32 bit DAC B&O Play launching on 2016. Actually this DAC is the additional accessories for LG G5 smartphone to improve the internal smartphone sound quality. But the good news is this DAC can be pair not only with the intended LG G5 smartphone, but it can be attach to any external device as a stand alone DAC & headphones amplifier with USB-C connector. Nice! I bought it about US$50, not cheap for outdated product, but I get it in brand new condition, so why not to spent.

May 2, 2020

B&O Play Earphones From LG G7+ Launching Package

Continue from my previous review for the budget earphones, the AKG here makes me want to add another budget earphones collection. But of course it is also from the bundling smartphone as well. My choice down to this B&O Play earphones. It is came from the launching package of LG G7+ smartphone. If you already know that LG has been collaborate with B&O brand for their sound tuning since the G5 and V10 smartphone upwards series. Until about last year I believe, they break the relationship with B&O and starting with Meridian. So here it is, the B&O Play earphones I got on my hand, bought for about US$25. I am very curious how does it sound compare to the AKG.