bixeapage

[bixeapage]

Pre-Employment Workplace Assessments

Behavioral assessments are a useful tool for gauging the behavior of candidates in the workplace. These tests provide data-driven insights into an employee's values and motivations. They also help employers determine whether an employee is a good fit for a particular job and identify potential skill gaps. While these tests aren't perfect, they can be extremely useful for making a hiring decision. Here are some tips for hiring managers: To avoid making a bad hiring decision, conduct a behavioral assessment of your candidates.

The purpose of a behavioral assessment from Insight Worldwide is to measure the person's strengths and weaknesses and to help managers identify potential strengths and areas for improvement. Various tests are used to determine a person's strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Functional Behavioral Assessment is used to evaluate an employee's past performance and potential. It is also used to identify whether the candidate will fit into the company culture. The data collected from a behavioral assessment can be used for recruitment and selection.

Behavioral assessments can also be used to find out how fast someone works. A hard-charging individual may not be well suited for a slower-paced environment, and vice versa. Behavioral assessments can also help businesses improve their retention rates by helping employers analyze the skills and qualities needed for each role. They can also help employers find out which employees are the best for a given job. They can also help employers improve their employee engagement by helping them choose the best employees.

Insight Worldwide can be helpful when hiring professionals in fast-paced environments. A hard-charging professional may not thrive in a slower-paced work environment. In addition to providing insight into how candidates perform in a real work environment, behavioral assessments can also help improve employee retention rates. Moreover, behavioural assessments can be very useful when hiring for a specific position. For example, if a new hire is required to excel in a high-pressure environment, he or she will need to be fast and efficient.

Behavioral assessments are a valuable tool for recruitment. These tests can provide new information about candidates and deepen your understanding of applicant's application materials. Using data-driven strategies for hiring, behavioral assessments can help you make the right choices. And, they can help you get the best candidates. They are also an excellent way to determine which candidates are right for your business. If you have an open position that requires a strong personality, consider behavioral assessments.

Behavioral assessments are commonly used for recruitment and development. The tests evaluate core competencies in a job, and they require the candidates to demonstrate these competencies to be considered. A behavioral assessment is an effective way to standardize the hiring process and ensure that the people you hire are the best fit for the job. A good test will help you make the right decision. When you're choosing a vendor, ask about the validation of the assessments. If they have a reputation for being scientific, they will likely be better.

[bixeapage]

Zen Ramen and Sushi Restaurants in New York

Do you want to experience the best Japanese cuisine while in New York? If so, then you are in luck because there are many excellent Japanese restaurants in Manhattan that will satisfy your tastes. Of course, no two restaurants will be the same as they have their own unique styles. For example, if you want a japansui (toro) roll with red sauce, then the New York area has the best Japanese restaurants in Manhattan that specializes in toro rolls. On top of that, if you want to enjoy some sushi and sweet plum vinegar with it, then head down to the sushi bar in NYC.

 The Ramen Noodle Restaurant is located on Fifth Avenue at East 65th Street. In addition to specializing in Chinese food, the restaurant also serves ramen in a variety of different sauces. Besides the standard Asian ingredients like chicken, crab, and beef, this restaurant offers an extensive inventory of fresh Japanese food and seafood. Zen Noodle is the best Japanese restaurants in Manhattan because of its unique combination of flavors.

 Crawfish Tempura is another popular Japanese restaurant in Manhattan. This restaurant offers both traditional Japanese dishes as well as some American favorites. The restaurant is housed in an old-school style building that offers an open concept with a bar and counter area. Unlike many other Japanese restaurants in the area, this restaurant specializes not only in traditional Japanese foods but American fare as well including crab cakes, grilled corn, and vegetable sushi.

 Also located in Manhattan is the sushi bar Kaiten restaurant. Like the previously mentioned restaurant, this sushi restaurant also specializes in traditional Japanese food along with western inspired sushi items. Kaiten specializes in California roll sushi, tempura, tuna sushi, and other sushi style dishes.

 The sushi bar Seiko has also opened in Manhattan. This sushi bar offers four types of sushi for its customers. There are soy sauce maki, miso gourmet sushi, nigiri sushi, and sashimi. The maki is a type of sushi that is cut into thin pieces. Nigiri sushi is thin like an unbaked fish cake and can also include cucumber, pickles, and kiwi radishes.

 Finally, if you are looking for a vegetarian restaurant in Manhattan, check out Zen Ramen and Sushi. This sushi bar specializes in California roll sushi and other vegetarian sushi items. It also has an extensive menu of sushi bar foods such as tempura and other Western-inspired foods. The decor and the music are both very calming and soothing. The prices are also affordable.

[bixeapage]

The Growing Popularity Of Hemp CBD Products

What are CBD oil and how is it different from hemp and cannabis? Both types of the cannabis sativa tree. Both contain Cannabidiol (CBD) and Terpenes (hemp oil uses) the main two active substances. The main difference is that hemp tends to have far less THC than a normal marijuana plant. The average hemp oil uses for cancer treatment have about half the amount of THC as a comparable marijuana plant would have.

When considering hemp oil benefits there are two main categories; medicinal and therapeutic. This plant can be used to treat everything from sore muscles and sprains, to headaches, mood swings, insomnia and chronic pain. It has also been used to treat some psychological conditions. Many people regard hemp seed oils as a wonder drug, but the main benefits of the substance are medicinal and aromatherapy focused. It is this healing properties, combined with its other benefits, that make hemp oil a popular choice for anyone wishing to benefit from this healthy, alternative medicine.

 Medical research into the use of CBD for the treatment of serious ailments has found that it is very effective at reducing nausea and vomiting, reducing seizures in children and stopping the harmful side effects of chemotherapy. However, there is more to the benefits of CBD than just being able to stop someone from feeling sick. It also shows promise in the treatment of cancer and other serious medical problems, especially when administered by a professional.

 There have been multiple studies conducted on CBD products and their safety and effectiveness for medical use. All of the studies have been completely independent and have yielded good results. In one study published by the University of Florida, CBD was shown to reduce blood pressure levels in people suffering from hypertension. In another study published by the University of Nebraska Medical Center, CBD was found to be effective in the treatment of seizures in children.

 The lack of psychoactive effects has made hemp and products very attractive to those who suffer from medical ailments like cancer or Parkinson's disease. They can be taken just as regular marijuana, without fear of addiction or unpleasant side effects. Research studies have shown that people who have used hemp oil regularly, with no incidents of addiction, have experienced a reduction in their seizures and in some cases have even seen their conditions improve. People with asthma, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and psoriasis have all reported success with hemp oil use. No serious interactions with any prescription or over-the-counter medicines have ever been noted.

 As hemp continues to grow in popularity among American consumers, there will undoubtedly be more studies conducted on its safety and the true potential benefits or side effects. While no definitive evidence of CBD oil's effectiveness has yet been found, the anecdotal evidence is quite compelling. If you or someone you know suffers from one of these diseases, you should definitely look into using this safe alternative for your medical problems. As more studies surface, they will no doubt provide further insight into the benefits and drawbacks of CBD as a viable treatment option for a wide range of ailments.

[bixeapage]

Best RV Awnings and Light Fixtures

If you love campers and campgrounds, then you must surely know how essential camper awnings are. There are many advantages of having a camper awnings. Most campers love to sleep outside the camper trailers due to the fantastic scenic views and the cool breeze that it provides. However, when night falls, you want to be safe and warm so you make use of a camper awnings to keep you warm and dry. You can add more style and class to your campsite by using best RV awnings lights.

 The Basics About Best RV Awning Lights Most people who use RVs or campers are aware of the benefits of a camper trailer awnings. However, few of them know how essential these lights are for use at night. They offer tremendous amount of lighting around the campfire and at your campsite. For this reason, most awnings use best RV awning lighting.

What Are Best RV Awning Lights? There are many types of best rv awning lights available on the market. Some of these are the rope awnings, metal reflectors, metal halide and led camper awnings, moonlights, solar taillights, etc. The best RV awnings are made from aluminum, which is light weight. They also have a long lifespan. This is the reason they have become very popular among campers.

 Which One Should I Use? If you think that you will be going with the best rv awning lights, then you must go for the LED strips and halogen ones. Both of them give you the maximum amount of light without using much energy. However, if you are going to use lanterns with your awnings then the best RV awnings would be the lanterns with halogen bulbs. They put out a great deal of light and last for a long time as well.

What to Look For in Best RV Awnings When You Are Buying Guide The best RV awnings are those that come with an easy to follow step by step buying guide. This would give you ample knowledge about the product and help you make the right decision when buying them. It should also include a list of what to look for in the best rv awnings and what to avoid. You can get plenty of information about awnings from the internet. Go through some online reviews and compare them with other websites before you buy the best RV awnings.

 How to Use Them There are two types of these light fixtures, one is the fixed mount type where you have to hang it on the campervan roof. The other type is the mobile mount type. In both cases, the main source of power is the battery. The light fixtures for your campervan should be bright enough so that you do not have any problem walking around in the night. Some of the other things that you would need to consider are the size, shape and color changing capabilities. This would ensure that you get the best campervan lights for your needs.

 What Is the Best RV Fairy Lights? As compared to the regular awnings, the best RV solar powered fairy lights are quite a bit brighter. It is best that you opt for the LED lights because they are much more durable than other conventional bulbs and they also use very low energy.

 If you are planning to use the RV lights in the place where you will sleep such as at the foot of the bed or at the entrance of the campervan, then you can easily hang the light bulb using a simple device called the hooks. Just make sure that the hooks are screwed firmly into the ceiling. To make sure that the light bulb will remain fixed to the hook, you can try to tighten the screws. If the lights are hanging crookedly, then you should adjust the screws until you are able to get a perfect hang. Finally, before you go to bed, you can replace the bulb with an LED light instead of the regular halogen bulbs.

[bixeapage]

Was Beinhaltet Die Hausversicherung?

Unsere Häuser stehen im Mittelpunkt unseres Lebens, und deshalb sollten wir uns bemühen, das Leben in unseren eigenen Mauern so angenehm und sicher wie möglich zu gestalten.

Zuhause beginnen Sie Ihre Reise zur Elternschaft, während Sie Ihre Kinder in die Welt bringen und all das Wissen, das Sie erworben haben, an sie weitergeben.

Ein Teil der Art, wie Sie den Schutz Ihrer Familie sicherstellen können, besteht darin, sicherzustellen, dass Sie die richtige Hausratversicherung für Ihre persönliche Situation haben. Wenn Sie sich entscheiden, welche Police für Sie am besten ist, sollten Sie sich zurücklehnen und einen Moment Zeit nehmen sich voll und ganz auf die Versicherungsbedürfnisse zu konzentrieren, die Sie haben werden.

Lassen Sie sich nicht täuschen, dass alles in Ordnung ist, solange Ihr Schmuck bedeckt ist! Denken Sie nur einen Moment darüber nach, wie Sie zu Hause sitzen. Schauen Sie sich um und stellen Sie sich vor, dass absolut alles ausgetauscht werden muss. Wenn Sie sich zum Beispiel in Ihrer Küche befinden, finden Sie hier einige Dinge, die Sie möglicherweise ersetzen müssen.

Wenn Sie für einige Stunden einen Stromausfall haben, müssen möglicherweise alle Lebensmittel in Ihrem Gefrierschrank ersetzt werden. Dies allein könnte sich auf einige hundert Dollar belaufen. Wenn Ihr Haus komplett abgerissen würde, bräuchten Sie nicht nur neue Küchenschränke, Herde, Kühlschränke, Töpfe, Pfannen, Besteck usw., sondern auch Farbe oder Tapeten, Fußböden und so weiter. Bei der Berechnung Ihres Versicherungsbedarfs müssen Sie all diese Faktoren berücksichtigen.

Wenn es um Gebäudeversicherungen geht, müssen Sie sich darüber im Klaren sein, dass Bakterien, die häufig an der Außenseite eines Hauses vorkommen, wie z. B. Pilze und Schimmelpilze, in der Regel nicht Bestandteil eines Standardversicherungsvertrags sind.

Insgesamt lohnt es sich, so viele Vergleichsseiten wie möglich zu prüfen, um die Kosten niedrig zu halten. Sobald Sie jedoch einige ansprechende Angebote gefunden haben, müssen Sie noch tief graben und sicherstellen, dass die Abdeckung, die Sie benötigen, angeboten wird.

Neben den Vergleichswebsites können Sie auch den traditionelleren Weg einschlagen, einen lokalen Vertreter zu kontaktieren. Oft haben diese Zugang zu einer Vielzahl von Versicherungsunternehmen und Sie können ihnen genau sagen, welchen Versicherungsschutz Sie benötigen, bevor sie überhaupt suchen .

Unabhängig davon, für welche Methode Sie sich entscheiden, können Sie sicher sein, dass die richtige Hausversicherung vorhanden ist, falls Sie Ansprüche geltend machen müssen.

[bixeapage]

How Manufacturing Execution System Helps

The MES software tracks the manufacturing process right from the raw material phase through the finished products and it provides right information at right time to show the floor manager how to optimize current conditions of manufacturing plant to improve production output. MES presents plenty of valuable advantages to manufacturer’s, here we have listed few Benefits of MES Software like Ujigami MES:

Increases visibility across manufacturing network: MES software will replace papers, spreadsheets, standalone database and measuring systems to connect to shop floor creating an unbroken thread of critical data across all manufacturing operations. MES software delivers real time analysis such as performance and quality indicators.

Increases Productivity: MES System is highly effective at increasing the overall productivity. When everyone are at same page, there will be chances for errors. MES will keep all members of manufacturing team in same page. Everything from machinery to source inventory and right tool for project is document with the help of MES, this increases the productivity and also increases up time which is critical for the success of manufacturing plant.

Reduces operational cost: With the help of MES system, it is possible to streamline operations logically once manufacturer’s get better handle on product, material, time and labor required to complete specific tasks. MES enables us to cut down personnel from operating production lines and controlling inventory.

Captures the cost more accurately: With MES, several costs including labor, scrap, downtime and maintenance are recorded in real time from shop floor. Management team will use this data to evaluate unprofitable business model and frame new work. Since other systems share this data, MES enables company to increase its overall productivity.

Reduces Scrap and waste: MES system will reduce waste in number of areas. As MES is a digital system, it doesn’t involve paper copies of documentation. Filling up paper, storing and time spent on tracking paper work is reduced. MES reduces scrap and waste materials, if there is any problem with a step in manufacturing process MES will immediately identify the issue in real time and production process is stopped until the issue is corrected.  

All these are just few benefits to list down, there are yet many other advantages that a manufacturing plant will obtain from MES. An MES does more than simply tracking the amount of product coming off from production lines and shop floor.

[bixeapage]

Forex Trading Course – Learn How To Trade Like Pro

The forex the market is very complicated. Regardless, the number of people claiming for forex trading, one just cannot be successful in the foreign exchange market without having prior knowledge of how it works. Not only understanding the terminology is important but you should understand how forex market works, how to know when you are in a good or bad trade and how can you improve your investments. Instead of wasting time in thinking of what can be done, it is best to join for forex trading courses.

Taking up forex course may seem like a scheme but the truth is far from it. While there are many forex courses out there which are not genuine. The legitimate option will always provide forex programs that help you to gain maximum knowledge about forex trading. For an instant, there are home study courses which offer a great introduction and firm foundation to forex trading but the terminologies are poorly explained. The forex trading course is not an expensive option, the courses are available at an affordable rate. An institution claiming for high fees should be avoided because their main goal will be to collect money than providing valuable information.

By taking a forex trading course, you will be knowledgeable enough to deal with various areas such as basic trading terms, different trading techniques, base currency, margin trading, forward trading, stop loss discipline and several other things which are important in forex trading. When a newbie learns to trade in an important area of the forex market, he/she will be capable of entering into forex market with a better understanding of how it actually works, which trades will make them earn money and which trades should be avoided. People from all industry can learn to trade with these courses.

Along with the necessary knowledge about forex trading, it is important to be prepared mentally to deal with all the ups and downs of the market because of only about 5% are able to make a significant profit with the forex market. The success of these people won't rely on someone else work rather they have taken time and got education to make precise predictions with the forex market.

Entering the forex market without taking any type of forex course, you will be prone to risk your investments you will lose your cash very soon considering that the market will open 24/7. A good forex trading course will teach you the principles and right attitude that has to be adopted while planning and executing trades along with great tips.

[bixeapage]

When To Refinance A Car Loan And How To Avoid Mistakes?

People generally refinance their auto loans to save money since refinancing could lower interest rate. As a result, it could decrease your monthly pay offs and free up your cash for other financial obligations. Most of the people ask can i refinance my car with the same lender? The answer is very simple, yes your current lender can be great option to refinance your car loan. If you have kept up with your payments on time and are in good standards they might consider refinancing your auto loan.

Refinancing is a process of replacing an existing loan with the new one that has different rate and term. Refinancing your car loan involves taking a new loan to pay off the balance of your existing car loan. Almost every loan are secured by a car and paid off in fixed monthly payments over predetermined period of time – usually 4-5 years depending upon how much you can down payment every month.

Refinancing your auto loan can depend on various of individual factors, every situation will vary from one person to another. If you don’t have idea about when to refinance your auto loan then consider below listed instances:

You need lower monthly payments: Even if you are not able to secure low interest rate, it may be worth to find loan with longer repayment period inorder to reduce your monthly payments. If you run into financial crisis and want to reduce your car payment, you can refinance your car loan with longer term and pay less per month.

Refinancing can save your money but you should consider it with right circumstances. If your interest rates are low or your financial situation has improved, it may be worth to consider refinancing with better terms and make sure you don’t wait too long as the benefits may not be worth if it’s late.  

Your financial situation has improved: Loan lenders will usually consider various factors while approving auto loan. They might evaluate your credit score and debt to income ratio which is calculated by dividing your monthly income by monthly debt payments. Improving your credit score and decreasing debt ratio can lead to more favorable terms on your refinanced loan.

Interest rates have dropped: Interest rates will change regularly and it is obvious that rates have fallen since you tool out your original auto loan. Even 2-3 percentage drop can result in significant savings over your auto loan. So, if you see the droppings in interest rate be ready to refinance your car loan.  

You didn’t get best offers: Even if you haven’t got seen drop in interest or your financial situation hasn’t improved, it may be worth looking for better loan terms. For instance, you may received loan with 7% of interest rate when others lenders were offering lower rates, this can be sensible if you got loan from car dealer as they sometimes offer high interest rates to make extra money.

[bixeapage]

Auto Finance Options For Bad Credit Score

There are many factors need to be studied, especially about auto finance options before proceeding to the purchase of new vehicle. We need to look around for various options available and choose the best deal.

The car dealers or vendors and banks may ask several questions about the loan and make sure whether you are capable of repaying in a given duration without leading to any arrears. If you are thinking of buying a new car for any specific reason, even in the midst of a bad credit score, then you have to be aware of choosing the auto finance plans. As we know, even the consumer with bad credit score can get the best deals on auto finance through an online auto finance company. You should look into each and every aspect before choosing any auto finance plan and especially the feature of average interest rate for a car loan with bad credit score.

Even the dealers who own in-house payment option will provide auto finance for the borrowers with low credit score. But they may not provide you the best deals which are available in the market. Instead, they may put additional costs on car purchase or in terms of the finance plan. If you are taking the finance through the dealer, definitely he will be having an advantage, thus you can demand negotiations in terms of rate of interest or freebie of additional costs. If you are feeling like he is offering you the best deal, you can move on. But it is advisable to look for various options before settling with the dealers or manufacturers.

Another feature needs to be considered for the choice of auto finance plan for low credit is the term. If you are selecting the long term plan, it may give you the less monthly payment option, but the interest will be more. In the case of short term plan, they demand high payment for every month with low-interest rate. With the long term plan, you will be paying more interest than paying the loan amount. The advantage of a short term plan is, we can pay off the loan amount soon when compared to long term plan.

Take time to study all these features and choose the financial plan which suits your budget and gives away for hassle-free payment methods.

[bixeapage]

How To Choose The Right Scrap Metal Removal Service

Most of the people feel like it is difficult to sell old car which is time consuming, that the seller needs to wait for days, months and unsafe. So, the better choice is to scrap a car in which it involves a big process to the people who doesn’t know what exactly scrap car metal is. Scrap car removal means recycling the old cars spare parts which are left to rot in garage or somewhere else or which might be broken down with irreparable.

Get knowledge about auto parts and find the defective parts which are not able to sell. Decide how to dispose scrap car along with the defective parts. You might confuse to start, if you are thinking about get rid of your old car. As these old cars are environmental hazard, you need to look for the Entfernung von Altmetall company like ihrschrottabholung.de/duesseldorf.

Few times service depend on the company which you choose, there are only few companies who provide free scrap metal pick up service. Look for such company who remove scrap metals from your old car. If you choose the service from licensed company, you will be benefit with two things. The experts from scrapyards will pickup your old car from the location without any charge.

Scrap metal service experts have knowledge on spare parts of car and advanced to check recyclable parts in old car. Undergoing these procedures may not consume lot of time, it is about few minutes to record all the un-usable parts in car. All the spare parts which can be recycled are taken away and other parts which are harmful to environment are disposed safely. You are rewarded some amount of money based on parts of your old car which can be re-used. Although, you will get cash for selling your old car to scrapyard and for spare parts which is re-used for other new cars.

Look for highest paying money for scrap metal service near you which provides cash on used wheels, doors, oil dishes and many other parts in old car. Luckily, this service is used by the people to take way scrap metal from their old car and get their stuff cleaned up as well get paid for the used parts found in old car.

By scrapping car with significant steps can reduce the consumption of foreign steel and saving money. It is important to take away more valuable parts in old car and dispose the substance which cannot be recycled. Protecting environment is also a part in recycling old car parts, hence, the fluids which is harmful are disposed which is not used again.

[bixeapage]

Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Preamplifier Review

Having owned a variety of Pass labs gear over the recent years, I have appreciated and respected the development work that Nelson Pass has put into his amplifiers, and with what Wayne Coburn has done with their preamplifiers.

Founded in 1991, Pass Labs has built a very solid reputation for developing and manufacturing some of the finest audio components available. If you ask anybody in the know within the high end audio industry about Pass Labs, they’ll most likely talk about their trademark industrial design, high level of performance, and dedication to accurate music reproduction.

In keeping with that tradition, they have developed the XP-17 Phono Preamplifier to offer stunning clarity through the use of technologies developed in their ultra-high-end XS product line (XS Phono Preamp sells for $45K!), and put it all together in a relatively affordable package that will suit the needs of most analog-oriented customers. And if you’re the type who owns a variety of cartridges, or like to buy and sell them regularly to find that “perfect” fit, the XP-17 has the ability to handle just about any cartridge you can throw at it.

During my time with the Pass Labs XP-17, I have found that it has the ability to do everything that I want it to do, and then some. Looking for a huge soundstage? Yep, it’ll do that. Want to extract the finest of details? Check on that as well. Like dead quiet backgrounds with massive dynamics? You get that in spades.

Highlights

Pass Labs Phono Preamplifier

Numerous loading options for all types of cartridges

RCA input, with both RCA and Balanced outputs

Very low noise output

Introduction

As I have previously stated, Pass Labs gear has been a part of my system(s) for a while now. I love the industrial design look to it, and I respect their direction and dedication to the high-end audio market. The brand adopted an early reputation for quality and innovation, and they have stuck to that same formula throughout the years. Those old-world values in a company are oftentimes hard to come by in today’s disposable world.

I had spent some time with Desmond Harrington and Kent English of Pass Labs at the AXPONA show in Chicago last year, and found that who they are in person, matches the company persona that you see and hear about. Professional, no-nonsense, and presentation that is free from overblown hype.

So when I saw that their popular and well-received XP-15 phono preamplifier was being replaced with an upgraded version in the XP-17, I knew that I wanted to have some time with it in my system. Pass Labs doesn’t make changes or upgrades very often, so I was confident that reviewing it would be worthwhile.

For those of you reading this review, you might wonder who the XP-17 is geared for. Given its $4,300 price tag, it’s definitely not intended for the first-time buyer into the vinyl playback market. Chances are, the person looking at this level has already gone through at least a few upgrade paths, and also has a nice turntable to go along with it. It’s not that you couldn’t match this up with a sub-$1,000 turntable; it’s just that you’d be more likely to be buying the XP-17 to go along with a higher-end unit that would work well together with it. A very good turntable and cartridge needs a quality phono preamplifier in order to bring out all of the details in the music. Likewise, if you’re running a high end phono preamp, you’ll want a turntable and cartridge that will compliment it as the two (turntable and phono preamp) are dependent in one another for the best playback and presentation.

PASS LABS PREAMPLIFIER SPECIFICATIONS

Power Consumption:

35 Watts

Gain:

76, 66, 56 dB Balanced; 70, 60, 50 Unbalanced

Output Impedance:

110 Ohms RCA; 220 Ohms Balanced

Input Impedance:

10 – 47K Ohms more than 200 values

Capacitive Loading:

100 – 750 pF

RIAA Curve Accuracy:

+/- .1 dB 20 – 20 KHz Passive / Active EQ

Distortion and Noise:

0.004%; Quad matched low noise symmetrical JFET input; Double shielded low noise toroid

Dimensions:

17”w x 12.5”d x 4”h @ 19lbs

MSRP:

$4300

Company:

Pass Labs

SECRETS Tags:

Pass Laboratories, Pass Labs Preamplifiers, Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Preamplifier, Phono Preamplifier Reviews 2018, Vinyl Reviews, Preamplifier Review 2018

Design

As I worked on this review, I stumbled a bit when it came time to write some of the technical features in this Design segment. As I repeatedly read through the material from Pass Labs, I concluded they did a fantastic job of summarizing the design without going into too many technical details. Given that, I’d like to share their information accordingly:

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-0’); });

As associated equipment in the audio chain has improved we at Pass Labs found ourselves longing for an improved phono-stage with even lower noise, greater resolution and sonic ease than we had enjoyed with the Pass Labs earlier phono stages. The XP-17 takes what we learned from developing our premier product line and has brought some of those elements to a smaller, less costly package.

The XP-17 has a very accurate RIAA equalization curve. This curve is accurate to better than 1/10 dB across 10 octaves. The accuracy of this curve does not vary with an adjustment change of gain or cartridge loading. The XP-17 features gain adjustable from between 56dB and 76dB; a range sufficient to allow successful operation of not only high output moving magnet cartridges, but also the lowest output moving coil cartridges without the use of an auxiliary step-up transformer.

This extremely low noise / high gain structure of the XP-17 is capable of cleanly and quietly delivering in excess of 0.5V line level signal output with a phono cartridge input of 80 micro-volts. These are some of the best performance figures in the industry, and spectacular for a piece at this price point.

Setup

While my system went through some changes during the evaluation period, my final setup included the Pass Labs XP-17 phono preamplifier, PS Audio BHK preamplifier, VPI Industries Prime Signature turntable with Ortofon MC Cadenza Bronze Cartridge, Pass Labs X350.8 amplifier, and GoldenEar Technology Triton Reference Speakers . All components sit on my Massif Audio Designs stands (Ambrosia Maple platforms with Zebrawood legs).

During the review process, I also switched around some components including a Pass Labs XP-20 preamplifier, Sutherland Engineering 20/20 phono preamplifier, and Pro-Ject 6Perspex turntable with Sumiko Blackbird cartridge.

In Use

After spending some time with the well-written Pass Labs owner’s manual, I had a very good idea of where I needed to start to get the XP-17 matched up to the Ortofon MC Cadenza Bronze cartridge that was mounted on the VPI Prime Signature Turntable. Starting with the specifications on the cartridge, and referencing the chart provided in the owner’s manual, I was able to get a solid baseline for me to play around with a bit in order to come up with what I felt was the best overall balance.

An excerpt from the manual talks about how cartridge loading is not an exact science, and I thought it would be prudent to add that into my article:

Please understand the loading of a moving coil cartridge is a very inexact science at best, specific recommendations should be taken (and offered) very lightly. I encourage you to think separately from the cartridge manufacturer and choose your resistive loading values accordingly.

In addition to finding what settings would work best for my system, I also did some A and B comparisons between the single-ended and balanced outputs going from the XP-17 to my preamplifier. It didn’t take long at all to conclude that the balanced outputs were going to be my choice, as the additional 6dB of gain they provide created a more dynamic presentation.

So the obvious question would be about how it sounds, right? In a nutshell, my system never sounded so open, realistic, and alive as it did with the combination of the Pass Labs XP-17 phono preamplifier teamed up with the VPI Prime Signature turntable. There’s a definite synergy between the two, and the Pass Lab’s ability to pass through the details that were extracted by the cartridge (without adding coloration) presented vinyl playback at its finest.

I found bass presentation to be quite strong, yet articulate and detailed, and background noise to be almost non-existent on my best LP’s. Highs were crisp and clear, without a hint of glare or harshness. The soundstage filled up the entire space, and provided appropriate depth and height. When I compared the analog setup to the same tracks in digital, I was able to tell that neither the Pass Labs XP-17 nor the VPI Prime Signature were adding or subtracting anything from the music. I would definitely categorize the XP-17 as neutral in its presentation.

While my listening habits usually focus around music with high dynamic range, impact, and (very) loud volume levels, I found the XP-17 to work equally well regardless of the music type. Given its neutrality, it will work well with everything from classical, to jazz to rock.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-1’); });

Now let’s take a look at some specific listening observations!

Vanessa Fernandez “Use Me”

Vanessa Fernandez. Use Me. I’m a little late to the party on discovering her music, and the irony here is that I learned about her from a video I watched where Harry Weisfeld from VPI Industries was conducting a demo, and playing her album. I figured that if Harry was using it to showcase his equipment, then it’s something that I need to check out. She covers some popular songs, and she has plenty of material of her own as well.

She’s got a mix of jazz and blues, and the recording quality of everything that I have heard from her has been spectacular. In her title song Use Me, which is a cover from Bill Withers, I found her voice to magically hang in the air between the Triton Reference speakers, with the rest of the instrumentation presenting itself in a wall of sound across the stage. The bass notes were deep and refined, and the background noise was barely audible until I turned it up to ear-splitting volumes. Next up is the classic blues song I love you more than you’ll ever know. One of my favorite versions of this song is from a live performance from Gary Moore, where the focus is on his screaming guitar. In this version, it’s more of a focus on her amazing voice that comes through with absolute clarity on the high notes, without any harshness whatsoever. The guitar work is excellent in this recording, and you could clearly hear fingers sliding across the strings, as if the player was standing right in front of me. I know it’s cliché in audio reviews to say that I completely forgot I was reviewing gear as I got caught up in the music itself, but that’s exactly what the case was on this album.

Joe Bonamassa “Blues Deluxe”

Joe Bonamassa. Blues Deluxe. My preferred way to listen to Joe is in his live concert videos in my theater. The live sound, the long guitar solos, and just being able to watch him do things on the guitar that nobody else is doing. He is arguably one of the absolute best guitarists around today. I’ve seen him several times in concert now, and just purchased tickets to see him at Red Rocks this summer (third row, center stage!).

Blues Deluxe is the rare studio album that I really enjoy. The title track, Blues Deluxe, is my favorite of them all and I have listened to it in many formats, and on a lot of systems. The very first time was at a friend’s house (Chuck Ellisor), who is the Founder of Genesis Audio in Gahanna, Ohio. It was played on his monstrous Sound Lab U1 speakers, being pushed by 2k watts a piece. The sound was huge, dynamic, and felt like a punch in the face. Since that moment, I was hooked.

This song has deep bass guitar notes with a high level of clarity and non-distorted lower reach. Playback also includes screaming, classic Joe guitar riffs without strain even at the highest volumes. Even at high volumes, the quiet passages had very little background noise. At about ¾ the way through the song, Joe goes off on one of his normal solos and just rips through the guitar in such a way that even if you’re hearing him for the first time, you know that you’ve never quite heard guitar like this. This song is just dripping with testosterone, and deserves both very high levels of volume, and a fine whiskey to go along with it.

Through my system, with the Pass Labs XP-17 leading the way, there are so many details extracted from the grooves in the LP; providing a moving listening experience.

Nils Lofgren “Acoustic Live”

This is a very popular album for demonstrations because A) it’s a great performance, and B) the recording on the acoustic guitar in particular is absolutely stellar. There aren’t many recordings I’ve ever heard that give you the “you are there” feeling with the guitars standing right in front of you. Unfortunately, I’ve seen other audio journalists complain about demo rooms at shows playing it too much. You’re not going to hear that from this writer…keep playing Nils!

Most of the time you’ll hear references to the song Keith Don’t Go because it’s the most popular song on the album. Yes, it’s that good, and it’s the perfect way to introduce people to Nils’ incredible ability if they haven’t heard him before. But the subject here is his less known song Some Must Dream. Granted, the early parts of the song are a little slow, but when Nils breaks into a long solo, it will absolutely take your breath away on the right system and synergy of components. With the combination of the VPI Prime Signature, Pass Labs XP-17, and the mighty GoldenEar Triton Reference, it does much more than just do it justice. The level of detail and brilliance in the mids-to-upper levels in this guitar work are so stunning that if I closed my eyes, I would have thought that I was back at Chuck’s house listening to his mighty Sound Labs. Yes, through the help of the Pass Labs XP-17, my GoldenEar’s transformed into massive electrostatic panels! If there was a weak link in my system, this song and presentation wouldn’t have been nearly as impressive. True reference material indeed.

Yellow “Toy”

I’ve talked about this album in other reviews that I have done before, but I couldn’t do a full analog review without including it. For demonstrating huge dynamic swings, deep, accurate bass, and a huge soundstage, it’s hard to find a more complete album.

On side D of the album, it starts out with a bit of an odd track called Magma. It’s not as much of a “song” as it is a collection of sound effects featuring voices and a variety of instruments dancing across the soundstage. This would be a great track for checking phase, testing speaker placement, and simply to wow your friends. The entire width of my listening room (approximately 14’) is a wall of sound during the playback of Magma, with the effects varying in height and depth. And late in the track, you are greeted with some extremely low and powerful bass tracks that when played on the right system, simply make the hairs on your arms stand at attention. Mini-monitors need not apply for this album because you simply won’t get the full realization of how much low end can be engineered into the grooves of a record! Once again through the strengths of my VPI Prime Signature and Pass Labs XP-17 phono preamp, it truly plays the material in the way that the artist and production crew intended. While I’m sure you could extract more detail out of an album like this, you’d have to spend truckloads of money to do so.

Conclusions

THE PASS LABS XP-17 PHONO PREAMPLIFIER is a true reference-class piece that is capable of a very high level of neutral analog playback. And for the price of $4,300, I see it as a true bargain in the realm of high-fidelity equipment.

Likes

Beautiful industrial design

Huge soundstage

Dead silent background

Dynamics in spades

Adjustability for any type of cartridge

Would Like To See

Adjustability from the front panel (although I realize this would increase cost!)

As I’m sure you can conclude from my article, I really like the performance and features that are packed into the Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Preamplifier. It allows all of the details in the LP to come through, but it doesn’t add any signature of its own. It also provides enough connectivity and adjustability to meet your needs no matter what kind of cartridge you may own (or want to own). And to top all of that off, it has impeccable build quality and great looks as well.

For those who can really appreciate vinyl playback and all that it has to offer, you’ll really enjoy the Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Preamplifier.

Highly recommended!

The post Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Preamplifier Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.

Pass Labs XP-17 Phono Preamplifier Review syndicated from http://onetwothreemovies.blogspot.com/

[bixeapage]

Buy Three Months of Online Cable For $105, Get a $179 Apple TV 4K For Free

DirecTV Now is one of the better over-the-top cable replacements out there, and with this deal, there’s very little reason not to give it a try.

Read more…

Buy Three Months of Online Cable For $105, Get a $179 Apple TV 4K For Free syndicated from http://onetwothreemovies.blogspot.com/

[bixeapage]

Game of Thrones Home Theater

Forget the Iron Throne. Game of Thrones Super Fan Builds Home Theater to Give Everyone the Best Seat in the House

Design by Visual Concepts: Featuring 7.2 Pro Audio Technology and the 4K Wolf DLD-280FD laser DLP projectors.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-0’); });

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-1’); });

Submitted by: Erin Phillips, Caster Communications

The post Game of Thrones Home Theater appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.

Game of Thrones Home Theater syndicated from http://onetwothreemovies.blogspot.com/

[bixeapage]

Birk’s Place Speaker Stands

First, let’s get the obvious out of the way – these are NOT cheap stands.

If you want the least expensive option for your speakers, then there are plenty of more modest options available. The “teaser price” listed on the Birk’s site ($35 per stand plus $15 for shipping) is the starting point for stand cost. If you want something larger than a desktop stand, though, the cost DOES go up significantly. For my 18” tall stands, I paid about $240 for the pair after shipping.

So why would one even be interested in Birk’s products? Several reasons:

If you have speakers that require a specific tilt or an unusual height, then Birk’s can accommodate you. Since each and every stand is custom-built, you could even specify one stand taller / shorter than the other to match your room / stage elevations.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-0’); });

If you want some unusual color or configuration (19” rack mount in the bottom of the speaker stand for monoblock amplifiers, anyone? Or 21.75 inch height? Tilted top plate on one and horizontal plate on the other?), then Birk’s can do you proud. Might you want black top / bottom plates with figured mahogany uprights? Birks can do it!

I’ve worked before with multi-million-dollar centrifugal gas compressors that didn’t exhibit the level of workmanship that my Birk’s stands do. Everything fits, is smoothly cut & finished, and the “natural” finish that I specified is as pretty as could be.

Birks can also construct your stands with a solid center post so that, should you wish to fill the post with about a half-a-ton of lead shot, you can do so. In short, the Birk’s stands are the most fully-customizable that I’ve ever seen.

Now, as I said to start with, if “cheap” is your main criteria, just go to Wal-Mart, buy some plastic trash cans, set them upside-down, and put your speakers on top. But if you need specialty speaker stands, I recommend Birk’s without hesitation. Their pride of craftsmanship seems unparalleled.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-1’); });

The Birk’s stands are available on eBay, or can be direct-ordered from Birk’s Place.

One final comment: The Birk’s packing is the best I’ve ever seen. EVERY part comes wrapped in plastic covering, then it is packed securely into a box with a minimum of about three inches of protection on every side, and there is no rattle among the parts when your box arrives. It’s like receiving a large brick! Would that every package I receive be so well-packed…

-Glenn Young

The post Birk’s Place Speaker Stands appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.

Birk’s Place Speaker Stands syndicated from http://onetwothreemovies.blogspot.com/

[bixeapage]

Mytek Liberty DAC And Headphone Amplifier Review

The Mytek Liberty DAC and Headphone Amplifier surprises by providing distinctly smooth sound while remaining clean and dynamic. This is an excellent-sounding component, and both the DAC (used as a preamplifier) and headphone amp are exceptionally well-voiced.

Highlights

Mytek Liberty DAC and Headphone Amplifier

Handles PCM, MQA, and DSD files from its USB2 input

Sounds significantly less strident than the majority of Sabre-chip DACs

Balanced and unbalanced volume-controlled analog output jacks for preamplifier feed

127dB of dynamic range

Up to 384K, 32-bit PCM capability

DSD inputs at DSD – 64 / 128 / 256

Built-in 3-Watt headphone amp

Introduction

The Liberty DAC and Headphone Amplifier is the latest product from Mytek Digital Corporation. Mr. Michal (pronounced “Mehow”) Jurewicz is the company’s guiding light, and designer of the Mytek Liberty DAC. Jurewicz is married to Icelandic artist Hrafnhildur Arnardottir, and they currently live in Brooklyn with their two teenage children.

As to Michal’s background, after earning an Electrical Engineering degree in Warsaw, Poland, he moved to New York City. Jurewicz was the recording engineer at two of the top recording studios there. When he saw the coming digital revolution, he started Mytek Digital in 1991. Originally building analog-to-digital converters for recording studios, Mytek launched its Consumer Division in 2011. Many famous recording artists use Mytek gear, including Stevie Wonder.

Mytek Liberty DAC and Headphone Amplifier Specifications

Digital to analog conversion rates:

up to 384k, 32-bit PCM, native DSD up to DSD256, DXD, @ 127dB Dynamic Range

MQA decoding:

Built-in and certified MQA

hardware decoder

Digital inputs:

USB2 Class2 (OSX, Linux driverless, all formats) AES/EBU (PCM up to 192k, up to DSD64 DOP) 2 x S/PDIF (PCM up to 192k, up to DSD64 DOP) Toslink/ADAT 2 x S/PDIF (PCM up to 192k, up to DSD64 DOP)

Analog outputs:

1 pair of unbalanced RCA 1 pair of balanced TRS TRS to XLR Metropolis Cable can be added as option

Headphone amplifier:

Reference high-current, high-transient headphone amplifier 300mA @ 3 Watts, unbalanced single ¼” headphone jack Designed to drive high-impedance headphones 0.1 Ohm output impedance

DAC Chip:

Sabre ESS9018K2M

Clock generator:

Low-noise with 10ps of jitter

Firmware:

Upgradable via USB via Mytek Control panel application

Optional DC/battery power input:

12V DC

Dimensions:

WxDxH=5.5” x 8.5” x 1.74” / 140 x 216 x 44mm

Weight:

3lbs / 1.5kg

Warranty:

2 years

Manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP):

$995 / €995

Company:

Mytek Digital

Secrets Tags:

MYTEK, DAC, LIBERTY, Reviews, 2018, Headphone amplifier, Sabre, consumer, DAC and Amplifier Review 2018

Linkbacks

MYTEK LIBERTY shipping announcement

MQA at Consumer Electronics Show 2018

MYTEK BROOKLYN announcement at the Munich audio show

The Liberty is a 1/3-rack-unit-sized device that was originally developed for professional studio-recording use. Additional “one function” Liberty line products are anticipated later this year.

The Liberty design concept is to provide a simple, small and robust unit which can do one specific function very well. The Mytek Liberty DAC was intended to be a great-sounding USB DAC, that can play every possible format including full decoding of Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) files. The Liberty DAC is intended to provide a good balance of detailed, transparent, and musical sound while also being a very good headphone amplifier.

The Liberty DAC firmware is updateable via the Mytek Control Panel app. There will be new firmware releases as features are added. The content will be fine-tuned based on customer feedback.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-0’); });

The USB input is asynchronous Class 2. That means the DAC runs on its exceptionally-clean internal master clock and requests data as needed, eliminating any jitter created by the source component. The USB input also accepts high speed formats not available on other digital inputs including signals up to 32-bit/384K in both PCM and DSD256 flavors, and up to DSD128 on a Mac using DOP.

When the non-USB, synchronous digital inputs are used, two methods are operating simultaneously for improved sound. Jitter reduction is accomplished not only by a sophisticated Phase-Locked-Loop (PLL) on the input, but also by the asynchronous architecture of the Sabre 9018 DAC chipset itself. Additionally, a low-jitter master clock is used for the last stage of data conversion.

Design & Setup

The Mytek Liberty DAC and headphone amp is the newest of the Mytek Digital products. It uses the Sabre ESS9018K2M DAC chipset – so I’ll start with a confession. Many reviewers as well as many on the internet have claimed that Sabre DACs have a characteristic sound. Some claim that the sound is detailed while others claim that the sound is bright and glare-prone in the lower treble. I’ve owned at least two Sabre-DAC-based products in the past. My first, an OPPO BDP-105 Blu-Ray player I considered quite detailed, but without the notorious “Sabre glare.” But my second Sabre product, the newer Oppo UDP-205 4K player, strikes me as crossing the line into the “bright and glare-prone” category.

So, I must admit that I had negative expectations for the Mytek Liberty DAC, based solely on its Sabre chipset. Now note that all these Sabre-DAC devices, including the both OPPOs and the Mytek Liberty, measure ruler-flat in the frequency domain. But the sounds are distinctly different; due (I’m presuming) to the filters used and the implementation and voicing of the output buffer amplifiers.

And not to keep you in suspense – the Mytek Liberty retains all the expected detail of the Sabre chipset without any of the brightness and glare. How Mr. J. and company managed this, I can’t say, but the results speak for themselves.

Looking inside the Mytek Liberty’s box gives no clue as to its sound either. If you’re looking for audiophile wiring, expensive brand-name resistors, or fancy film capacitors, you won’t fine them here. This is obviously a consumer product with its plethora of (reasonably high quality) polarized and non-polarized electrolytic caps.

My Mytek Liberty DAC was supposed to arrive with some TRS-to-XLR Metropolis (adapter) cables, but as you can see from the photo above, the only cables in the review box were the standard IEC power cord and a USB-2 cable. Fortunately, I had some adapters in my spare parts box, and was able to listen to the outputs via both RCA (unbalanced) and XLR (balanced) options.

After a very simple setup, the DAC is ready to play. The short and to-the-point owner’s manual is adequate and accurate. The front of the DAC includes a single tri-function rotary knob, a ¼” headphone jack, and a selection of very, very bright LED lights. The knob can be used as an on-off switch, an input selector, and a (digital-domain) volume control. Because this device is intended as either a professional rack-mount item or as an enhancement to computer desktop audio, no remote control is included. Now this omission is a bit disappointing in a device priced close to $1,000. But in keeping with the Liberty philosophy of “one use,” it is understandable. The Liberty DAC was never intended to be a preamplifier. So, in its role as DAC and headphone amp, a remote control would have been mostly superfluous. Even so, I can always wish…

The back of the Mytek Liberty DAC is equally straightforward. There are multiple digital inputs, a power socket, and two pairs of analog outputs. There is also a 12-volt input jack and Mytek suggests that using a high-current 12-volt source (such as an auto battery) can provide improvements in performance. I didn’t try this option, but can understand how it could be so, provided that sufficiently heavy-gauge connecting wire was used and that the socket/plug can pass enough current.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-1’); });

I expect that few will avail themselves of the battery option, simply due to the inconvenience. However, if you do opt to try this, be aware that auto batteries contain sulfuric acid, that leaks can be highly corrosive, and that the battery cells can generate free hydrogen. That hydrogen must be vented and dispersed lest flammable mixtures occur. Blowing up your stereo would have a profoundly low spousal-acceptance factor! (I’m picturing snickering firemen too. Ed.) So, remembering that hydrogen gas is lighter than air, be aware that ventilation above the battery is mandatory. (Safety rant concluded…)

In Use

So how does the Mytek Liberty DAC and Headphone Amplifier sound? I first evaluated the DAC with the unbalanced outputs driving a power amplifier directly. The sound was clean and detailed with absolutely none of the “Sabre-glare” that I was expecting. This alone makes the Liberty DAC highly unusual in the galaxy of Sabre-DAC devices. My only complaint (the lazy-man’s one) had to do with the lack of a remote and the necessity to get up and cross the room for every volume adjustment.

I then used the XLR adapters to feed a fully-differential, fully-balanced integrated amplifier. With the Liberty DAC’s output set to 100%, I could use the analog and remotely-controlled volume control of the integrated amp. In this mode, I again found the sound far better than average.

I soon noticed, however, that my left channel sound was intermittent. After verifying that the DAC, amplifier, and interconnects were functioning properly, I noticed that my TRS-to-XLR adapters were too wide for the spacing allowed by the Mytek Liberty’s TRS jacks. The shoulders of the adapters were physically pushing each other aside, making for intermittent connection on the stereo ¼” phone plugs. This is not the fault of the DAC, and a slimmer pair of cables (such as Mytek’s Metropolis models) would certainly not have this problem. I mention it only to caution those who might try to employ adapters such as mine.

Finally, I listened to the headphone output using easy-to-drive Koss Porta-Pro headphones. Running these phones was a walk in the park for the Mytek, which is built to run very demanding headphones. But despite the “running at an idle” state of the Mytek, the Koss phones sounded as good as I’ve heard them.

So as a preamplifier, I rate the Mytek Liberty very highly. It is not my choice for a primary preamplifier only because of its missing remote volume control. But since preamplifier use was never the primary purpose of the Liberty, that should not be a deciding factor.

What the Mytek Liberty DAC is primarily intended to be is a very high-quality headphone amplifier. As I’ve said, my selection of headphones is very limited, since I’m not a big cans listener. My choices were Apple ear-buds (that I don’t like anyway and didn’t try) and the lightweight Koss Porta-Pros. The Liberty’s detail from my Porta-Pros was as good as any I’ve heard.

The good news is that my audio amigo has a pair of very hard to drive Sennheiser HD-600 headphones that he’s agreed to use with this Mytek. Once he has a chance to try those phones with the Mytek Liberty, I’ll update this review in the comments section to discuss how well the Liberty’s headphone amp works with really demanding headphones.

Associated Equipment

MacBook Pro running jRiver Media Center 22 (Media center was not used with 192/24, MQA, or DSD content)

Ixos digital interconnect for S/PDIF inputs of the Mytek

AudioQuest and Blue Jeans interconnects

Emotiva BasX A-300 power amplifier

Yamaha A-S2000 integrated, balanced amplifier

Straight Wire and AudioQuest speaker wires

Thiel 1.6 speakers with and without subwoofers

Tekton Pendragon speakers with no subwoofers

RBH MC-6C sealed bookshelf speakers with subwoofers

PowerSound Audio S3601 dual 18” subwoofer

RBH DSA-31 10” subwoofer

A variety of music was used while auditioning the Mytek Liberty as a preamplifier. Included in my notes are:

“One Night In Rio” by Louie Austen – (Hôtel Costes byStéphanie Pompougnac)

Louie’s voice is one that can sound unnatural through many DACs, but the Mytek Liberty nailed his whiney tone perfectly here.

“Barflies at the Beach” by the Royal Crown Revue (New Music from Interscope Records 1997)

The big Royal Crown band should blare without glare. With this DAC, they do.

“Banned in the USA” by The 2 Live Crew (As Nasty As They Want To Be)

There is a great host of sound effects in this song, from news announcers to samples of “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee.” This is an oldie, but a goodie, and the sound effects should be startling in their diversity. The Mytek brings the goods!

“Cast Your Fate To The Wind” by (the late) Allen Toussaint (Allen Toussaint 1971)

This soulful take on an old classic is so much fun, in my opinion, that it should be part of almost every review. Allen’s piano should sound real and present without any portion of its frequency range sounding recessed or excessively forward. The Liberty manages a clean and nuanced presentation.

“Pukara” by Andean Symphony V (Inca Gold, 1998)

The bass wind instrument (I’m not sure of the name) on this recording is difficult to reproduce. Some DACs have disassociated the puff of the breath and the hum of the wooden instrument. But the Mytek makes the combination a whole. Even so, some of my speakers fought the music (being mostly a satellite-subwoofer-crossover artifact, I think). But headphone listening makes clear that the disconnect is not the fault of the Liberty.

“Un Fiesta Anima” by Padu Del Caribe (Cu Amor | Carino)

This is “love it or hate it” music, and I’m obviously in the former camp. I find the juxtaposition of the piano and out-of-time accompaniment to be a musical jolt, but an enjoyable one. Others for whom I’ve played this music absolutely can’t stand it. But what I think makes this a good recording for analyzing a DAC is that deliberately discordant timing makes the listener pay more attention to the sounds of the instruments. If the DAC cannot differentiate between all the things happening in the mix, this song can sound like a disorganized jumble. But if the tonality is right, this music is great, great fun. Again, the Mytek nails it!

“Orleans Stomp” by The Cruel Sea (Honeymoon is Over 1993)

Yes, I’m partial to New Orleans music. And this one reminds me of the Meters in its presentation. Again, a dense mix demands a lot from the DAC, and again, the Mytek seems to come through without any of the dreaded “Sabre glare.” Well done.

“Scarlotti Sonata K. 491” by Vladimir Horowitz (A Reminiscence – 2004)

Solo piano is always one of the toughest tests of a DAC (and the rest of the system, for that matter). Since we’ve all had plenty of experience hearing real pianos in real spaces, our minds are calibrated to the live sound. Some DACs emphasize one part of the frequency spectrum over another, making a pianist sound as if she or he is playing louder and softer (or often closer and farther away) as the music ascends or descends the keyboard. But to my ears, the Mytek provided a unedited frequency response from one end of the instrument to the other.

“Wieniawski Scherzo Tarantelle” by Itzhak Perlman (Itzhak Perelman Encores – 1988)

So, HERE’S where any glare will be evident (if it’s there to be heard in the first place). The fundamentals and overtones of the violin strings and its body sounds span the entire upper midrange to treble region. The finger sounds and bow scrape should be clear and obvious without being dominating. If Mr. Perelman doesn’t seem to be in the room with you, something’s wrong. If the instrument sounds screechy, something’s wrong.

Here’s where I listened most closely for the “Sabre glare”, to my surprise and pleasure, I found none from the Mytek Liberty. If only my OPPO 205 had such poise and neutrality! Ironically, my older 105 Oppo COULD present this music as well as the Mytek does. But rest assured that to my ears, the Mytek is as glare-free as two of the best DACs I’ve yet auditioned, Schiit’s Gungnir Multibit and Rega’s DAC-R.

Bellezza Crudel – Vivaldi “Cupido, Tu Vedi by Tone Wik & Baokkanerne”

Vivaldi Cantata Rv 679: Che Giova Il Sospirar, Povero Core – Aria: Cupido, Tu Vedi by Tone Wik & Baokkanerne.Playing this off the hard drive in full MQA provided a better image (both side-to-side and front-to-back) than my previous Meridian Explorer II in hardware MQA mode. The imaging, through the Mytek, also exceeded the performance of my previous AudioQuest Dragonfly Red in software MQA mode.

Why this is so, I won’t even speculate, because the MQA format itself is supposed to minimize playback variability. But the sound spoke for itself, and the Liberty DAC delivered yet again.

Almost all the above music was played via the TOSLINK optical and the S/PDIF coaxial inputs of the Mytek Liberty DAC. To test the USB capabilities, I hooked up my MacBook Pro directly to the USB input of the Mytek, made a few changes in the setup, then tried a variety of 192/24, MQA, and DSD files. All played perfectly, and without trouble. The lights on the front of the Liberty DAC confirm the type of file currently playing. The MQA material (mostly downloaded from the 2L website) was particularly pleasant.

I’ll mention again that my limited trial of the headphone amplifier was done using Koss PortaPro cans, and that I’ll be sure to follow-up this review in the future with at least one, and preferably more, harder-to-drive headsets.

Conclusions

The MYTEK LIBERTY DAC AND HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER offers exceptionally good sound with a smooth and detailed frequency response that avoids glare. Its price is commensurate with its performance.

Likes

Avoids the lower treble brightness that some Sabre chipsets exhibit

The ability to run balanced or unbalanced outputs allows flexibility

MQA-in-hardware decoding is still a rare feature in DACs

Full hardware MQA capability

This DAC sounds very good!

Would Like To See

A remote-volume control would have made this a viable preamp

The front panel LEDs are exceptionally bright – a dimmer control would be nice

As a balanced and unbalanced DAC and preamplifier, the Mytek Liberty has superb technical chops. Its ability to handle any and all sources I threw at it (including MQA, DSD, and high-bitrate files) exceeds that of any other device I’ve tested. On the other hand, the lack of a remote-control volume pretty much disqualifies the Liberty (for most potential buyers) as anything but a headphone amplifier. This is in keeping with the Liberty’s stated design goal of “one-function, done very well.”

The sound of the Mytek Liberty is also exceptionally good. Better, in fact, than any other DAC I’ve yet heard that uses the Sabre-brand chipset. Apparently, significant attention was paid to filtering and buffering, and that attention shows in its highly-dynamic sound that (at least in my system) lacks any hint of harshness or glare.

Used within its intended parameters, the Mytek Liberty DAC and Headphone Amplifier seems like a winner to me!

The post Mytek Liberty DAC And Headphone Amplifier Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.

Mytek Liberty DAC And Headphone Amplifier Review syndicated from http://onetwothreemovies.blogspot.com/

[bixeapage]

Daddy’s Home 2- 4K UHD Blu-ray Movie Review

Synopsis

If you liked the first film, this one builds upon it with even more laughs as we find that having finally gotten used to each other’s existence, Brad and Dusty (Wahlberg and Ferrell) must now deal with their intrusive fathers (Gibson and Lithgow) during the holidays. It’s the nerds versus the macho men, but if the family is going to hold together, compromise may be the thing under the Christmas tree they all need the most.

Specifications

2017, 2160p UHD, Dolby Digital 5.1, 1.85:1 Aspect ratio Rated PG-13, 1 hour and 40 minutes Starring: Mark Wahlberg, John Lithgow, Mel Gibson and Will Ferrell Directed by: Sean Anders

Rating

Entertainment:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Violence: Slapstick Sex: No Language: Mild

Commentary

You would think that having all of this “talent” in one movie would be a recipe for success, but that is not the case. Though I found this outing to be better than the original, this is not saying much. I enjoyed that the movie was shot in my New England neighborhood more than the actual plot. By adding visiting grandparents, it actually muddies the waters for Ferrell and Wahlberg and make a lot of what’s going on in the movie feel like a joke that has gone on for a little too long to be funny. Ferrell makes a great lovable loser, but the rest of the cast are uninspired and feel like they are there for the cash grab. Did you know that Gibson (dad) is only 15 years older than Wahlberg (son)? Let that thought sink in while watching this flick. Mel looks like he was ridden hard, folded and put away wet.

Technical

Shot with an Arri Alexa at 3.8K, a 2K Di was used for the disc. The picture generally looks sharp with some nice primary color pop and close-up details that look great. Contrast is good, to great…especially evening shots. Except for these few instances, the picture quality is not that much more of a noticeable improvement over the BD version, but with either version the sound and picture are certainly enjoyable to watch.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-0’); });

Extras

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-1’); });

Besides the BD disc, you also get: Making a Sequel, Look Who’s Back, Co-Dads: Will & Mark, The New Dads in Town: Mel & John, Captain Sully, Deleted/Extended/Alternate Scenes and a Gag Reel.

The post Daddy’s Home 2- 4K UHD Blu-ray Movie Review appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.

Daddy’s Home 2- 4K UHD Blu-ray Movie Review syndicated from http://onetwothreemovies.blogspot.com/

[bixeapage]

Cambridge audio celebrates 50 years of audio innovation with edge – a new, high-end hi-fi system

The Edge series from the UK’s leading hi-fi brand represents the culmination of 50 years of audio engineering expertise and sets a new standard for design and performance. Edge will be available in June from select authorized retailers in the US.

Every component has been selected for its sonic merit through blind auditions – not price, specs, nor measurement.

Cambridge Audio pushed engineering boundaries to keep the signal path short across the series. Only 14 components feature in the signal path of the Edge W power amplifier with capacitors removed altogether.

Edge is a completely new design that has taken over three years for the dedicated, nine- person, in-house engineering team to complete.

Rediscover music with edge

The UK’s leading hi-fi company celebrates their 50th anniversary with the introduction of Edge, a pioneering hi-fi system that introduces a new standard for sound and design from the company. The new series builds on Cambridge Audio’s driving principles of creating products that bring the “Great British Sound” – a pure, unfiltered audio experience – into the home, offering the company’s most accomplished system to date. Five decades of engineering expertise has inspired the development of Edge, which features some of Cambridge Audio’s most innovative audio engineering to date:

Short signal paths across the series. Edge W has just 14 components in the signal path.

Unique Class XA amplification technology shifts the crossover point outSTRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 9AM GMT, 27th MARCH 2018

An opposing symmetry twin toroidal transformer design cancels out stray electromagnetic interference.

Cambridge’s proprietary streaming platform, StreamMagic, has been updated to offer improved compatibility, meaning customers will be able to stream audio from a host of sources, including AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Chromecast built-in, which allows streaming from a wealth of apps, including TIDAL. Additionally, Edge supports Bluetooth aptX HD.

These technologies come together to produce the best example of the pure, unfiltered “British Sound” for which Cambridge Audio is renowned.

The new series is named after Professor Gordon Edge, one of Cambridge Audio’s founders. He was an entrepreneurial force of the Cambridge technology cluster and inventor of the company’s first product, the P40 integrated amplifier.

Customers will have the opportunity to experience Edge ahead of its launch with Cambridge Audio demoing the system at major audio shows across the globe in early 2018.

Edge will be on display in Europe, Asia, and North America at the following events:

Kaohsiung International Hi-End Audio Show (Taiwan) – March 29th to April 1st, 2018

AXPONA Audio Expo (USA) – April 13th to 15th, 2018

SIAV (China) – April 13th to 15th, 2018

The High-End Show (Germany) – May 11th to 13th, 2018

The Edge series will be available in June and will consist of three units: Edge A, the integrated amplifier; Edge NQ, the preamplifier and network player; and Edge W, the power amplifier. Edge will be available in select authorized retailers in the US.

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-0’); });

“Edge has been a project of passion for Cambridge Audio. With our 50th anniversary approaching, we saw an opportunity to push the boundaries of our abilities to create something truly unique, something truly inspirational. We removed all limitations during development of Edge – anything goes so long as it’s in pursuit of the best system we’ve ever made. The results speak for themselves. Edge is sublime.” Stuart George, Managing Director, Cambridge Audio

Engineering Philosophy

The separate units that make up the Edge series are connected by a shared engineering and design philosophy. Three simple principles true to each unit.

Firstly, components within Edge were chosen for their “sonic merit” alone. Price, specs, measurements, etc. were all disregarded in favor of what genuinely sounds best. This listen first, measure later approach resulted in the best possible sound.

Secondly, Cambridge Audio’s engineers were fanatical in their efforts to keep the signal path short. Doing so has ensured the final sound is as pure and unfiltered as possible, staying true to Cambridge Audio’s mantra of developing products with “Great British Sound”: nothing added, nothing taken away.

Finally, it was imperative Edge featured a beautifully simple exterior. This was achieved through a “ground-up” design process, resulting in hi-fi separates with a unique look, perfect to take center stage in any living space.

A History of Innovation

Edge has been named in honor of one of Cambridge Audio’s founders, Professor Gordon Edge. Professor Edge was responsible for the company’s iconic P40 integrated amplifier, the product that would propel Cambridge Audio on its journey to the forefront of the home audio market.

The P40 broke the mold, pioneering the use of toroidal transformers in amplifiers. When compared to similar products using EI transformers, the P40 offered less distortion and created a cleaner sound that more accurately reflected the original studio recording: nothing added, nothing taken away.

In the 50 years that followed, Cambridge Audio continued to innovate and, with Edge, they deliver their best products to-date, featuring some of their most significant engineering achievements:

StreamMagic

Cambridge Audio’s proprietary streaming platform, StreamMagic, has provided the brains for their network players since 2011 and been the recipient of multiple What Hi-Fi? awards. The platform has been updated for Edge and allows playback from virtually any digital source:

AirPlay, Chromecast built-in, UPnP, ARC (Audio Return Channel), USB, S/PDIF, Spotify Connect, and more.

Class XA Amplification

This unique amplification technology offers the performance of Class A amplification but with significantly improved efficiency.

Twin Opposing Symmetry Toroidal Transformers

Cambridge Audio pioneered the use of toroidal transformers in amplifiers, which lead to improved performance. In Edge, Cambridge takes this one step further and uses opposing symmetry twin toroidal transformers to cancel out electromagnetic interference while offering outstanding power.

Bespoke Printed Circuit Board

Cambridge Audio removed conventional capacitors from the printed circuit boards in Edge, replacing them with a DC-coupled topology. This reduces distortion. Additionally, a solid-state volume control ensures channels are perfectly balanced.

Extremely Short Signal Paths

Across the Edge series, Cambridge Audio has endeavored to keep the signal path – the components between the music source and output – as short as possible. In the case of Edge W, there are only 14 components in the signal path, where similar products might have 30-40. This lowers interference and ensures a pure, untainted sound is produced.

The Edge Series

The Edge series will consist of:

Edge A, our integrated amplifier, offers incredibly detailed sound with the effortless power to match. Its sound is wonderfully balanced with clarity audible with every note. Listening to Edge A feels like the band is playing right in front of you.

ERP: $5,000

Edge NQ offers new levels of versatility for a pre- amplifier and network player. StreamMagic, the streaming module that powers NQ, has been improved, allowing Edge to play music from virtually any source. Also, Edge NQ’s printed circuit board and meticulous engineering reduces interference to ensure a clean sound.

ERP: $4,000

Edge W is the best power amplifier Cambridge Audio has ever made. With just 14 components in the signal path (where other similar products may have 30-40), Edge W delivers breath-taking, pure, unfiltered British Sound with incredible power: nothing added, nothing taken away.

ERP: $3,000

EDGE W SPECIFICATION

Continuous power output:

100W RMS into 8 Ohms | 200W RMS into 4 Ohms

THD (unweighted):

<0.002% 1kHz at rated power (8 Ohms) | <0.02% 20Hz – 20kHz at rated power (8 Ohms)

Frequency Response:

80kHz +/- 1dB

S/N ratio (ref 1Q into 8Ohms):

>93 dB

Crosstalk @ 1kHz:

<-100dB

S/N ratio (ref full power):

>113 dB

Input sensitivity:

Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 1.09V RMS

Input impedances:

Input A3 (balanced) 47k Ohm | Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 47k Ohm

Inputs:

Balanced, Unbalanced

Outputs:

Speakers, Loop out

USB audio input:

USB Audio Class 2.0 supporting up to 32-bit 384kHz pCM, or up to DSD256

Max power consumption:

1000W

Standby power consumption:

<0.5W

Dimensions:

150 x 460 x 405mm (5.9 x 18.1 x 15.9”)

Weight:

23.6kg (51.9lbs)

EDGE A SPECIFICATION

Continuous power output:

100W RMS into 8 Ohms | 200W RMS into 4 Ohms

THD (unweighted):

<0.002% 1kHz at rated power (8 Ohms) | <0/02% 20Hz – 20kHz at rated power (8 Ohms)

Frequency Response:

80kHz +/- 1dB

S/N ratio (ref full power):

>103 dB

Crosstalk @ 1kHz:

<-100dB

Input sensitivity:

Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 380mV RMS

Input impedances:

Input A3 (balanced) 47k Ohm | Input A1-A2 (unbalanced) 47k Ohm

Inputs:

Balanced, Coax SPDIF, TOSLINK, USB Audio, Unbalanced, Bluetooth, Audio Return Channel (ARC)

Outputs:

Speakers, Preamplifier, Headphones (impedance of between 12 and 600 Ohms are recommended)

USB audio input:

USB Audio Class 2.0 supporting up to 32-bit 384kHz pCM, or up to DSD256

Bluetooth:

4.1 (Smart/BLE enabled) A2DP/AVRCP supporting formats up to aptX HD

TOSLINK input:

16/24 bits, 32-96kHz

Coax SPDIF input:

16/24 bits, 32-96kHz

Max power consumption:

1000W

Standby power consumption:

<0.5W

Dimensions:

150 x 460 x 405mm (5.9 x 18.1 x 15.9”)

Weight:

24.4kg (53.7lbs)

EDGE NQ SPECIFICATION

D/A Converter:

THD <0.0008%, 20Hz – 20kHz, 24-bit, 1Vrms output

THD Analog Sources:

<0/0008%, 20Hz – 20kHz 1Vrms output

Frequency Response:

20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.1bB

S/N ratio (ref 1V output):

>103 dB

Crosstalk @ 1kHz:

<-100dB

Max preamp output:

6Vrms single ended or 6Vrms + 6Vrms balanced.

USB audio input:

USB Audio Class 2.0 supporting up to 32-bit 384kHz PCM, or up to DSD256

USB drive input:

1 x USB 2.0 current limited to 1A, FAT32 / NTFS / HFS / HFS+

Bluetooth:

4.1 (Smart/BLE enabled) A2DP/AVRCP supporting SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX HD

TOSLINK input:

16/24-bit 32-96kHz

Coax SPDIF input:

16/24-bit 32-96kHz

Wi-Fi:

IEEE 802.11 b/g or n (2.4GHz). Encryption WEP, WPA, WPA2

Max power consumption:

100W

Standby power consumption:

<0.5W

Dimensions:

120 x 460 x 405mm (4.7 x 18.1 x 15.9”)

Weight:

10.2kg

Frequency Response:

80kHz +/- 1dB

Company:

Cambridge Audio

SECRETS Tags:

Edge, Cambridge Audio, HiFi Systems

Secrets Sponsor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1438634291880-1’); });

About Cambridge Audio

Since Cambridge Audio released its iconic P40 amplifier in 1968, we have pursued one simple objective: to produce audio equipment that faithfully creates a pure and natural sound. We at Cambridge Audio are sold on the unfiltered, unadulterated “British Sound”. We believe it’s simply the purest and most faithful reproduction of whatever you’re listening to, so you hear music exactly the way its creators wanted it to sound. We achieve this by identifying the best possible components before carefully fine-tuning how we put them together. Put simply, we apply audio engineering expertise accrued over five decades to remove the barriers between you and your music. Nothing added, nothing taken away.

The post Cambridge audio celebrates 50 years of audio innovation with edge – a new, high-end hi-fi system appeared first on HomeTheaterHifi.com.

Cambridge audio celebrates 50 years of audio innovation with edge – a new, high-end hi-fi system syndicated from http://onetwothreemovies.blogspot.com/