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| 2014 Headphone Shure SRH1840 Review (Part 2) |
| The next track I chose was Gretchen Peters' ‘Hello Cruel World' [Proper Records PRPCD094], where she bemoans being damaged goods but gives the clear impression of being steely enough, beneath that harsh self-assessment, to do damage herself. |
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| 2014 Headphone Shure SRH1840 Review (Part 1) |
| As more and more headphones are released which have non-neutral tonal balances, so it follows that encountering a headphone that's meticulous in its neutrality becomes rarer and rarer. Which is why, having measured and briefly listened to the $780 Shure SRH1840 for a group test, I nominated it for appearance here ASAP. |
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| 2014 Roku Streaming Stick Review |
| One of an ever-growing number of devices that adds smart functionality to TVs, this HDMI dongle is a competitor to Google’s recently released Chromecast model. |
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| Atoll ST200 Media Player/DAC Review (Part 1) |
| Atoll was started by the brothers Stéphane and Emmanuel Dubreuil in 1997, with the aim of building, “reasonably priced true high-end audio electronics for budget-conscious audiophiles”. An admirable goal and one that started out with amplifiers and now extends to a wide range of electronics for two channel and multichannel systems, all made in Normandy, France. |
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| Beats Drenched Solo HD Review |
| When hip-hop rapper and record producer Dr. Dre isn’t making music, he’s busy designing his Beats line of audio accessories. The brand has been making waves since it came out and has been known for its thread of celebrity endorsements alongside a growing fan base of devoted young adults. |
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| Electric Vans – Commercial Interest (Part 3) |
| The electrical components and subsystems are all water-cooled, as Mercedes aims to maintain an efficient working temperature of around 30°C. To ensure that the vehicle’s driver and passengers have enough heating in the colder months, the Vito E-Cell is equipped with an electric heater booster and electrically heated seats. |
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| The Elusive Pursuit Of Absolute Neutrality |
| In the world of high-end audio, the term ‘neutrality’ is bandied about a lot. When I speak to my audiophile friends about it, I find that there is general agreement that neutrality is not so different from the game of chess, in that, it is relatively simple to understand, but exponentially more difficult to master. |
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| Turntable VPI Scout 1.1 Review (Part 2) |
| Swapping my Crystal interconnects around at the deck's RCA outputs shifts the clavichord to its rightful place in the right channel, so somewhere along the way within the tonearm, connections between the cartridge tags and RCA outputs the channels had been switched! |
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| Turntable VPI Scout 1.1 Review (Part 1) |
| When VPI launched its original Aries Scout over ten years ago, it flew in the face of turntable fashions of the times, which dictated that the majority of decks north of $1,600 should offer bouncy suspension and a low-noise DC motor to be up to vinyl's latest standards. |
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| Unison Research Sinfonia Integrated Tube Amplifier |
| Since 1987, Italian manufacturer Unison Research has brought great listening pleasure to those passionate about music with its fine hifi components. Over the years, the company continued advancing and evolving its product designs with the goal of achieving the highest level of sonic performance. |
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| 2014 Denon DA-300USB DAC Review (Part 2) |
| One other thing: please forgive the absence of catalogue numbers after the songs. Nearly all my material used during the listening sessions came via hard-drive, and neither Fidelia nor iTunes shows these numbers. |
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| 2014 Denon DA-300USB DAC Review (Part 1) |
| Shoot-outs mean one victor and a bunch of losers. I never liked 'em, any more than I would want to pick one wine from my cellar and ditch the rest. Life is not that simple. But consumers always demand a last- man-standing approach to hi-fi. |
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| 2014 FPV GT F Driven – A True Future Legend (Part 2) |
| RSPEC also donates its suspension tune to GT F, gaining firmer dampers all-round, stiffer upper strut mounts and control arm bushings to the front and firmer springs, thicker 19mm anti-roll bar a stronger lower control arm and altered toe setting for improved steering response. |
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| 2014 FPV GT F Driven – A True Future Legend (Part 1) |
| A select group of journos have gathered at the security gate to have their names signed in and cameras ‘tagged’. There’ll be no photos beyond here, thanks very much; not of the GT F, or the numerous camouflaged machines hunting around the premises. [ED: the images here were supplied by Ford. |
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| E-Sport Limousine – New Flow (Part 2) |
| To live up to its exotic super-sedan looks, with its gull-wing doors and very long double panels that give easy access to the four-seater interior, the e-Sportlimousine delivers a peak 925ps/680kW power output, a top speed of at least 380km/h (235mph), and 0-100km (0-62mph) in just 2.8 seconds – while delivering an energy consumption of 20kWh per 100km, all of which makes very impressive reading. |
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| E-Sport Limousine – New Flow (Part 1) |
| Now for something a little different: a super sedan featuring new technology that could represent a quantum leap for automotive energy storage systems. |
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| Rega Research Saturn R CD/DAC Player |
| Rega has consistently produced products that stand the test of time, and which sport the simplest of controls. While most manufacturers use some kind of motorized drawer to get the CD in and out of the system, and a few use a motorized slot based mechanism, some have chosen the top loading route, as Rega has done. |
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| Roksan Oxygene Integrated Amplifier |
| And now for something completely different: The Roksan Oxygene integrated amplifier. It does not look anything like any integrated amplifier I have ever seen. In fact I am sure that most people who eyeball this component for the first time with no prior information on it could well have a hard time identifying what the dickens it really is.
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| The Citroën C4 Picasso – An Interesting Option |
| For a vehicle that is likely to spend its days transporting precious cargo on school runs, shopping trips and holidays, the five-seat MPV is adventurous in its exterior and interior design. It meets Citroën’s remit for the car, which is to provide family-friendly practicality with a soupçon of Gallic flair. |
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| The Mini JCW GP – Fun And Infectious |
| Can the number of tests that a long-termer gets called upon to attend be taken as an indication of how great that car is? If so, the Mini GP must be something quite special. |
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| The Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo – A Good Hot Hatchback |
| Running the RS Clio 200 turbo was always going to be something of an experiment. We knew from the international launch that it was a totally different proposition from the cars that forged Renaultsport’s reputation. |
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| The Skoda Octavia Ambition 1.4 TSI – Fun Factory |
| The engine is an absolute gem, for starters. It isn't very vocal, which is perhaps its only fault (on the other hand, refinement levels are top-notch), but the way it loves to be given both barrels is delightful. |
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| The Subaru WRX STI – An Extremely Quick Daily Driver |
| It's been a long time coming, but we all knew this day would eventually arrive - Subaru's iconic rally-bred sports sedan has shorn off its rough edges and donned a sharp suit. With the arrival of the WRX earlier this year, we realised just how serious Subaru was about catering to a more sophisticated audience. |
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| Outdoor Speaker Buyer Guide (Part 2) |
| If you are going this route, good planning is paramount. As discussed, well positioned speakers sound a lot better, and poorly installed speakers can spiral into a renovation making you wish you’d never thought of music outside. |
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| Outdoor Speaker Buyer Guide (Part 1) - Gaelen Andrews, Portable Outdoor Speakers |
| Summer is in full swing and we want you to have the best time while you’re outside, so we’ve put together some great sounding ways to bring your music with you. This guide will take you on an exploration of everything that you’ll want to consider so you can experience quality sound outside, anywhere you’ll be this sunny season. |
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| Preamplifier/DAC Gato Audio PRD-3 Review (Part 2) |
| The song's synthesized bass line was gratifyingly deep and wholesome, the Gato's low frequency delivery possessing tangible weight and power so that the bottom octaves provided a strong foundation for the musical structure. |
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| Preamplifier/DAC Gato Audio PRD-3 Review (Part 1) |
| With digital entertainment sources ubiquitous in today's living rooms, many modern DACs include a variable output, obviating the necessity for a preamplifier if you don't own a turntable, FM tuner or legacy tape deck. |
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| ReADL EH008 Dual Dynamic Driver Earphones |
| Headphones and earphones are all the rage these days when it comes to music listening. They are compact, portable, relatively cheap and with many models – truly a fashion statement. |
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| The Mercedes S63 AMG Coupe – Pure Klasse (Part 2) |
| The AMG motor hums away beneath it all, utterly unstressed by cruising, and when you choose to push it, calmly forces the world into reverse. It’s not hugely aggressive or face-deforming, just insistent and mighty. |
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| The Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy – A Trophy To Treat As Your Wife |
| The Renault Megane RS 275 trophy will be looked at through rose-tinted glasses in years to come. The regular Megane RS is a stellar performer, a car that gets under your skin the way a seat Leon Cupra can’t, a Focus ST won’t and in a completely different way to the Golf GTI. |
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| The Volkswagen Beetle Dune – In Pursuit Of That Beach-Buggy Spirit (Part 2) |
| Comparing the vehicle dynamics of the Dune and the buggy is a bit like pitting a Formula Vee racer against a milk float. Although the Rebell does sit on a full-length chassis, it displays the directional stability of a rattlesnake on the prowl. In response to the iffy road holding and the tricky handling, the red-tape reps reduced the maximum speed from the type-approved 75mph to a safer 50mph. |
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| Garmin Dash Cam 20 Review |
| In those circumstances, it would be helpful if you could provide an independent view of events to support your story, and the Garmin Dash Cam 20 is designed to provide that for you. |
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