The Absolute Sound Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

With a price per pair coming in at $23.5k (USD), for me they’ll remain a memory for now, but when my hi-fi budget grows, I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on these beauties. However, if you currently find yourself looking for equipment in this price range, you’re gonna wanna stick around while I share what I heard while listening to the AGD SOLO Monoblock amps.

This video is sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/product/everest-x/

00:00 SOLO Monoblock Limited Edition amplifier

01:29 Overview

03:54 Sound Quality

10:11 Summary

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved

After hearing the Model 1's at this year's AXPONA, in combination with their minimalist design, Adrian Alexander decided to investigate these further. Are they possibly going to be Adrian's new reference speaker? Tune in to find out!

This video is sponsored by: https://www.wattson.audio/

The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/

00:00 Pearl Acoustics Model 1

01:56 Overview

02:47 What's in the box?

04:07 Sound Quality

07:41 Is it for you?

09:08 Customer Service

10:40 Conclusion

Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved

Some products that we review do special things that are almost immediately obvious in a controlled environment like we use for testing. Some products also present a challenge to our preconceived notions of what works in audio. The Esoteric F-01 integrated amp does both. Let’s take a look.

This video is sponsored by: https://fidelityimports.com/

6 Major Problems of Believability: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-six-major-problems-of-audio-believability/

00:00 Esoteric F-01

00:51 Overview

04:13 Sound Quality

07:55 Voicing

10:43 External Power Supply

12:16 Features

14:07 Summary

Tom's reference system:

Aurender N20 Streamer/Server

Roon Nucleus server

Mac Mini (M2) server

Wiim Pro server/DAC

Bluesound Node server/DAC

Topping D70 Pro DAC

dCS Lina DAC/Master clock

Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input module

MSB Premier DAC

J Sikora Initial Max turntable

Technics SL-1210G turntable

Kuzma 4Point 9” arm

J Sikora KV12 tone arm

DS Audio 003 cartridge

Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge

Hana Umami Blue cartridge

Hegel V10 phono preamp

Musical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preamp

DS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizer

PS Audio BHK 600 mono power amps

MBL N51 integrated amp

Audio Research 160S power amp

Magico A5 speakers

Perlisten S7t speakers

Wireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cables

Shunyata Omega digital cables

Shunyata Venom power cables and director

Audioquest Niagara 3000 power conditioner (for analog)

Audioquest Niagra 7000 power conditioning

Rediacoustic diffusers and absorbers

Rediacoustic bass traps

PSI Audio AVAA active traps

Salamander racks

Solidsteel Turntable rack

Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Copyright 2025, Nextscreen LLC, all rights reserved

DESCRIPTION

MBL builds many products that re-examine the core assumptions behind most audio equipment to find different and often better engineering solutions for music reproduction. Of course, they are famous for their superb omni-directional speakers, but having the N51 integrated amp here for review has made me think their fame should apply to electronics as well...

This video is sponsored by: https://www.advanceparis.com/en/

Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/

Tom Martin’s Reference System:

Aurender N200 Server

Roon Nucleus server

Mac Mini (M2) server

Wiim Pro server/DAC

Bluesound Node server/DAC

Topping D70 Pro DAC

dCS Lina DAC/Master clock

Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input module

J Sikora Initial Max turntable

Technics SL-1210G turntable

Kuzma 4Point 9” arm

J Sikora KV12 tone arm

DS Audio 003 cartridge

Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge

Hana Umami Blue cartridge

Hegel V10 phono preamp

Musical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preamp

DS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizer

Audio Research Reference 6SE preamp

PS Audio BHK 600 mono power amps

Magico A5 speakers

Wireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cables

Shunyata Omega digital cables

Shunyata Venom power cables and director

Rediacoustic diffusers and absorbers

Rediacoustic bass traps

Salamander racks

Solidsteel Turntable rack

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, podcast and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

DESCRIPTION:

There are 6 major audio issues that stand between listeners and a level of believability and engagement that parallels or improves upon the live experience. The Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference addresses one of these major issues, that of a-musical digital distortions, more effectively than any DAC I have heard.

This video is sponsored by: https://estelon.com/speaker/aura/

Robert's Review: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/berkeley-audio-design-alpha-dac-reference-series-3-digital-to-analog-converter/

Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/

Tom Martin’s Reference System:

Aurender N200 Server

Roon Nucleus server

Mac Mini (M2) server

Wiim Pro server/DAC

Bluesound Node server/DAC

Topping D70 Pro DAC

dCS Lina DAC/Master clock

Berkeley Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 with Alpha USB Series 2 input module

J Sikora Initial Max turntable

Technics SL-1210G turntable

Kuzma 4Point 9” arm

J Sikora KV12 tone arm

DS Audio 003 cartridge

Benz Gullwing SLR cartridge

Hana Umami Blue cartridge

Hegel V10 phono preamp

Musical Surroundings Phonomena III phono preamp

DS Audio 003 optical cartridge energizer

Audio Research Reference 6SE preamp

PS Audio BHK 600 mono power amps

Magico A5 speakers

Wireworld Platinum Electra speaker and line cables

Shunyata Omega digital cables

Shunyata Venom power cables and director

Rediacoustic diffusers and absorbers

Rediacoustic bass traps

Salamander racks

Solidsteel Turntable rack

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, podcast and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

DESCRIPTION:

Impeccably judged and well-engineered, the Q Acoustics 5020s routinely persuaded me to listen to more music. Their ability to render low-level detail sent chills down my spine and their dynamics kept me completely engaged with the music.

Sponsored by: https://shunyata.com/

Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, podcast and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

The Raidho X2t is a very big sounding speaker with a very small footprint, but its special qualities extend far beyond mere scale.... listen in to learn more from Michael Johnson's report.

The Macintosh Mk 462 is the most powerful solid state amplifier in the Macintosh lineup. The amplifier weighs a backbreaking 115 pounds, and the price is $10,000. It's the least expensive amplifier with all of their core technologies, yet it's the largest stereo amplifier in their range.

This video is sponsored by: https://www.mofielectronics.com/products/mofi-electronics-masterdeck-turntable

The Absolute Sound’s Review Methodology: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-absolute-sounds-review-methodology-first-principles/

Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

Robert's Reference System:

-Turntable: VPI Classic Signature with the 10 inch gimbal tone arm and Nordost wiring.

-Cartridge: DS Audio 003 with matching energizer.

-DAC: DCS Bartok( currently out to get the Apex upgrade).

-Pre-amp: McIntosh C2700 tube preamp

-Power amp: McIntosh MC 462

-Speakers: Magico S1 Mk 2 with ISO acoustics Gaia 2 feet.

-Power conditioner: Shunyata Gemini-8 with the grounding system.

-AC outlets: PS Audio.

-Cables: Synergistic Research and Audioquest

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, podcast and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

Unison research says its sonic goal with the Unico Nuovo integrated amplifier is to give music vitality; a word I associate with vigor, liveliness and power. Does it succeed? Let's find out!

This video's sponsor: https://www.jbl.com/receivers-and-loudspeakers.html

Our interview with JBL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMFKbDCL0Wg&ab_channel=THEABSOLUTESOUND

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, podcast and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound

While the Totem Bison Twin Tower floor standing loudspeakers are not inexpensive at $4,000 US per pair, they do fall solidly into the “next step” camp when viewed on the spectrum of available loudspeakers.

This video sponsored by: https://www.advanceparis.com/en/

More Audiophile Content:

Newsletter: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theabsolutesound

Substack: https://www.theabsolutesound.substack.com

Mentioned Links:

https://youtu.be/AKC9hNqsRTY?si=iWnD4bY7rMcbT1Iu

https://youtu.be/QQIKjJJPglI?si=wdvdkvYLE24dDazt

What Is The Absolute Sound?

The Absolute Sound magazine has been a leading publication in high-end audio since 1972. Since the early 2000s, The Absolute Sound has expanded to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media, YouTube, podcast and Substack platforms. The Absolute Sound platforms have a global audience of over 500,000 audiophiles.

#hifi #audiophile #theabsolutesound