June 25, 2015

• Simaudio Neo 260D, Part 10

  When a responsible reviewer throws ace (and often expensive) products at the test review subject, the Stereotypical Audiophiles tend to piss and moan. But readers need to know what the review subject's outer limits are. Therefore, using powercords which cost as much or more as the Simaudio Neo 260D is vitally germane, appropriate, relevant, and important. And in the mean time, the SAs continue to stew in their own piss and bile.
  
  The Pranawire Satori ($2950) with Acrolink CF plugs costs as much as a Neo 260D with DAC option. But now we're getting somewhere. The Satori CF allows the Neo 260D to be "very good" across the board. Arguably, this is the "most balanced" the Neo 260D can be, with the transport section being a solid performer, but still retaining the older CD-3.3X's top-end diminution. The Satori CF reveals the Neo 260D's DAC section to be excellent, perhaps less "professional" than the NuFore DAC-9, but more colorful, alive, and personable. If the DAC-9 is about professionally crafted sound, the Neo 260D is about people (professionals or not) taking a stab at playing music.
  
  Unlike the usual cast of colored CD players, the Simaudio Neo 260D has enough honesty and resolution, that it does tell us how the ($5000) Pranawire Maha Samadhi M1/F1 tilts the balance. You give up some control, grip, and PRAT down low. But you gain some air and mysticism up top. Depending on the recording, the Maha Samadhi can recapture some of the soundstage depth. So overall, the Maha Samadhi makes the Neo 260D come closer to the sound of the dCS Puccini (which can be $18,000!) than all other source components in my experience. This can make many SAs stop pissing, and start drooling.

  • 9:30 pm
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