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Hi-Fi Riff
United Kingdom
Registrace 27. 03. 2021
Seasoned audiophiles Mike Evans and David Price share their exclusive hi-fi-related thoughts with you, from their secretive studio in deepest rural England.
Follow us on Instagram too hifiriff
Follow us on Instagram too hifiriff
Bangers And Brash: Why JBL's New L82 Classic MkII Speaker Rocks The House!
This week Mike and David get their flares flapped by this striking, in-your-face retro standmounting loudspeaker. As you'd expect from any JBL Classic series design, it wins no prizes for delicacy - but it can certainly do dynamics. Super-fast and punchy sounding, it's very different to most modern loudspeakers. All the same, as the guys agree, it won't be everyone's cup of tea... speaking of which... David actually makes Mike a cuppa! Judging by Mike's expression, is this the first one in nearly 5 decades of friendship?
Every episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs. Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
To learn more about the new JBL L82 Classic MkII, click on David's StereoNET review here: www.stereonet.com/uk/reviews/jbl-l82-classic-mkii-standmount-loudspeaker-review
Follow Hi-Fi Riff on Instagram: hifiriff
Every episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs. Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
To learn more about the new JBL L82 Classic MkII, click on David's StereoNET review here: www.stereonet.com/uk/reviews/jbl-l82-classic-mkii-standmount-loudspeaker-review
Follow Hi-Fi Riff on Instagram: hifiriff
zhlédnutí: 3 582
Video
Why Rega's New Aethos Integrated Amplifier is a Brilliant Class AB Belter!
zhlédnutí 8KPřed 14 dny
Not long after they decided that the full Class A Sugden A21SE is the best thing since sliced bread, Mike and David finally set ears upon its Class AB Rega rival - and get a serious surprise! The guys reckon that this is, in some ways at least, even better. With its smooth but grippy musical sound, it's proof positive that Southend-on-Sea's finest is still on top form. Also in this episode, Mik...
Japanese Microspeaker Restomod Madness: Unique Sansui J11 Jes Kerr Signature Reviewed!
zhlédnutí 3,2KPřed 21 dnem
Something of an unusual episode, this week! Mike and David are again joined by Hi-Fi Riff's very own 'tame speaker designer', Jes Kerr of Kerr Acoustics fame. He explains how he designed this one-off modified version of Sansui's ultra-rare J11 microspeaker. Even if you're not a big fan of tiny, 45-year old mini-monitors, then it's a great insight into the restomod speaker scene. In addition to ...
Beer Budget Turntable Challenge: Can Pro-Ject's E1 BT Match the Mighty Rega Planar 1 Plus?
zhlédnutí 3,9KPřed měsícem
Who said Mike and David are hi-fi snobs who care only about expensive kit? In this episode the guys pit Rega's cheapest vinyl-spinner against its Pro-Ject rival. Both agree that either of these entry-level decks should make any aspiring analogue addict happy, as they're way better than most other similarly priced bargain basement rivals. Also in this episode, David deprives Mike of Tea again, s...
Hot Property: Why Sugden's Class A A21SE is One of the Best Integrated Amplifiers On Sale!
zhlédnutí 21KPřed měsícem
In this episode, Mike and David are joined by Hi-Fi Riff's 'tame speaker designer' Jes Kerr, to review a classic Sugden integrated that has its roots in the original A21 from 1968! The guys agree that there's something rather lovely about the way it sounds - and it's a useful step up from the basic model, with more power and detail. They reckon that it's very hard not to love, providing you don...
THX Dominus Certified, But Does it Make The Hi Fi Grade? Perlisten's S4b Speaker Reviewed
zhlédnutí 3,5KPřed měsícem
This high end standmounter may be from the world’s first and only THX Dominus-certified speaker range, but how does it stack up for 2-channel audiophile use? Mike and David have a heated debate in the style of Mrs Merton! The guys agree that there's a lot to like about it, but it's hard work to get the best out of. Also in this episode, David makes tea for himself and Mike raids David's bathroo...
AVID Listening: Why the Pellar is a Great New Phono Stage for Aspiring Analogue Addicts
zhlédnutí 3,9KPřed 2 měsíci
Digital fans look away now! This week's episode sees the guys audition a new 'affordable audiophile' phono stage made from the ground up in Huntingdon, Cambridge, by turntable specialist AVID. Mike and David agree that it's a most effective performer, and easily as good as anything else around at the price. This episode also shows best practice by David on how to put a record in and out of a sl...
Strange Brew: The Curious Case of the Nytech CTA252 XD II 'Calculator Tuner Amplifier'
zhlédnutí 2,9KPřed 2 měsíci
This episode sees the guys look back on a long-lost legend from the 1970s. 'The Nytech receiver', as it was called, was a great sounding solid-state tuner-amplifier with unimpeachable British valve background. It had a fabulous built-in FM stereo radio section, but most people bought it for its natural musicality. Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views...
Is Bowers & Wilkins' 801 D4 Signature the World's Best All Round High End Loudspeaker?
zhlédnutí 14KPřed 2 měsíci
In this episode, David debriefs Mike on a recent visit to B&W's HQ, where he compared the company's seminal 801 D4 with the new 801 D4 Signature version. It was a very interesting experience to hear this brute of a high end speaker, and hints at the shape of the forthcoming 801 D5. And it raises the question about what constitutes "the best speaker in the world", as the new Signature is certain...
Head Master: Why Meze Audio's 109 Pro is a Serious Sounding, Affordable High End Headphone Design
zhlédnutí 2,1KPřed 2 měsíci
From a company famous for its exotic isodynamic headphones, comes this more affordable dynamic design. The 109 Pro is one of the best pairs of cans at this price point that Mike and David have heard for a while. It's comfortable, well made and offers a sonic snapshot of Meze Audio's premium models for far less money. Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated vi...
Bit Player: Why Auralic's New Aries S1 Streaming Processor Hits the Digital Spot!
zhlédnutí 7KPřed 3 měsíci
This Riff sees the guys looking at a slick yet sensibly priced digital transport that's also upgradeable with an external power supply. The guys agree that this new Auralic is an important product in the current scheme of streaming things, with great sound and a really good user interface. They love the half-width packaging too. Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, une...
Automatic For The People: Rekkord's Affordable Fully Auto F110P Turntable Goes for a Spin!
zhlédnutí 3,2KPřed 3 měsíci
... That's Perfect for Vinyl Newbies and Couch Potatoes Alike Dual fans will find this new disc-spinner eerily familiar, as it's closely based on that company's designs - and made in the same German factory that used to build the legendary CS-505. It's a fully automatic design that's perfect for those new to vinyl, or just people who can't be bothered with manual cueing. True, it's a bit of a c...
Is Falcon Acoustics' Lovely 2024 LE the Best Ever BBC LS3/5a? It's Certainly the Most Expensive!
zhlédnutí 7KPřed 3 měsíci
In this episode, Mike and David reluctantly admit that this stratospherically priced, BBC-licensed, LS3/5a is one of the finest sounding mini-monitors they've ever heard. They'd still go for the standard Falcon Acoustics version at a fraction of the cost, but there's something highly beguiling about this Limited Edition model... Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, une...
Metal Guru: Why Sony's Early Eighties TCK 81 was the First Great Modern Cassette Deck
zhlédnutí 4KPřed 4 měsíci
As the 'cassette revival' continues, now is a great time to remember this classic high end, 3-head, dual capstan deck. Cleanly styled, well specified and well built, it brought metal tape to the masses, and offered near-Nakamichi performance at half the price. Better still, there are still loads around, making it a great machine to get into - if you're 'cassette-curious'! Mike and David agree t...
Why NAD's Flagship 3155 Integrated Looked Like a 1980s Budget Amp, But Didn't Sound Like One
zhlédnutí 40KPřed 4 měsíci
In this episode, Mike and David remember NAD's top integrated from 1985 to 1987 - the 3155. A symphony in sombre grey paint, its unassuming case hides a powerhouse of a Class AB amplifier that sounds like a 3020 on steroids. That means sweet, warm, expansive and punchy. The guys agree that it's a delight, and wonder why it's largely been forgotten. Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and D...
Reel Life - Why Akai's 4000DS Was the Most Popular Hi-Fi Tape Recorder of the 1970s!
zhlédnutí 3,7KPřed 4 měsíci
Reel Life - Why Akai's 4000DS Was the Most Popular Hi-Fi Tape Recorder of the 1970s!
Small Box, Big Fun - Why PMC's prodigy1 Transmission Line Standmount is a Force to be Reckoned With!
zhlédnutí 8KPřed 4 měsíci
Small Box, Big Fun - Why PMC's prodigy1 Transmission Line Standmount is a Force to be Reckoned With!
Millennial Magic - How the DAC64 Rocketed Chord Electronics into the Digital Converter Super League!
zhlédnutí 3,7KPřed 5 měsíci
Millennial Magic - How the DAC64 Rocketed Chord Electronics into the Digital Converter Super League!
Cyrus i9 XR Integrated Amplifier & PSU XR Power Supply - Baby Boxes That Sound Seriously Big
zhlédnutí 7KPřed 5 měsíci
Cyrus i9 XR Integrated Amplifier & PSU XR Power Supply - Baby Boxes That Sound Seriously Big
Pick-Up Artist: Why We Think Audio-Technica's AT-33Sa is the Best Cheap Moving Coil Cartridge Around
zhlédnutí 9KPřed 5 měsíci
Pick-Up Artist: Why We Think Audio-Technica's AT-33Sa is the Best Cheap Moving Coil Cartridge Around
Smooth Operator - QUAD's New Revela 1 is a Large Standmount Loudspeaker With a Super Svelte Sound
zhlédnutí 13KPřed 5 měsíci
Smooth Operator - QUAD's New Revela 1 is a Large Standmount Loudspeaker With a Super Svelte Sound
So Macho! Why Musical Fidelity's Massive M8xi Integrated is a Titan Amongst Amplifiers
zhlédnutí 10KPřed 6 měsíci
So Macho! Why Musical Fidelity's Massive M8xi Integrated is a Titan Amongst Amplifiers
Sweet Sensation - Why Acoustic Energy's Dinky AE500 is Our Favourite Affordable Standmount Speaker!
zhlédnutí 7KPřed 6 měsíci
Sweet Sensation - Why Acoustic Energy's Dinky AE500 is Our Favourite Affordable Standmount Speaker!
Black Celebration - Auralic's Vega G2.2 is a Cracking New Premium Streamer!
zhlédnutí 6KPřed 6 měsíci
Black Celebration - Auralic's Vega G2.2 is a Cracking New Premium Streamer!
Spin Doctor - Why Nagaoka's Sweet Sounding MP-110 is a Phono Cartridge Classic
zhlédnutí 11KPřed 6 měsíci
Spin Doctor - Why Nagaoka's Sweet Sounding MP-110 is a Phono Cartridge Classic
Pound Shop Professional - Why Wiim's Pro Plus is a Serious Streamer at a Bargain Price!
zhlédnutí 4KPřed 6 měsíci
Pound Shop Professional - Why Wiim's Pro Plus is a Serious Streamer at a Bargain Price!
The Riff-Raff Retort - Mike and Dave’s New Year Comments Special!
zhlédnutí 2,5KPřed 7 měsíci
The Riff-Raff Retort - Mike and Dave’s New Year Comments Special!
Ado About Nothing Much - Hi-Fi Riff's New Year Musings!
zhlédnutí 2,7KPřed 7 měsíci
Ado About Nothing Much - Hi-Fi Riff's New Year Musings!
Merry Riff-Mas Everybody - Hi-Fi Riff's Favourite Products of 2023!
zhlédnutí 5KPřed 7 měsíci
Merry Riff-Mas Everybody - Hi-Fi Riff's Favourite Products of 2023!
Compact Disc - Why Technics' Radical SL 10 Turntable Was Vinyl's Fierce Last Stand
zhlédnutí 6KPřed 7 měsíci
Compact Disc - Why Technics' Radical SL 10 Turntable Was Vinyl's Fierce Last Stand
Hey guys...do a little research and check out the Perlisten partners. There is Decades upon Decades of experience behind the name. I'll give you one name in particular...Stephen Mascenik. If you Sold HiFi and Written about HiFi you could appreciate the experience behind the brand.
My 55 inch television has JBL sound equipment on board and it's he best ever tv sound I've heard. It even has some degree of bass besides clear mids and non fatigue treble. 😍
I meant Garrard
I have a 401 Gaernarfon deck with an SME SERIES 4. Beautiful sound and quad 301 and 33 tilt amp
Party speakers
Stunning kit… have just got a pair of 801 matrix series 2. They had a fibercrete mid range head assembly back then (but probably dampens well).
What Hi Fi really didn't like these. I wonder if they screwed up with sources and postioning. Only gave them three stars out of five. Then again many of their reviews are outliers.
Hi Mike, Hi Dave, a really interesting and engaging video. Thank you. It just so happens that I am using the Sugden DAP 800 (which is their preamplifier that incorporates the DAC-4 within it). Like you, I like it very much but I am confused, sorry about this, but on Sugden's website they clearly mention that the dac is NON over sampling, and some additional research tells me that the TD1543 chip is actually a Resistor Ladder (R2R) chip without any digital filtering... and I think that this is what Sugden is doing here. Could this be correct, or am I missing something? There is surprisingly little information on its technical desgin. ;-) Keep up the great work, Harley
This amp looks to get great reviews. How would it fair driving Dali Opticon 6's at 89db's?
This works really well at 1.25x. It gives the lads a bit of pep.
Thanks for the review!!I am between this and PMC prodigy 1 for small treated room (aprox 12m2) in nearfield setup (1,3 - 1,4 meters).Can you please tell me your opinion what will be the best option for me?🎵🎶🎤
Without doubt, the PMC prodigy 1. The JBL is just too big for this near-field application. PMC is also more subtle, but still loads of fun.
+1 for discrete transistors here, I belive naim also does not use the mosfets/FETs but bipolars. It sounds much better to me, those mosfets are simply to fast and the tones appear to instantly which is unnatural. And it absolutely does not mean that the amp is slower than, it is not.
The Nakamitchi Tri-Tracer in 1973 , must have been better than , most cassette tapes , would allow it to be. Until better cassette tape came along , in the future !
I have rega aethos and this amp is brilliant. When i play music i never listen brand i enjoy music and love my life. All my equipment is from rega research and in my opinion rega is best. Made for music lovers from people who know how music sound.
Can we do a discussion on watts and current..I get fed up with this because people don't seem to get Amps and watts..Please guys because I'm fed up answering this question???
This amp with a pair of ar3 acoustic research ar3 magic combination
HI-FI Snobs talk rubbish
we certainly do :-)
Where are the balanced connectors? Is this a class A amplifier?
Enjoyable review as ever gents! There’s no better feeling than waking up on a sunny winter morning in Australia, making a coffee and finding out there’s a new Riff on YT. Keep ‘em coming, always great entertainment.
I owned a pair of E30’s in 1979, which replaced my Celestion Ditton 15XR. Then In bought a pair of E90’s which I still have, albeit stored in my attic. So in 1979 I had pair of E30’s on top of a pair of E90’s, and belive me they were loud. This may have contributed to my poor hearing now later in life. Before I bought the E90’s I was also looking at the Leak 2075 but choose the E90’s. I used an Eagle A7400 amplifiier to drive them.
great review guys i really enjoy your videos i just got a pair of martin audio cdd5s and they are superb
Love your reviews - always so much fun. Way back in the day I had a pair of JBL L100s so it was interesting to hear your thoughts on these.
Your playing all the right speakers but not necessarily in the right order.
The Rega amps get great reviews but I've never understood why the volume controls are soo poor? For that reason I've never bought one and much prefer the engineering of my Cyrus amps.
“It’s stiff, it’s hard, it works.” That’s what she said! 🥴
Ah ha! Ah ha, ha, ha! But what about ............. the Mission 770's!? OK, OK they are much more but ...
Fab vid. Good humor mixed with an in-depth intelligently-constructed review. You two slay all others who do what you do.
JBL - Junky But Loud
You should review some of those Evel knievel speakers next, the literally take off..
Not many hifi-channels compare "parts" to dentist drills. That is usually done on more adult oriented media. Always 30min well spent! Cheers Gents and Viele Grüße aus Köln
I don't know why CZcams continues to allow this constant exposure of sockets, I mean, is this REALLY a family friendly channel? 😁
🖤in regard to appropriation of funds, I'm from the school of speakers.. they do, after all is said and done, have the final say.. 🖤L82 rated solely in relation to their intended application would have produced an eminently more knowledgeable review.. think Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Eagles, Steve Miller Band..🤔 ♠it was like me bursting out with.. well the 6KHz crossover treble on the NS-1000 (studio or home) was unequivocally nicknamed "the hair-parter!!" but golly it was a lot of fun.. 😂..back in the day!! might as well compare the L82 with an LS5/9 for all that review was worth..
Very enjoyable and entertaining video as always chaps. I've had a pair of these for about a year as part of my 'speaker stash. I agree they certainly are a big and bold sounding design with strong dynamics, not least because that bass driver build quality is a work of art, a massively built casting and lots of goodness isn't on show. There was mention of how it measures - you'd be surprised as while a bit lumpier than a true monitor its response trend is classic BBC monitor, mildly dipped in the upper mid section with a mild bump around 100Hz and mild, broad HF lift at the zero setting. This speaker sounds really good at low to moderate listening levels as in effect it has a mild built-in 'loudness' contour. I don't find it hard or bright - something more 'reference' like KEF's LS50 or R3 Meta sound harder and brighter for example. Something to remember is the effect of baffle step. So many modern slim boxes suffer in this regard and designers have to sacrifice efficiency to prevent those designs sounding too thin and lean. With a big wide box these limitations ease, and you get a fuller sound with 2-3dB of sensitivity gain. The snazzy retro foam covers are available in three colours in accessory packs for about £120. My pair came with the blue foams and I picked up a black set. I don't do burnt orange. Very nice benign load which is becoming rare these days - true 8 Ohm and decently sensitive. Sound great on the normal Sugden A21 signature and super dynamic and punchy on the Technics SUG700/2 :) Rob
A built-in loudness contour is a great way of describing it, Rob. As you know, many small stand mounters have a small bump up at 100Hz and often 10Hz, and the JBL pushes this a bit further. My main problem with the L82 is on cranked up electric guitars and some vocals, especially at higher volumes - which is where the speaker can screech.
Now listen chaps, glad you are venturing out into Rocky Mountain territory. On that note, I agree with another Riffraff below, you could try Klipsch Heresy next. I had a new pair and the shop gave me a full cash refund six months into ownership. They were like my 1970s Triumph Spitfire: a hopelessly unreliable bag of bolts. The most dramatic failure was all the speaker terminals falling off when I was trying to fit new jumpers.
They actually measure not that bad. I certainly wouldn't add treble though ... Oh, and Computer World > Tour de France.
Great rapport between you two guys, always interesting to watch 👍
I like JBL's, although they are a bit ugly and industrial looking. They look like they belong in a studio more than a lounge.
Yes, yes, yes, yeah, yes, yeah, yes, yes. No, yeah, yes, yeah, yep, yes, YES, yep, yes, yes, YEP, (Insert sarcastic comment) Yes, yes, yes yep.
Time for your tablets. 🙂
@@MrVinylista I took them before my comment. Are you on medication too?
Speakers with a strong personality. How did Mike feel making the transition between these and his Quad ESL? Quite the polar opposite in presentation no doubt. Thank-you.
And I'm left here with Richard Allen Sardana speakers with cone tweeters 🤦 may not be hifi and I hate the tweeters but I love the mids and the 70s slow bass
Sloppy, boomy bass, shrill highs...what's not to love if you're a headbanger?
Hey David Price, I've read lots of your articles in the past (i chose a Dynavector Carat after your review) You went to Focal and asked them "off the record" but you pronounce this on the www. Crazy Adrian
That conversation was several decades ago Adrian, so the 'statute of limitations' has long since expired. And we all know that designers have their personal preferences that aren't necessarily reflected in the products they create for their companies. Terry Bateman's love of valve amps, despite designing solid-state ones for Rega, for example. My point was simply to illustrate that paper isn't necessarily a bad material for speaker cones, despite the prevailing wisdom for a long time being to the contrary.
@@MrVinylista Excellent thanks! Sorry if I sounded negative. That's interesting though about paper. Mine are yellow fostex drivers, they use Banana fibres.
@@adotopp1865 No probs. It's hard doing this live, you know! Basically, paper has been very underrated as a cone material. It used to be looked down on, but can be excellent. All depends on the type of paper used of course, but that's a pub bore conversation that we can go into another time. 🙂
Mo Iqbal's original Monitor Audio Gold Domes used ceramic-coat anodised Magnesium-aluminium alloy dome tweeters gents, please give the wonderful Mo Iqbal the credit he deserves . He truly made some astonishingly good speakers such as the Studio 20Se and Monitor One. Both of which I would highly recommend to do a retro Riff on!
I would love to do a side by side with the Mission 770.
Not a JBL fan. I feel most buy for nostalgia. Over priced for sound quality. I know many love JBL, and that’s great. Just not my thing. If I want horns again, I’d go Klipsch. I’m hooked on soft dome tweeters now and love the Wharfedale sound. 🎶
JBL - just bloody loud 😊 Another freat riff guys. Yours is by far and away the best hifi chanel on youtube.
Guys I'm going to say something here..I spent a fortune on a pair of 4343's..New components, separate crossovers, new drivers, new wood not veneer and binding posts..Have you heard of Kenrick sound.. Mine cost the price of a second hand Merc delivered!!! Fab channel 🙂
Nice! Those exact speakers got me into JBLs, around 30 years ago. I used to go to this great basement bar in Shibuya, when I was in Tokyo. They had a pair of these, and walls and walls of classic LPs, and a big Thorens turntable and Sansui Class A amp. Sounded fantastic.
Heavens that sounds lovely 🙂
<<It's stiff it's hard it works.. does the Job>>
New ring tone sorted.
"Stoned again? I don`t know what that means, is it biblical?" that cracked me up! 😹evening gents!
They are like a double act, very good! 👍🤣
Oh..I have that original Kraftwork album on Vinyl! It's a keeper....