My Favourite HiFi Products Reviewed in 2023 (and why)

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

Thanks for the video and your year-end recap. I agree that powered speakers sound great the problem in my experience is reliability. The warranty on the electronics are short and they can be expensive to repair if they can be since the amps are proprietary. Give me great passive speakers and a solid preamp and amp and I’m good . The way DACs are going it’s great to be able to upgrade separate components over time too. Happy New Year!🎉

[@1moderntalking1]

I really appreciate your attitude and I feel safer listening to your recommendations because of your no BS honesty ❤

[@brendanxtrom]

Nice to see actual commentary on gear that isn’t the norm on every other channel. 🙏

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Exactly.

[@cyphermote6857]

Active speakers... I bought the Acoustic Energy AE-1 set at its original launch some years ago. To be honest although I knew exactly what I was buying, I didn't expect it to sound as good as it did. Now it seems like every serious brand has one. When the amps inside it are done right, nothing compares. Nice, different and interesting choices Simon. Like your reviews, this list is worth contemplating deeper.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much. I want to try more active speakers from the likes of Goldenear , Adam Audio and Kii or Genelec as I think they are products of the time for hifi. 😀🔉

[@itk2493]

Did you try the Buchardt Audio passive loudspeakers or their WiSA ones? The WiSA set up is seriously impressive. Never mentioned much.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

No things went pear shaped with Buchardt when another reviewer threatened to not review Buchardt’s products if Buchardt continued to use me, so Buchardt dropped me. Black Balled is the expression I think. I think it was a very big hifi KZbinr. I would exercise caution in dealing with Mads buchardt on this basis. I also think they are breaking distance selling legislation in the EU by charging illegal restocking fees, which I covered in a video on my channel.

[@itk2493]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 WTF, jeez. There are a lot of C U next Tuesdays about.

[@chrissmith7069]

​@@13thnotehifireviews7that's a shame, maybe they didn't want an "honest" review to go ahead after all.

[@liamporter1137]

Great summary for the year. Thanks for sharing.

[@syanhc]

Happy New Year ❤

[@kjbiz]

Thanks for your reviews. A different perspective with heart on sleeve. Has made me seriously look at Adam Audio. Go easy!

[@Darklo88]

Was just curious if Aune sent a BNC chord with the SC1 audio clock.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I think you get a short one. I did , about 20cm long

[@Darklo88]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Thanks for the reply. I love your reviews! Appreciate your honesty and your opinions. I should be getting the SC1 Monday. I have the Eversolo dmp A6 going to the Aune S9c. Hope the clock makes a difference. Got the S9c the other day, next day A6 got the update with EQ. Too much happening at once! Lol

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Let us know how you get on with the clock

[@xcvbxcvb2179]

Bought a used Aune x8 magic DAC with a Burson op amp plus a aune linear power supply and it performs 😮 bass, details, micro transients are fantastic. The op amp rolling ability is super nice and I'm aiming on a Sparkos. Made me a Aune Fanboy.

[@murraycampbell1548]

Thanks mate for the introduction to Felix Laband. His music is magnificent!

[@philrob4468]

Me too been listening to him last couple days since previous video and it’s been a lot of fun what a gem

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

No worries. I had it on my car stereo going through dartford tunnel in the uk and an hour and a half hold up. Lovely and dynamic.

[@Boomyaris01]

Red handed is a hifi show classic = you know when a track is rolled out in multiple demo rooms its a well recorded track

[@chrissmith7069]

Nice work Simon. If you haven't already see if you can get hold of a pair of Qacoustics M20Hd powered speakers. Yes, not massively expensive but great in a small room, bedroom or kitchen etc 😊

[@aceofspades6667]

I like your take on active speakers.. kef currently has a sale on the ls60 for 2 grand off which has my attention.

[@microteche]

Some great items reviewed that wont break the bank, enjoyed it, thanks.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I was thinking of that as the idea, as so many hifi KZbin channels go for excessively exuberant pricey stuff. I’m really not interested in £15k amps or £10k sources etc as click bait or dangling a carrot. It’s mostly not value for money and hardly anybody buys it.

[@NormalCycle]

Honest reviews, honest equipment. What more can you ask for?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much….I would say an investment in my patreon for those who want access to all my thoughts where I can’t do this all the time on KZbin for obvious commercial reasons, and if people want me to survive

[@losriosprofundos2113]

I enjoy your videos, though I don’t understand the need to call out other reviewers. It reminds me of your review of the Auralic Aries. You said you respected the opinions of others but at the same time wrote them off as biased. I have definitely come across products that I thought were terrible and over hyped (KEF LS 50), but I can also accept that there are others that find value in the products. I tried a long list of streamers, including the Ultra Rendu. I avoided trying the Aries, but buying a used one ($1500) ended up being the piece that completed my system.

[@FransKeylard]

Please do keep calling out other reviews, because there’s so much hidden paid advertisement and it’s very difficult to find the honest voices amongst the superlatives and snake oil.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

To summarise, I think when it’s really bad like this and the reviews are disingenuous and not transparent, it is right to call it out. I too have an issue with reviewers who review products that they call best of the year but they don’t review anything else at the same price all year. They do it for badge award money when the brand puts the badge award on their website and where the brand can see this is the only one reviewed, they should know better.

[@losriosprofundos2113]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I appreciate your work and look forward to your future videos.

[@3WAY-MIRROR]

bought my second shirt today, they are good quality and subtle in design

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Oh the passenger one. They are good.

[@Romulus980]

Will there be a seperate video for amps in 2023...?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

No unfortunately not. 😀

[@itk2493]

Good choices. Manufactures like Eversolo and Aune are setting the cats amongst the pigeons, never heard of neither of them until recently but both are causing quite a stir, so much performance for so little, stops a lot of others from taking the pizz.

[@99Crell]

Nice summary. Would love to see you review the NJC Audio headphone Amp and DAC, though it looks like an owner may have to donate if that were to happen ?