REPRODUCEDFROMHI-FICHOICE
andelegantexterior,andwithanoticeable senseofsoliditywhenyouremoveitfromthe packaging–itmayonlybe34cmwide,butit weighsinatamorethanrespectable9.5kg. Soundquality Wedecidetostickwiththe‘Smooth’digital filterforthemajorityofourlistening,anduse theAltairG2.1straightintoaNaimNAP250 poweramp,aswelasconnectingitasaline sourceintotheSupernait3(HFC456)inour ‘other’system,in both casesusing our tried-and-testedNeatAcousticsandPMC loudspeakersforauditioning.Regardles of whichsetupisemployed,theAltairG2.1 provestobeaneutralandextremelyclean source,presentinghighlevelsofdetailwhile neversoundingmechanicalorartificialinany way. Indeed,itdeliversexcelentlevelsofmusical involvementacrosawiderangeofdiferent musicalgenres,again,regardlesoftheinput used.Whetherwith streamsfrom online services,low-resinternetradio orhi-res music served up from the NAS, the experience ofusing the AltairG2.1 is generalyacaseof‘movealong,nothingto seehere’:thecomponentsintowhichyou playitaregoingtohavemuchmoreofan efectonthesoundthanthisunit.True,the performanceisveryslightlydriercompared withourreferenceNaim ND 555,which deliversmorebodyandagreatersenseof presence and performers being placed before the listener,butthat’s hardly a criticism giventhepricediference.Above al,the Auralic ‘communicates’.Play a demanding recording such asthe recent Trondheim Symphony Orchestra set of KleibergConcertos,andthesheerfocusof thesoundandthenaturalbalanceofthesolo instrumentagainsttherichweightofthe orchestraisbreathtaking.As,weshouldadd, isthesenseofpresenceandspaceinthe soundstage,and thespeed and rhythmic driveonofer. The same goesforCharlie Haden,Jan
GarbarekandEgbertoGismonti’s1980Magicoalbum. HeretheAltairG2.1realygetsitsteethintothe gorgeousproduction,alowingthesaxtosoarabove thedeep,superblyresolvedbas,whiletheguitarand pianoarealsogivenfullicencetobeheardtothriling efect.It’salsoefortles,aswelasbeingarichly rewardinglisten,andtherecordingsdon’thavetobe stateoftheartforthisplayertoworkitsmagic.Even withtheBilEvanstakeonAlfiefromhisAnotherTime –TheHilversumConcertalbum,recorded(admitedly magnificently)backin1968andrevivedtoDSDbythe 2xHD label,thesoundbrimswiththeeasygoing interplaybetweenEvans,EddieGomezand Jack DeJohneteinfrontofasmalaudience.It’sajoyous experienceviatheAltairG2.1. Thetimbresofrealvoicesandinstrumentsareamajor strength here too,forwhile mainstream pop is revealed in al its autotuned awfulnes,give it somethinglikeLitleBlackDres from TheBlesed Unrest,the2013SaraBareilesalbum,anditpunches outnotonlyeverylineofthevocal,butalsothegutsy acompaniment,withrealdefinitionandimpact.It’sa soundthatleavesyouwantingtoexploremoreofthe
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