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Review: APL Hi Fi NWO 4.0 Master Edition CD Player

Category: Digital

I just had my NWO 3.0 up graded to the 4.0 Master Edition. What an amazing transformation. I was very content with the 3.0 but, this upgrade made my system SING. I was able to hear information that I had never heard before. I can actually hear the placement of instruments in orchestral works with sonic focus and bloom. With the female vocals; I was able to hear the emotional nuances of the singer and even movement of the microphone in live recordings.The sound stage is well defined without being hyper-detailed. The lows are deep, tight and controlled. The midrange is to die for. Highs are on par with analogue.
With some of my live recordings of jazz, I almost felt like I was there.

This unit now equals and can beat my Saskia and Talea / Dynavector XVs 1T turntable system.

This by far is the best CD/SACD playback system that I have owned and heard.

The 4.0 Master unit configures the AKM DAC's specially with low noise transistors ( a new break-through from Alex ) and uses special Lindaul output transformers with Oxygen Free copper wires.
Alex actualy had tried Amorphous core transformers but ultimately felt that the OFC Lindauls are the best.

Not only is this a great stand alone CD and Universal Player. I have experimented with using it as a DAC with wonderful results using the M2Tech EVO USB adaptor and computer Laptop.
Using Media Monkey and Monkey Tunes , I can control my entire digital music collection with my IPAD while sitting on the couch if I am lazy.
If I want to get more exercise then I switch back to using it as a CD player.
Thank You Alex for this wonderful work !!!



Associated gear
ASR Emitter Blue ,
Saskia Turntable with Talea arm
Genesis 1.1 Speaker System

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hifirabbit
dotsystem
81 posts
 
My NWO-M has been breaking in over the last week. I am running it in about 16 hours a day.

With digital units I have owned, the sound demonstrates some inconsistency as the unit breaks in. Mercifully, the Master is showing me glimpses of things to come. My early impression is that there is more of everything - especially bass and midrange detail.

I had provided an upgrade deposit to Alex who ordered some parts and populated circuit boards. Then I shipped my NWO 3.0 GO to Alex. My downtime was just a little over 2 weeks including the coast to coast shipping time.

It appears that Alex has another winner. APL owners expect it.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
drubin
3,265 posts
 
My early impression is that there is more of everything - especially bass and midrange detail.
This is not meant as critical of you in any way, Dotsystem, but when I read that I thought, you know, a great many of the upgrades we audiophiles do seem to yield "more of everything." Is there an endless supply of everything, so that we can keep getting more of it?
dotsystem
81 posts
 
I understand Drubin. I am not inclined to lengthy epic reviews. My comparison is with the NWO 3.0 GO which is a few models back. Until we have perfect components, there is room for improvement. I have no opinion of how the NWO Master may outperform the NWO 3.0 SE or NWO 4.0 SE models. I leave that to others.

Your commentary and this response should be moved into another thread since the issue you pose is generic to high end and not exclusive to the NWO-M.
jeffreyb
12 posts
 
I completey agree with Hifirabbit. The M is incredible. I was lucky enough to be able to compare my M to a 4.0SE in my system with the same cables, amps and speakers. It blew the 4.0SE away--completely. it has so much more musical yet has more detail, so much so that there rally was no comparison. It basically made the 4.0SE seem almost like a boom box. I really do not understand how Alex was able to find so much improvement in the 4.0Se but he did, and I am delighted!
jcbbytes
4 posts
 
I have always felt that Alex Peychev was and is a gifted individual.I have owned his creations from the APL 3910 Denon CDP to his latest and greatest CDP /DAC-The NWO-M.
This incarnation of his talent and love of music just "gets it right"
These thoughts are totally subjective and based solely on my opinion.
I listen to various genres of music in many different venues-the NWO-M in my system and to my ears just sounds"live"-if the recording is faithful to the music- the reproduction of the event via The M, has brought both a smile and a tear to my face.
If one wants to see/hear that it is possible for digital to equal vinyl then one should seek out an opportunity to listen to an APL NWO-M.
I have intentionally not gotten into comparisons or a discussion laced with terminology as I'm not seeking converts or proclaiming that the NWO-M is the unequivocally best-I have not hear all the SOTA pieces out there.
What I will say is that this product is incredible and has freed the soul of music from the 1 and 0 of digital recording-at least to my ears and my wife's

If I sound like a fan of Alex-I am and consider myself most fortunate to speak from 1st hand experience.
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