Starting with speaker cables, Audioquest is replacing its Robin Hood series with two new heroes: Lone Ranger and Brave Heart. Both equipped with Zero-Tech technology, these cables positioned below the Mythical Creatures series are available with cold-welded red copper spades or bananas.
Lone Ranger With a lower impedance than the previous cable, the Lone Ranger uses nearly a third more PSC+ (Perfect Surface Copper+) copper. The polypropylene dielectric has been optimized to reduce off-axis distortion, and carbon-filled PVC is combined with a layer of graphene and, to improve the sheath, shielded drainage wires with 4% silver. The PMO (Permanent Molecular Optimization) patent subjects the materials to controlled extreme stresses, in order to maintain the most optimal molecular structure possible throughout the cable’s lifetime. The solidified conductors prevent interaction between the strands. Their controlled direction helps eliminate RF frequency noise, while ZERO-Tech technology eliminates characteristic impedance imbalances between the cable and the connected source and load. As with the best models, a 72V AudioQuest DBS dielectric bias system housed in a box on each cable polarizes the dielectric insulation, further reducing noise by releasing energy at frequencies other than those passing through the cable. This model costs 2 690 € per pair for 2 m and 3 290 € for 3 m.
Brave Heart With a dominant red color rather than black for the Lone Ranger, the Brave Heart features a logo of a heart pierced by a sword, as opposed to a horseman on horseback to represent the other hero. Technically, its design is almost the same, as it was planned for him before being derived for the Lone Ranger, which is about a third cheaper. However, the Brave Heart has a larger diameter and conducts energy better, with a gauge of 3.31 mm² compared to 2.08 mm² for the other model. Given its high-end status and technological advances, it looks set to replace the Thunderbird, leaving only the Firebird and Dragon in the Mythical Creatures series. Proof of the high-end quality of these new models is that both cables can be combined with a third cable designed primarily to handle low frequencies. Called Big Foot, it fits into the same sheath as the Lone Ranger and is only to be used in bi-wiring or bi-amplification, as it does not allow high frequencies to pass through. While the Big Foot is priced the same as the Lone Ranger, at 2 690 € per pair for 2 m and 3 290 € for 3 m, the Brave Heart stands out at 4 349 € for 2 m and 5 649 € for 3 m.
nown for several years with the suffix XS, the preamplifier-DAC of the 05 series from manufacturer Esoteric is changing to become the N-05XE. At the same time, the S-05 power amplifier is taking on the same suffix and becoming the S-05XE.
Esoteric N-05XE
N-05XE Preamplifier-DAC-Streamer
Without yet touching its K-05XD SACD player (test FR VU#53; Remarkable), Japan’s Esoteric is upgrading its smallest network source to give it a very important feature that could make it the brand’s best converter at the moment after the Grandioso N1 streamer.
If you go back to our report on the last Tokyo Show, you will see a photo with the two DAC cards from the old and new Grandioso series streamers. Called G2, this new proprietary FPGA-based DAC has shown us how it adds even more fluidity and clarity to the brand’s flagship streamer. Now, it’s the turn of the N-05XE (before the 01 and 03 series models that recently became XD SE) to integrate a simplified but undoubtedly fairly similar version of this DAC.
Otherwise, the only change to the front panel is the removal of the USB-B port on the right, replaced by a USB-C port integrated directly into the black section below the OLED screen, with the advantage of making the product more visually appealing. However, the technology has also been redesigned on the streaming module, which is now in its fourth generation and incorporates a new SFP port for direct fiber optic connection. In addition to reduced noise due to improved power and music signal processing, the Master Sound Discrete Clock has also been adapted to the new DAC, resulting in further jitter reduction.
At the same time, the power supplies have been redesigned and the circuits improved to shorten the signal paths. Available in silver or black finishes, like its predecessor, the N-05 XE retains its two headphone jacks and numerous digital inputs, in addition to analog inputs and outputs, most of which are balanced (XLR). It is scheduled for release in spring 2026.
Esoteric S-05XE
S-05XE power amplifier
While it did not yet have a suffix, as its S-05 version was the first, the 05 series power amplifier has also evolved into the S-05XE.
Also integrated into the same chassis as its predecessor, it only sees the design of the top grille become more assertive, with an attractive double honeycomb pattern carved into the machined aluminum cover. A new 1,000 VA toroidal transformer takes care of the power supply, supplemented by a new smoothing circuit, already completely separated between the left and right channels, before filtering still handled by four 10,000 μF capacitors.
Another key difference is that this new version incorporates a buffer circuit on the amplification input stage, which is perfectly symmetrical like the rest of the device. In class A, the S-05XE can deliver up to 30W per channel into 8Ω and 60W into 4Ω. But as the amplifier is not limited by its transistors, it can then operate in class AB up to 2 x 120W if required.
Also available in silver or black, as the 05 series is the only Esoteric series permanently available in both colors, the S-05XE amplifier will be released at the same time as the new N-05XE preamplifier-DAC in early spring to offer its beautiful sound.
With two chassis, the 3D-Lab Player Nano Master uses a brand new version of the Nano Power 2 power supply (tested in VU46 FR, read here in EN), which is only compatible with the new audio case designed for this model.
Integrated into two identical cases, similar to those of the other Nano models (Sonata, Platinum, Signature), the Master is available in both Transport and Player versions, the latter incorporating a DAC. On both models, the power supply is autonomous and delivers a current that is split into two, one at 5 amps and the other at 2 amps, in order to provide the most ideal power possible to the digital sections and output stages.
To prevent any accidental connection with another device, the cable connecting the power supply to the other unit is a 5-pin female-to-female XLR. Along with the IEC mains socket and a switch, the male connector for the XLR cable is the only visible element on the rear of the power supply.
On the front panel, both boxes have an “ON” button that can only be used on the power supply, and two LEDs, the first “L1” lighting up blue during standard operation. On this second unit, the digital section has been extensively redesigned to combine an ultra-precise clock and an FPGA with enormous computing power, designed to reformat all signals to 768 kHz/32-bit before their analog conversion.
With a claimed jitter rate of just a few picoseconds, the Nano Master incorporates a 1TB internal NVMe drive and can connect to numerous NAS devices or USB sticks via its USB 2 and USB 3 ports. Recommended for digital use with the I2S port to transfer audio files without altering them, it also has an AES/EBU output and a coaxial S/PDIF output. The Player version adds a pair of RCA outputs and a pair of XLR outputs to connect directly to the analog section of a preamp or amplifier.
Currently being tested at VUmètre and already available for listening, the Nano Master can be connected via RJ45 or can integrate an external WiFi module. It is compatible with most existing protocols. It is therefore Roon Ready and natively integrates Audirvāna, Qobuz Connect, and Tidal Connect, and can play PCM files from 44.1 kHz up to 768 kHz.
These 3D-Lab are priced at 6 990 € for the Transport and 7 990 € for the Player.
In order to surpass the MM Carbon cartridge without replacing either the chassis or the rest of the turntable, Rega is launching a superior version of the stylus called Carbon Pro.
Originally fitted to the Planar 1, 1 Plus, and 2 turntables, Rega Carbon cartridges feature an easily replaceable Carbon stylus. Available in white or black, this part can now be replaced with a black Carbon Pro version. The only difference is that the tip attached to the carbon cantilever is now elliptical, whereas the original tip has a conical profile.
This replacement, which must be done by detaching the cartridge from the arm to avoid the risk of breaking the tip when removing or reattaching the stylus, is designed to provide greater detail and improve sound dynamics.
The tracking force remains unchanged, between 2 and 3 grams, to be adjusted according to your listening preferences. Slightly more expensive, the Carbon Pro stylus costs 49 €, compared to 30 € for the Carbon. A small additional cost that offers a very simple solution to improve the performance of your Rega turntable.
Tested in white-silver and black in our Japan Special issue in french (VU#62; Remarkable), the most compact of the TAD speakers is now available in a limited edition of 50 pairs in a “Luxury Green” finish.
Paired with stands that are also available in green to match the speakers, the TAD-ME1TX-G retains all the components of the classic versions. Despite being only 41.1 cm high and almost as deep (37.1 cm without the terminals), this TAD weighs 21 kg (46 lb) per unit. It uses a 3-way bass-reflex architecture, integrated into an MDF and birch panel cabinet reinforced with 5 mm thick metal braces on the sides.
To handle low frequencies from 36 Hz, a 16 cm (6.5-inch) speaker with a proprietary MACC multi-layer diaphragm structure is placed at the bottom. Cut off at 420 Hz, it then leaves the midrange frequencies to the 9 cm (3.5“) CST concentric magnesium cone driver, which incorporates a 2.5 cm (1”) beryllium semi-dome tweeter, available from 2.5 kHz to over 60 kHz.
With its impressive musical performance, this TAD speaker is geared towards professional listening, as it strives for exceptional accuracy and precision. However, as you can read in our test report, it also stands out for its flexibility, particularly in the high frequencies.
Limited to 50 pairs worldwide, as mentioned above, this green version costs slightly more than the black (17 300 €) and silver-white (17 500 €) models, priced at 18 200 €, plus 2 800 € for the dedicated stands. Rush if you are interested, as the limited quantity will only cover a few months of orders.
