Reviews
23 October 2024
The Melco E100A audiophile hard disk drive offers an extra 8 TB of audio-grade storage for all audio systems relying on HDD storage. Naturally, this includes Melco Digital Music Libraries, as well as systems running Windows 11, MacOS, exFAT-compatible Linux-based equipment, and the Raspberry Pi.
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14 October 2024
With the AUVAs, British manufacturer Stack Audio developed an alternative to spikes and compliant couplers. Enclosed within the AUVA’s machined aluminum cases are cells containing a mixture of particles which, when excitied by vibrations, dissipate the energy virtually instantaneously, removing remove masking vibrations.
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1 October 2024
Velikinac Audio Lab Sirius
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The Sirius is a four-way speaker using a mix of compression drivers for treble and midrange and conventional drivers for the lower midrange and bass, designed to convey the soul of the music in the purest manner.
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22 September 2024
Laiv Harmony DAC
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Building on an extensive background in industrial automation, Singapore company Laiv is passionate about revolutionizing the world of audio through innovative and user-centric design in which technology adapts to us, not the other way around. In this review, I will listen to the gorgeous looking Harmony DAC.
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17 August 2024
In addition to the existing UPnP, HQ Player, and HQ Player Core + NAA modules, Aqua has introduced a Squeezelite renderer module for the LinQ Network Interface, adding ongoing significance to this streamer's future-proof nature.
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9 August 2024
XACT S1 Music Server
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With a custom 100% linear power supply with 100% linear regulation, a fully custom motherboard, a custom Operating System written from scratch and optimized for the hardware, and proprietary Femtoserver software running, all under control from the superb JPLAY for iOS app, the XACT S1 is a truly unique proposition.
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2 August 2024
Melco N5-H50
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The Melco N5 Digital Music Library features a sleek build and very solid build quality. The N5 has all-new electronics, with a new mainboard, high-grade low-noise internal linear power supply, and extensive pro-grade Amphenol and Neutrik connectivity.
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16 July 2024
Mad Scientist Audio Prime USB
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This brand new Mad Scientist product is called Prime not just because it is the company's best cable but mainly because it uses prime numbers to define the sizes and positions of various elements to create a non-resonant "bad antenna" design that reduces noise and interference. Does this cable really make a unique proposition, or have we heard it before?
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8 June 2024
Denafrips Ares 12th-1
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Based on the entry-level model Ares II (recently renamed to Enyo), the Ares 12th-1 is Denafrips' Anniversary Edition DAC, offering various performance enhancements over the Ares II/Enyo.
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6 June 2024
Clarisys Audio Minuet Plus
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Remember how smitten I was with the Clarisys Audio Minuet when I heard it one year ago (2023) at PUUR hifidelity? Now, go figure that the speaker company issued an improved "Neodymium" model called Minuet Plus that does everything the previous Ferrite model did but with higher efficiency and improvements across the board.
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22 March 2024
In this review, I will compare the Silent Angel Bonn N8 Pro Ethernet Switch with the new Bonn NX Ethernet Switch, first on its own and then augmented by the Genesis GX Word Clock.
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4 March 2024
Diptyque DP 140 MkII
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With sleek and stylish new looks, improvements in structure and rigidity, optimized PPBM technology and higher tolerances across the board, the DP 140 MkII defines the sweet spot for Diptyque.
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15 February 2024
Network Acoustics tempus
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tempus is the most recent addition to the Network Acoustics portfolio, a precision ultra-low noise Ethernet Switch with dedicated hybrid power supply.
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14 February 2024
Antipodes G4 K22
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Review samples supplied by Antipodes Audio Retail price (world) USD 9.000 excluding storage Upgrade price G3 to G4 USD 2.000 Storage can be included at purchase or later installed by the user Available in Black or Silver Part of the KALA series, the Antipodes K22 offers the best performance the New Zealand company can squeeze […]
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31 January 2024
Ansuz PowerSwitch X-TC3 and D3
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The Ansuz X-TC3 and D3 PowerSwitches are hugely effective products with almost magical properties. But don't dismiss the Ansuz ethernet cables, especially the D2 with its active Tesla Coils, when powered by one of these PowerSwitches.
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16 January 2024
Antipodes G4 Oladra
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The original Oladra performed better than any Antipodes server before it. While some of the Oladra technology has recently trickled down into the other models, these latest G4 updates ensure the Oladra comfortably retains its head start.
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4 January 2024
JPLAY for iOS
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JPLAY is a wonderful app that offers a rich yet slick and easy-to-use interface combined with superb sound quality.
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31 December 2023
Grimm MU2
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Principally, the MU2 does not deviate all that much from the MU1, which is a good thing! But instead of relying on active digital speakers or an external DAC, the MU2 includes the company's proprietary 'Major' DAC and a relay-based analog preamp section.
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12 November 2023
I only just recently heard the dCS Puccini CD/SACD Player and DAC and Paganini Master Clock/USB Interface in the context of my own system. Since many people are shopping in the second-hand market, I thought it would be worth sharing my Quick Impressions of these products.
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31 October 2023
Connected between the CH Precision C1.2 DAC and L1 preamp, the Ensemble Dynaflux FSF Interlink surprises by sounding nothing like its appearance might suggest.
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29 October 2023
Mad Scientist introduces two new ranges: Black Magic Ultra and Black Magic Gold. Reviewed are four cables: Black Magic Ultra speaker cables, Black Magic Gold balanced analog interlink, Black Magic Ultra Power cable, and Black Magic Gold USB cable.
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1 October 2023
Manunta By M2Tech is a new daughter company from M2Tech, devised to offer audiophiles and music lovers a large portion of the M2Tech product quality at a lower price. The Evo DDC 3 can be seen as the successor of the HiFace Evo that I have used for over a decade. In this review, I am putting the sleek yet versatile Evo DDC 3 to the test and I will investigate how it performs and how it compares to its older nephew.
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6 September 2023
AG Lifter Apollo Modular Rack
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The AG Lifter design philosophy is to build a rack for music lovers. Apollo is the top-of-the line product with a modular nature which allows users to start with a single module and build out the system precisely as needed.
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3 September 2023
Before the introduction of the Statement series, the Reference series was Vermouth's very best. The new Statement series, using OCC silver/gold conductors, promises further elevated performance.
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29 August 2023
For the past five years, HRS has worked on the EXR system to get the performance and modularity on the desired level while also offering a 30% cost reduction over the model it replaced. As a result, the EXR Stand System is the brand's most cost-effective system to date.
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5 August 2023
Along with the Marten Parker Trio loudspeakers that I recently reviewed, I was also handed a trio of Jorma cables. As I found, these cables turned out not only to work superbly synergistically with the Parker Trios, but they also proved a smashing success overall. As such, I felt they deserved their own review.
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1 August 2023
Marten Parker Trio
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Marten may be known primarily for its luxurious cost-no-object Mingus and Coltrane series, but fortunately for those with more modestly-sized wallets, the range also extends to the other side. The Oscar series is the starting point into the world of Marten. Positioned above is the Parker series which offers a considerably more lavish build with non-parallel walls, a so-called multi-diverse crossover technique, and more exotic drivers.
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1 August 2023
Ansuz Darkz Resonance Control
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As I wrote review after review of Audio Group Denmark products, Darkz Resonance Control footers were always involved in one way or another. As I quickly found, Darkz have a profound impact, leading to my using several sets in my two systems as well as in many other reviews since then. But so far, the info was scattered across various articles. To make the info more easily attainable, I decided to create a separate article.
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31 July 2023
Goldmund Tethys
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The beautifully understated and elegant Tethys is the latest addition to Goldmund's portfolio and it marks the brand's very first passive loudspeaker. Given that all other Goldmund loudspeakers are active designs, that is a pretty big deal.
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25 July 2023
The AG Lifter design philosophy is to build a rack for music lovers. The Crescendo Power Amp Stand is a relatively affordable standalone product that offers a very large chunk of what a full AG Lifter rack solution can do for an audio system.
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19 July 2023
Originally, I had intended to limit this review just to a listening impression of the new 801 D4 Signature. However, during my visit to Bowers & Wilkins in Eindhoven, I was provided with such a wealth of information that I felt I could not just keep it all to myself and only focus on the review. As a result, what you can read below is a bit of Company History, a Factory Tour, and of course, a Listening Impression of the 801 D4 Signature.
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3 June 2023
This is not an in-depth review but a Quick Impression of these two streamers with the aim of providing a high-level (overall) comparison of their features and performance.
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27 May 2023
The Amber 4 DAC is the most recent incarnation of Lampizator's most affordable offering. This is not a full in-depth review but a Quick Impression.
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25 May 2023
Antipodes Oladra
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The Oladra offers the familiar Antipodes qualities such as deep tonal saturation, lushness, liquidity, and organic flow but is more articulate, crisper, more expressive, airier, and more highly resolving than ever before. Amazingly, it does all this without sounding even the tiniest bit cooler or more analytical.
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13 May 2023
Regular readers will know of my unwavering enthusiasm for Driade Flow Link Reference 808 interlinks ever since reviewing them in the summer of 2021. As time went by, I found myself using them more and more, and they are now my favorite cables!
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4 May 2023
Since its inception in 1983 by CEO Bo San, a practicing Korean Buddhist monk, Seawave Acoustic has sought the ultimate expression of horn loudspeaker technology. They aspire to reintroduce true horn loudspeakers based on original principles yet dramatically re-engineered for the modern era.
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10 April 2023
Due to a busy schedule and the DAC III only being with me for 1 week, here's a "Quick Impression" article, as an appetizer, or teaser review, if you will. The DAC will return and an in-depth review will follow later.
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8 April 2023
Recently, PUUR hifidelity moved from Oostzaan into a cozier and much more accessible shop on a main street in Zeist. In this article, you will find a showcase of the new showroom as well as a report of the Clarisys Audio show with a full listening impression of the entry-level Minuet model.
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5 April 2023
Developed around the company's latest proprietary noise filtering technology, the muon Ethernet Filter is a passive system designed to filter out problematic electrical and radio frequency noise that would otherwise be delivered via the ethernet cable along with the data into the sensitive audio equipment.
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3 April 2023
Antipodes servers have always offered a wide range of server and player apps and this makes them unique in a world dominated by single-purpose servers and streamers. But the brand's core quality is that they are all about conveying the soul of the music.
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31 March 2023
Playback Designs MPD-6
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The Playback Designs MPD-6 is a discrete DAC with integrated analog volume control. As part of the Edelweiss series, the MPD-6 has its roots in the Dream series from which it borrows key technologies and combines these with new ones to create a more compact and cost-effective package.
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5 March 2023
Playback Designs MPS-X
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The concept behind the MPS-X Interface is to connect digital sources such as computers, servers, network-attached storage, internet streaming services, and any other digital sources to it rather than directly to the sensitive circuits of a DAC. The MPS-X is a full-fledged standalone Network Endpoint / Streamer compatible with streaming services such as Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and vTuner, as well as local storage solutions on a NAS via DLNA/UPnP, and importantly, Roon.
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8 January 2023
Following the May 2022 Press Release, CH Precision has recently issued the new C1.2, an update of the longer-running C1 DAC. After having my unit updated, I was so impressed with the results that I simply had to share my findings.
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20 December 2022
Børresen Acoustics Z1 and 01
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With the Z1 Cryo and 01 Silver Supreme Edition, Børresen has produced on the one hand a speaker that offers a truly great price/performance ratio and on the other hand, an extravagantly-priced speaker that nevertheless offers state-of-the-art performance along with an absolutely stunning aesthetic.
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29 November 2022
Wires 4 Music is a young and dynamic company based in Málaga, Spain. Their goal is to make the best possible audio cables by employing today's best available materials while aiming for a reasonable price.
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13 November 2022
A complete system change and newfound experiences warranted a revisit of the Final Touch Audio Elara power cable. Read on to find out how I like it now!
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30 October 2022
Aqua La Diva M2 – Part 3
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Of late, ongoing changes on the streaming front have led to my reassessing the CD medium. But more pertinently, I have made a very interesting discovery that led to a newfound admiration for the Aqua M2 drive.
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29 October 2022
For this review, I will compare all three of GigaWatt's Power Strips using a range of GigaWatt power cables.
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25 October 2022
For this review, I am covering four GigaWatt power cables: three models from the new PowerSync range and one from the longer-standing EVO range. Read on to find out how they compare!
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16 October 2022
The DAC2-Mk3 can be seen as the successor of the DAC2 Signature that I reviewed in December 2019 and the CDT3-Mk3 is Jay's Audio's new Flagship CD transport. Read on to find out how they perform individually and as a pair.
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30 September 2022
The Flow Reference 808 is Driade's new reference-level speaker cable, intended to inhabit the spot above the Flow 405 in the brand's topmost tier and meant for those who seek the maximum in performance.
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25 September 2022
Artesania KSH2 Krion shelf
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The Artesania HSH2 Krion Shelf comes highly recommended, even if your components do not strictly require it, and even if you don't own an Artesania rack!
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16 September 2022
Recently, the Artesania Aire floor platform received a couple of aesthetic updates. This article highlights the specifics.
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10 September 2022
Established in 2002, MJ was originally started by ex-REL employees that sought new ways of doing things. This led to the brand being the first to offer presets and remote control for adjustment from the listening position, all the way back in 2004. Now, I will be reviewing two relatively compact but high quality subs, one from the Reference Series and one from the Master-Class Series.
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14 August 2022
After four years, the Mad Scientist decided to update their Black Magic cable. Unlike the original, it's hand-built from the wire up. In addition, they added the complex 8-fold screening system that was developed for the new speaker cables. The result, according to the Mad Scientist, is a cable that performs at a much higher level than the original.
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29 July 2022
Shortly after reviewing the Jorma AES/EBU cables, I started hearing rave reports about the other Jorma Digital cables, especially the USB Reference cable. With this dual product review, I am excited to investigate what all the fuss is about.
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5 July 2022
Driade Premium Model 2S
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It was a bit of a shame that I have reviewed various Driade cables but never any of their speakers. The recent Premium 2S provided the perfect occasion to rectify this!
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11 May 2022
Having reviewed a fair amount of Mad Scientist Audio products, I thought that I had a pretty good handle on the performance of their cables and accessories relative to other products, as well as on the brand's house sound in general. Well, let me just say that going into this latest review, my preconceptions were about to be turned upside down.
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5 May 2022
Here is an in-depth review of the Ansuz Mainz8 D2 and Mainz8 D-TC Power Distributors, enhanced with an assortment of Ansuz Mainz D2 power cables and Darkz T2 and T2 Supreme Resonance Control Footers.
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1 May 2022
From the very first notes, I knew I had something special on my hands. This cable's superiority is so evident that the review has practically written itself!
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24 April 2022
After all the USB cables that I reviewed, at some point, I truly felt that I had heard it all and there were no more surprises for me in store. Against this backdrop, it's an absolute joy to come across a new product that is so evidently superior to everything that came before it.
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15 March 2022
Ever wonder what spending extra on the next level DAC from the same company gets you? Let's find out by directly comparing all the DACs that Denafrips currently has on offer.
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22 February 2022
Reviewed here are two very different models, one monitor/stand-mount model, and one floor-standing model. The speakers have some similarities and some differences but both models impress with a sound that is full-bodied and tonally saturated yet also well-paced and engaging.
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13 February 2022
Ansuz Sparkz and Sortz
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Whether or not one is into tweaks or enhancers such as Ansuz Sortz and Sparkz, my tests have shown that there is simply no debate whether or not they work. Even the addition of a single Sparkz or Sortz in an otherwise standard setup already makes a large difference.
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4 February 2022
Aqua La Diva M2 – Part 2
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After my review of the La Diva M2, Marco of Hexagon Audio was so kind to leave both La Diva models with me for some time. This has allowed me to carry out some more comparisons.
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24 January 2022
Diptyque DP 107
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The Diptyque company is born from the meeting between two men passionate about acoustics: Gilles Douziech and Eric Poix. Among others what makes these speakers unique is their proprietary PPBM Push-Pull Bipolar Magnet technique that uses large section bipolar magnets located both at the front and the rear of the Mylar membrane. This makes it possible for the membrane's coil to remain in a constant magnetic field while it moves, allowing a much higher level of control than with a single-ended construction.
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