HiFi Advice Reviews the Crescendo BEAT
A big thank you to Christiaan Punter at HiFi Advice for taking on the very first review of the Crescendo BEAT, our new dual-rail linear power supply. Christiaan reviews with unusual rigour and a deep reference system, and he has spent real time across our range, so having him be the first to put the BEAT through its paces, right as he was pairing the Crescendo VERSE with a set of large studio monitors, was perfect timing for all of us.
The heart of his review is a question we love, which is how much of a component's performance comes down to its power supply. Feeding the VERSE from the BEAT, Christiaan wrote that the difference was evident from the first notes and, in his words, "very significant." What pleased us most is how he described it. Rather than the usual heavy, thick signature people expect from a linear supply, he heard the music become "much more precise and transparent," emerging from a quieter background with a newfound calmness, as the BEAT lifted a veil without touching the VERSE's own smooth, subtly warm balance. He summed up the effect by saying it improves the sound in many ways "without sacrificing anything," which he noted is rare when swapping a power supply.
He was also fair about where things stand in the range, and we would rather share that plainly. The larger Harmony DAC and HP2A still reach a higher level of ultimate resolution, and the BEAT does not turn the VERSE or the uDAC into a Harmony DAC. His point, though, is the one we designed the BEAT to make: with the BEAT in place, the choice becomes a matter of preference rather than tier, and the VERSE lands closer to our flagship than its price suggests, while adding a headphone amplifier and analog volume as a bonus. He reached the same conclusion with the uDAC, which he felt gained real fluidity and musicality from the upgrade.
His overall verdict was to call the BEAT a must-have with any compatible LAiV component, and he gave it the HiFi Advice Highly Recommended award.
Christiaan's full review goes much deeper into the listening, and it is well worth your time.
👉 Read the full review here:https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/accessories-reviews/laiv-crescendo-beat/
Once again, thank you Christiaan and the HFA team for the support and for sharing your listening impressions with the community.
🎶 Designing dreams, yours specifically.
Credit: Christiaan Punter
Creator @ hifi-advice.com
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