Old Guy Hifi Reviews the Crescendo CHORUS: "Like a Premium Watch" and Highly Recommended
- Laiv
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
A big thank you to Ed Homewood of Old Guy Hifi for one of the most thorough reviews the Crescendo CHORUS has received. Ed brings a depth of listening perspective that few reviewers can match. He describes himself as a "Music First" audiophile, and that philosophy shapes everything about his approach. He also uses the LAiV Harmony DAC as his daily reference, and has done for almost two years, so he came into this review already deeply familiar with the way LAiV products are built and voiced.
What makes this review especially valuable is its scope. Ed tested the CHORUS in both stereo and monoblock configurations, across a desktop setup and a full-size listening room, with five different pairs of speakers. That level of real-world testing is exactly what prospective buyers want to hear about.
His verdict on build quality is unambiguous: "absolutely outstanding," "like a premium watch," and "extraordinarily well constructed." He notes there is "no serious cutting corners," and that the CHORUS maintains the same premium standard found throughout the Harmony line. Opening the unit up for a close inspection only reinforced that impression. The CHORUS, he says, "shares that same luxurious industrial design" and "feels very modern, sophisticated, and purposeful."
On sound, Ed found the CHORUS in stereo mode drove every speaker he connected with "confidence and composure." But it was the move to monoblock that really caught his attention. Dynamics became "much more explosive," bass gained "additional impact and authority," transient attack sounded "more convincing," and the overall presentation felt "larger, much more effortless, and much more engaging." The difference, he notes, was "not subtle." With one pair of speakers in particular, the monoblocks made them "really come alive," creating what he called "one of my favorite pairings during this whole review period." He sees the ability to start with one unit and later add a second as a genuine strength, a practical upgrade path that does not require a complete system overhaul.
Perhaps the most striking observation in the review: Ed has also reviewed the Harmony GaNM, LAiV's flagship mono amplifier, and states that he prefers the CHORUS sonically. "I think these sonically sound a little smoother and a little better," he says. "I kind of prefer these over those." Coming from someone who has spent extensive time with both, that says a great deal about the engineering that went into the Crescendo line.
In the interest of transparency: Ed notes that the CHORUS leans toward the detailed and revealing side of neutral, and that careful speaker matching matters. Pairing it with warmer, more relaxed speakers created what he called a "particularly compelling balance," while more forward-sounding speakers could push the upper mids further than some listeners may prefer. That observation underlines the value of system matching, something true of any serious amplifier, and something we always encourage customers to consider.
His final word? "Highly recommended. Without question, if you're searching for a high-end amplifier that occupies very little space while delivering a genuinely impressive sonic performance, the Chorus deserves to be on your audition list." And on value: "worth the money without question."
Watch the full review at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4R2qrhmhUI. Ed goes deep on stereo vs mono, desktop vs full-size room, and five different speaker pairings. It is well worth 22 minutes of your time.
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Credit: Ed Holmwood
Reviewer @ Old Guy Hifi YT Channel
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