Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i Stereophile

THERE ARE AS MANY OPINIONS AS THERE ARE EXPERTS THIS ISSUE: Do audiophiles buy components to try to re-create that very first time? There is a difference between being deeply moved and being deeply delighted. Haydn engages my soul every time, but always the part of my soul that experiences delight—no dark brooding romantic passion, not even in the Sturm und Drang works. He sounds to me the ultimate Enlightenment composer. As I continue my third traversal of his 104-odd symphonies in the cycle recorded by Antal Dorati and the Philharmonia Hungarica, I consistently feel as I did when I stood in the rotunda of the Jefferson Memorial on a bright, brisk day in spring: musical thoughts wafting in and out like light and air moving through open colonnades of…

A ROUND MAN CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO FIT INTO A SQUARE HOLE THIS ISSUE: First listens to Marantz’s AV8802A pre/pro and UpTone Audio’s Regen, plus second listens to Monitor Audio’s Silver 8 speaker and exaSound’s e28 DAC. Outside of the listening I do for this column, I always audition, assess, and review components without using any equalization or room correction— primarily because I assume that most Stereophile readers listen in two-channel stereo, and that most aren’t all that interested in EQ. Besides, two-channel is the tradition I come from, and my first instinct is to try to get at the essence of the individual component itself, without applying extraneous tools or accessories. John Atkinson’s bench tests are based on the same philosophy. Consequently, when I reviewed Monitor Audio’s Silver 8…

INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER Nuvistors—miniature, small-signal, vacuum tubes made of metal and ceramic—were introduced by RCA in 1959, at the dawn of the transistor revolution. RCA used them throughout the 1960s in its New Vista line of television sets, mostly in the tuner section. But by the early 1970s, solid-state devices had all but replaced tubes, nuvistors included (with a few notable exceptions). Ampex based the electronics of its well-regarded, late-’60s MR-70 open-reel tape deck on nuvistors, which were also used in microphone preamplifiers—in both cases for their very low noise and reputation for reliability and long life. For a time, Conrad-Johnson used them as well. While nuvistors may seem exotic today, they’re hardly rare. On eBay you can find for sale hundreds if not thousands of used and new-old stock (NOS)…

Analog Sources Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable, Cobra tonearm, Castellon stand; TechDAS Air Force Two turntable; Graham Engineering Phantom Elite, Kuzma 4Point, Swedish Analog Technologies tonearms; Air-Tight PC-1 Magnum Opus, Fuuga, Lyra Atlas & Etna, Miyajima Labs Zero (mono) & Madake, Ortofon Anna cartridges. Digital Sources Lynx Hilo A/D–D/A converter; Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System; Simaudio Moon Evolution 650D CD transport–DAC; Pure Vinyl, VinylStudio LPripping software. Preamplification Ypsilon Electronics MC-10L & MC-16L step-up transformers; darTZeel NHB-18NS, Luminous Audio Technology Arion, Ypsilon Electronics VPS-100 preamplifiers. Power Amplifiers darTZeel NHB 458 monoblocks. Loudspeakers Wilson Audio Specialties Alexandria XLF. Cables Interconnect: Snake River Audio Boomslang S/PDIF, Stealth Sakra & Indra, TARA Labs Zero Evolution & Zero, Teresonic Clarison Gold, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse. Speaker: TARA Labs Omega Evolution SP, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 7. AC:…

I performed a full set of measurements on two samples of the Benchmark AHB2 (serial nos. 14440108-0 and 14440111-0), using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 “As We See It,” www.stereophile.com/content/measurements-maps-precision), and the amplifier’s binding posts rather than its Neutrik terminals. As the AHB2 is specified as having a maximum power output of 100Wpc into 8 ohms, I preconditioned it before measuring it by running it at one-third that power into 8 ohms for an hour. Following that period, the top panel was warm, at 106.7°F (41.5°C), though the heatsinks were hotter, of course, at 117.3°F (47.4°C). The percentage of THD+noise at this power level was an extremely low 0.0005% with the AHB2 fully warm. I had first learned about the powersupply and amplifier topology used in…

Description Solid-state, two-channel power amplifier. Inputs: 1 pair unbalanced (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 pairs binding posts, 1 pair preamplifier outputs. Power output: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW), both channels driven; 400W into 4 ohms (23dBW), one channel driven. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.05dB. Sensitivity for maximum output: 1.15V, single-ended input; 2.3V, balanced input. Input impedance: 10k ohms. Harmonic distortion: 0.001% (1kHz at 80% power into 8 ohms). Signal/noise: 110dBA ref. 50W into 8 ohms. Maximum power consumption: 1kW. Dimensions 17" (433mm) W by 6.75" (171mm) H by 16.75" (425mm) D. Weight: 39.6 lbs (18kg) net, 43.5 lbs (19.7kg) shipping. Finish Dark gray. Serial numbers of units reviewed PA4901035_14_52, FPA4901087_14_52. Price $4999. Approximate number of dealers: 125. Manufacturer Arcam, The West Wing, Stirling House, Waterbeach, Cambridge CB25 9QE, England,…

Analog Sources Acoustic Signature Wow XL turntable & TA-1000 tonearm; Thorens TD 124 turntable with Abis SA-1.2 tonearm; Technics SL1200MK2 turntable with SME M2-9 tonearm; Jasmine Audio Turtle, Ortofon 2M Black & CG 25 DI II, Shure SC35C, Soundsmith Carmen, Zu Audio DL-103 cartridges. Digital Sources Halide Design DAC HD DAC,Onkyo Integra DPS-7.2 disc player. Preamplification Blue Horizon Ideas Profono, Schiit Audio Mani phono stages; Intact Audio step-up transformer. Integrated Amplifiers Hegel Music Systems H160, Line Magnetic LM-518IA, Rogue Audio Sphinx, Simaudio Moon Evolution 340i. Headphone Amplifiers Audeze Deckard, Burson Conductor, Schiit Audio Asgard. Headphones AKG K812, Audeze EL-8, AudioQuest NightHawk, Beyerdynamic DT 880 (32 & 600 ohm), Sony MDR-7520. Loudspeakers Falcon Acoustics LS3/5A, GoldenEar Technologies Triton 5s, KEF LS50, Magnepan .7. Cables Interconnect: AudioQuest Cinnamon & Big Sur &…

I measured the Chord Hugo TT with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 “As We See It,” http://tinyurl.com/4ffpve4). Sources were S/PDIF on TosLink and coaxial from the SYS2722, and USB from my 2012 MacBook Pro running on battery power. (I didn’t test the Bluetooth performance.) Macintosh’s USB Prober utility reported the Chord’s product string as “HugoTT” from “Chord Electronics Ltd,” and confirmed that the USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. Except where noted, all measurements were taken from the Chord’s balanced outputs. With the volume set to its maximum the Hugo TT clipped with a 1kHz tone at –17dBFS from all of its outputs. The maximum output level was 5.85V from the balanced outputs, 4.78V from the unbalanced RCA jacks and headphone…

TAKE HEED! Unless marked otherwise, all letters to the magazine and its writers are assumed to be for possible publication. In the spirit of vigorous debate implied by the First Amendment, and unless we are requested not to, we publish correspondents’ e-mail addresses. A gentle man has died Editor: Len Schneider was in the industry for many years. He was a pretty fair technical writer. I engaged him to help me write the owner’s manuals (each over 80 pages) for our Halo C 1 and C 2 surround processors, and he was a pleasure to work with. I don’t think he was capable of saying anything negative about people— a rare trait in our community. He died in hospice from cancer, following many years of health challenges. —Richard Schram Parasound…

IN SEARCH OF THE EXCEPTIONAL THIS ISSUE: Art culls his record collection and listens to Allnic’s T-1800 integrated amplifier. Please don’t tell her I said this, but lately, my wife has been getting twitchy about my records. Twitchy as in: She wants me to sell them. Or at least some of them. I have only myself to blame. For years, I have shared with her my every joy that came of finding, at a lawn sale or garage sale or on eBay or at a record store whose proprietors “had no idea what this thing is worth,” some rare and valuable treasure. And therein lay another facet of my problem: As often as I would rejoice at the music I was poised to enjoy, or the sheer pleasure of acquiring…

In an e-conversation with exaSound’s George Klissarov about galvanic isolation in his company’s D/A converters, he told me that he used measurements done with battery power, so that the lower noise floor would reveal any influence of noise in the USB line. Despite Klissarov’s comfort with the performance of the 12V/1670mA power supply that exaSound provides, the owner’s manual says that a better power supply “may allow you to squeeze the last bit of performance from the e28 DAC.” A number of external power supplies might work (one is on the way to me), but Klissarov’s intimation that a battery would be the ideal power source hit my DIY button. I don’t do it myself much anymore, but I’ve been involved in DIY audio for most of my life and,…

Description Hybrid integrated amplifier using both nuvistors and bipolar transistors. Tube complement: 4 JAN 7586. Inputs: 4 pairs unbalanced (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Line-level outputs: 1 pair fixed (RCA), 1 pair variable (RCA). Speaker connections: 2 pairs 4mm banana plug/binding posts. Output power: 330Wpc into 8 ohms (25.2dBW). Output voltage: 52V RMS, 20Hz–20kHz; onset of clipping, 147V peak– peak. Damping factor: 200. THD+N (typical): <0.005%, 20Hz–20kHz. Signal/noise: >107dB, A-weighted. Input impedance: 40k ohms. Frequency response: 10Hz–30kHz, +0/–0.1dB. Power consumption: <0.5W (standby), 130W (on, idle), 900W (maximum). Dimensions 18.8” (483mm) W by 7.3” (187mm) H by 19.9” (510mm) D. Weight: 85.8 lbs (39kg) net, 103.4 lbs (47kg) shipping. Finishes Silver and black Serial number of unit reviewed VU00119 (listening), VU00117 (measuring). Price $12,999. Approximate number of dealers: 8. Warranty: 2…

MANHATTAN SYSTEM Digital Sources Sony XA-5400ES SACD/CD player, Oppo Digital BDP-105 universal BD player, Baetis XR2 PC-based music server, Benchmark DAC2 HGC and exaSound e28 D/A processors, QNAP TS-569L NAS. Preamplifier Audio Research MP1 (multichannel). Power Amplifiers McIntosh MC303, NAD M22, Parasound Halo A 31. Loudspeakers Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond. Cables Digital: AudioQuest Vodka (HDMI) & Carbon (USB), Black Cat Veloce, van den Hul Flat 180 (HDMI). Analog: AudioQuest Earth/DBS balanced. Speaker: AudioQuest Oak/DBS biwire. AC: AudioQuest NRG-10, JPS Aluminata. Accessories Environmental Potentials EP-2450 power conditioner, CyberPower 850PFCLCD AC filter (supplied with Baetis server). CONNECTICUT SYSTEM Digital Sources Oppo Digital BDP-103 universal BD player; Mac mini server running Boot Camped Windows 7, JRiver Media Center; miniDSP U-DAC8 DAC with UpTone Audio USB Regen USB repeater. Preamplification Marantz AV8801 preamplifier-processor.…

I performed a full set of measurements on one of the two FMJ P49 samples I was sent (serial no. FPA4901087_14_52), using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 “As We See It,” www.stereophile.com/content/measurements-maps-precision). As the P49 is specified as having a maximum power output of 200Wpc into 8 ohms, I preconditioned it before the measurements by running both channels at one-third that power, 67W, with a 1kHz signal into 8 ohms, for one hour. Following that period, the top panel was warm, at 109.8°F (43.3°C), though the vents covering the internal heatsinks were hotter, at 134.1°F (56.8°C). The THD+noise percentage at this power level was 0.001% with the amplifier cold, but 0.025% with it hot. Peculiarly, I heard the P49 emit a mechanical whine at continuous levels…

Description 2.1-channel, solid-state integrated amplifer. Analog inputs: RCA (5), XLR (1), minijack (3.5mm). Theater/Sub: RCA (2), XLR (1). Digital inputs: optical, coaxial, USB. Headphone output: 3.5mm.Power output (0.9% THD+N): 160Wpc into 8 ohms (22.0dBW), 270Wpc into 4 ohms (21.2dBW). Frequency response: 10Hz–100kHz, +0/–3dB. Total harmonic distortion (THD): <0.01%, average listening levels; <0.05%, 160Wpc into 8 ohms. Channel separation: >50dB at 20kHz, >70dB at 1kHz. Signal/noise ratio, A-weighted: line in, 103dB (input shorted); digital in, 106dB. Input impedance: 47k ohms (phono input MM), 100 ohms or 47k ohms (phono input MC). Dimensions 17" (437mm) W by 5.9" (150mm) H by 16.1" (413mm) D. Weight: 33 lbs (15kg) net, 44.9 lbs (20.4kg) shipping. Finishes Black, Silver. Serial number of unit reviewed 10042. Price $2495. Approximate number of dealers: 200+. Manufacturer Parasound Products,…

Digital Sources Apple MacBook Pro computer (2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) running OS 10.10.4, Roon V1 Build 30, JRiver Media Center 19, iTunes 12, Amarra Computer Music Player, VLC, Reaper 4.78, XLD; Western Digital NAS Device (2TB); Oppo Digital BDP-103 universal BD player; Meridian Sooloos Control 15 music server (QNAP TS-669 Pro NAS); Apple iPad Air & iPod Touch 1G & iPhone 6. Digital Processors AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC, Auralic Vega, Ayre Acoustics QB-9DSD, Benchmark DAC1 USB and DAC2 HGC, Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS, Rega Research DAC-R, Luxman DA-06. Preamplifier Marantz AV7005 in Pure Direct Mode. Power Amplifier Classe CAM 350 monoblocks. Loudspeakers MartinLogan Prodigy & BalancedForce 212 subwoofers (2). For desktop & recording monitoring: Emotiva Airmotiv 5s, Velodyne Servo-F Series subwoofer. Headphones Audeze LCD-X, Grado…

Few recent tonearms have more impressed me than the Abis SA-1, which I wrote about in our March 2014 issue.5 A relatively high-mass design with an effective length of 9" and a static downforce mechanism positioned well in front of its fulcrum, the Japanese-made SA-1 sounded fine with my Thorens TD 124 turntable and Denon DL-103 cartridge, and appeared to generate lots of e-interest among lovers of low-compliance moving-coil cartridges in general. But before long, Phillip Holmes of Mockingbird Distribution, which imports Abis tonearms for the US market, did something remarkable: He sent a note to Stereophile’s editorial office informing us that the SA-1 was in the process of being revised—and asked that it be removed from our “Recommended Components” list until we’d all had a chance to try its…

EDITOR’S PICK RECORDING OF THE MONTH Hommage à Eberhard Weber Pat Metheny, Jan Garbarek, Gary Burton, Scott Colley, Danny Gottlieb, Paul McCandless, Michael Gibbs; SWR Big Band, Helge Sunde, conductor ECM 2463 (CD). 2015. Martin Muhelis, concert prod.; Doris Hauser, Volker Neumann, Boris Kellenbenz, Pete Karam, Manfred Eicher, engs. DDD? TT: 69:48 There once was a joke about how technology would someday replace troublesome musicians: Instead of putting up with drummers being late to gigs, keeping irregular time, and stealing everyone else’s girlfriends, a trouble-free robot could take over. It seems that some of those predictions have come true. This single disc documents two concerts held in Stuttgart, Germany, in January 2015, to celebrate the 75th birthday of hometown German jazz electric bassist Eberhard Weber, who has been unable to…

TINSELTOWN. LA-LA LAND. SMELL-A. First, of course, there’s the climate. No way to hate sunshine and ocean breezes. And if you were somehow able to erase all the people in Southern California, the land itself—rising from the blue Pacific to high desert and on to timbered, sometimes even snowy mountaintops—is gorgeous. Then, of course, there’s the unusually attractive human flora and fauna roaming SoCal. How did Brian Wilson put it . . . ? “Dolls by a palm tree in the sand.” Although the residents of America’s two great metropolises are supposed to detest each other’s hometown, or at least that was the moral of Annie Hall (that, and needing the eggs), many New Yorkers savor Los Angeles for what it is, and vice versa. One musical oddity about L.A.,…

I performed a full set of measurements on the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 8001 using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 “As We See It,” www.stereophile.com/content/measurements-maps-precision). As the amplifier is specified as having a maximum power output of 330Wpc into 8 ohms, I preconditioned it before the measurements by running it at one-third that power into 8 ohms for an hour. Following that period, the top panel was warm, at 99.5°F (37.5°C), and the heatsinks hotter, at 121.9°F (49.9°C). With the Nu-Vista 800’s volume control set to “114.5,” its maximum voltage gain at 1kHz into 8 ohms was typical for an integrated amplifier, at 42.1dB unbalanced and 42.3dB balanced. The volume control operated in accurate 0.5dB steps, with the error a negligible +0.13dB at a setting of “79.5”;…

Description Two-channel, solid-state power amplifier. Inputs: 1 pair balanced, linelevel (XLR). Outputs: 1 pair multiway binding posts, 1 pair Neutrik NL4 speaker outputs (channels 1 & 2), 1 Neutrik NL4 speaker output (for bridged-mono operation). Rear-panel controls: two 12V trigger inputs/outputs, threeposition Input Sensitivity Switch, two-position Bridge Mode Switch. Front-panel controls: Power Switch, Power Indicator, Clip, Temperature, and Mute Indicators for each channel. Output power, 1kHz <0.0001% THD+N, both channels driven: 100W into 8 ohms (20dBW), 130W into 6 ohms (19.4dBW), 190W into 4 ohms (19.8dBW), 240W into 3 ohms (19dBW). Output power, bridged-mono mode: 200W into 16 ohms (26dBW), 380W into 8 ohms (25.8dBW), 480W into 6 ohms (25dBW). Output current: 18 amps/channel, both channels driven, 18 amps shut-down threshold. Input sensitivity (selectable): 9.8V RMS/22dBu, 4V RMS/14.2dBu, 2V RMS/8.2dBu.…

Analog Sources Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ekos tonearm, Linn Arkiv B cartridge. Digital Sources Antipodes DX Reference music server; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; Apple 2.7GHz i7 Mac mini running OS10.7, Audirvana Plus 1.5.10, iTunes 11, Pure Music 2.0; PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream D/A converter; dCS Vivaldi digital playback system; Audio-Quest JitterBug USB filter; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 USB A/D converter. Preamplification Channel D Seta L phono preamplifier. Power Amplifiers Parasound Halo JC 1, Pass Labs XA60.5 (both monoblocks). Loudspeakers GamuT RS7, KEF LS50, PSB Imagine T3, YG Acoustics Carmel 2. Cables Digital: AudioQuest Coffee USB, Kubala-Sosna Elation! AES/EBU, Transparent USB (with dCS). Interconnect (balanced): AudioQuest Wild Blue. Speaker: Kubala-Sosna Elation!. AC: Kubala-Sosna Elation!, manufacturers’ own. Accessories Audio Power Industries 116 Mk.II & PE-1 AC line…

I measured the Parasound Halo Integrated using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com, and the January 2008 “As We See It” at www.stereophile.com/content/measurements-mapsprecision). As usual, I preconditioned the amplifier before measuring it by running both channels at one-third power into 8 ohms for an hour. At the end of that period, the top panel was hot, reaching 137.4°F (58.6°C) by the vents over the internal heatsinks. I began by looking at the Halo’s phono-stage performance, taking the amplifier’s output from the fixed-level Rec Out jacks with the volume control at its minimum setting, so that the high-level tests wouldn’t overload the poweramplifier stage. With the phono input set to moving magnet, the voltage gain was 34.2dB; set to moving coil, it was 53.8dB. Each value is appropriate for that…

Description Desktop D/A converter and headphone amplifier with Bluetooth receiver. Inputs: optical TosLink (24/192), coaxial RCA (24/384), driverless USB (16/44/48), HD USB (32/384, DSD128), A2DP/aptX Bluetooth (16/44/48). Outputs: two 1⁄4" (6.35mm) headphone jacks, 1⁄8" (3.5mm) headphone jack, 1 pair stereo phono (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Power supply: 12V 0.5A. Lots of multicolored lights. No other specifications supplied. Dimensions 9.2" (235mm) W by 1.8" (45mm) H by 8.8" (225mm) D. Weight: 6.6 lbs (3kg). Finishes Black, Silver. Serial number of unit reviewed 25831. Price $4795. Approximate number of dealers: 50. Warranty: 3 years. Manufacturer Chord Electronics Ltd., The Pumphouse, Farleigh Bridge, Farleigh Lane, East Farleigh, Kent ME16 9NB, England, UK. Tel: (44) (0)1622-721444. Fax: (44) (0)1622-721555. Web: www.chordelectronics.co.uk. US distributor: Bluebird Music Ltd., 275 Woodward Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14217. Tel:…

“And the poets down here Don’t write nothing at all They just stand back and let it all be” How to write about Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run turning 40? Bang! Several ways immediately come to mind: Which records seriously changed your life? If, to you, music means from a lot to everything, then at some point you’ve had epiphanies, large and small, when you’ve heard certain albums or tracks. It’s the ol’ can-you-rememberwhere-you-were-when-you-heard . . . The Beatles (White Album)? Blonde on Blonde? Born to Run? Kid A? Elephant? The College Dropout? Nah, perhaps: “Psssst. Got any bootlegs?” “Nah, man. Yoko Ono will kill me!” Let’s be honest. At a certain point studio recordings and official live records aren’t enough. Obsession demands bootlegs of live and studio recordings. Truth…