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The July 2015 Issue is on Newsstands Now

Stereophile Staff  |  Jun 15, 2015

Bel Canto's extraordinary Black amplification system is featured on the cover. Combining state-of-the-art class-D monoblocks with an all-digital preamplifier, the Black sounds and measures as good as it can get. At a price, of course—but at the other end of the price spectrum, we review Creek's Evolution 100A integrated amplifier, as complete in its way as the Black is in its. These are not your father's amplifiers.

Emotiva's new XMC-1 preamplifier/processor, which incorporates the Dirac room-correction software is featured in "Music in the Round," while on the analog playback side, two European tonearms come under our scrutiny—one of which is declared to be finest tonearm ever&151;along with turntables from Pear Audio Blue and Pioneer. And Herb Reichert discovers a bargain-priced phono cartridge from Shure.

"Are you still into that sound stuff?" asks Robert Schryer's mother in "As We See It." Yes we are, and getting more from our music than we ever did in the past.

COMMENTS
otaku's picture
Submitted by otaku on June 15, 2015 - 5:19am

Four days ago. Versus a week *after* the online copy last month.

Hari Shankar's picture
Submitted by Hari Shankar on June 15, 2015 - 10:40am

Class D is dead and i do not get it why constantly companies are trying to "shuve" down Class D on consumers, its minuses outweight its pros - i think the trend is still Class A/B done well or Class A mostly, this is high end audio and besides Diavelet who has had some success using interstage Class A, Traditional Class D is best left to mobile audio (cars).

georgehifi's picture
Submitted by georgehifi on June 15, 2015 - 2:35pm

To me Class D is midfi at best, or good for subs. I believe why it still gets pushed into the hi-end is because it's got very high profit margin, compared to linear amps, let face it, what's inside a class D cost peanuts compared to good linear.

Cheers George

Anton's picture
Submitted by Anton on June 15, 2015 - 4:20pm

If it weren't for the cost savings of class D modules, there's no telling how much this stuff would cost.

;-D

I love audio and all, but I am dubious regarding the pricing structure we have seen as "high end" companies incorporate this circuitry into their lines.

Kinda reminds me of the "Oppo in a Lexicon" days.

avanti1960's picture
Submitted by avanti1960 on June 16, 2015 - 10:02am

i wonder if people are dismissing class D out of hand or have actually had extended listening time with the application leaders.
the best i have heard tend to cause a paradigm shift in the way you listen and what attributes you value that determines sound quality.
in general terms, class AB is warm and congested compared to the best of class D that can be open and transparent.

Axiom05's picture
Submitted by Axiom05 on June 17, 2015 - 3:35am

I hate to have to always ask this question, but once again, new edition has not been received from Zinio.

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on June 18, 2015 - 4:18am
Axiom05 wrote:
I hate to have to always ask this question, but once again, new edition has not been received from Zinio.

It was available for download on June 12.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

Axiom05's picture
Submitted by Axiom05 on June 18, 2015 - 4:24am

Thanks for reply. It appears that my subscription ran out and I was never notified ahead of time. Very strange. I think I will give up on Zinio.

Aaron Garrett's picture
Submitted by Aaron Garrett on June 17, 2015 - 6:04am

I don't understand why every time there's a review of a Class D amp a bunch of posters all need to write something negative about Class D amps. I assume that most of the readers have not heard the amp under review with the speakers etc. it was tested with. So why? I've owned TACT and Devialet amps, they sounded great with the right speakers and front end. I've also owned Pass amps and many others, they did too.

Satan's Chlydren's picture
Submitted by Satan's Chlydren on June 17, 2015 - 8:24am

Hi Robert,

Edit: It is not "fuggers", it is "buggers" in the LP and 45 rpm version, and on a rare bootleg live version: "muggers" on the Standells "Dirty Water". If you are looking for an interesting topic: interview the following: Lenox, Cool, Rich, and Amboyan. Hint: If you had one of their 45rpms, you would be the envy of anyone who is clued into the websites: Garage Hangover and G45Central. BTW: Satan's Chlydren is my moniker, named after a band out of Dallas, TX. One song on acetate. Disappeared into the night after 6 months, leaving this one hell of garage band punk song. Someone put up a billboard in Dallas, TX asking them to come forward, no one did......Also some day interview Tim Warren, Crypt Records producer of BFTG series of Garage Band Punk. Tim is THE Garage Band Maniac.

srifkin's picture
Submitted by srifkin on June 24, 2015 - 2:05pm

Those of you who are set into the notion that Class D does not cut it, are missing out on hearing the most comprehensive system available. Black has virtually no signature when you listen to LossLess networked files. BelCanto has created a music monster. The sound defines what amazing audio sounds like. To understand this you MUST hear it. Steve

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