Sam Tellig

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Benchmark DAC1 Pre USB D/A headphone amplifier
Solid State Preamp ReviewsBudget Component ReviewsDigital Processor ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsComputer Audio Reviews
Sam Tellig  |  Dec 28, 2008  |  First Published: Oct 09, 2008  |  0 comments
Most of this column is dedicated to two hi-fi products for the masses—not from Lvov, via Vladimir Lamm, of Lamm Industries; or from Leningrad, via Victor Khomenko, of Balanced Audio Technologies; nor from any other Soviet-born audio hero. (Neither Vladimir nor Victor is on the list of "Name of Russia" contenders for greatest Russian of all time.) Nor from any consumer audio company, but from the world of professional audio. An Iron Curtain almost separates the two.
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Ray Samuels Audio Emmeline The Hornet headphone amplifier
Budget Component ReviewsHeadphone Reviews
Wes Phillips, Sam Tellig  |  Nov 05, 2006  |  First Published: Sep 05, 2006  |  0 comments
I've been a little remiss in writing about one of the best tools for travel I've experienced recently: Ray Samuels Audio's Emmeline The Hornet ($350), a tiny (3" L by 2" W by 1" H) rechargeable portable headphone amplifier. I tend to travel with my iPod packed with hi-rez music files and a pair of low-impedance headphones. That's not a marriage made in heaven, so I also need a headphone amplifier. Over the years, portable headphone amps have gotten better and better while getting smaller and smaller. The Hornet is the smallest I've discovered so far and is my current favorite.
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Sutherland Direct Line Stage preamplifier
Solid State Preamp Reviews
Sam Tellig, Brian Damkroger  |  Sep 17, 2006  |  First Published: Jan 17, 2006  |  0 comments
I've had the pleasure of using The Direct Line Stage Line Stage (originally called the Director) from Ron Sutherland for the past few months. This active line-stage preamp (it has no phono section) is available from Acoustic Sounds for $3000.
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Musical Fidelity X-Rayv3 CD player
CD Player/Transport Reviews
Wes Phillips, Sam Tellig  |  Jul 02, 2006  |  First Published: Dec 02, 2004  |  0 comments
Larger than a stocking stuffer, Musical Fidelity's X-Rayv3 CD player is nevertheless quite compact and would be very nice to find under the Christmas tree.
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Musical Fidelity X-DACV3 D/A processor
Budget Component ReviewsDigital Processor Reviews
Sam Tellig  |  May 30, 2005  |  First Published: Dec 01, 2004  |  0 comments
The X-DAC v3 replaces Musical Fidelity's Tri-Vista 21 DAC, which is no longer in production, although you might find some on dealer's shelves. The Tri-Vista 21 used two pairs of subminiature 5703 WB military tubes in the analog output stage. MF's Antony Michaelson called this Cold War tube, which is no longer made, a trivistor. The Tri-Vista 21 was last seen selling for $2395.
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McIntosh MDA 1000 D/A converter
Digital Processor Reviews
Sam Tellig  |  Dec 29, 2006  |  First Published: Jul 29, 2004  |  1 comments
"You want to review the MDA 1000 along with the MC 275 amplifier in the same column?" Ron Cornelius, product manager and field training manager of McIntosh Laboratory, was incredulous.
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McIntosh MC 275 Commemorative power amplifier
Tube Power Amp Reviews
Sam Tellig  |  Jan 14, 2007  |  First Published: Jul 14, 2004  |  0 comments
The McIntosh MC 275 power amplifier has been born yet again. It's the Count Dracula of power amps. It refuses to stay dead. Introduced in 1961, the Mac 275, in its original hardwired edition, was produced until 1970. This was the amp I desired while in college but couldn't afford. I remember the Mac 275 fondly—rather like girlfriends from my college years.
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Portal Audio Panache integrated amplifier
Integrated Amp Reviews
Sam Tellig  |  Feb 23, 2003  |  0 comments
Despite its name, the Panache is not made in France, but here in the States, by Portal Audio, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company is owned and run by Joe Abrams, a longtime veteran of high-end hi-fi who was once closely associated with Threshold.
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PS Audio HCA-2 power amplifier
Solid State Power Amp Reviews
Kalman Rubinson, Sam Tellig  |  Oct 15, 2002  |  0 comments
I have a way of grating on people's nerves. Ask Marina, my wife. She calls it my "mean streak."
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Lars Fredell, "the world's greatest audiophile," dead at 58
News
Sam Tellig  |  Jun 30, 2002  |  1 comments
Lars is dead.
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