LATEST ADDITIONS

Bergmann’s Magne turntable partnered with large and lovely Impresario loudspeakers, Stage III Concepts cables, and a suite of components from Ypsilon, including the PST100 line preamplifier, reviewed by Mikey Fremer in our July issue. The system matched physicality, drama, dynamics, and scale with delicacy and grace.

A look at the complete Marantz/Boston Acoustics system. Toe-in was pretty extreme, helping to create a well-focused and stable soundstage. Listening to this system, it was easy to completely forget about the components and be carried away by the music.

Respected designer Ken Ishiwata stands beside the new top-of-the-line A-Series loudspeaker from Boston Acoustics. The speaker’s central drive units are completely suspended from the cabinet for isolation of all vibrations. The system we heard included the Marantz SA-7S1 SACD player, SC-7S2 preamplifier, MA-9S2 power amplifier, and Charismatech cables, all at least partially voiced and designed by Ishiwata for optimum synergy.

“We take a ‘whole system approach,’” Ishiwata said.

“The soundstage is very important,” he continued. “Other aspects of performance are matters of preference, but we focus on creating a very stable soundstage. Everything else comes from that.”

I noted outstanding overall scale with good soundstage height and easy, unforced dynamics. Music developed, blossomed, and blushed like a sunrise. This was a system I could have happily listened to for a long, long time.

The ground floor halls of the M.O.C. contained booths with both static and live demos to resemble something like CES’s Las Vegas Convention Center, but were only infinitely more pleasant, more manageable, better coordinated, and more attractive.

Octave Audio’s pretty RE 290 power amplifier (€6900) offers 90 or 130Wpc, depending on which power tubes are selected. A rear-panel switch makes the choice simple, and invites tube-swapping.

The 150Wpc C 375BEE (€1399) uses technology found in NAD’s M3 Master Series amplifier and benefits from the company’s “Building Block” design, allowing for the addition of the PP375 phono stage (€250) and other affordable options.

NAD’s C 390DD (€2500) is the company’s next “Direct Digital” integrated amplifier and takes technology from the more expensive M3 and M2 models. The user will have the choice to add HDMI and phono inputs.

“We wanted to create an individual solution for the customer. Our customers should be able to live a long time with our products.”

The C 390DD should be available by around September.