CD Player/Transport Reviews

Sidebar 1: Review System

The primary system used to audition the LHH1000 was comprised of the following: all CD sources sat on AudioQuest Sorbothane isolating feet and were powered from an Inouye line conditioner. They fed a Mod Squad Line Drive Deluxe AGT passive control center, fitted with the new acrylic top cover. (This is conventional in having unbalanced inputs and outputs; I was unable to audition the LHH1000 from its balanced outputs, therefore.)

For comparisons, the Sony DAS-R1 decoder was driven from the Philips LHH1001 transport via coaxial cable, and the levels of all CD sources were matched at 1kHz using a test disc. Power amplifier was a 1986 Krell KSA-50 used to drive Celestion SL700 loudspeakers sitting on their dedicated stands, which were spiked to the tile-on-concrete floor beneath the carpet. A pair of Vandersteen 2Ci loudspeakers also saw some service during this period.

Interconnect was 1m lengths of Monster Cable M1000 (all CD players to Line Drive) and and a 1m run of AudioQuest Lapis (Line Drive to power amplifier). The Celestions were bi-wired with two 15' runs of AudioQuest Clear speaker cable. Though bulky and unwieldy—and how!—this is at the time of writing the best cable I have tried in that it combines exceptional midrange clarity with deep, tight low frequencies. It simply has the least editorial effect on the overall sound that I have experienced.—John Atkinson