Digital Source of 1996
Nagra-D 4-channel open-reel digital recorder ($25,000–$35,000; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.19 No.1, January 1996 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audio Alchemy DDSPro CD transport ($1595; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.19 No.9, September 1996)
Audio Alchemy DTIPro 32 ($1595; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 Nos.3 & 7, March & July 1996 Review)
Audio Research CD-1 CD player ($2995; reviewed by Wes Phillips & Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.12, December 1995, Vol.19 No.11, November 1996 Review)
Genesis Technologies Digital Lens ($1800; reviewed by Robert Harley and John Atkinson, Vol.19 Nos.7 & 10, July and October 1996 Review)
Mark Levinson No.31.5 CD transport ($9495; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.19 No.10, October 1996 Review)
Mark Levinson No.36 D/A processor ($3995; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.11, November 1995)
Meridian 508-20 CD player ($2995; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.19 No.6, June 1996)
Meridian 518 Digital Audio Processor ($1795; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.19 Nos.1 & 7, January & July 1996 Review)
Sonic Frontiers SFCD-1 CD Player ($3495; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 Nos.6 & 9, June & September 1996 Review)
Wadia 27 D/A processor ($8450; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 No.10, October 1996) Garnering over twice as many votes as the highest-scoring runner-up, the Nagra-D lived up to its reputation as the ultimate one-box digital recorder. Its unique design uses open-reel tape to store four channels of up to 24-bit data (only two channels if a 96kHz sampling rate is employed). Superbly constructed and incredibly versatile, the Nagra has dedicated A/D converters that offer 20-bit resolution, built-in mike preamps that offer phantom power and enormous headroom, and sophisticated software that makes it a dream to use. Did we mention that it's built like a brick—er, to a high standard? All of that may indeed make it the Digital Product Of The Year to the man who owns one, but most of the writers voted for it because it produces tapes of the very highest sound quality. Audiofon's Peter McGrath, Dorian's Craig Dory, PGM's Gabe Wiener, PopeMusic's Gene Pope, Posthorn Recordings' and John Marks Records' Jerry Bruck, and Stereophile's JA all use Nagra-Ds to produce their widely regarded recordings—as do an increasing number of engineers. Quite simply, it is the best digital recorder produced to date.
Audio Alchemy DDSPro CD transport ($1595; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.19 No.9, September 1996)
Audio Alchemy DTIPro 32 ($1595; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 Nos.3 & 7, March & July 1996 Review)
Audio Research CD-1 CD player ($2995; reviewed by Wes Phillips & Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.12, December 1995, Vol.19 No.11, November 1996 Review)
Genesis Technologies Digital Lens ($1800; reviewed by Robert Harley and John Atkinson, Vol.19 Nos.7 & 10, July and October 1996 Review)
Mark Levinson No.31.5 CD transport ($9495; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.19 No.10, October 1996 Review)
Mark Levinson No.36 D/A processor ($3995; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.11, November 1995)
Meridian 508-20 CD player ($2995; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.19 No.6, June 1996)
Meridian 518 Digital Audio Processor ($1795; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.19 Nos.1 & 7, January & July 1996 Review)
Sonic Frontiers SFCD-1 CD Player ($3495; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 Nos.6 & 9, June & September 1996 Review)
Wadia 27 D/A processor ($8450; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 No.10, October 1996) Garnering over twice as many votes as the highest-scoring runner-up, the Nagra-D lived up to its reputation as the ultimate one-box digital recorder. Its unique design uses open-reel tape to store four channels of up to 24-bit data (only two channels if a 96kHz sampling rate is employed). Superbly constructed and incredibly versatile, the Nagra has dedicated A/D converters that offer 20-bit resolution, built-in mike preamps that offer phantom power and enormous headroom, and sophisticated software that makes it a dream to use. Did we mention that it's built like a brick—er, to a high standard? All of that may indeed make it the Digital Product Of The Year to the man who owns one, but most of the writers voted for it because it produces tapes of the very highest sound quality. Audiofon's Peter McGrath, Dorian's Craig Dory, PGM's Gabe Wiener, PopeMusic's Gene Pope, Posthorn Recordings' and John Marks Records' Jerry Bruck, and Stereophile's JA all use Nagra-Ds to produce their widely regarded recordings—as do an increasing number of engineers. Quite simply, it is the best digital recorder produced to date.
