Analog sources: Thorens TD 124 turntable, Jelco TS-350S 9" tonearm, Clearaudio Concept MC cartridge, Sculpture A Mini Nano Step Up.
Digital sources: Asus laptop running Roon, Tidal.
Preamplifier: Shindo Allegro.
Power Amplifier: Shindo Laboratory Haut-Brion.
Integrated amplifiers: Ayre EX-8 2.0, E.A.T. E-Glo I.
Loudspeakers: Canton 7K, DeVore Fidelity O/96, Klipsch Forte IV.
Cables: Interconnect (RCA): Triode Wire Labs Spirit II, Shindo Laboratory. Digital: AudioQuest Forest. Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: manufacturers' own.
Accessories: IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius line conditioner, Salamander five-tier rack; IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards (under preamp, turntable, power amps); mahogany blocks (2" × 2" × 0.5") under boards; 3"-thick studio-treatment damping foam on ceilings and walls.
Listening room: 12' L × 10' W × 12' H, system set up along long wall; suspended wood floor, 6"-thick walls (plaster over 2×4), wood-beamed ceiling.—Ken Micallef
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COMMENTS
Assuming we're talking about the SB-7000, I had a pair when living a shuriken's throw from Osaka. Those things had Kubrick looks and were truly immense, with 35cm bass woofers covering 37-700Hz; perfect for hosting a reggae dance in a Jah Shaka fashion and style.
Incidentally, Matsushita is (or was, until about 10 years ago) the mothership from which Panasonic, Technics, Sanyo and other brands were launched.
Since 2008 the name Matsushita was dropped and Panasonic Corporation is it.
Sanyo and National are long gone too.
Technics was dropped as part of the ‘we are all Panasonic now’ initiative, but later revived in 2014.
There is a current Technics Reference Class speaker the R1, but N/A outside Japan.
Great article, Ken! It flows like one of those films where you're start with a scene where you know nothing (1st of it's kind amp) then you're bombarded with disjointed info and observations that leave you confused and (all the acronyms electrical engineering stuff.
But you're excited because you know the 'real movie' now begins; and masters know just how to & when to weave all those loose ends into a cohesive plot line that clears everything up for happy and satisfied moviegowers
And I loved how well your genuine excitement and astonishment kept shining thru...you were like a kid; again great writing!
As to the amp, I REALLY REALLY want it. i've always believed digital magic could be use in a way that will blow away the biggest tube nuts & critics, and this might be the biggest e-disturbers developed..
Again, amazing product done in a MORE amazing article
I loved that amp, let me count the ways, on the first day of Christmas...
Hi
Really?
Yet MF's conclusion above said the Shindo is still his reference intergrated amp for its "exellent tonal & timbral verisimulitude".
So his Shindo tube amp still sounds better than the Panasonic digital amp !!
Listening is believing
Jack L
Great review! This was Twittering Machines' third-favorite amplifier from 2021. His favorite was the Riviera Levante (Class A hybrid amplifier). Would enjoy reading Stereophile's impressions of that. I have one and it is truly a joy -- both straight out of the box, and even more so with classic tubes.
Twittering Machines' . . . favorite was the Riviera Levante (class-A hybrid amplifier). Would enjoy reading Stereophile's impressions of that.
Herb Reichert's review of the Levante - the same sample that Michael Lavorgna auditioned - will be published in our February 2022 issue.
John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile
Your comment about Haden's bass was strange. This is one of my favorite recordings. Even in my shitty Mazda 3's crappy stereo it has never sounded like 'a fat, overhanging blob"...You owe Charlie an apology. Cheers!
Enjoyed the review and admit to being extremely curious about this piece.
I would love to check it out especially with vinyl playback.
Out of my reach and satisfied with my system but would love to throw this piece in it just to play around and see what those Japanese Zen Masters are up to these days.
Congratulations to anyone scoring one.
Hi
Vinyl playback with phonostage D/A processing ? Good sounding ?????
Thanks but no thanks.
Jack L
Everytime I see a picture of this amp I think it looks upside down - the VU meters should be above the volume knob. I'm sure it sounds good though.
But what about Technics’ inability to deliver product? This is basically across the board for all of their hifi products.
Ken, you did a nice review of the Luxman L-509X back in 2018, this Japanese integrated is at the same price point. They both have a high degree of circuitry innovation, though the Luxman is a more traditional AB push-pull. Do you prefer one or the other?
I find it strange, to give this reviewer, a known avid analog/vinyl'ist such a digital dominated product to review?? even though he did give it a great rap, it must have been worrying for him to do it.
Cheers George
This is a company either unable or unwilling to supply the US market for hifi amplifiers, speakers, and turntables. Half the review should have been on this topic.
Yes, supply chain issues but this has been a problem for a long time whereas other companies can supply. In addition, seems these products are available in Europe and Canada. I have given up waiting for a turntable.
It's a Panasonic, the company that in most organized and deliberate fashion went WAY out of their way to deny me warranty service on an almost-new component some years ago. And they weren't just picking on me with a relatively inexpensive piece of electronics. If you don't mind a warranty without any backing whatsoever this really good review suggests you 'sucker-up!
there is? where? considering it has main outs/pre ins, you could use an outboard active x-over w/this and cross your mains to subs. all integrated amps should have this. and tape ins/outs allow for signal processing, like a dbx 3bx. all preamps should have this.
i've never heard this, but someone i know loves his. at least its features set is decent. all it needs is a balance control (or did i miss it?)
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