Maybe I'm a tube guy after all...

Forums
The Entry Level
Submitted by lionelag on

I've been doing a lot of system shifting the last few months. Everything but the speakers. Ditched half of the 70's Harmon/Kardon integrated, got an early 90s Rotel power amp. That got me much more focused sound, and made me realize that my speakers are actually pretty damn good. (In keeping with my ultra-cheap philosophy, born of massive student loan debt, a mortgage, and two small children, they're Dynaco A-25s, modded with new tweeters and a rebuilt crossover. I swear that I haven't heard anything at a store that costs less than $1k that touches them.

Krell Evolution 505

Submitted by noahbickart on

Two questions regarding the Krell:

1) On p. 91, Fred Kaplan describes the Krell as employing, "The Burr-Brown PCM1738 DACs, each capable of handling 24bit data...." As we know well, SACD employs DSD, which is a 1-bit codex. Does this mean that the Krell doesn't decode DSD but rather converts it to 24bit PCM data first? This would seem strange for a $10,000 player (it is one thing for the cheep OPPO).

John Mellancamp - Life, Death, Love and Freedom

Forums
The Universal Pulse
Submitted by BGLeduc on

Some musical goodness here. Its a T Bone Burnet production, and does share some of the sonics of the Plant/Kraus "Raising Sand" but to my ears, this one sounds better.

The subject matter is pretty somber, and the title does a good job of foreshadowing the lyrical content, but the real story is that this title is sold in a 2 disc set. Disc 1 is standard redbook, Disc 2 is a DVD. And on the DVD you get a hi-rez 24/96 version.

Baby You Can Drive My Car

Baby You Can Drive My Car

Aug 13, 2008

In July, I received an invitation from Bentley to participate in a "driving event" involving the 2009 model Continental Flying Spur and Continental Flying Spur Speed. How come? Because the 2009 Bentleys have the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/news/022108bentley/">Naim For Bentley music system</A> and, in addition to debuting it for the automotive press, Bentley wanted some hi-fi writers along for the, umm, ride.

Dynamic EQ

Dynamic EQ

Aug 13, 2008

Adjusting the EQ for every 1km change in speed, the Dynamic EQ has over 300 settings. Other fun tricks include various EQ "modes," allowing the system to be voiced for the driver's position or for the rear right passenger's seat. ("Home James, and give me the sweet spot!")

Control!

Control!

Aug 13, 2008

While the Naim for Bentley system has a six-disc changer, I found its glove-box mounted iPod cradle awfully useful. It has the MFI (made for iPod) authentication chip, so all of your iPod's playlists, titles, and other metadata are displayed on the GPS touchscreen in the center of the console. All iPod functions can be controlled through the touchscreen, including scrolling though all selections or leaving a playlist for shuffle.

Power!

Power!

Aug 13, 2008

The Continental Flying Spur was demonstrated in two varieties: The "regular" Flying Spur, which has 19" tires and a 48-valve, 552bhp W12 engine, and the "Speed," which put the Flying Spur on 20" rims, and a 600bhp version of that W12&#151;and outfits it with Bentley's carbon/silicon carbide brakes.

Acceleration Exhilaration

Acceleration Exhilaration

Aug 13, 2008

Naturally, this NY resident, who doesn't own a car, was given a Speed for a starter car. No problem&#151;as it turns out people get out of the way when they see eight Bentleys coming at them. As a result, I managed not to hit any pedestrians or guardrails&#151;only the road.

Nubble Lighthouse

Nubble Lighthouse

Aug 13, 2008

The pack o'Bentleys drove out of Boston and east to the Maine coast, following the twisty shore roads up to Port Neddick and the Nubble Lighthouse, purported to have been featured on more post cards than any other lighthouse. I didn't know where that was, so I followed along in the middle of the pack, playing my uncompressed ALC files through the Naim system.

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