The Fifth Element #63

The Fifth Element #63

Dec 27, 2010
"Puer natus est!"

Of course, the Latinists among my readers (all three of them) already know that the ancient Romans would have carved this column's title "PUERNATUSEST." (Not that the Romans gave a fig about that particular puer until much later . . . ) All in capital letters, because lower-case (ie, minuscule) letters were not invented until scribes in the Middle Ages wanted to write faster by not having to lift their pens so often between strokes. Spaces between words also came after Roman times.

The Shape of Jazz to Come on Rhino vinyl

The Shape of Jazz to Come on Rhino vinyl

Dec 27, 2010
The folks at Rhino Records have just released a 180-gram vinyl reissue of The Shape of Jazz to Come, Ornette Coleman’s groundbreaking (and still riveting) album of 1959, mastered at RTI from the original stereo tapes. It sounds in every way better than the original pressing, which itself sounds quite good.

Everything is clearer, highs are extended, bass is more defined, dynamics are wider. Ornette’s white plastic alto sax has more of that palpable whoosh through the reed and horn. Don Cherry’s pocket trumpet has an airier mouthpiece. Charlie Haden’s bass—you can hear the wood vibrate. And Billy Higgins’ drum set has more sizzle and snap.

Sutherland Engineering Timeline record weight

Sutherland Engineering Timeline record weight

Dec 27, 2010
Ron Sutherland has devised the Timeline, a device for testing the 33.33 and 45rpm speeds of turntables. It's housed in a disc of aluminum and Delrin that fits over the platter spindle. Turn it on, and an LED shoots a red dash of light at the wall (if there is one) behind your turntable. If the dash doesn't move, the speed is correct. If it drifts to left or right, you'll need to adjust the 'table's speed. Unless your wall has hash marks, there's a bit of subjectivity involved, and at $399 the Timeline isn't cheap, but Sutherland says he's not making much money at that price, and that it will take a lot of sales to recoup the R&D he's put into designing something as precise as he claims the Timeline is.—Michael Fremer

Not really $6,000

Submitted by RobertSlavin on

In his review of the Avid Diva II SP turntable (with SME 309 tonearm) Micahel Fremer wrote:

"While sprung 'tables do achieve excellent isolation from outside vibrations, I believe that once you set a platter spinning, no matter how carefully it's machined, it will cause the suspension to move. I much prefer the rock-solid performance of mass-loaded or elastomer-isolated 'tables like the Diva II SP, provided they're placed on a properly tuned isolation stand like the HRS SXR rack and M3 base-which is what I did.

Amp Suggestions for PSB Sync One?

Forums
The Entry Level
Submitted by CHRISinMTL on

I recently purchased this fine speaker system and power it with an old NAD T753 receiver. It sound fine and all, but I am interested in taking the "next step" in this hobby by buying a tube amp. I was thinking of the Audio Research VSI60 integrated. Is there enough "JUICE" with 50wpc that the VSI60 produces? Or should I look at other similar priced higher powered models? Any help would be appreciated!

Amp suggestions for PSB Sync One....

Forums
Amplification
Submitted by CHRISinMTL on

I recently purchased the PSB Synchronicity One, to which I only have a NAD T763. I was thinking of buying the Audio Research VSI60 tube amp but not sure if has enough "JUICE". I like the sound just fine with the receiver, but want to take the next step in my audio hobby and by a stand-alone amp. Any Suggestions?

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