Analog Sources: VPI Traveler turntable & tonearm, Thorens TD-124 turntable; SME 3009 II tonearm; Denon DL-103, Ortofon 2M Red & 2M Black cartridges.
Digital Sources: Puresound A-8000 CD player, Line Magnetic LM 502 CA DAC, Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD player, HiFiMan HM-101USB soundcard.
Preamplification: April Sound (MM), Fi Yph, Sentec EQ11 phono stages; Intact Audio (MC) step-up.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek 4330, 47 Labs Gaincard, Grommes 24PG, Line Magnetic LM518 IA.
Headphone Amplifier: Schiit Asgard.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Finally, with cranked-up rock tunes, the PP 3 exhibited a strong sense of coherence, pacing, and rhythmic consistency, whether reproducing such simple arrangements as Ten Years After's "Love Like a Man," from Greatest Hits (LP, London LC 50008), or more elaborate, densely packed tracks such as Genesis' "Dance on a Volcano," from A Trick of the Tail (LP, ATCO SD-36-129). Listening to either of these tunes, I found it hard to sit still—I itched to twitch, grab a partner, and dance around the room. But my wife wasn't home, and neither of the dogs was interested.
Comparisons
I compared…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog source: Rega Planar 3 turntable with QR Design Ringmat, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Aurum Beta and Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital source: California Audio Labs Icon Mk.II Power Boss CD player.
Integrated amplifiers: Creek 4240SE and 5350SE.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT MI-330SG. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Celestion Si speaker stands.—Robert J. Reina
Yes, that's a dub LP from Bob Marley and the Wailers you can see in the Music Hall room at AXPONA. It was being played on the forthcoming Ikura turntable (price still to be decided, probably around $1000), with the new Creek EVO-50A integrated amplifier ($1195) and a pair of Music Hall's budget-priced Marimba speakers ($350/pair). The Marimba was designed by Roy Hall hisself, and is made in China; it will be reviewed by Stephen Mejias in our June issue). At $250/pair, the stands cost almost as much as the speakers!
This was the second room I encountered at AXPONA playing dub. (The other…
When I reviewed the M5 bookshelf speaker from British manufacturer Epos (Stereophile, April 2005, Vol.28 No.4), I was sufficiently impressed with that $650/pair design by Mike Creek that I chose it as a benchmark for bookshelf speakers in the sub-$1000 price range. In late 2007, Creek redesigned the entire M series, incorporating more rigid handmade cabinet construction with real-wood veneers, an improved tweeter, and upgraded capacitors and resistors in the crossover. The new line was dubbed the Mi series (i for improved).
When I reviewed the M16i floorstander ($1998/pair) in…
Sidebar 2: Specifications
Description: Surround-sound decoder for music and films. Inputs: Left & Right. Outputs: L, C, R, Surround L and R, Subwoofer. All connections unbalanced. Input impedance: 42k ohms. Output impedance: ±100 ohms. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.1dB. S/N ratio: 92dB (no ref. level specified). Distortion: 0.02%. Power consumption: 1.4A. Controls: Noise sequencer (On/Off), Modes (Video Surround, Music Surround, Stereo, Mono), Center channel (On/Off), Surround Bandwidth (20kHz, 7kHz), Surround Field (Wide, Normal), Output Level (unity gain to –17dB), Master…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI Traveler turntable & tonearm, Thorens TD-124 turntable & SME 3009 II tonearm; Miyajima Spirit (mono), Ortofon 2M Black & 2M Red, Shure M44-78 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Puresound A-8000 CD player, Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD player, Line Magnetic LM 502CA DAC.
Preamplification: April Sound BB1, Blue Horizon BN:09-11-009, Sentec EQ11 phono stages; Audio Note S1, Intact Audio step-up transformers.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek 4330, Line Magnetic LM518 IA, Rogue Audio Sphinx, Naim NAIT 5si.
Loudspeakers: DeVore…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state line preamplifier with separate power supply/base and tone controls. Inputs: 6 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 balanced (XLR). Frequency response: 0.1Hz–1MHz, –1dB (20Hz–20kHz, ±0dB). THD, full output: <0.006%, 20Hz–20kHz. Signal/noise (unweighted): 105dB (no reference level quoted). Channel separation: not specified. Maximum output: not specified. Gain: +6 to +12dB, adjustable. Input and output impedances: not specified.
Dimensions: Preamplifier: 18" (450mm) W by 4.3" (108mm) H by 12" (300mm) D. Power supply and base: 11" (275mm) W by…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state monoblock power amplifier using bipolar output devices. Input: 1 balanced (XLR). Power output: 500W into 8 ohms (27dBW), 1000W into 4 ohms (27dBW), 2000W into 2 ohms (27dBW). Frequency response: 1Hz–200kHz, –1dB; 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.1dB. Voltage gain: 30dB. Input impedance: 100k ohms. Output impedance: 0.15 ohm. THD, 1kHz at 500W into 8 ohms: <0.15%. Signal/noise: 105dB, unweighted.
Dimensions: 18" (460mm) W by 7.5" (190mm) H by 20" (510mm) D. Weight: 150 lbs (68kg).
Finishes: Black, Silver.
Serial numbers of units reviewed:…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI Traveler turntable & tonearm; Thorens TD-124 turntable, SME 3009 II tonearm; Grado Mono, Miyabi Mono, Miyajima Spirit mono, Ortofon 2M Black & 2M Red, Zu Audio DL-103 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD player, Puresound A-8000 CD player; Halide HD, Line Magnetic LM 502CA DACs; HiFiMan HM-101USB soundcard.
Preamplification: Blue Horizon BN:09-11-009, April Sound BB1, Sentec EQ11 MM, Soundsmith MMP3 phono stages; Audio Note S1H & S1L MC, Intact Audio MC Ni, step-up transformers.
Integrated…