Description: Computer-controlled lithium-iron-phosphate battery array. Storage capacity: 1000Wh. Output voltage: 100–130V AC. Output frequency: 60Hz±0.05% (crystal controlled). Continuous output power @ 25°C: 450VA. Output power up to 30 min @ 25°C: 700VA. Peak power 3s @ 25°C: 1800VA. Harmonic distortion: <2%. Maximum load: up to short circuit. Acoustic level: <29dB SPL. AC output receptacles: 8 US sockets (4 Hubbell duplex hospital spec. grade).
Dimensions: 18.5" (480mm) W × 8.7" (220mm) H × 18.5" (470mm) D. Weight: 90lb (41kg).
Finish: Silver/…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Thorens TD-124 turntable, SME 3009 II tonearm; VPI Traveler turntable & tonearm; Miyajima Spirit (mono), Ortofon 2M Black & 2M Red, Shure M44-78 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD player; Puresound A-8000 CD player; Halide DAC HD, Line Magnetic LM 502CA DACs; HifiMan HM-101USB soundcard.
Preamplification: April Sound BB1, Fi Yph, Sentec EQ11 moving-magnet phono stages; Audio Note S1H+S1L, Intact Audio moving-coil step-up transformers.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek 4330, Line Magnetic LM518, Rogue Audio…
All of us Stereophile were deeply saddened this morning to learn of the death of Bob Reina, after a brief battle with cancer. Bob was 61. After a stint at The Absolute Sound and cofounding a high-end audio magazine, Sounds Like..., Bob joined Stereophile in 1995 and his first review was of a Creek amplifier. Bob's final review will be of VAC's Signature SE preamplifier in our June issue.
Although Bob could appreciate the sonic virtues of the finest audio gear, he was always excited to discover budget-priced components that delivered better sound quality than they had a right to.
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia RPM tonearm, Koetsu Urushi phono cartridge.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110.
Loudspeakers: Alón Circe.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT Magnum & MI-350 CVTwin Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina
Wandering around the show, we were struck by how good most of the speakers we were hearing were. Not just the cost-no-logic designs, but pretty much all of them. Are we audiophiles lucky or what?
The 7' Pipedreams with four (count 'em, four) subwoofers were sounding mighty impressive driven by an Audio Aero Capitole CD player ($8500) and a pair of $19,000 Tenor 75Wpc amps (a Plinius 250Wpc amp drove the woofers). The Pipedreams recreated the transient attack of a trumpet with such staggering realism that they could have probably blown out a candle with all that tightly focused air.
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state integrated amplifier. Power output: >55Wpc into 8 ohms, >85Wpc into 4 ohms. THD: <0.005%, 20Hz–20kHz. Frequency response: 10Hz–100kHz, –2dB (unbalanced); 10Hz–50kHz, –2dB (balanced). Slew rate: >30V/µs. Gain: 33.3dB (x46), unbalanced; 27.0dB (x22.5), balanced. Input sensitivity: 410mV. Max input voltage: 5.4V and 10.8V RMS. Channel separation: –80dB. Signal/noise: >102dB. Output impedance: <0.1 ohm at 1kHz.
Dimensions: 16.8" (430mm) W by 2.3" (60mm) H by 10.9" (280mm) D. Weight: 16.5 lbs (7.5kg).
Serial number…
Bel Canto's extraordinary Black amplification system is featured on the cover. Combining state-of-the-art class-D monoblocks with an all-digital preamplifier, the Black sounds and measures as good as it can get. At a price, of course—but at the other end of the price spectrum, we review Creek's Evolution 100A integrated amplifier, as complete in its way as the Black is in its. These are not your father's amplifiers.
Emotiva's new XMC-1 preamplifier/processor, which incorporates the Dirac room-correction software is featured in "Music in the Round," while on the analog playback side, two…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI Traveler turntable & tonearm; Thorens TD-124 turntable, SME 3009 II tonearm; Miyabi Mono, Miyajima Spirit, Ortofon 2M Black, Zu Audio Zu & DL-103 Mk.II cartridges.
Digital Sources: Puresound A-8000 CD player, Line Magnetic LM 502CA DAC, Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Soundsmith MMP3, Blue Horizon BN:09-11-009, Sentec EQ11 phono stages; Intact Audio, Audio Note S1 step-up transformers; NAD 1020 preamplifier.
Power Amplifier: B&K ST-140.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek 4330, Line Magnetic LM518 IA…
Another speaker surprise from Matterhorn Audio Group of Boston. The midrange exceled through FinkTeam Borg floorstanding loudspeakers (starting at $36,490/pair), shown next to the Kim standmount (starting at $12,990/pair). The sound of Dominique Fils-Aimé singing "Birds" was as fetching as Chris Botti's "What a Wonderful World" was lovely.
The German Borg is specified as extending down to 32Hz, with a roll-off of –6dB by 41Hz. High frequencies extend above 30kHz, again with roll-off. Average impedance is 10 ohms, dropping to 6.5 ohms at 20kHz, and sensitivity is 87dB. Completed with…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, balanced, line preamplifier with separate power supply/base and remote control. Inputs: 6 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 balanced (XLR). Control connections: 12V trigger in/out, RS-232. Voltage gain: Selectable, 10.95dB or 26dB. Frequency response: 20Hz–75kHz, ±0dB; 0.1Hz–1MHz, ±0.5dB. Input impedance: 1M ohm. Output impedance: 10 ohms. THD: <0.02%, 20Hz to 20kHz. Signal/ noise: 75dBu, unweighted.
Dimensions: 4.3" (108mm) H × 18" (450mm) W × 12" (300mm) D (preamp); 3" (75mm) H × 11" (275mm) W × 8" (200mm) D (power supply/base).…