Analog Source: Rega Planar 3 turntable, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood & Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital Source: Creek Destiny CD player.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Monitor Audio Silver RS6.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG, Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Celestion, Echo Busters, Salamander Designs, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
The Sound
I can't comment on the timbral characteristics of the Creek Destiny because, across the entire frequency spectrum, I heard not a single deviation from neutrality—this is the least colored component I've ever reviewed. Here are its strengths:
I can't comment on the timbral characteristics of the Creek Destiny because, across the entire frequency spectrum, I heard not a single deviation from neutrality—this is the least colored component I've ever reviewed. Here are its strengths:
• pristine, extended, and detailed high frequencies with no trace of hardness, and a purity and delicacy that reminded me more of the pricier Jeff Rowland Design Group products than of older Creek designs; appearing in my listening notes many times: "Clean! Clean! Clean!"
• an organic rendering of low-level dynamic articulation…
I've long kept an eye on Michael Creek's loudspeakers (Epos) and electronics (Creek). He's always moving forward, with either updates of current designs or a revamp of an entire product line. And though I've found that many of his new-product ideas tend to feature evolutionary rather than revolutionary sonic improvements, I've found that they always represent excellent sound quality for the dollar in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Of the five Epos speakers I've reviewed, I have a soft spot for the M5i bookshelf ($899/pair). Ever since I reviewed it in the February 2011 issue,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I tried to precondition the Creek Destiny by running it at one-third its specified power into 8 ohms for one hour with both channels driven. However, it shut itself off after 20 minutes, and the area of the top panel over its internal heatsinks was very hot. Pressing the Standby button brought the amplifier back into operation.
Looking first at the Destiny's preamplifier section, in passive mode the maximum voltage gain, measured at the preamp-out jacks, was 0dB, as expected. Also as expected, the input impedance varied according to the setting of the…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood & Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital Source: Creek Destiny CD player.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE, Simaudio Moon i-1.
Loudspeakers: Monitor Audio Silver RS6, Epos M16i.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Celestion, Echo Busters, Salamander Designs, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J.…
Enough with the thick faceplates already—how does it sound?
Although I always hope for high levels of performance within all parameters when I review a component, I'm particularly sensitive to and unforgiving of products that deviate from a neutral tonal balance. Bob Reina's Hippocratic Oath of Timbral Accuracy is "First, do no harm."
Although I always hope for high levels of performance within all parameters when I review a component, I'm particularly sensitive to and unforgiving of products that deviate from a neutral tonal balance. Bob Reina's Hippocratic Oath of Timbral Accuracy is "First, do no harm."
Well, after more than three months of auditioning the 5350SE using six speakers, two analog and one digital source, and after comparing the Creek to three other amplifiers (more on that below), I cannot conclusively point to any instance in which the…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: Rega Planar 3 and VPI TNT turntables, Syrinx PU-3 and Immedia RPM tonearms, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood & Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital Source: Creek Destiny CD player.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE, Simaudio Moon i-1.
Loudspeakers: Amphion Helium2, Epos M16, Monitor Audio Silver RS6.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Celestion, Echo Busters, Salamander Designs…
Small-signal distortion levels were generally low (fig.5), varying little with load impedance and with the usual rise at high frequencies. As can be seen in figs.6 and 7, that distortion is predominantly the subjectively innocuous second harmonic in content. Levels of intermodulation are also very low. Even just below clipping with the demanding 19+20kHz twin-tone signal (fig.8), the 1kHz difference component lies below -92dB (0.003%). About the only clue that this is a component with a real-world-sized power supply rather than some big-bucks super-amp is the appearance of a 120Hz power-…
A fairly intense electric jazz group is a good test of an amplifier's ability to render a coherent sonic picture with realistic pacing. The middle section of "Ice Crushing at All Speeds," from my jazz quartet Attention Screen's Live at Otto's Shrunken Head (CD, Stereophile STPH020-2), features a forceful, driving rhythm from drummer Mark Flynn playing his entire kit, juxtaposed against a moaning ostinato bass line by Chris Jones that challenges Flynn's rhythmic statement. It all hung together through the Marantz, just as it did on stage the night we recorded it.
But, you say,…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia RPM tonearm, Koetsu Urushi cartridge; Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood & Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110 II.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Epos ELS 3, Infinity Primus 150, Paradigm Atom v.4.
Cables:…