For most of my Special Edition Creek listening I used a core system consisting of a Thorens TD160/SME 3009 III/Grado Signature 8MZ analog front end, CAL Icon II CD player, MIT Terminator 2 interconnects, and Acarian Systems Alón Petite loudspeakers driven by bi-wired Acarian Systems Black Orpheus speaker cable. Alternatively, the Alóns were replaced with Celestion 5 and NHT 1.3 speakers connected with MIT Terminator 2 speaker wire. All speakers stood on Celestion Si stands generously loaded with sand and lead shot. The following comments apply equally to the CD and…
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Stereophile has reviewed two integrated amplifiers from Chinese manufacturer Cayin in the past: the A-50T, which I wrote about very positively in March 2008, and the A-300B, which Art Dudley reviewed in February 2007. So when I read about Cayin's $2195 SP-10A integrated amplifier, which has a wood-covered sleeve, just like the old Marantz and McIntosh gear and offers 38 watts of push-pull power, in our coverage of the 2008 CES, I put in on my must-write-about list.
When Steve Leung, of importer Valve Audio System (VAS) Industries, commissioned the design and manufacture of the SP-10A, he…
"It's very much like a valve amplifier: The distortion starts quite early, but it's totally second-harmonic and it happens in a smooth and very controllable manner. Once we discovered that, we worked on the design and managed to make it sound quite a bit better by taking a backwards step in technology: In theory, we should have used a nice little regulated power supply at one stage of the circuit, but we found a simpler diode produced much better sound."
With Spirit
I was expecting the Brio to sound good—I'd already heard it many times at Robert's house, after all—and it never…
Roy Hall has his famous Music Hall MMF (Make Money Fast) turntables made for him in the Czech Republic.
Roy has also long been associated with Epos Limited, since a chap named Robin Marshall started the company in 1983. Their first product was the ES-14 loudspeaker, followed by the smaller ES-11. Both were largish, stand-mounted models, and both offered a lively, expressive, unstuffy sound. The speakers have always been fun to listen to, even if they lacked—and still lack—the refinement of some far more expensive speakers.
I was thinking of what Bill Conrad told me last month:…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge.
Digital Source: Creek Destiny CD player.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny, Marantz PM5003.
Loudspeakers: Epos M5 & M5i.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT Magnum M3 & MI-350 CVTwin Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge.
Digital Source: Lector, Creek Destiny CD players.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Monitor Audio Silver RS6, Epos M5.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT MI-350 CVTwin Terminator & CVT Terminator 2. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus. AC: manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina
The A3.2's exemplary midrange performance combined with superb and continuous low-level dynamics to make it an excellent match for singer-songwriters. On "Hey, Sweet Man," from Madeline Peyroux's Dreamland (CD, Atlantic 82946-2), the vocalist's naturally breathy presence was perfectly captured with all subtle dynamic nuances intact, as was Marc Ribot's quirky dobro accompaniment.
The Musical Fidelity deviated from neutrality only in the midbass, where there was a slight warmth or ripeness. Although this didn't detract from my enjoyment of any of the classical or jazz recordings I used,…
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 Amplifier: Creek Destiny.
Loudspeakers: Nola Mini, 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
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state integrated amplifier. Power output: 50Wpc into 8 ohms (17dBW). Total harmonic distortion: 0.01%, 20Hz–10kHz. Frequency response: 3Hz–26kHz, –1dB. Power amplifier rise time: 30V/µs. Input sensitivity: 350mV line-level. Input sensitivity on MM phono: 2.5mV. Input impedance on MM phono: 47k ohms. S/N ratio: –105dB. Channel separation: –90dB at 1kHz.
Dimensions: 16.5" W by 9" D by 2.4" H. Weight: 11 lbs.
Price: $600 plus $50 for moving-magnet board, $95 for moving-coil board (basic 4240 costs $595), 1995; no longer available (2013).…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia tonearm, Koetsu Urushi cartridge.
Digital Source: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, AudioValve Eclipse line stage.
Integrated amplifier: Creek Destiny.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110.
Loudspeakers: Alón Circe.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT Magnum M3 & MI-350 CVTwin Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina