I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Dragonfire Mini Dragon Satellite's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield responses of that and the SB-8P powered subwoofer. I measured the performance of the Dragonfire MD-4 power amplifier with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Because the MD-4 uses a class-D output stage, around 320mV of ultrasonic switching noise was present on its outputs. As this noise might overload the SYS2722's input…
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Sidebar 3: Measurements
At CH Precision, the model-number increment indicates upgradeability. Physically, the C1.2 is very similar to the C1. The ".2" designation indicates that if you own a C1, you can upgrade it to .2 status—for $4000. The D1.5, though, is so different from its predecessor, the D1, that it's not physically possible to upgrade the older to the newer: The D1.5 uses a different transport, with a different door height. Not to worry though: CH Precision offers a guaranteed buy-back in cases like that.
One very visible change in the C1.2 is the introduction of MQA support, which was not present in…
As I prepared this review of the Marten Mingus Septet Statement Edition loudspeaker ($199,000/pair), I asked the Marten people to tell me something about the company and its values. Here's the reply I received via Marten's Martin, Global Sales Manager Martin Dunhoff:
Marten was founded back in 1998, but Leif [Olofsson], our founder and chief engineer, started making speakers long before that. ... He wanted to hear music as it was in real life. ... Leif wanted to make a speaker that accurately reproduced the truth and beauty of natural sound. To achieve these goals, he experimented…
Powerline Accessories
AC Nexus Advanced Power Distribution & Ground Enhancement System: $20,000 ★
Steve McCormack, once the proprietor of The Mod Squad, is the man who introduced the concept of accessory isolation feet—his Tiptoes were aluminum cones with flat tops and sharply pointed feet. Now he's brought to market this passive AC-power filter, whose Panzerholz enclosure contains two fist-sized silver-conductor capacitors from Duelund. The IEC AC inlet is a Bocchino Audio Marriner10 and the AC outlets are four Furutech Nano Crystal Formula duplexes. Four Cardas ground posts…
Two-Channel Preamplifiers
Editor's Note: Apart from the Bespoke, CAT, and Shindo, all the Class A preamplifiers offer balanced inputs and outputs. And unless noted, the preamplifiers listed do not have phono stages.
A
Audio Research Reference 6SE: $18,000
An updated version of the discontinued Ref 6, with changes in capacitors and wiring, the fully balanced, tubed '6SE impressed JVS, who noted that when he installed the Ref 6SE in his system, his speakers "poured forth some of the most polished, transparent, and arresting sound" he'd heard from his system. Longer-…
Disc & File Players
Editor's Note: SACD and DVD-A player ratings are based on how they sound with their respective hi-rez media, not CD.
A+
Antipodes K50: $15,000
See Jason Victor Serinus's review in this issue. (Vol.44 No.10)
Aurender N10: $8000 with 4TB storage ★
Designed in California and manufactured in South Korea, Aurender's N10 is a computer running a modified version of the open-source Linux operating system, and is dedicated to retrieving audio files from an external NAS drive, or a drive plugged into one of its USB ports, or its internal…
Note: We now share Rogier van Bakel's final, extensive coverage of the most recent occurrence of Europe's second most important audio show, Audio Video Warsaw. Audio Video Warsaw 2026 will take place this fall, October 23-25, 2026. For Jason Victor Serinus and Rogier's previous Warsaw show coverage, go here.
Author's addendum: Show reports don't always travel at the speed of sound. This one took the scenic route. Some of the products mentioned have since appeared at other shows. The rooms, the conversations, and the sounds heard in Warsaw haven't changed.
During the 10 days…
Digital Processors
Editor's Note: The sound of any particular CD transport/digital processor combination will be dependent on the datalink used-see "Bits is Bits?" by Christopher Dunn and Malcolm Omar Hawksford, Stereophile, March 1996, Vol.19 No.3 (WWW). Unless mentioned, processors are limited to 32/44.1/48kHz sample rates. To be included in Class A+, a digital processor must be capable of handling DSD or 24/96 LPCM data.
A+
Bel Canto e1X: $6800
See John Atkinson's review elsewhere in this issue. (Vol.45 No.10)
Bricasti M1SE: $10,000 ★
With first-class…
Power Amplifiers:
A (SOLID STATE):
Ayre VX-8: $6800
See Ken Micallef's review in this issue. (Vol.46 No.10 WWW)
Bel Canto E1X: $6200
Trickled down from Bel Canto's premium Black line, this slimline, lightweight amplifier uses the well-regarded Ncore class-D modules and a low-noise switch-mode power supply. TG commented positively on the e1X's image specificity, low-frequency control, and extremely low background noise. "I didn't expect to be so completely gobsmacked by the level of clarity and musicality I'm hearing now from the e1X," he concluded. JA's…
Power Amplifiers:
A (SOLID STATE):
Accuphase A-300 monoblock: $51,900/pair
"The more I listened to the A-300 monoblocks, the more I wanted to listen," wrote JVS about his time with a pair of these powerful amplifiers. (It is specified as delivering 125W into 8 ohms, 250W into 4 ohms, 500W into 2 ohms, and 1000W into 1 ohm.) The MOSFET output operates in class-A up to 125W into 8 ohms, 62.5W into 4 ohms, and 31.25W into 2 ohms. The A-300 has both balanced and unbalanced inputs; the gain and XLR polarity can be adjusted; and an operation-mode switch facilitates bridging and…