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, California Audio Labs Icon Mk.II Power Boss, Creek Destiny & CD53 Mk.II CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Infinity…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Infinity Primus P162 plays surprisingly loud with very few amplifier watts, its estimated voltage sensitivity on its tweeter axis coming in at 89.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the specified 90dB. The speaker is also a relatively undemanding load for the partnering amplifier, with an impedance that drops below 4 ohms only at the top of the audioband, and remains between 5 and 8 ohms much of the time (fig.1). Though the electrical phase angle reaches –45° at 125Hz, the impedance at this frequency is 10 ohms, alleviating the negative…
"If the midrange isn't right, nothing else matters." Stereophile founder J. Gordon Holt's decades-old observation of the musical importance of the midrange has become a truism cast in stone. Gordon's other famous observation, "The better the sound, the worse the measurements," was made only partially in jest.
In JGH's great tradition of condensing profound audio wisdom into simple aphorisms, I humbly offer my own and others' observations of the audio world at large.
A sonic improvement is meaningful only if it has musical significance.
Soft, warm, and rolled-off is less…
This is not a new component, but like most others that aspire to very high standards of performance, it has undergone some changes (for the better) since it first went into production.
At that time we found the Citation Eleven to have a subtly grainy overall sound and a slight tendency toward what sounded like front-end stress during crescendos from Magnetic Phono inputs, but even then it was the best-sounding preamp available in or about its price class. The subsequent modifications have served only to widen the gap between the Eleven and its competition.
Our bypass…
Sidebar: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, full-function preamplifier with 5-band program equalizer. Inputs: two Mag phono, two high-level tape, two aux, one tuner. Controls: Speaker selector switch; equalizers at center frequencies of 60Hz, 320Hz, 1kHz, 5kHz and 12kHz; volume; balance; mode (Stereo, Reverse Mono, Left Right); function (input selector); equalizer bypass; tape monitors 1 and 2, HF filter, LF filter, AC on/off. Outputs: two main, two to tape recorder(s), two to headphones (any impedance), three switched and one unswitched AC outlets.
Dimensions: 16" W by 5" H by…
There's always a certain amount of jockeying for position at the very top of the High End. Every few months, a new star burns brightly, getting all the attention. While the constant turnover at the cutting edge helps to define the state of the art, audiophiles should keep their eyes on the longer term. It's a company's track record—examined over a period of years—which defines its position in the market and the credibility of its products.
Ever since I made the acquaintance of my first Krell product—the KSA-50 power amplifier—I've been impressed by this Connecticut-based company…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state line-level preamplifier. Frequency response: 0.2Hz–400kHz +0, –—dB. Distortion: lower than 0.002%, –94dB, 20Hz–20kHz. S/N ratio: 95dB.
Input impedance: not specified. Output impedance: not specified. Maximum output level: not specified. Voltage gain: not specified.
Dimensions: 19" W by 2.5" H by 14.5" D.
Price: $3700 (1994); no longer availabe (2007). Warranty: 5 years parts and labor, limited transferable. Approximate number of dealers: 55.
Manufacturer: Krell Industries, 45 Connair Drive, Orange, CT 06477. Tel: (203…
Sidebar 2: System
A wide selection of ancillary components was available for this review. Comparison preamplifiers ranged from the Audio Research LS-5 to Krell's own KRC, by way of a Conrad-Johnson PF1. Power amplifiers included the Audio Research VT150, the Krell KSA-100S, Meridian 605, Naim NAP250, and Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven. Loudspeakers used were the Apogee Mini Grand system, Wilson WATT 3s/Puppy 2s, Quad ESL-63s, and Epos ES-11s.
Digital sources included the PS Lambda and Reference Link combination, the Krell MD10 and Reference 64 combination, an Accuphase DP70V, and…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The KRC-2's measured line-input input impedance was 50k ohms unbalanced, 100k ohms balanced. Though this is higher than earlier generations of Krell preamplifiers, it will reduce the loading on source components. The measured voltage gain was nearly twofold (5.45dB), increasing to fourfold (11.28dB) with the "gain" switch engaged. Over the 60dB operating range of the volume control, the channel balance was found to be generally better than 0.05dB. This is an excellent tolerance, defined by the use of precision discrete-resistor arrays. Balanced and unbalanced…
The Krell KRC-2 can be regarded as a remote-controlled successor to Krell's successful KSL preamplifier of a few years back. The outboard Krell Phono Equalizer (KPE) is a separate box powered from the KRC-2. Priced at $850, it contains a printed circuit board very similar, in fact, to the $499 unit that can be fitted within the KRC. The KPE and KRC phono stages are well-designed universal units; if someone has the need for a stand-alone phono equalizer of Krell KRC standard, a separate power supply may be purchased for the KPE. It is also an advantage to be able to locate the KPE head…