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As specified, the Placette Active Linestage (ALS) offers a maximum gain of unity; ie, the maximum signal level is the same as that of the source components driving it. Owners should make sure, therefore, that their source components offer a sufficiently high signal level to fully drive their amplifiers. The 15dB attenuation switch on the Placette's remote control actually reduced the gain by 15.6dB, which is close enough to the specification. The ALS preserved absolute polarity.

The input impedance was close to specification at 18.5k ohms at all…

I had e-mailed Cantus producer Erick Lichte last March to discuss the progress I was making assembling the performances for the choir's new CD Cantus, which is scheduled for release this fall. But instead of talking about nuances of performance and splices and mixes, Erick was raving about the new Bel Canto DAC3 he'd borrowed from a local dealer to audition at home.

"I was floored! It was so involving. I was also so impressed with what they are going after with this product. . . . This kind of device, like my Benchmark DAC1, is not only the Swiss…

Sound
I mainly used the e.One DAC3 taking…

Description: D/A processor with remote control of digital input and volume. Digital inputs (5): AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF (BNC, RCA, TosLink), USB. Sample rates handled: 32–96kHz (S/PDIF, AES/EBU), 32kHz–48kHz (USB). Analog outputs: RCA (1 pair), balanced XLR (1 pair). Maximum output levels: 4.5V RMS balanced, 2.25V RMS unbalanced. Output impedance: 200 ohms balanced, 500 ohms unbalanced. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.5dB (CD data). THD+N: <0.0005%, 1kHz at 0dBFS, balanced output. IMD (CCIF): 0.0005%, 19+20kHz. Output noise: 3µV RMS, A-weighted. Dynamic range…

Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe, Pioneer DV-578A universal players; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter & Squeezebox 3 WiFi network music players with Apple Mac mini running OSX for media storage; Mark Levinson No.30.6, Benchmark DAC1, Musical Fidelity X-DACV8 D/A processors.

Preamplifiers: Parasound Halo JC2, Ayre K-5xe.
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.33H, Parasound Halo JC1 monoblocks; Boulder 860.
Loudspeakers: Sonus Faber Cremona Elipsa, AAD Reference Silver-1, Monitor Audio Gold Signature GS10.
Cables: Digital: Kimber Illuminations…

The Bel Canto e.One DAC3's S/PDIF and AES/EBU inputs successfully locked on to datastreams with sample rates varying from 32kHz to 96kHz. Feeding my Macintosh laptop to the DAC3's USB input resulted in the Bel Canto appearing in the computer's Sounds menu as "USB Audio Codec." The DAC3 is specified as being able to handle sample rates up to only 48kHz via its USB input. It did so without problem, though there were very slight changes in output level apparent when I fed it a continuous tone via USB. (This didn't happen with the other inputs.)

The DAC3's…

So it goes in domestic audio, however much we pretend otherwise. We buy an amplifier, bring it home, and give it a job to do—which, in terms of associated equipment, room size, music selection, and listening style, is very different from the job it will be called on to do elsewhere. Thus, direct comparisons often provide strangely little insight, and products that are truly universal are few.…

Sound
Alrighty then: If recent press releases are any indication, Antony Michaelson and Musical Fidelity, Ltd. would be happy to see…

Description: Solid-state integrated amplifier with tubed preamplifier stage and outboard power supply. Tube complement: two ECC 88. Phono inputs: 1. Line inputs: 3. Input impedances: 47k ohms phono, 220k ohms line. Outputs: one pair of speaker terminals; preamplifier and tape outputs on RCA jacks. Power output: 50Wpc into 8 ohms (17dBW, but see "Measurements" sidebar), 80Wpc into 4 ohms (16dBW). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, +0/–0.2dB. Preamplifier output impedance: 47 ohms. Damping factor: 80 (equivalent to an output impedance of 0.1 ohm).
Dimensions: 8.5…

Analog Sources: Linn LP12 turntable with Linn Lingo, Linn Basik power supplies; Naim Aro tonearm; Miyabi 47, Koetsu Black cartridges.
Digital Sources: Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player, Musical Fidelity X-Ray CD player.
Preamplification: Koetsu, Audio Note AN-S8 step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Quad II monoblocks, Shindo Cortese.
Loudspeakers: Quad ESL, DeVore Gibbon Nine, Audio Note AN-E/Spe HE.
Cables: Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Shindo silver. Speaker: Auditorium 23, Nordost Flatline Gold. AC: JPS Labs…