I can look back at 10 years' worth of my own phono-preamp reviews and the stain is unmistakable: In every one is the subtle anger, the subtle pissiness, that came from my having to write about such a thing at all. I found it difficult to forgive an industry that would expect preamp buyers to start paying thousands of dollars more, just like that, for a phono section: something that we used to get for free, like drinkable water or a good education.
Nowadays…
Thus my comments are distilled from a variety of…
Description: Tubed phono preamplifier. Tube complement: one 6N1P, two 12AX7, two 5687. Frequency response: 10Hz–42kHz, ±0.5dB. Input impedance: 47.5k ohms. Output Impedance: 1300 ohms at 1kHz. Voltage gain: 52dB. Maximum output voltage: 40V RMS. Total harmonic distortion: <0.2% at 1kHz, 2V RMS output.
Dimensions: 6.5" (165mm) H by 8.5" (220mm) W by 14.6" (375mm) D. Weight: 24 lbs (10.9kg).
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: 0007.
Price: $2890. Approximate number of dealers: 17.
Manufacturer: Artemis Labs, 260 Marvista Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106. Web…
Analog Sources: Linn LP12 turntable, Naim Armageddon power supply, Naim Aro tonearm; Well Tempered Record Player; Brinkmann EMT Titanium, Linn Akiva, Lyra Helikon Mono, Miyabi 47, phono cartridges; Tamura TKS-83 moving-coil step-up transformer.
Digital Source: cartonless Sony SCD-777ES SACD player.
Preamplifiers: EAR 834P, Linn Linto phono preamplifiers; Lamm LL2, Juicy Music BlueBerry Xtreme preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Lamm ML2.1 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Quad ESL.
Cables: Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Nordost Valhalla. Speaker:…
Measuring the performance of phono preamplifiers can always be problematic because a signal generator is not a phono cartridge. Even with the wide variety of grounding options offered by my Audio Precision System One measuring rig—its generator outputs and analyzer inputs can be independently grounded or floated—as well as the options of grounding or floating the AC lead of the device under test, or running a separate ground lead from the unit's chassis to the analyzer chassis, the occasional component refuses to cooperate. Such was the case with the Artemis PH-1…
Description: Three-way acoustic-suspension bookshelf loudspeaker. Drive-units: &190;" aluminum-dome tweeter, 2" aluminum-dome midrange cone, 6.5" polypropylene-cone woofer. Crosssover frequencies: 800Hz (symmetrical 12dB/octave), 3.2kHz (symmetrical 18dB/octave). Frequency response: 45Hz-20kHz ±3dB. Sensitivity: 86dB/2.83V. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms.
Dimensions: 13.75" (350mm) H by 7.5" (190mm) W by 10.375" (265mm) D. Weight: 17 lbs (7.7kg).
Finishes: High-Gloss Black, Special Dark.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 0100 000001-26, 0100 00022-26.…
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 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 Amplifier: Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: NHT SB3, Epos M5, Nola Mini.
Cables:…
The NHT Classic Three's voltage sensitivity was significantly lower both than average and than specified, at an estimated 83dB(B)/2.83V/m. However, its impedance was generally higher, dropping below 6 ohms only in the lower midrange and above the audioband (fig.1). The minimum value was 4 ohms between 120Hz and 170Hz, but there is also a combination of 5.5 ohms and –46° electrical phase angle at 94Hz that will demand a goodly amount of current from the partnering amplifier.
Fig.1 NHT Classic Three, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed…
Of course, it's also possible that a company that calls its flagship speaker a "reference" is just telling it like it is. (Stop laughing—it could happen.)
While Canton Elektronik's Vento Reference 1 DC is unquestionably expensive at $30,000/pair, its name owes a lot more to fact than to brag—and, as insanely priced luxury goods go, it just might be a…