Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn, TW-Acoustic Raven turntables; Continuum Cobra, Graham Phantom tonearms; Lyra Titan stereo & mono, Blue Angel Pink Ivory, Transfiguration Orpheus cartridges.
Digital Source: Alesis Masterlink BPT-modified hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Oracle Temple phono preamps; Musical Fidelity kWP preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX 2.
Cables: Phono: Cardas, Hovland Music Groove 2. Interconnect: TARA Labs Zero…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Sidebar 3: Measurements
First, it must be noted that Zanden doesn't have enough dealers to qualify for a full review in Stereophile. At the time the review was organized I was under the impression that the Zanden gear was available from five US dealers, the minimum we require. But as we went to press, we were informed that Zanden has just three US dealers. It wasn't possible that late in the production to abort the review. My apologies to the magazine's readers for this inadvertent exception to our rules.
For almost all of my tests, I drove the 5000 Signature D/A processor from…
Sidebar 4: JA Takes a Listen
It's hard to sum up the measured performance of the expensive four-box player. In many respects—its poor rejection of word-clock jitter, its nonflat response, its nonlinearity at low frequencies, its lack of ultrasonic image rejection, its higher-than-usual noise floor—it is the worst-measuring digital product I have encountered. Yet Michael Fremer was totally bowled over by its sound. Assuming Mikey is not deaf—and I have taken part in enough listening sessions with him to know that that is not the case—what the heck is going on with the Zanden pair? Is this…
Manufacturer's Comment
On behalf of Zanden Audio Systems, Ltd., I would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Fremer for the excellent review. The Model 5000 Signature DAC and 2000 Premium CD transport have been reviewed numerous times, and the response has just been tremendous. Without exception, every reviewer has been overwhelmingly positive. Among digital playback systems, the Zanden combo is something special and must be heard to be believed.
I would also like to apologize to Mr. Atkinson for having sent a unit with some faulty wiring. The 5000S DAC normally measures quite…
Followup from December 2006 (Vol.29 No.12):
No doubt Zanden Audio Systems was more perturbed and horrified by the measurements published with last month's review of the $27,970 Zanden 2000P CD transport and the $15,470 5000 M.IV Signature D/A processor than was I, but it was hardly more pleasant for me as a reviewer, and equally shocking.
As I've written before, if I were guided solely by measurements I'd have chucked my vinyl long ago. Digital measures far better, yet the proof is in the listening, and I much prefer listening to records.
So along comes a digital front-…
Sidebar 5: Second Sample Measurements
When I measured the Zanden Model 5000 Mk.IV/Signature for Michael Fremer's review last month (November 2006, p.109), I was very disappointed by the performance of this $15,470 D/A processor. With its poor rejection of word-clock jitter (even when connected with an I2S link), its nonflat frequency response, its nonlinearity at low frequencies, its lack of ultrasonic image rejection, and its higher-than-usual noise floor, I described it as "the worst-measuring digital product I have encountered."
Late in the review process, Zanden's US…
I was cruising at 36,000 feet, totally relaxed, listening to Richard Thompson. Looking down at my lap, I caught sight of a little box with a glowing green light. Switching off this light was like turning on the noise—the 767 was roaring like a locomotive and the ambient sound hit me like a fist. Thompson's crisp Celtic chordings turned mushy, undetailed, and dull. I felt weary. Whoa, I wouldn't do that again if I were you, laddie! I fumbled for the switch and reactivated the NoiseGuard circuitry on my Sennheiser HDC 451 noise-canceling headsets. Thompson's guitar rang out clearly, the…
Sidebar: Specifications
Description: Dynamic headphones with Noiseguard active noise-canceling circuitry. Transducer principle: dynamic, Open-Aire Coupling to ear: supra-aural. Frequency range: 20Hz–18kHz. Impedance: 270 ohms. Distortion: <1%. Active attenuation: >10dB between 400Hz and 1kHz. Headphone caliper pressure: approximately 1.6N (5.6 oz). Connector: 3.5mm plug. Power supply: 2 AA cells. Operating time: 80 hours.
Dimensions: Weight (w/o cable): 110gm (3.9 oz). Cable: single-sided, 2m (6.5').
Price: $269 (1995); $149.95 (2006). Approximate number of dealers: 750.
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What, I hear you asking, is an integrated drive? The MID is part of McCormack's much lauded "Micro" series (see my review of their Micro Line Drive in Vol.18 No.6), which are designed to offer the same dedication to quality as McCormack's full-size components, but at a lower price (and in a smaller package). The MID was initially the Micro Headphone Drive, sporting two ½" stereo phone-jacks on the front panel, a two-position input switch, and a volume control. The rear boasted two inputs and an output (controlled by the volume pot). It was designed to be a high-quality headphone amp and a…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: headphone amplifier/minimalist preamplifier/(very) low-wattage integrated amplifier. Outputs: two ¼" stereo phone jacks (front panel); 1 pair line-level RCA jacks (rear panel); 1 pair speaker binding posts (rear panel). Output power: 5Wpc (7dBW). Frequency response: DC–250kHz –3dB. Absolute polarity: non-inverting. Inputs: 2 line level via RCA jack. Input impedance: 20k ohms. Output impedance: 0.2 ohms, ½" stereo phone jacks; 100 ohms, line level RCA jacks; 0.2 ohms, speaker binding posts.
Dimensions: 9.5" W by 9" D by 3" H. Shipping weight: 8…