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My primary source was the Audio Research CD1 CD player; Kimber Kable KCAG connected the source to the headphone amps. Everything rested upon DH Cones and was plugged into an API Power Wedge 112. I used several pairs of headsets for comparison, including the Grado SR80 and SR125, Sennheiser HD-580 and '580 Jubilee.

While I listened to a wide range of music during the audition period, I'm going to focus my comments on two songs: "Rasd al-dhil Bashraf Sammai," from this month's "Recording of the Month," by the Eduardo Paniagua group, and "Third Uncle," from Brian…

All of the following measurements were made from the front-panel headphone output. The polarity of the Audio Alchemy v1.0 was noninverting. Its input impedance was 88.2k ohms, its output impedance 0.27 to 0.29 ohms, depending on frequency. S/N measured an excellent 105dB (22Hz–22kHz, unweighted, ref. 1V). DC offset measured 12.5mV in the left channel, 11.5mV in the right. The tracking of the Audio Alchemy's volume control was reasonably good, with a maximum left/right deviation of 0.5dB at half rotation and less. Maximum voltage gain was 8.9dB.

The Audio…

I could be wrong about the target audience for the…

Description: vacuum-tube line/headphone amplifier. Tube complement: two 6DJ8s. Inputs: six line; one tape-loop. Outputs: one single-ended, amplified; one single-ended, passive; one balanced XLR. Maximum voltage gain: 18dB, single-ended; 24dB, balanced. Absolute polarity: non-inverting. Frequency response: 15Hz–200kHz –1dB. Input impedance: 52k ohms. Output impedance: 15 ohms, line; 0.5 ohm, Ç" stereo phone jack.
Dimensions: 19" W by 17" D by 3.5" H. Shipping weight: 21 lbs.
Serial number of unit tested: 51207233SHAG.
Price: $1995 (1996); no longer…

My primary source was the Audio Research CD1 CD player; Kimber Kable KCAG connected the source to the headphone amps. Everything rested upon DH Cones and was plugged into an API Power Wedge 112. I used several pairs of headsets for comparison, including the Grado SR80 and SR125, Sennheiser HD-580 and '580 Jubilee.

While I listened to a wide range of music during the audition period, I'm going to focus my comments on two songs: "Rasd al-dhil Bashraf Sammai," from this month's "Recording of the Month," by the Eduardo Paniagua group, and "Third Uncle," from Brian…

The Melos's measurements presented here were taken from the front-panel headphone jack unless otherwise stated—since the SHA-Gold was reviewed primarily as a headphone amp. Selected measurements, however, were also made from the back-panel preamp outputs.

The Melos was non-inverting, both from its headphone jack and its main outputs. (Using its balanced output, pin 2 was wired to be positive, pin 3 negative.) Its input impedance was 82k ohms. Its output impedance was 0.53 ohms at the headphone jack, 21 ohms from output 2.

The S/N ratio measured…

I've recently constructed a system, based on my Dell Windows PC, for recording…

Description: Dynamic open-air headphones. Frequency range: 20Hz–20kHz. Sensitivity: 98dB SPL for 1mV input. Nominal impedance: 32 ohms.
Serial number of unit reviewed: None.
Price: $150/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 500.
Manufacturer: Grado Laboratories, 4612 Seventh Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220. Tel: (718) 435-5340. Fax: (718) 633-6941. Web: www.GradoLabs.com.