Description: Tubed, line-level, stereo preamplifier. Tube complement: four 12AU7A. Inputs: 7 on RCA jacks. Outputs: 2 unbalanced on RCAs, one unbalanced on XLRs. Maximum output level: 15V. Output impedance: 300 ohms. Voltage gain: 15–26dB (see text). Harmonic distortion: 0.2% at 1V. Bandwidth: 4Hz–45kHz. Absolute Polarity: Non-inverting.
Dimensions: 16.3" (420mm) W by 4.5" (130mm) H by 13" (320mm) D. Weight: 44 lbs (20kg).
Finishes: black; add $400 for silver.
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: 110207US.
Price: $4200. Approximate number of dealers: 8.…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn LP12 turntable with Naim Armageddon power supply; Naim Aro tonearm; Miyabi 47, Lyra Helikon Mono cartridges.
Digital Sources: Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player, Naim CD555 CD player.
Preamplification: Tamura TKS-83, VAS MC-One, Auditorium 23 step-up transformers; Fi, Shindo Aurieges, Shindo Masseto preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Lamm ML2.1, Quad II monoblocks; Fi 2A3 Stereo, Shindo Montille.
Loudspeakers: Audio Note AN-E Lexus Signature, Quad ESL.
Cables: Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Nordost Heimdall, Shindo Silver.…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I performed all my measurements using the CD1 input. I didn't measure the Audio Valve Eclipse from its XLR jacks, however. As explained in the manual, these are not true balanced outputs; instead, they are unbalanced, paralleling the output on the RCA jacks on pin 2, with pin 3 connected to ground. The preamplifier's maximum voltage gain from the CD1 input was a modest 7.15dB, with the unity-gain setting of the volume control at 4:00. The gains from the other inputs ranged from 5.15dB, CD2 to 15.9dB, tuner and tape. It looks as if the different input sensitivities…
Robert J. Reina wrote about the Audio Valve Eclipse preamplifier in June 2008 (Vol.31 No.6):
I was excited when I heard that Art Dudley was going to review the Eclipse line preamplifier from German manufacturer Audio Valve (Stereophile, August 2007). I have owned the preamp for four years now and have enjoyed every minute of it. But I wondered what Art might say about it. To my ears, the Eclipse was detailed and dynamic, but had no sound of its own—no coloration, no sonic signature. How could AD stretch that into an entire review and make it informative and entertaining? I then thought…
Sidebar: Bob Reina's Associated Equipment
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, Creek Destiny CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110 II.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: NHT Classic 3, Nola Mini, Epos M5.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350…
When I attend Stereophile's annual Home Entertainment show, I rarely sit and listen to music for very long. Instead, I try to hit every room, press the flesh, find out about new products, and play a little jazz.
But HE2006, in Los Angeles, was different. I must have spent three hours listening critically to the wonderful music and sound I heard in the three rooms occupied by the Audio Research Corporation, who'd hooked up their Reference line of electronics to speakers from Thiel, Vandersteen, and Wilson. The ARC gear included the Reference CD7 CD player, the Reference 3 line-…
The second of the 110's remarkable strengths was its ability to render high frequencies with a clean, pristine, extended presentation totally devoid of electronic artifacts. This was also my reaction to the high frequencies of ARC's Reference 3 line-stage preamplifier (see my Follow-Up in the June issue, p.139); in this region, clearly, these two designs were cut from the same sonic cloth. I tested the Reference 110 with both the Reference 3 and Audio Valve Eklipse's line stage, and the amp's high-frequency strengths shone through both (although the effect was notably greater with the ARC…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Stereo tubed power amplifier with balanced inputs and 4, 8, and 16 ohm output transformer taps. Tube complement: 4 matched pairs of 6550C output tubes, 4 6H30 driver tubes. Maximum output power: 110Wpc continuous, 20Hz–20kHz at 1kHz with THD typically 0.3% at 110W, <0.03% at 1W; 120W at clipping (20.8dBW). Frequency response: 0.6Hz–90kHz, –3dB. Input sensitivity: 1.8V RMS balanced for rated output (24dB balanced gain into 8 ohms). Input impedance: 300k ohms balanced. Output polarity: non-inverting. Damping factor: approximately 12. Hum &…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
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, Audio Research Reference 3 line stages.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE.
…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Before performing any measurements on the Audio Research Reference 110 amplifier, I checked the bias of each pair of tubes, something made easy by the convenient probe sockets adjacent to the tubes on each of the circuit boards. All bias readings were within 1mV of the target 63mV, and the "Check" readings were all in the center of the specified range.
The specified input impedance is very high, at 300k ohms, and my estimate was in this region. (Measuring high input impedances is not very precise with our usual voltage-drop method, because of the very…