J.S. BACH: The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
Glenn Gould, piano (1955); Yamaha Disklavier Pro piano, "Re-Performance" by Zenph Studios
Sony Classical 8697-03350-2 (SACD/CD). 2007. Howard H. Scott, prod. (1955 mono sessions); Steven Epstein, prod. (2007 stereo, multichannel, and binaural sessions); Peter Cook, Richard King, eng. (2007); Dennis Patterson, asst. eng. (2007); Marc Wienert, piano voicer (worked with Gould); Ron Giesbrecht, calibration. Zenph project team: Mikhail Krishtal, Anatoly Larkin, Peter J. Schwaller, John Q. Walker. DDD. TT: 77:02.
Performance *****
Sonics…
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"Why didn't they choose a color set?" I had been reminiscing about the early days of TV and how my parents bought a black-and-white set so we could watch the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. My daughter Emily's question had me stumped. It is difficult to explain to someone born 10 years after the launch of CD—someone who, for example, has never seen, let alone used, a typewriter, and who enjoys a comparatively infinite set of choices among mature 21st-century technologies—that it was not always thus.
All of us are inexorably shaped by our personal histories. Baby-boomers like me…
"Onkyo Returns to its Stereo Roots to Debut New Digital Amplifier Technology." This heading of the press release for Onkyo's A-9555 digital integrated amplifier was surely intended to warm the cockles of the two-channel audiophile's heart. Some of us remember the Onkyo Grand Integra amplifiers of the 1980s, which were considered competitive with the big Krells and Mark Levinsons of the day. To refresh my memory, I looked through my Stereophile archives and found the December 1985 issue (Vol.8 No.8), which included Larry Greenhill's review of the Grand Integra M-510, a 300Wpc power amplifier…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, class-D, remote-controlled integrated amplifier. Power output at 1kHz: 85Wpc into 8 ohms (19.3dBW), 0.5% THD. Frequency response: 10Hz–60kHz, +1dB/–3dB (CD). THD: 0.08% (1kHz, 1W). Damping factor: 25 (1kHz, 8 ohms). Signal/noise ratio: 100dB (CD, IHF-A), 70dB (phono, IHF-A). Input sensitivity and impedance: 200mV, 50k ohms (CD); 2.5mV, 50k ohms (phono). Recommended speaker impedance: 4–16 ohms. Power consumption: 110W (0.3W in standby).
Dimensions: 17 1/8" (435mm) W by 5 13/16" (148mm) H by 16 15/16" (431mm) D. Weight: 28.7 lbs (13kg…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: Linn LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ittok tonearm, AudioQuest AQ7000 nsx cartridge.
Digital Sources: PS Audio Lambda II CD transport; Perpetual Technologies-ModWright P-1A/P-3A digital processors with Monolithic Sound P3 power supply.
Preamplification: Bryston TF-1 step-up transformer.
Integrated Amplifiers: PS Audio GCC-100, Flying Mole CA-S10.
Loudspeakers: Avantgarde Acoustic Uno 3.0.
Cables: Digital: Mystic Reference I2S, Illuminati Orchid AES/EBU. Interconnect: PS Audio xStream Statement. Speaker: Nordost…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Looking first at the Onkyo A-9555's phono stage, this was suitable for moving-magnet cartridges, with a voltage gain a little lower than normal of 35.6dB (measured at the amplifier's Tape Out jacks) and an input impedance of 45k ohms. The RIAA equalization featured a treble region that was shelved down by 0.75dB (fig.1), which will be audible as a slight dulling of the balance. The two channels matched very well, however.
Fig.1 Onkyo A-9555, phono-stage RIAA error at 5mV input at 1kHz (0.5dB/vertical div., right channel dashed).
The phono…
How much amplifier power do you need? Most audiophiles figure a maximum of a few hundred watts per channel—beyond that, you're wasting your money or showing off. Others think that anything more than a few watts will mess up an amplifier's musical coherence or "purity," so they stop there and find uncommonly sensitive speakers, usually compression horns with cone woofers.
Of course, how much power you need depends on how much realism you seek. If you want only background music, or a pleasant but subdued version of the real thing, perhaps you don't need that much power. However,…
There are peripheral issues. To get the most from the Supercharger, you need more expensive jumpers and AC cords than the ones supplied, but these are minor costs. I used the supplied jumpers, along with my reference Shunyata Research Helix Anacondas.
Let's play!
First up was the 100Wpc Music Reference RM-200, my reference tube amplifier and a reasonably priced, rugged, ultra-reliable component. JA's measurements, which accompanied my review in the April 2002 issue, showed that the RM-200 delivers 95W via its 4 ohm tap at 1% distortion. It can drive the 92dB-sensitive Wilson Audio…
Sidebar 2: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, monoblock power amplifier with line- and speaker-level inputs. Maximum power output: 550W into 8 ohms (27dBW), 750W into 4 ohms (25.75dBW). Maximum output voltage: 66V RMS, 20Hz–20kHz; 186V peak–peak. Maximum current: 250 amps peak–peak. Frequency response: 20Hz–30kHz, +0/–0.2dB. THD+noise: <0.016%, 20Hz–20kHz. Damping factor: 220. Input impedance: 50k ohms (line), 50 ohms (speaker). Input sensitivity for full power out into 8 ohms (line): 2.23V, speaker 33V. Signal/noise (no reference level quoted): >120dB (line input), >115dB…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn, Grand Prix Audio Monaco, Merrill-Scillia Audio MS-21 turntables; Continuum Audio Labs Cobra, Graham Phantom, Tri-Planar tonearms; Lyra Titan i, Air Tight PC-1 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW DM25 DAC & CD transport, Esoteric SA-60 universal player, Musical Fidelity X-RayV8 CD player, BPT-modified Alesis Masterlink hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Einstein Audio Turntable's Choice phono preamplifiers; darTZeel NHB-18NS preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Musical…