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The Mod Squad Phono Drive phono preamplifier Measurements

Sidebar 2: Measurements

The Phono Drive had a measured output impedance of 60 ohms from its direct-out sockets, and an even lower 50 ohms from its line stage. Neither outputs should have any difficulty driving long or highly capacitive interconnects. The input impedance of the line section I measured to be 11k ohms; again, no problem except with some antique tube components or the Mk.I version of the CAL Tempest CD player, which had a 5.6k-ohm output impedance.

The gain structure of the Phono Drive appeared to be around 20dB from the MC headamp, followed by 44dB at 1kHz from the…

The Mod Squad Phono Drive phono preamplifier Specifications

Sidebar 3: Specifications

Description: Dedicated MC/MM phono preamplifier, with separate line-level amplifier with volume and balance controls. Measured specifications: Frequency response (phono): 5Hz–110kHz, –3dB. Frequency response (line): DC–85kHz, –3dB. Output impedance: 60 ohms at 1kHz (phono direct); 50 ohms (line out). Input impedance: 45k ohms (MM); either 10, 20, 40, 100, 200, 1000, 47k ohms, or user selectable (MC); 11k ohms (line). Phono Sensitivity: 5mV RMS for 775mV output (MM); 0.5mV RMS for 775mV output (MC); 125mV RMS for 775mV output (line). S/N ratio ref. 775mV out (…

Are You a Sharpener or a Leveler?

A psychological theory (footnote 1) that I've always been fond of is the one that proposes the perceptual/personality dimension of Sharpening vs Leveling. As defined by the early Gestalt psychologists, Sharpening is an exaggeration of differences, Leveling a minimization of differences. In visual-perception research on this topic, when test subjects were presented with an asymmetrical figure, some later recalled it in ways that exaggerated the figure's asymmetry (Sharpeners), while others minimized or eliminated it (Levelers).

It seems fair to say that—like those who have a strong…

Recording of February 2009: <I>Cardinology</I>

RYAN ADAMS: Cardinology
Lost Highway B0012195-02 (CD, LP, 7" EP). 2008. Tom Schick, prod., eng.; Noah Goldstein, asst. eng. AAD?, AAA. TT: 40:29
Performance ****
Sonics ****

For many years, music fan, singer-songwriter, and cantankerous artiste Ryan Adams paid homage to what felt right. With his first band of note, the Raleigh, North Carolina–based Whiskeytown, he played a twangy fiddle-and-pedal-steel country-rock birthed on the altar of punk rock and liberally raised with respect for the songwriting and soul of performers like Gram Parsons and Jagger-Richards. Slowly but…

Bryston BCD-1 CD player

Bryston's first CD player, the $2695 BCD-1, is a drawer-loading player with a front panel of polished aluminum. The slim disc drawer, engraved with the Bryston logo, sits in the panel's center. To the drawer's left are an infrared sensor and Open/Close button, then a two-line, 16-character alphanumeric display. To the drawer's right are the usual transport controls and a power On/Off button. All of these functions are also accessible via the BCD-1's remote control, as well as two more: Back and Forward. Hold down either and the player moves through the selected track at several times normal…

Bryston BCD-1 CD player Page 2

The DAC's analog signal is fed to an output stage running in class-A and assembled from discrete components, which makes possible higher power outputs than are obtainable from integrated circuits. Bryston's extensive sorting and grading of the components comprising the analog output amplifiers are claimed to result in superior test-bench performance.

Listening
The BCD-1's shape and compactness allowed me to place it on one of my narrow equipment shelves, where it neatly replaced the Krell KPS-28c that had been returned to the manufacturer. Having reviewed and loved the sound of…

Bryston BCD-1 CD player Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: CD/CD-R player with remote control. Digital outputs: transformer-coupled AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF (RCA), TosLink (optical). Analog outputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR), 1 pair unbalanced (RCA). Control inputs: RS-232 port via 9-pin subminiature connector. Digital inputs: none. Remote 12V power-on/off trigger included. Maximum output level: 2.3V RMS unbalanced, 4.6V balanced. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.2dB. Channel separation: 109dB at 1kHz. THD+noise: 0.002%. Output impedance: not specified. Noise: <100dB, 20Hz–20kHz, ref. 1V. Signal/noise ratio:…

Bryston BCD-1 CD player Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital Sources: Sony SCD-C555ES multichannel SACD/CD player, Krell KPS-28c CD player, Bryston B100-DA D/A amplifier.
Preamplifier: Mark Levinson ML-7.
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson ML2 (monoblocks) & No.334.
Integrated Amplifier: Bryston B100-DA.
Loudspeakers: Burmester B25, Quad ESL-989, Revel Ultima Salon2.
Cables: Digital: Wireworld Starlight coaxial. Interconnect: Mark Levinson Silver, Red Rose Silver One, Totem Acoustic Sinew single-ended, PSC Pristine 8, Bryston balanced. Speaker: QED X-Tube 400, PSC R50 double-ribbon biwire,…

Bryston BCD-1 CD player Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

I examined the Bryston BCD-1's measured behavior mainly using Audio Precision's top-model SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and "As We See It" in the January 2008 issue), as well as, for some tests, our Audio Precision System One and the Miller Audio Research Jitter Analyzer. As always, I experimented with the grounding between the player being tested and the test set to give the lowest level of measured hum.

The BCD-1's error correction was excellent; the player suffered no dropouts until the gaps in the data spiral on the Pierre Verany Test CD reached 1.5mm…

Marantz SA-11S2 Reference SACD/CD Player

Unless you've already acquired a large collection of SACDs, buying a player in 2009 necessitates an act of faith similar to the one turntable buyers faced back in 1992. As with the LP back then, the major labels today have all but abandoned the SACD to such niche players as Chesky, Proprius, Harmonia Mundi, Pentatone, Channel Classics, 2L, Telarc, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Groove Note, and Acoustic Sounds.

Meanwhile, at least for the time being, major labels—even Sony—have gotten back into vinyl in a big way; between them and the independent and reissue labels, there are now…