Against the Cary 306
After I'd been happily listening for a few months to the SA-11S2's warm, detailed, emotionally involving sound, John Atkinson sent along Cary Audio Design's CD 306 Professional Version SACD player ($8000) that he had reviewed in November 2008 (Vol.31 No.11). He suggested I use it as a…
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The choice of filters was less important with bright, hard-sounding CDs, of which there are too many; like a warm-sounding phono cartridge, the Marantz could make a silk purse of a sow's ear, and did so with many CDs, particularly recent reissues of vintage pop recordings.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Single-box, fixed-output, two-channel SACD player with remote control, switchable DC filter and Noise Shaper, and three playback Filter settings. Formats played: SACD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW. Analog outputs: 1 pair unbalanced (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Digital outputs: coaxial S/PDIF, TosLink S/PDIF. Clock input: BNC. Frequency range: 2Hz–50kHz (SACD, Filter 3), 2Hz–20kHz (CD, Filter 1). Dynamic range: 114dB (SACD, Filter 3), 100dB (CD, Filter 1). THD: 0.0009% (SACD, Filter 3), 0.002% (CD, Filter 1). Power consumption: 26W.
Dimensions: 17.3" (444mm…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn, Cobra, & Castellon turntable, tonearm & stand; Graham Phantom tonearm; Lyra Titan i, Koetsu Coralstone Platinum mono cartridges.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW DM25 CD transport & DAC, Cary Audio Design 306 Professional Version SACD player, BPT-modified Alesis Masterlink hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Einstein Turntable's Choice phono preamplifiers; darTZeel NHB-18NS preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson MAXX…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Marantz SA-11S2 Reference was assessed using Audio Precision's 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 Miller Audio Research Jitter Analyzer.
The Marantz's maximum output level at 1kHz varied according to whether CD or SACD was playing and which of the three filters had been selected. The level from the balanced XLR jacks was 4.4V with SACD and Filter 1 and 2, increasing to 5.23V with Filter 3. With CD, the maximum balanced level was 4.8V with Filter 1…
Determining whether an idea is brilliant or off the wall is often a matter of perspective—and of looking at the results that follow from the idea. Take the notion of AC regeneration. AC is what comes from the wall socket, courtesy a network of power-generation plants, and it's specified as having a certain voltage and frequency, with the amount of current limited by fuses or circuit breakers in the electrical panel of the house or apartment. Audio components—other than those powered by batteries—are designed to convert this alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), then produce…
One of the most impressive things about the Premier is its ability to reduce harmonic distortion in the incoming AC. At various consumer-electronics shows, PS Audio had earlier demonstrated this effect of the Power Plant design by using a Fluke power-quality analyzer. With the Premier, they've included a built-in harmonic-distortion meter; you can switch the front-panel display to show the THD of the incoming AC and of the output. In my situation, the input THD was in the region of 3–4%, the output around 0.3%.
The Premier allows a choice between sinewave and MultiWave. However, it's…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: AC regenerator. Nominal input voltage: 105–135VA US, 215–245VAC Europe/Asia. Maximum continuous load: 1200VA US, 1500VA Europe/Asia. Dynamic power delivery: 0.5s, >3600VA US, 5000VA Europe/Asia. Voltage regulation: ±0.5V US, 1VAC Europe/Asia. Output distortion, input 220–240VAC: 1200VA resistive load <0.9%. Output distortion, 230V: 240VAC, 1200VA reactive load <0.9%. Output distortion, input 110–130VAC: 1200VA resistive load, <0.5%. Output distortion, input 110–130VAC: 1200VA reactive load, <0.5%. Output impedance: <0.015 ohm.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Source: Ayre CX-7e CD player.
Analog Source: Linn LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Ittok tonearm, AudioQuest AQ7000nsx cartridge.
Preamplifier: Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Ultimate.
Power Amplifier: Audiopax Model 88 Mk.II monoblocks.
Integrated Amplifier: PS Audio GCC-100.
Loudspeakers: Avantgarde Uno Nano.
Cables: Interconnect: Nordost Quattro Fils (single-ended, balanced). Speaker: Nordost Valhalla. AC: PS Audio xStream Power, TARA Labs Decade.
Accessories: Arcici Suspense Rack, PolyCrystal amplifier stands,…
The 78rpm train has been derailed for the time being. The KAB Souvenir VSP Mk.II phono preamplifier, which I intended to review in this space, has yet to arrive from its manufacturer, owing to a delay in the availability of certain parts. The Elberg MD12 Mk.III preamp has yet to arrive from its manufacturer, owing to a recent redesign. The Sentec EQ-10 preamp is here but has a broken switch I haven't got around to fixing. The McIntosh C-8 preamp, a lovely vintage piece that's available for peanuts on the used market, is still undergoing renovation by someone who isn't me.
So I'm taking…
While EMT settled down to make only A-style pickup heads, Ortofon continued to offer virtually all of their SPU moving-coil cartridges in a choice of A- or G-style headshells—until just a few years ago. Seemingly overnight, pictures of Ortofon's A-style pickup heads disappeared from the company's website. Was it, as some suggested, that the person responsible for building the A-style products had passed away? Or was it that the company wanted to condense their product line in the face of a shrinking consumer base?
As it turns out, neither. In 1971, Ortofon moved their operation from…