Description: Tube and solid-state, remote-controlled, two-channel integrated amplifier with six line-level inputs. Tube complement: three 12AX7. Maximum output power outputs: 150Wpc class-AB into 8 ohms (10Wpc class-A), 250Wpc class-AB into 4 ohms. Frequency response: 20Hz–50kHz, ±0.5dB. Input sensitivity: 200mV. Input impedance: 47k ohms. THD: <0.1% (1kHz at 1W). Signal/noise ratio: 80dB (no reference level given). Power consumption: not specified.
Dimensions: 16.8" (430mm) W by 5.9" (150mm) H by 17" (435mm) D. Weight: 45 lbs (20.4kg).
Serial Number Of…
search
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn/Cobra/Castellon turntable/tonearm/stand; VPI SuperScoutmaster Reference turntable; Graham Phantom tonearm; Lyra Titan i, Koetsu Coralstone Platinum mono, Shelter 7000, MySonic Hyper Eminent phono cartridges.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW DM 25 transport & DAC, Cary CD 306 SACD Professional Version SACD player, BPT-modified Alesis Masterlink hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Einstein Turntable's Choice, Audia Flight phono preamplifiers; darTZeel NHB-18NS preamplifier.
…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It" and www.ap.com) to measure the Vincent SV-236MK; for some tests, I also used an Audio Precision System One Dual Domain.
As usual, before performing any tests, I ran the Vincent for 60 minutes at one-third its specified power into 8 ohms, which is thermally the worst case for an amplifier with a class-B or -AB output stage. The measured distortion+noise was 0.021% with the amplifier cold; at the end of the hour's preconditioning, it had risen inconsequentially, to…
Audiophile societies are frequently sources of interesting new equipment to review. Recently, trolling New York's Audiophile Society, I discovered a tremendous buzz about the Onix Reference 1 Mk.II, an affordable bookshelf speaker from AV123. Founded by Audio Alchemy cofounder Mark Schifter, AV123 is a Colorado-based manufacturer and retailer that specializes in affordable audio gear, mostly speakers and electronics, which it sells exclusively over the Internet with a 30-day money-back guarantee. AV123's factories in China and Colombia design, manufacture, and distribute speakers under the…
This little bookshelf speaker's bass reproduction was quite impressive. On the aforementioned Kraftwerk track, the bass synthesizers and electronic bass drums sounded fairly natural, if a bit rounded at the bottom, but there wasn't quite as much slam as I've heard from this track through larger floorstanding speakers. The organ-pedal notes in the Rutter Requiem seemed very natural, though they never quite shook the room. However, I noticed no pedal notes missing in action. I had a similar reaction to the bass drum in the denser passages of Stravinsky's Firebird: it was convincing without…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded bookshelf loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" Vifa XT ring-radiator tweeter, 5.25" Atohm woofer with a rubber bar over the dustcap. Crossover frequency: 3kHz. Crossover type: 4th-order. Frequency response: 42Hz–35kHz, ±3dB. Impedance: 4 ohms. Efficiency: 88dB.
Dimensions: 14.5" (370mm) H by 8" (205mm) W by 11" (280mm) D. Shipping weight: 48 lbs (21.8kg)/pair.
Finishes: South American Rosewood; add $300/pair for Piano Bird's-Eye Maple, Piano Black.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 25399, 26100.
Price: $1200/pair. (One-way…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV, Rega Planar 3 turntables; Immedia RPM, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Koetsu Urushi, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eclipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110.
Loudspeakers: Amphion Helium2, Epos M16i, Monitor Audio RS6 Silver.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Onix Reference 1 Mk.II's "efficiency" or more correctly, voltage sensitivity, is specified as "88dB." My B-weighted estimate on the speaker's tweeter axis was within experimental error of that figure, at 87.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is typical of a speaker in this size and price category. The speaker's impedance stays between 4.5 and 8 ohms for most of the audioband, with minima of 4.2 ohms in the lower midrange and 3.7 ohms at 20kHz (fig.1, solid trace). With an electrical phase angle that remains moderate almost all the time (fig.1 dotted trace), the Onix Ref.1…
I know from conversations with other reviewers that this sort of thing happens all the time: Something new comes along—a product from a company we've never heard of, a technology we've never encountered before, whatever—and when we're impressed, we end up wondering if the thing is really as good as we think. We're insecure, just like you (footnote 1).
So it was with the Concerto 3 ($3495/pair) from Sonist Loudspeakers, a newish company based in southern California. I gladly accepted designer Randy Bankert's invitation to review his largest model—my reputation for enjoying…
While cabinet location wasn't much of a challenge, cabinet aiming certainly was: With their front surfaces aimed directly at the listening area, the Concerto 3s sounded a bit aggressive and a bit too forward. With the cabinets aimed straight ahead—and thus with most listening done off the axis of the high-frequency ribbons—those problems were banished, but the superb stereo imaging performance that I came to admire these speakers for wasn't at its best. In particular, there seemed to be a distinction between images heard right at the speaker itself and images that should otherwise have…