Facilities
The PM-KI-Pearl is a full-featured, remote-controlled integrated amplifier that includes a special wide-bandwidth CD input, a phono input that can be switched between moving-magnet and moving-coil, two line…

search
Description: Solid-state, remote-controlled, stereo integrated amplifier with 5 line inputs (2 associated with tape loops), 1 MM/MC phono input. Power output: 90Wpc into 8 ohms (19.5dBW), 140Wpc into 4 ohms (18.5dBW). Frequency response (CD, 1W, 8 ohm load): 5Hz–100kHz, ±3dB. Output bandwidth (8 ohm load, 0.05% THD+N): 5Hz–40kHz. Input sensitivity: CD/line, 240mV/20k ohms; phono (MC), 270µV/100 ohms; phono (MM), 2.7mV/47k ohms; P. Direct in: 1.7V/20k ohms. Pre-out output voltage/output impedance: 1.7V/220 ohms. Phono overload: MC, 15mV; MM, 150mV. THD: 0.05%,…
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn, Cobra, & Castellon turntable, tonearm, and turntable stand, Ariston Q Deck turntable; Graham Engineering Phantom II tonearm; Lyra Titan i, Transfiguration Orpheus, Ortofon A90, Shure M97xE cartridges.
Digital Sources: BPT-modified Alesis Masterlink hard-disk recorder, Meridian-Sooloos music server; Camelot Technology Round Table used as D/A converter.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Einstein Turntable's Choice, Boulder 1008 phono preamplifiers.
Power Amplifier: Musical Fidelity Titan.
…
I measured the Marantz PM-KI-Pearl with Stereophile's loan sample of the Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It" and www.ap.com); for some tests, I also used my vintage Audio Precision System One Dual Domain.
Before I test an amplifier, I run it for 60 minutes at one-third its specified power into 8 ohms. Thermally, this is the worst case for an amplifier with a class-B or -AB output stage. At the end of this period, the Marantz's case was warm to the touch, but the grilles above its internal heatsink weren't so hot that I…
I love audio shows. Of all those people gathered together to commit hi-fi, a handful of them actually get it right and make it look effortless—Balanced Audio Technology's Geoff Poor, for example. You can count on the latest BAT products to sound better than the…
On Hank Mobley's Soul Station (CD, Blue Note/Audio Wave AWMXR-0001), instead of a two-horn frontline, there'…
Description: Tubed, two-channel power amplifier. Tube complement: two 6H30, two 6SN7, two 6922, four 6C33. Maximum output power: 55Wpc into 8 ohms (17.4dBW). Frequency range: 8Hz–200kHz. Nominal voltage gain: 25dB into 8 ohms. Input impedance: 215k ohms.
Dimensions: 17" (435mm) W by 8" (205mm) H by 16" (410mm) D. Weight: 50 lbs (22.7kg).
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: 05504233.
Price: $5995. Approximate number of dealers: 46.
Manufacturer: Balanced Audio Technology Inc., 1300 First State Blvd., Suite A, Wilmington, DE 19804. Tel: (302) 999-8855. Fax…
Digital Sources: Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; Ayre Acoustics QB-9, Bel Canto USB Link 24/96 USB-S/PDIF converter, Bel Canto e.One DAC3 D/A converters; Apple Mac mini laptop computer with 2.52GHz Dual Core processor, 4GB RAM, Infrant Technologies NAS hard drive.
Preamplifiers: Aesthetix Calypso, Ayre K-1xe.
Power Amplifiers: Aesthetix Atlas, Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Loudspeakers: Klipsch Palladium P-39F, Thiel CS3.7, Vienna Acoustics Klimt The Kiss.
Cables: USB: EntreQ Discover. Interconnect: Shunyata Research Cirrus-IC,…
To perform the measurements on the Balanced Audio Technology VK-55SE, I mostly used Stereophile's loan sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It" and www.ap.com); for some tests, I also used my vintage Audio Precision System One Dual Domain.
The VK-55SE has four output terminals for each channel, various pairs of which can be used to provide a feed from three different output-transformer taps: these are labeled "High (6–8 ohms)," "Med (4–6 ohms)," and "Low (3–4 ohms)." I performed a complete set of…