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The front-end was basically the same kit I'd listened to with the Symphonic Line Kraft 400s. Digits were handled by the Forsell Air Reference D/A converter and its companion Mk.II CD transport (air in the transport, none in the D/A, thank you, footnote 1). Digital datalinks were mostly Kimber AGDL, the new Illuminati Studio Dataflex, XLO, and the Marigo Apparition Reference (everything Cable-Jacketed), plus a Shakti Stone on the transport roof during play.

I also auditioned the 440s with an updated Jadis JS1 Symmetrical Converter driven by the elegant and…

With any tube amplifier having varied setup capabilities, the decision must be made whether to present all possible measurement combinations or a selected cross-section. The latter is the only practical alternative. I did a complete set of measurements of the Manley 440 in the Triode configuration, unbalanced mode, at the standard (intermediate) feedback setting with a minimum response slope. Unless otherwise noted, the measurements below indicate those conditions.

Following its one-hour, 1/3-power preconditioning test, the Manley 440 was very hot to the…

Description: Three-way, floorstanding loudspeaker with treble and midrange horns, integral powered sealed-box woofer. Drive-units: inverted-dome tweeter loaded with 5.1"-diameter (130mm) horn, dome midrange driver loaded with 19.7"-diameter (500mm) horn, two 10" (250mm) cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 300Hz, 3kHz. Frequency range: 300Hz–20kHz (midrange/treble), 18–300Hz (woofer). Sensitivity: >104dB. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Recommended power: >10W. Power handling: 50W. Subwoofer amplifier power: 250W.
Dimensions: (including subwoofer) 50" (…

Digital Source: Ayre CX-7e.
Analog Source: Linn LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Ittok tonearm, AudioQuest AQ7000nsx cartridge.
Preamplifiers: Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Ultimate, PrimaLuna ProLogue Three.
Power Amplifiers: Audiopax Eighty-Eight Mk.II monoblocks, PrimaLuna ProLogue Seven, PS Audio C-100.
Integrated Amplifier: PS Audio GCC-100.
Cables: Interconnect: Nordost Quattro Fils (single-ended, balanced). Speaker: Nordost Valhalla. AC: PS Audio xStream Power, TARA Labs Decade.
Accessories: Arcici Suspense Rack,…

Like its predecessor, the Avantgarde Uno Series Two, the Uno Nano's voltage sensitivity was both extraordinarily high and close to specification, at 102dB(B)/2.83V/m. It could be argued that, at normal playback levels, this speaker has no moving parts! The speaker's plot of impedance magnitude and phase (fig.1) shows the behavior of the tweeter and the midrange unit, the woofer module being self-powered. The large peak at 53Hz presumably indicates the fundamental resonance of the midrange driver, which is well below the horn's cutoff frequency, while I assume the…

But I have another passion: expensive tube gear. I so enjoyed my time reviewing the Audio Research Reference 110 amplifier that I bought the review sample (see my…

The hearing is believing
As I fired up the Conductor for the first time, I had a thought. Given this preamp's lofty price, it would be nice to be able to say that it was completely uncolored, and had no sonic shortcomings whatsoever.

A few days of listening later, it had become clear that, without equivocation, I could say just that. Three months of listening later, having found no flaws…

Specifications: Tubed line preamplifier with separate power supply and remote control of volume and source selection. Tube complement: four 6922, four 6N6P/6H30. Inputs: 6 pairs, independently configurable for balanced or single-ended operation. Outputs: 4 pairs (2 XLR, 2 RCA), one Tape Out pair (RCA). Input impedance: 47k ohms. Output impedance: 300 ohms. Bandwidth: 5Hz–200kHz. Gain: 14dB.
Dimensions: Amplifier: 20" (508mm) W by 5.5" (140mm) H by 14.8" (380mm) D. Power supply: 20" (508mm) W by 3.1" (80mm) H by 14.8" (380mm) D. Combined weight: 55 lbs (25kg…