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In view of the fact that I have adopted the Eagle 2 as my current "reference" solid-state amplifier, I feel compelled to comment on several points in Steve's report.

High end: I found this as smooth, open, and airy as that of any amp I have heard, but without the slightly closed-in quality of the better tubed amps.

Middle range: Through even the most revealing and detailed of speakers, I have yet to hear the Eagle 2 sound "electronic." The "up front" quality that SWW observed—a little greater in degree…

This is the John Iverson Electron Kinetics Eagle 2 amplifier—what a mouthful! I gather the amp is already something of a legend, like Iverson himself. Of the many Iverson stories circulated at CES, I like best the one where Iverson walks into a dealer carrying both an Eagle 7A and an Eagle 2 amplifier. He balances the 7A (110 lbs!) on his knee to free up a hand for a shake. Now that's the way to get undivided attention.

This $895 amp is tidy and compact, not bad looking, but a little strange in appearance. I…

Description: Monophonic tube amplifier with push-pull output stage. Tube complement: two 12AX7, two 12AU7, four KT88. Maximum output power: 40Wpc in triode mode (16dBW into 8 ohms, 70Wpc in ultralinear mode (18.45dBW into 8 ohms), both at 2% THD. Frequency response: 10Hz–100kHz, ±3dB. Input impedance: 100k ohms. Output impedances: 2, 4, 8 ohms. Signal/noise: >84dB unweighted (no reference level given). Total harmonic distortion: <0.25% at 1W, 2% at rated power.
Dimensions: 15.2" (385mm) W by 8.3" (210mm) H by 15.9" (405mm) D. Weight: 63.8 lbs (29kg).…

Analog Sources: Thorens TD-124 Mk.II turntable; EMT 997 tonearm; Shindo SPU, Ortofon SPU 90th Anniversary, EMT OFD 25 & OFD 65 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player, HRT Music Streamer+ USB DAC (with Apple iMac).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Hommage T1 step-up transformer, Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: Shindo Haut-Brion & Corton-Charlemagne monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE, Wilson Audio Specialties Sophia Series 2.
Cables: USB: Belkin Pro. Interconnect: Audio Note AN-vx, Shindo…

I examined the PrimaLuna DiaLogue Seven's measured behavior using Stereophile's loaner sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It" and www.ap.com); I also used my Audio Precision System One Dual Domain for some tests. With three output-transformer taps and two output operating modes (triode and ultralinear), the DiaLogue Seven offers six choices of how it can be used. I performed a complete set of measurements from each tap in triode and ultralinear modes, but have published here only a limited selection of the…

PMC user-endorsers include artists like Brian May of Queen and Robbie Williams (the latter more popular in the UK than in the US), among dozens of other celebrities listed in the company's sumptuous, full-color brochures—Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Coldplay, Kraftwerk, Brian (sic) Ferry, Prince, etc.—though whether these artists actually own PMC…

A period of adjustment
There was one, of course, in going from the Wilson MAXX 3s—6'-tall behemoths capable of 20Hz performance, almost floor-to-ceiling soundstage height, and especially realistic dynamics—to the little PMCs, but it was shorter than you or I might have imagined.…

Description: Two-way, biwirable, transmission-line loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1.1" (27mm) Sonolex-dome tweeter, 5.5" (140mm) a doped paper-cone woofer with a cast-magnesium basket. Crossover frequency: 2kHz. Frequency range: 50Hz–25kHz. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Sensitivity: 87dB/W/m. Dimensions: 11.4" (290mm) H by 6.1" (155mm) W by 9.2" (234mm) D (plus grille). Weight: 9.9 lbs (4.5kg).
Finish: Black Ash, Cherry, Natural Oak, Walnut.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 12403, 12404.
Price: $1929/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 90.
Manufacturer:…

Analog Source: Ariston Icon turntable & tonearm, Shure M97xe cartridge.
Digital Source: Meridian Sooloos Music Server, Musical Fidelity V-DAC D/A converter with V-PSU power supply.
Preamplifier: darTZeel NHB-18NS.
Power Amplifier: Music Reference RM-200.
Integrated Amplifiers: Scott LK-72, Musical Fidelity A1 Collector's Series.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX 3.
Cables: Interconnect: Discovery Cable Essence. Speaker: Discovery Cable Essential.
Accessories: NHT speaker stands, Symposium Rollerblocks & platforms,…

The quasi-anechoic measurements were all performed using DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone. The PMC DB1i's voltage sensitivity is specified as 87.0dB/2.83V/m; my estimate of this was 86.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the specification. The PMC's impedance remains above 7 ohms for almost the entire audioband, dropping to a minimum of 6.3 ohms at 250Hz (fig.1). Though the electrical phase angle is occasionally high, this is always when the impedance is also high, thus minimizing any drive difficulty. This speaker will…