Description: Class-A triode vacuum-tube monoblock power amplifier. Output power: 100Wpc into 6 ohms (18.5dBW). Frequency response: 7Hz-50kHz, -3dB. THD: 0.07% at 1W, 0.3% at 50W. Voltage gain: 26dB into 6 ohms. Slew rate: 3µs. S/N ratio: 100dB, balanced input (no reference level given). Input impedance and sensitivity: not specified.
Dimensions: 17½" (448mm) W by 5 7/8" (150mm) H by 14 5/8" (452mm) D. Weight: 46 lbs (21 kg).
Price: $4795/pair (December 2001); $5500/pair (January 2002); no longer available (2004). Approximate number of dealers: 11 (2001).…
search
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Simon Yorke turntable, Graham 2.2 and Immedia RPM2 tonearms, Lyra Helikon LE and Helikon Mono cartridges.
Digital sources: Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D CD player, Marantz SA14 SACD player.
Preamplification: Hovland HP-100 preamplifier, Pass OnoX and Manley Steelhead phono sections.
Power amplifier: Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Loudspeakers: Sonus Faber Amati Homage, Audio Physic Avanti III.
Cables: Phono: Hovland Music Groove DIN/RCA, RCA/RCA. Interconnect: Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway II, Yamamura Millennium 6000,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Stereophile Guide to Home Theater editor Thomas J. Norton used to dread measuring tube amplifiers when he was this magazine's technical editor. I know how feels, the Kora Electronic Concept Cosmos proving a little temperamental on the test bench—three of its 1A output-tube fuses blew at various times during the testing, and one of the 6AS7G tubes suddenly glowed brighter than it should have. After I turned the amplifier off, let it cool down, then turned it on again, this tube had no further problems, however.
The Cosmos had identical sensitivities from…
The plumber's here, and he says we need a new hot-water heater because the one we have now isn't maintaining the correct water temperature, and because it's been in use for nine years. "And the thing is, this is a five-year heater." I responded by repeating his last six words, only louder, and with decorations. And I couldn't help thinking: I've had phono cartridges that lasted longer than that. And none of them have attacked me in the shower when my wife flushed the toilet, either.
It's reasonable to expect five years or more out of a good cartridge, especially if you keep it and your…
Given the above, you should know what it takes to use the DV10x5 in that setting. In particular, because the new Dyna is taller than the average phono cartridge—almost 19mm from the surface of the record it's sitting on to the top of its mounting platform (15mm is about average)—there's no escaping the fact that the owner of a Planar 3 absolutely must reposition the tonearm in order to raise it slightly, relative to the platter, to bring the stylus angle within spitting distance of the ideal.
Luckily, this is easy to do: Remove the arm, place one or two standard Rega shims (available…
And most of all, it made Guided by Voices' Bee Thousand (Scat 35) sound messy and fun, which it is. What else is there?
The only other thing that comes to mind is the issue of vinyl noise, be it steady-state (groove grunge) or not (tics and pops), said performance being a function of stylus profile, stylus condition (the extent to which it's been properly polished), and the cantilever's ability to shrug off rather than store resonant energy. Here the DV10x5 gets a solid "Good" rating: It was better than all the MM cartridges I know and even some of the MCs, pricier ones included,…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: High-output moving-coil cartridge. Output: 2.5mV (at 1kHz, 5cm/s). Compliance: 12cu (1cu = 106cm/dyne). Channel balance: 1dB (at 1kHz). Channel separation: 25dB (at 1kHz). Stylus profile: elliptical. Cantilever: 6mm aluminum tube. DC resistance: 150 ohms. Recommended tracking force: 1.8-2.2gm. Recommended load impedance: 1k ohms or greater.
Weight: 6.6gm.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 45449.
Price: $360. Approximate number of dealers: 30.
Manufacturer: Dynavector Systems, Ltd., 16-15 Iwamoto-cho 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0032,…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Rega Planar 3 turntable with Rega RB-300 tonearm. Linn LP12 turntable with Naim Armageddon power supply; Naim Aro tonearm; Supex 900 Super, Lyra Helikon Mono phono cartridges.
Digital source: Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Linn Linto phono preamplifier; Audio Note M3, Naim NAC32-5 preamplifiers.
Power amplifiers: Audio Note Kit One (300B), Naim NAP110.
Loudspeakers: Quad ESL-989.
Cables: Interconnect: Nordost Valhalla, Linn Analogue, Naim SNAIC (various), homemades. Speaker: Nordost Valhalla & Flatline,…
Last month (click here for previous Fine Tunes) I tipped you on how to check the AC plug orientation for transformer current leakage—the best sound is often found at the lowest voltmeter reading. Roger Skoff of XLO suggests another technique that's worth passing on to you, if only because the imagery is so . . . piquant: Leave the speaker cables hooked up and pull the interconnects from the power amplifier. Turn it on and "stick your head in the speaker," as Roger puts it, checking for the level of hum. (Imagine a pair of bony audiophile legs waving crazily out of the bell of an Avantgarde…
By the way, ground loops and rectifier buzz aren't the same as induced 60Hz hum, which is altogether more difficult to hear. You don't often notice that kind of "pure" and "clean" single-frequency hum, especially if you've been reading "Fine Tunes" and have taken the time to properly dress your cables and power cords. Ahem.
So, what to do? The first, easiest, and best way to avoid ground loops and improve the sound of your system in one fell swoop is to run all your components on the same AC line. A single-supply outlet box with a single low-impedance (you hope) ground connection to the…