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Description: Integrated CD player. D/A conversion: Crystal CS4390, 128x oversampling. Maximum output level: 4V at 1kHz. THD+noise: <0.0025% at 1kHz, 0dB. Output impedance: 75 ohms unbalanced, 150 ohms balanced. Frequency response: 10Hz-20kHz, +0.1dB/-1.1dB. Analog outputs: 1 pair unbalanced (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Digital outputs: 1 S/PDIF (BNC).Dimensions: 17" (431mm) W by 4.5" (112mm) H by 16" (408mm) D. Weight: 26.5 lbs (12kg) net, 33 lbs (15kg) shipping.
Finishes: Brushed aluminum or chrome-plated brass, both with inset engraved brass panel.
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Analog source: VPI TNT Mk.V-HR turntable with JMW Memorial tonearm; Grado Statement, Benz Micro L04 cartridges.
Digital source: Simaudio Moon Eclipse CD player.
Preamplifier: VAC CPA-1 Mk.III.
Power amplifiers: VTL Ichiban, Mark Levinson No.20.6, VAC Renaissance 70/70.
Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Virgo III.
Cables: Interconnect: Nirvana S-X Ltd., Audience Au24, Nordost Valhalla. Speaker: Nirvana SL, Audience Au24, Nordost Valhalla. AC: Audience PowerChord.
Accessories: Bright Star Big Rock, Little Rock, Air Mass isolation devices; Nordost…

The unbalanced RCA output jacks were loose on the review sample, but still made good electrical contact. The GamuT player offered a maximum output of just over 4V RMS from both balanced and unbalanced jacks, 6dB higher than the CD standard's 2V. (Both balanced phases were active.) Neither output inverted absolute polarity. The source impedance was a low 56 ohms across the audioband from the unbalanced RCAs, 150 ohms from the balanced XLRs. Error correction was excellent, the CD 1 coping with gaps in the data spiral of up to 1mm in length without stuttering.

Keith Jarrett recently made the observation that jazz critics don't talk about swing anymore. Jarrett speculated that critics either fail to recognize swing when they hear it,…

But audiophiles don't get excited about Bryston—not, at least, those hard-core audiophiles who love to keep changing equipment, who think of hi-fi as a competitive sport. Bryston! Why, their 2B amplifier has been in production for almost 20 years! How boring.

How boring, too, the fact that Bryston equipment is now guaranteed for 20 years. Who owns something for 20 years? (Bryston customers, obviously.) My buddy The Brass Ear…

Many integrateds lack a headphone jack,…

The Anti-High End.

That's who I felt like with this amplifier and it felt all right. Good, even. Let me 'splain.

You've been to the shows, you've read the 'zines, you've visited your local hi-fi salon—which means that you've seen the BIG SYSTEMS. Big speakers. Big amps. Big turntables even, fer crissakes. You know it's what you want, what you would have if you could. It's enough to give a guy (but probably not a gal, as gals seem to be more sensible about these things) System Envy. Size does matter.

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Comparisons were made with the JoLida SJ 502A integrated amp, and also with the Sonic Frontiers Anthem PRE 1L/AMP 1 combo. Analog playback: Linn Axis turntable, Linn Basik Plus tonearm (with stock Linn wiring), Benz Micro Glider cartridge. A VTL 2.5 preamp and the Anthem PRE 1P phono stage were used for their phono sections (reviews of both forthcoming), linked via XLO Pro Type 100 interconnects. Digital playback: Enlightened Audio Design CD-1000 CD player, connected via Synergistic Research Alpha. Speakers: NHT 2.5i and Joseph Audio RM-7si…

J'ai eu un coup de foudre, as some French hi-fi critics like to say. "I had a thunderclap."

This time it was literally true.

Early last summer, lightning struck the transformer on the street outside our house and the lights went out with a terrible bang. Fortunately, I had disconnected the two hi-fi systems but not our home theater setup—Marina's seestem, in which I'd installed the Bryston B-60 integrated amplifier that I wrote about in May 1997 (Vol.20 No.5). I had also neglected to disconnect the…