I entered the DK Designs room, where a very rugged and sexy-looking amplifier was making remarkable sound…
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Each time I attend Stereophile's annual Home Entertainment Show, I look forward to two things. The first is the opportunity to perform classic and original jazz music with John Atkinson and Immedia's Allen Perkins. The second is to seek out the most exciting new, affordable speakers to review over the following year. Both buttons were pressed for me quite admirably during HE2005 at the New York Hilton, but this time it was not an affordable speaker that most impressed me.
The VS.1's high-frequency performance revealed its most noticeable shortcoming, but it was a minor one. Although the high frequencies overall were detailed and uncolored, the extreme top end seemed to lack air and was a touch opaque. Not that this detracted from musical enjoyment on any recording. On all closely miked female vocals, sibilants were clear, crisp, and distinct. Keith Jarrett's piano on Radiance (CD, ECM 1960/1961) was revealed to have uncolored, delicate, and shimmering harmonics, with superb transient articulation. Tom Chiu's violin on David Chesky's Violin Concerto, from the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-channel solid-state integrated amplifier with tubes in low-level circuitry. Tube complement: two 6922. Maximum output power: 150Wpc into 8 ohms (21.8dBW), 300Wpc into 4 ohms (18.8dBW), both channels driven. Total harmonic distortion: 0.1% (1kHz) (level not specified). Frequency response: 20Hz–32kHz, ±1dB. Signal/noise: >90dB (reference level not specified). Channel separation: >60dB (1kHz). Input impedance: 47k ohms. Input sensitivity (for 1W into 8 ohms): line input, >200mV. Phono input: >4mV. Overload signal level: >2V.
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia RPM tonearm, Koetsu Urushi cartridge; Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, California Audio Labs Icon Mk.II Power Boss, Creek CD53 Mk.II CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Monitor Audio Silver RS6, Acarian Systems Alón…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Before performing any measurements on it, I preconditioned the DK Designs VS.1 Reference Mk.III by running it at 50Wpc (one-third the specified power) with both channels driven into 8 ohms for 60 minutes. The THD+noise remained at a highish 0.2% throughout this period, after which the heatsinks on the amplifier's sides measured around 55°C. The front third of the heatsinks remained cool, however, as no active devices are attached to these.
The fact that the phono stage has its own output, usually connected by jumpers to the Aux 1 line input, enabled me to…
There is a sweet spot in any manufacturer's lineup where minimum price and maximum performance meet. More expensive products in the line may offer higher fidelity, but the cost may not be commensurate with the improvement. For instance, VPI's HRX and Super Scoutmaster turntables cost more than their standard Scoutmaster model, and they perform better—but for my money, the sweet spot of VPI's line is the standard Scoutmaster, with or without such options as the outer clamp and Signature tonearm.
Back in the 1990s, the sweet spot of Audio Physic's line of loudspeakers was the Virgo II ($…
Before break-in—or after I'd gotten used to its sound, which is how those who don't believe in speaker break-in would characterize it—the Scorpio sounded somewhat tight on top and a bit brittle, mechanical, and stiff in the upper bass and lower mids. But after a week of heavy pounding, the speaker seemed to let go of its defensive posture and began delivering a purely musical picture.
But even in those first few encounters, the Scorpio did a very Virgo II–like thing: I'd be sitting in my listening chair working on my laptop while casually listening, and suddenly something in the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Floor-standing, reflex-loaded loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" soft-dome tweeter, two 6" coated paper-cone midrange units, four 7" coated paper-cone woofers. Frequency range: 30Hz–33kHz. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 91dB/W/m.
Dimensions: 43" (1100mm) H by 8.1" (204mm) W by 15.2" (390mm) D. Weight: 59.4 lbs (27kg).
Finishes: light or dark maple, black ash, cherry. Ebony, rosenut veneers add $500/pair.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 088A/B.
Price: $6495/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 26. Warranty: 10 years parts & labor…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable; Graham Phantom, Continuum Cobra tonearms; Lyra Titan (stereo & mono versions), Clearaudio Concerto cartridges.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW SACD player, Alesis MasterLink BPT-modified hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Einstein The Turntable's Choice phono preamplifiers; Musical Fidelity kWP preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW monoblocks, Music Reference RM-200.
Loudspeakers: Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand, Wilson MAXX2.
Cables…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Audio Physic Scorpio has a high specified sensitivity of 91dB/W/m. However, measured on its tweeter axis without the grille, the speaker appeared to have just above average voltage sensitivity, at an estimated 88.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. Its impedance (fig.1) stays between 4 and 6 ohms over most of the audioband, with a minimum value of 3.6 ohms at 93.5Hz. There is also a combination of 5.2 ohms and a –41° electrical phase angle at 78Hz, which might be taxing for optimistically specified power amplifiers, given that many kinds of music tend to have a lot of energy at…