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Its overwhelming sonic characteristic is a very special clarity and purity of presentation. Clarity divorced of musical context can, in my experience, sound analytical and hard. But I found myself enthralled by the Graaf's openness and lack of grain or mechanical artifact. It was easy to feel "close" to the music in that special way I've so far experienced only with single-ended amps.

This fundamental clarity permitted a wonderful sense of transparency and air to develop. While the…

Description: Tube stereo power amplifier. Tube complement per side: 32 PL504, 2 12BZ7, 2 5965, 4 EFL 200/6Y9, 2 EM81/6DA5. Output power: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW). Input impedance: 100k ohms. Damping factor: 12. Negative feedback: 17.5dB. Power consumption: 800W idle, 1600W at rated output.
Dimensions: 17.5" W by 8.25" H by 16.33" D. Weight: 66 lbs.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 20067.
Price: $12,500 (1997). Approximate number of dealers: 5. Warranty: 2 years excluding tubes; all tubes: 90 days.
Manufacturer: Graaf s.r.l., Modena, Italy. US…

Analog Source: Forsell Air Force One (footnote 1) with the vdH Grasshopper IV, Symphonic Line RG-8, and Clearaudio Insider. XLO Signature phono cable, Shun Mook and Harmonix record weights, Winds ALM-01 Arm Load Meter.
Digital Sources: Ensemble Dichrono DAC and Drive, Forsell Air Bearing transport and CD converter, YBA CD1 Blue Laser.
Preamplifiers: YBA 6 Chassis, BAT VK-5i, BAT VK-P10 phono preamp.
Power Amplifiers: Jadis JA 200s, Transcendent T8 OTL, Forsell The Statement.
Loudspeakers: Joseph Audio RM-22 and RM-50.
Cables: Bi-wire Cardas…

At the WCES---see my report in this issue---I spent…

Throw Jonathan On the Flames!
Editor:
In response to Barry Willis's "The Art of the Scientific Illusion" (Vol.17 No.5, p.49): Willis makes the comment that, "In the Dark Ages, Europeans believed in sorcery and alchemy." I must remind him that, in this country, we dealt with heretics in a different way. I suggest taking all the Shun Mook Mpingo disc control devices, piling all of them here in one spot, and setting fire to the whole mess. The red glow could be seen from Santa Fe in the West all the way to Sea Cliff in the East. Then throw Jonathan…

In the automotive field, where exotic spark plugs and gasoline additives are all the rage, it seems there is always a modest percentage of items that prove…

I hied me down to Radio Shack to see what I could find on sale. Lo, I discovered the Optimus 990 speakers (catalog #40-1125) marked down from $149 each to $98 each. That's $196/pair. I pounced (at least to the tune of a 30-day money-back trial).

Each speaker has a horn tweeter, and its 15" woofer is said to provide "thunderous" bass. Specs are sparse: 100Wpc maximum power handling (minimum not specified). I set the speakers up on 12"-high Target stands and hooked them up to the 7W SE-1.

Wow. Now this…

Snake Oil!
Editor:
I am writing you once again in hope of expounding my philosophy on less-deaf ears than I witnessed this weekend past.

Partaking in what I believed to be an investigative effort in what I also believed to be a respectable audio salon in northern New Jersey, I witnessed no serious effort in seeking out musical truth, but rather an exercise in self-indulgence at the expense of the latter: A group of "audiophiles" sliding wood across the top of various gear, claiming "There, no there...that's it!"

I've been to…

Set of four stands and 36 Mpingo Discs. Price: $2200. Approximate number of dealers: 12. Manufacturer: Shun Mook Audio, 618 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610. Tel: (510) 581-6372. Fax (510) 839-0080.

You remember Dustin Hoffman and "Larry" Olivier in The Marathon Man: "Is it safe?" Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Just when the Shun Mook bashing on Internet had slowed down to but a mere bubbling caldron of skepticism. Just when a particular towheaded colleague…

It's a big sound, with images forming well…