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Hi-fi Hootenannies at Whetstone Audio

Look eye! Always look eye!

Friday, December 2, 6–9pm: Whetstone Audio (2401 East 6th Street, #1001, Austin, Texas) will host an evening of music with Bob Clarke of Profundo (Heed, Transfiguration, VivA, Trenner & Freidl, Silent Source) and Colleen Cardas of Colleen Cardas Imports (Unison Research, Opera Loudspeakers).

Brian Di Frank of Whetstone Audio says this is just “the first of many hootenannies” and he offers a warm invitation:

Here’s the deal. Many folks are buying turntables now and really don’t know much about them. There is also a big interest in…

Hi-Fi Expo Sophia

The massive Clearaudio Statement (seen here: just the topmost 567 pixels) will be on display at Hi-Fi Expo Sophia in Bulgaria.

Thursday&#150Sunday, December 1–4: The second Hi-Fi Expo Sophia will take place at the Grand Hotel Sophia in Sophia, Bulgaria.

Last year’s show featured more than 250 high-end brands, and the show’s organizers expect bigger numbers for 2011. A look at the manufacturer list reveals many familiar names: Wilson Audio Specialties, Spiral Groove, Sonos, Rega, Nordost, Koetsu, dCS, and Ayre are just a few.

For more info, visit www.hifiexpo.bg.

What is Sound?

SoundCloud, the neat “social sound platform” that allows users to create and share sounds with anyone who has an internet connection, turned to design company, The Wilderness, to help answer the question, “What is sound?”

See what the experts&#151Moby, Imogen Heap, Julian Treasure, Martyn Ware, and others&#151have to say.

“The more differences you perceive, the richer your life is.”

Indeed.
Thanks for the link, SP.

Luxman SQ-38u integrated amplifier

Let's not beat around the bush: this is what an amplifier is supposed to look like. The silver front panel contains over a dozen knobs and switches, yet somehow avoids seeming cluttered. The solid wood cabinet wouldn't look out of place next to Hugh Hefner's cognac decanter. And the controls! The SQ-38u is as full-function as they come ("as they used to come" would be closer to the truth), with a Balance knob, separate Bass and Treble Tone Controls, a low-frequency cutoff (aka "rumble") switch labeled Low Cut, a Mono/Stereo switch, and a mute button; plus switching and connectors for two…

Luxman SQ-38u integrated amplifier Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Two-channel tubed integrated amplifier. Tube complement: four EL34, four ECC83S, three ECC82. Line inputs: 4 plus tape loop. Phono inputs: 1 (switchable for MM, high-output MC, or low-output MC). Input sensitivity: 1.0V. Output power: 25Wpc into 8 or 4 ohms (14dBW or 11dBW), 30Wpc into 6 ohms. Frequency response: 20Hz–100kHz, –3dB. Total harmonic distortion: 0.5% at 30Wpc, 1kHz.
Dimensions: 17.2" (440mm) W by 7.6" (196mm) H by 12.1" (310mm) D. Weight: 44 lbs (20kg).
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: G81100022.
Price: $5990. Approximate…

Luxman SQ-38u integrated amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 turntables; EMT 997, Schick tonearms; Ortofon SPU, EMT OFD 25 & OFD 65 pickup heads.
Digital Sources: Wavelength Proton USB D/A converter; Apple iMac G5 computer running Apple iTunes V.10.2.2, Decibel V.1.0.2 playback software; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player; Sony PlayStation 1 (as CD player).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard (SPU version), Silvercore One-to-Ten step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Integrated Amplifiers: Leben CS300
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Corton-…

Luxman SQ-38u integrated amplifier Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

I measured the Luxman SQ-38u with Stereophile's loan sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It" and www.ap.com). The maximum voltage gain for the line-level inputs measured 39.1dB into 8 ohms, measured at the speaker terminals, and 14.5dB at the Pre Out jacks. This suggests that the power-amplifier section offers a low 24.5dB of gain, which was confirmed by measuring the gain via the Main In jacks. Measured at the Tape Out jacks, the phono stage offered 37.6dB of gain in MM mode, 60.3dB in MC High, and 57.2dB…

Quad II Classic Integrated amplifier

Given that Quad's founder, the late Peter J. Walker, wasn't around to design the Quad II Classic Integrated, the English firm relied instead on Tim de Paravicini, whose credits include the comparatively recent Quad II-eighty mono amplifiers and QC-twentyfour preamplifier (not to mention his own line of E.A.R./Yoshino electronics and countless other well-regarded products). It's with respect for both men that I say: In turning to Tim de Paravicini, Quad has probably chosen the closest approach to the original.

The new integrated is, essentially, a pair of Quad II amplifiers (ca 1953)…

Quad II Classic Integrated amplifier Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Two-channel tubed integrated amplifier. Tube complement: four KT66, four 12AX7, two 6922EH. Line inputs: 3 plus tape loop. Phono inputs: 1 (switchable, MM or MC). Input sensitivity: 275mV (line), 2mV (MM phono), 200µV (MC phono). Rated output power: 25Wpc into 8 ohms (14dBW). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, –1dB. Total harmonic distortion: <0.6% at 15Wpc, 700Hz.
Dimensions: 12.1" (310mm) W by 7.8" (200mm) H by 14.8" (380mm) D. Weight: 42 lbs (19.1kg).
Finishes: Champagne Gold, Lancaster Grey.
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: Q2100086.…

Quad II Classic Integrated amplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 turntables; EMT 997, Schick tonearms; Ortofon SPU, EMT OFD 25 & OFD 65 pickup heads.
Digital Sources: Wavelength Proton USB D/A converter; Apple iMac G5 computer running Apple iTunes V.10.2.2, Decibel V.1.0.2 playback software; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player; Sony PlayStation 1 (as CD player).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard (SPU version), Silvercore One-to-Ten step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Corton-Charlemagne monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Audio…