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As sleep slowly withdrew from my coiled body, I noticed the strange words Don't disturb me while I'm dreaming playing over and over in my mind. Where had these words come from? I wondered. I had little time to ponder their origin before they were gone with the retreating night, and I was left with the sudden sting of loneliness. There are days when I feel a million miles away from everyone I've ever cared about or loved. My younger brothers and sisters, ex-girlfriends, teachers, old classmates, roommates, bandmates, even casual acquaintances—I miss and long for them all. This, a cold, gray…
Back at home, it was time to get to work. I would restore these old, dirty records to something like their original beauty, while hopefully retaining at least some of the charms of age and use. In a corner of my kitchen, with a stack of other boxes waiting to be opened, was the Okki Nokki record-cleaning machine, made in Germany by Audio Classics and newly imported into the US by Sumiko. At its price ($499 in black or white; dustcover adds $50), the Okki Nokki puts itself in direct competition with record-cleaning's time-honored standard, a device often found in record shops, radio stations…
With an LP in place, I set the platter spinning in its forward direction, squirted a few drops of the fluid solution on the record's surface, and, with the brush, spread the fluid evenly across it. After a few forward revolutions, I set the platter spinning in reverse—a nice feature the VPI lacks. The fluid coated the LP without ever pooling up against the brush or spilling off the side of the platter. Excellent.
Now I was ready to vacuum up the excess fluid, but this, too, proved trickier than necessary. The Okki Nokki's aluminum vacuum arm fits into a hole at the front right-hand…
Sidebar: Contacts
Audio Classics, Abbenbroekweg 98, 3086 GC Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: (31) (0)10-465-48-33. Fax: (31) (0)10-480-16-92. Web: www.okkinokki.com. US distributor: Sumiko, 2431 Fifth St., Berkeley, CA 94710. Tel: (510) 843-4500. Fax: (510) 843-7120. Web: www.sumikoaudio.net. Available accessories: RCD Dust Cover, $79; RCB Fluid Brush (wood)–for dry cleaning, $15; RCB-G Fluid Brush (goat hair)–for wet cleaning, $25; RCS Replacement Strip Brush Set for vacuum tube, $15; RCF Cleaning Fluid Concentrate (makes 1 liter), $12; RCT 12", 10", or 7" Aluminum Vacuum Tube, $50.
After writing my very favorable review of Marantz's PM5003 integrated amplifier ($449.99) for the January 2010 issue, I began to fantasize about how it might be packaged with other components to create a dynamite entry-level system for about $1000 (excluding cables). A good place to start, I felt, was the companion model to the PM5003, Marantz's own CD5003 CD player. Since then, both have been replaced with new models, respectively the PM5004 and CD5004, so I sought out review samples of both. (To read how the PM5004 compares with the PM5003, see my "Follow-Up" on the Marantz PM5004…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Single-disc CD player with remote control. Compatible disc formats: CD, MP3, WMA. Compatible sampling frequencies: 44.1kHz (CD); 32, 44.1, 48kHz (MP3, WMA). Frequency range: 2Hz–20kHz. Dynamic range: 100dB. THD: 0.002%. Signal/noise ratio: 110dB.
Dimensions: 17.3" (440mm) W by 4.1" (105mm) H by 13.4" (340mm) D. Weight: 11.2 lbs (5.1kg).
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: MZ001024000389.
Price: $349.99. Approximate number of dealers: 1072.
Manufacturer: Marantz America, Inc., 100 Corporate Drive, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2041. Tel: (201) 762-…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Source: Creek Destiny CD player.
Preamplifier: Audio Valve Eclipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek Destiny, Marantz PM5003 and PM5004.
Loudspeakers: Epos M5i, Paradigm Atom v5.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Celestion, Echo Busters, Salamander Designs, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used Stereophile's loan sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system to perform the measurements on the Marantz CD5004 (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It"). For some tests, I also used my Audio Precision System One Dual Domain and the Miller Audio Research Jitter Analyzer.
The Marantz's maximum output at 1kHz was 2.35V, which is 1.4dB higher than the CD standard's 2V. Unless compensated for, this will be audible in comparisons with other players. The output preserved absolute polarity (ie, was non-inverting), and was…
For older enthusiasts who wish to stay current, there's a bump in the road to modernity. We all agree on the functions expected of a turntable—or a loudspeaker, or an amplifier, or even a D/A converter. Yet the term music server appears to mean different things to different designers and suppliers.
Hence my quandary on receiving for review the Linn Majik DS-I: What, precisely, is it supposed to do? Does the Majik DS-I contain a hard disk and music-ripping software, so I can use it to store all the music in my CD collection? Does it have a graphical user interface (GUI) that at least…
As for software, the Majik DS-I user must download and install the following: digital media player/management software, such as KinskyDesktop (from Linn) or SongBook DS (from Bookshelf Apps); file-ripping software, such as dBpoweramp (from Illustrate); and a configuration program from Linn called LinnKonfig. Media-server software such as Twonky (from Packet Video) may also be required, depending on the installation. Finally, before the user can download and install much of the above, he or she will need to download and install the appealingly named Mono (from Novell), which is described as…