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Bergmann’s Magne turntable partnered with large and lovely Impresario loudspeakers, Stage III Concepts cables, and a suite of components from Ypsilon, including the PST100 line preamplifier, reviewed by Mikey Fremer in our July issue. The system matched physicality, drama, dynamics, and scale with delicacy and grace.
Musical Surroundings’ Garth Leerer explained that the success of his company has hinged upon his ability to find and work with great designers. Often these relationships grow naturally over time and depend on the perfect alignment of certain circumstances, as was the case when Northern California designer Michael Yee needed someone to market his Phonomena phono stage: It was too inexpensive for one distributor, too expensive for another, but just right for Leerer; and, so, a long relationship was born.
In the case of the Fosgate Signature phono stage ($2500), Jim Fosgate had been…
Musical Surroundings’ ARCMaster will help you install just about any tonearm in the world. Garth Leerer explained it to me, and, though I didn’t understand a single thing he said, he still somehow managed to make it sound simple.
Hegel’s Anders Ertzeid stands proud with an Apple iPad and Hegel’s HD20 DAC ($2000). Ertzeid was using the iPad and AirPlay to wirelessly stream full-resolution files into the HD20.
“It’s a very stable connection,” Ertzeid said. “Even with all the competing networks here, the music hasn’t skipped at all.”
Here, the lovely Rosemarie tempts Hegel’s mascot.
The polar bear, Isbjornar, keeps watch over Hegel’s prized “Soundengine,” the company’s reason for existence, a technology meant to optimize power consumption, reduce distortion, and increase damping factor.
But Isbjornar seems smitten. I think Rosemarie has won his heart.
Many enticing colors: A lovely line-up of high-quality, affordable Pro-Ject turntables.
An entire family of Chord Chordettes: The Toucan headphone amplifier; Dual moving-coil phono stage; Prime 4-input preamplifier; Peach D/A processor, descendant of the Gem; Scamp 40Wpc power amplifier; Mogul micro PC with six USB inputs, 320GB storage, and HD audio support; and Maxx integrated amplifier.
The Chordettes are meant to make up one powerful, versatile, colorful system.
Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl.
There was a lot of it at the Munich High End Show, and the vinyl booths were always well-attended. Here, we see the Da Capo stand, where I spotted a great selection of indie rock titles.
I managed to control myself, unfortunately.
Acoustic Signature turntables are solid, non-suspended designs with heavy platters and electronically controlled drive motors. Their maintenance-free bearings are meant to last a lifetime, while their exchangeable tonearm plates allow for easy swapping of tonearms.
All but the most affordable Barzetti, or "Black Beauty" (1800), which has an integrated electronic motor and sports a 10-layer piano finish, are made in Germany. The Barzetti is made in Poland.
An Acoustic Signature Ascona with SME Series 5 tonearm and low-out moving-coil Ortofon Rohmann cartridge made beautiful music leading a system comprising VTL MB-450 Series III monoblock power amplifiers, TL-7.5 Series III preamplifier, and TP-6.5 phono preamplifier. Speakers were the distinctive and dynamic Vivid G2 Giya.
To start off our listening, I picked one of my sister’s favorite albums, Adele’s 21. I noted a great sense of forward momentum and stunning dynamic range, all of Adele’s strong soulfulness communicated fully. I turned to Rosemarie, and I searched for some sign of…