The Chordettes are meant to make up one powerful, versatile, colorful system.
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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.
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…
It feels like a good time to listen and reflect. I'm streaming the wonderful Jamie XX remixes. You can also visit XL Recordings and gilscottheron.net.
Audioarts’ Gideon Schwartz introduced me to a new loudspeaker from Switzerland’s Stenheim, a company founded by four young designers who had previously worked together at the high-profile Goldmund firm.
Here, the Alumine monitor ($12,795/pair) is mated to an optional subwoofer module ($26,700/pair). Should one opt against the sub, matching aluminum stands add $2975/pair. The speakers were partnered with CH source components and Viola Audio Labs amplification.
These speakers, perhaps more than any others I heard at the show, managed to “disappear,” leaving nothing but music in…
At first, I didn’t know what was going on. I only noticed a very large crowd of people, all seemingly fascinated by what was standing before them.
I walked into the room, found a place along the back wall, and then saw what all the fuss was about: Massive creatures from Japan’s GIP driven by wild and wonderful Silbatone amplification. I think dCS source components and an Artemis Labs turntable by Frank Schroder were also part of the zaniness.
I spoke a bit with Silbatone’s JC Morrison.
I didn’t really understand anything he said.
But everything he said…
The KEF Blade got lots of attention.
"Closer, closer...That's it...Yes...Now look into my tangerine waveguide..."
"Come here often?"
The KEF Muon reflects the exquisite beauty of woman.
JA would have lost his mind.
KEF’s Julia Davidson gave an excellent presentation, discussing the company’s efforts in bringing the Blade concept to life.
We listened to Radiohead’s “All I Need” from the great In Rainbows, and the song seemed to have more swagger than I’m used to, more grip, more pull, a way of reaching out and reeling in.
“That sounds good,” smiled Julia.
“You’re one of the designers?” I asked.
“Yes,” she nodded. “I worked on the cabinet materials. The concept version used carbon fiber, but we revised it to this glass-reinforced polymer…