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My first rips were of these LPs: Astaire (English Mercury 9109 702), a 1979 album from the English singer and pianist Peter Skellern in which he imaginatively arranges songs made famous by the elegant dancer for his multitracked voice, piano, rhythm section, and English brass band; "Die Tänzerin," from German singer Ulla Meinecke's Wenn Schon Nicht für Immer, dann Wenigstens für Ewig (German RCA 426124); Sly and the Family Stone's Fresh, from 1973, which features Doris Day reprising "Que Sera, Sera" (Epic ECD 69039); the first album from British blues band Steamhammer (1969, English CBS…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state A/D converter with USB 2.0 and AES/EBU data outputs, one pair of balanced analog inputs on XLR jacks (pin 2 hot). Sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz (USB Class 2); 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96kHz (USB Class 1). Bit depth: 24. Input impedance: 2M ohms (1M ohm per signal phase). Input sensitivity: 10.0V RMS with level control at minimum, 750mV with control at maximum. Pro version adds Word Clock and DSD outputs, both on 75 ohm, transformer-isolated BNC jacks.
Dimensions: 8.5" (215mm) W by 3" (76mm) H by 11.5" (290mm) D. Weight: 5…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ekos tonearm, Linn Arkiv B phono cartridge.
Digital Sources: Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP & DX-5 universal players; Apple 2.7GHz i7 Mac mini running OS10.7, iTunes 10, Pure Music 1.86, Vinyl Studio, Pure Vinyl, BIAS Peak Pro 7; dCS Debussy, Metric Halo ULN-2 (headphone output), Benchmark DAC 1 (headphone output) D/A converters; Empirical Audio Off-Ramp 4 USB–AES/ABU converter; Metric Halo ULN-2, dCS904 A/D converters.
Preamplification: Liberty B2B-1 phono preamplifier, Classé CP…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used Stereophile's loan sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It") to examine the Ayre QA-9's measured performance, analyzing the AES/EBU output data in the digital domain. I repeated some measurements using the USB connection and examined the resultant AIFF files with Adobe Audition's FFT analyzer. I assessed only the QA-9's behavior as an LPCM converter; take it as read that all the measurements I discuss refer to both AES/EBU and USB output formats, there being no difference between them…
On May 21, 2008, five months after purchasing my very first turntable (a Rega Research P3-24), I decided that my obsession with LPs had grown to the extent that I could no longer function without a good record-cleaning machine. I'd done some research and found that the device best suited to my life and wallet was VPI's time-honored HW-16.5. I was certain, anxious, determined. But that morning, when I gave VPI a call, the line was busy. When I called again in the afternoon, the line was busy. When I called again in the evening, the line was busy.
When someone finally answered my call, I…
Though Weisfeld had wanted to equip the Traveler with a unipivot tonearm like the JMW Memorial, doing so would have significantly increased the turntable's price. Instead, he devised a 10"-long, spring-loaded tonearm with a gimbal bearing. Aluminum, stainless steel, and Delrin are used "in the right places" for strength and rigidity. Pins of hardened steel fit into V-shaped bearings of sapphire, permitting motion in the vertical and horizontal planes, while springs maintain tension on the bearings during play; according to Weisfeld, there is essentially no motion in the audible range. While…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Belt-driven turntable with tonearm. Speeds: 331?3, 45rpm. Wow & flutter: 0.2%. Rumble: >-80dB. Speed accuracy: ±0.1%.
Dimensions: 16.5" (425mm) W by 5" (130mm) H by 12" (310mm) D. Weight: 24 lbs (10.9kg).
Serial Number of Unit Reviewed: T1-05071202.
Finish: Black, Red, White, or Blue.
Price: $1299 in Basic Black finish with tonearm. Red, White, and Blue finishes add $100. Grado Gold phono cartridge adds $200. Approximate number of dealers: >60.
Manufacturer: VPI Industries, Inc., 77 Cliffwood Avenue #3B, Cliffwood, NJ…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Rega Research P3-24 & RP3 turntables with RB301 and RB303 tonearms, respectively; Dynavector DV 10X5, Rega Research Elys 2 phono cartridges.
Preamplification: Parasound ZphonoUSB phono preamplifier.
Integrated amplifier: NAD C 316BEE.
Loudspeakers: PSB Alpha B1, DeVore Fidelity Gibbon 3.
Cables: Interconnect: AudioQuest Sidewinder, Kimber Kable Hero & PBJ, RadioShack, XLO UltraPlus. Speaker: AudioQuest Rocket 33, Kimber Kable 8VS, RadioShack Megacable (used as ground wire).
Accessories: Furutech e-TP60 power…
The Palo Alto Main Library
Saturday, November 10, 11am–3pm: Audio High (165 Moffett Boulevard, Mountain View, CA) hosts another vinyl sale to benefit the Friends of Palo Alto Library. Last year’s sale generated more than $1700 to benefit the Palo Alto Library, a cultural pillar to Santa Clara County community.
Some LPs that will be hallmarked for this sale include a Zappa collection, an assortment of French pop and avant-garde LPs, and as the “usual selection of hard-to-find rock and jazz titles.” Musical Surroundings and Clearaudio representatives will be at the benefit to…
After two full weeks away from the office—Hurricane Sandy followed us from Puerto Rico to New Jersey—it was especially nice to get back in here and be greeted by the Stereophile Recommended Components Collector’s Edition.
Isn’t it beautiful?
For me, every one of its 180 pages represents blinding pain and seemingly endless suffering. But, for you, dear reader, we hope the Recommended Components Collector’s Edition will represent nothing but pure pleasure and joy.
The book includes the last 10 years of our popular “Recommended Components” feature, each…