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Not only was the Reference 75 capable of rendering dynamic swings on great recordings from pppp to ffff; I was also able to hear 10 to 15 dynamic intervals between pp and p. In short, the amplifier was able to reveal musically meaningful dynamic variation in recordings I'd previously thought sounded rather flat. Even soloist János Starker's performances in the cello concertos of Saint-Saáns (CD, Mercury Living Presence 432 010-2) and Dvorák (CD, Mercury 432-001-2), both with Antal Doráti conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, were presented with thundering dynamics, every attack of…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Tubed power amplifier. Tube complement: four KT120, two 6H30. Maximum output power: 75Wpc continuous, 20Hz–20kHz (18.75dBW into 8 ohms). Total harmonic distortion (1kHz): typically 0.6% at 75W, <0.05% at 1W. Power bandwidth: –3dB, 7Hz–60kHz. Frequency response at 1W: 0.7Hz–75kHz, –3dB. Input sensitivity: 1.4V RMS, balanced, for rated output (25dB balanced gain into 8 ohms). Input impedance: 300k ohms, balanced. Slew rate: 10V/µs. Risetime: 4µs. Power-supply energy storage: ca 520 joules.
Dimensions: 19" (483mm) W by 8.75" (222mm) H by 19.5" (…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Rega Research Planar 3, VPI TNT IV turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Koetsu Urushi cartridges.
Digital Sources: Creek Destiny, Lector CDP-7TCD players.
Preamplification: Creek Destiny, Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stages; Audio Research Reference 5 SE, Audio Valve Eclipse, Nagra Jazz, VTL 5.5 II Signature line stages.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek Destiny.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Excite X12, Epos M15i, Monitor Silver RX6, Nola Viper…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Audio Research Reference 75 using 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). Before performing any measurements, I ran the amplifier for an hour; then, before performing any measurements, and using the front-panel meters, I checked that the bias was correctly set for each of the four KT120 output tubes, as instructed in the manual.
The Reference 75 has two output-transformer taps for each channel, marked 8 and 4 ohms, and a common ground terminal. The…
Is there a country that, per capita, has produced more major loudspeaker brands than Great Britain? The British brands that immediately come to mind are Tannoy, KEF, Bowers & Wilkins, Quad, Rogers, Spendor, Harbeth, Castle, Acoustic Energy, ProAc, Monitor Audio, Epos, Celestion, Lowther, PMC—and Wharfedale.
Founded in 1932 by Gilbert Briggs, Wharfedale is the second-oldest-established of the companies listed. Tannoy, founded in 1926 as the Tulsamere Manufacturing Company, can lay claim to being the first. And while Tannoy may have additional bragging rights for "the Tannoy" being a…
Compared to the Simaudio and McIntosh, the sonic character of the ProLogue Premium was much like what I'd previously heard through the speakers with powered woofers: a smooth, musical presentation, missing only some of the fine detail that characterizes the more expensive combinations of preamp and power amp. There was a little extra warmth in the midbass, and the bass was not quite as tight or as extended as with the other two amps (especially the Simaudio), but it wasn't notably deficient, either. If I hadn't heard the speakers with these other amps (not forgetting the contribution of the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Four-way, floorstanding loudspeaker with aperiodic loading. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) aluminum-dome tweeter, 3" (75mm) aluminum-pulp composite-cone upper-midrange unit, 6.5" (165mm) Acufibre-cone lower-midrange unit, two 8" (200mm) Acufibre-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 180Hz, 590Hz, 2.8kHz. Frequency response: 38Hz–24kHz, ±3dB. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms. Sensitivity: 88dB/2.83V/m. Recommended amplification: 50–250W.
Dimensions: 46" (1180mm) H by 10.6" (273mm) W by 17.5" (448mm) D. Weight: 81.4 lbs (37kg).
Finishes: Piano Black, Black Oak…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Source: Ayre Acoustics CX-7eMP CD player.
Preamplifier: Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Renaissance.
Power Amplifiers: Simaudio Moon Evolution W-7, McIntosh Laboratory MC275LE.
Integrated Amplifier: PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium.
Loudspeakers: MartinLogan Montis, Avantgarde Uno Nano, GoldenEar Triton Two.
Cables: Interconnect, Speaker, AC: Nordost Valhalla.
Accessories: PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 5 AC regenerator, Arcici Suspense Rack, PolyCrystal amplifier stand, Nordost Sort Kone TC, Furutech RD-2 CD demagnetizer.—…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Wharfedale Jade 7's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. My estimate of the Wharfedale's voltage sensitivity was 87.7dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the specified 88dB. The speaker's nominal impedance is specified as 6 ohms; the solid trace in fig.1 shows that the impedance magnitude remains between 4 and 6 ohms for much of the audioband, with a minimum of 3.2 ohms at 91Hz. The electrical phase angle (dotted…
Simon Hewitt, Cambridge Audio’s Director of Marketing, visited Stereophile HQ to demonstrate the Cambridge Audio Minx Air one-box Bluetooth system. Hewitt says Cambridge Audio’s business is exploding thanks to the Minx Air. It makes up 15% of Cambridge’s current profits. Meanwhile, Cambridge is busy building more speaker lines as their fathering company, Audio Partnership, fades out mass distribution of Mourdant-Short.
Minx Air is currently available in two sizes, the Minx Air 100 ($449) and the larger Minx Air 200 ($599). It features Airplay, on-board Internet radio, and bass EQ that…