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Audio Research Reference 75 power amplifier Measurements

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…

Wharfedale Jade 7 loudspeaker

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…

Wharfedale Jade 7 loudspeaker Page 2

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…

Wharfedale Jade 7 loudspeaker Specifications

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…

Wharfedale Jade 7 loudspeaker Associated Equipment

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.—…

Wharfedale Jade 7 loudspeaker Measurements

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…

Javelin Live at Brooklyn Bowl

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…

Listen: Standish/Carlyon’s <i>Deleted Scenes</i>

Conrad Standish and Tom Carlyon are formerly of the Australian noir-rock trio Devastations. While that band’s thoughtful, honest work could bring a listener to tears, Deleted Scenes, Standish and Carlyon’s debut as a duo, is much more interested in physical pleasures.

The sound is reminiscent of Peter Gabriel’s earliest solo material&#151groovy, spacey, exotic, and lush, with lyrics to match: In “Gucci Mountain,” Standish sings, “I’m chewing bamboo off the coast of Casanova / The principles of leisure, the DNA of pleasure / Jamaica, Jamaica, don’t jinx me, Jamaica / Don’t stop me now…

Music Discovery: “Games Without Frontiers”

In today’s previous entry, I mentioned that Standish/Carlyon’s Deleted Scenes reminded me of Peter Gabriel’s early solo work. Fans of FX’s outstanding TV series, “The Americans,” will have noted that the season’s finale made fine use of Gabriel’s hit single “Games Without Frontiers.” That is, if those fans were already familiar with the song. I was not.

As I watched the tense closing scenes, with Ms. Little falling asleep beside me, I was struck by the song, its groove, mood, strange voice and lyrics, and the way it so perfectly complemented the show’s quiet action. The song was excellent…

B&O Release H6 and H3 Headphones

On Wednesday May 8th, 2013, B&O announced the release of the H6 over-ear headphone ($399) and H3 in-ear monitor ($249). Long known as a lifestyle brand that embraces both excellent sound and excellent design, B&O’s H6 and H3s promise no different.

Nicolaj Shabtai, Category Manager for B&O Play, explained the products’ three priorities: "outstanding sound, design for life & style, and quality materials." Blueprinted by Danish designer Jakob Wagner, the elegant and plush H6 is available in both black and natural leather. The leather comes from free running cows in New…