But I was never inspired to try one until a new category of subwoofer appeared: the "micro" (aka soccer-ball) subwoofer. The minute I saw the little KEF KC62, a 10" cube, I imagined it could do 0–100Hz and back to zero in record time. I reported on the KEF microsub last month, in Gramophone Dreams #49.
Just after I completed that report, I spied the SVS 3000 Micro. It, too, looked like a well-tuned, high-revving four-cylinder racer. When my request for a review…
Performed by pianist Momo Kodama and Seiji Ozawa's Mito Chamber Orchestra, Hosokawa/Mozart is punctuated by strong, long, circa-40Hz drum booms with copious reverb…
Description: Sealed-box, powered subwoofer. Drive-units: Two 8" vented aluminum cone woofers with twin toroidal ferrite magnets. Inputs: 1 pair unbalanced (RCA); USB-A for firmware updates. Outputs: 1 pair unbalanced (RCA), line-level. Amplifier output power: 800W RMS (2500W peak) with Intelligent Control Interface (ICI). Frequency response: 23–240Hz, ±3dB.
Dimensions: 10.9" (276mm) × 11.7" (297mm) × 10.7" (271mm). Weight: 26.7lb (12.5kg).
Finishes: Piano Gloss Black or Piano Gloss White.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 3KMC11201835.
Price: $799.…
Analog sources: Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable with Schick 10.5" tonearm; Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Ex, K&K Audio Lundahl LL1931Ag SUT, Kitsuné KTE LCR-1 and Tavish Design Adagio phono stages.
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+ music server; dCS Bartók D/A processor.
Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-7.
Power amplifiers: Parasound Halo A21+, Elekit TU-8600S, Feliks Audio Arioso.
Loudspeakers: Falcon Gold Badge LS3/5a, Harbeth M30.2, Magnepan .7.
Cables: Interconnect: Cardas Clear Cygnus, Black…
The Cafe Au Go Go was in the heart of Greenwich Village, right across the street from the Bitter End. It was a long, rectangular basement room that seated about 300 people. The stage was along the middle of a long wall, so most of the tables were to the sides of…
A Thorens brochure from that same year itemized the TD 124's "11 main elements that result in 41 advantages." It noted the turntable's "strongly ribbed, solid chassis, crafted in cast aluminum," and its two-part platter including a "flywheel [subplatter], crafted in stabilized cast iron, [which] possesses excellent characteristics for the magnetic shielding of the drive system, as well as great inertia."…
Finally, the powder-black TPN 124 power supply, measuring 4" W × 3" H × 9" D, includes a toroidal transformer that causes "very little scatter," Kürten wrote. Translation: It doesn't leak EMI/RFI all over the place.
Setup
A pair of 1m singled-ended (RCA) Shindo Laboratory interconnects connected the TD 124 DD to my Tavish Audio Design…
Description: TD 124 DD turntable: Direct drive AC motor. Speeds: 33 1/3, 45rpm. Wow and flutter: DIN/WRMS <0.04%. Platter material: aluminum. Platter weight: 7.7lb (3.5kg). Outputs: Balanced stereo (XLR) pair, unbalanced stereo (RCA) pair, ground connection.
TP 124 tonearm: 9" tonearm with adjustable VTA and azimuth, antiskating with a ruby-mounted counterweight. Effective length: 9.17" (232.8mm). Offset angle: 23.66°. Overhang: 17.8mm. Effective mass: 15gm. Bayonet style headshell included.
SPU 124 MC cartridge (not included): Output voltage at…
Analog sources: Kuzma Stabi R turntable and 4Point 11" tonearm; Koetsu Rosewood MC cartridge; Thorens TD 124 and Jelco TS-350S 9" tonearm.
Preamplifiers: PS Audio BHK Signature, Shindo Laboratory Allegro. Tavish Audio Design Adagio and Luxman EQ-500 phono preamplifiers.
Power amplifiers: LKV Research Veros PWR+, Shindo Laboratory Haut-Brion.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity O/96.
Cables: Interconnect (RCA): Triode Wire Labs Spirit II, Shindo Laboratory. Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: manufacturers' own.
Accessories: IsoTek EVO3…
The five stacked next to my desk are First Watt or Pass Labs models designed by Nelson Pass. Across the room is a hybrid tube/class-D Rogue Sphinx V3 integrated. That black Sphinx is standing on its side behind one of the DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93 speakers. Next to the Orangutan is a Schiit Aegir. The most conspicuous amp in the room is my BFF, the Line Magnetic LM-518 IA (footnote 1), which breaks the night's darkness with its tall, bright-emitter 845 triodes. Next to that is…