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The Africans brought to the Americas to be sold into slavery were denied every vestige of their past except their memories. And yet, they preserved their rituals in dances, songs, and stories, playing the sacred rhythms that accompanied those rituals on whatever found objects they could use to fashion beats. The customs of American peoples from various African…

My first visit to the area was in late July 1972. I was fleeing New York City for the Bay Area in an old car that burned oil. The park provided…

Then I plotted my review strategy. First, I'd spend a long time listening to the 866 fed by the Rossini DAC/Rossini Clock. Then I'd compare the sound with the Rossini DAC/Clock to that with the 866's internal DAC. For high-rez streaming, I stuck with Qobuz because Boulder's DAC does not decode MQA and all of Tidal's…

Description: Stereo class-AB integrated amplifier with optional streaming DAC. Analog inputs: 3 pair XLR. Digital inputs: Ethernet, USB (4), AES (adaptable to S/ PDIF), TosLink, Wi-Fi. DAC accepts PCM up to 32/384, DSD up to DSD128. All files are upsampled and oversampled to a data rate of 192kHz, and data is moved asynchronously. Loudspeaker outputs: stereo pair 0.25" binding posts. Input voltage at max volume: 1.14V for maximum rated output at full rated power. Continuous maximum power output: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW), 400Wpc into 4 ohms (23dBW). Peak power…

Digital sources: dCS Rossini DAC and Rossini Clock; Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS; Roon Nucleus+ music server, Uptone Audio etherRegen, Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModules (2) and Deluxe opticalModule, Linksys routers (2), and Arris modem, all powered by HDPlex 300 four-component linear power supplies (3); iPad Pro; Apple 2017 MacBook Pro computer with 2.8GHz Intel i7, SSD, 16GB RAM.
Preamplifier: Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD.
Power amplifiers: Dan D'Agostino Progression monoblocks.
Integrated amplifier: Krell K-300i.
Loudspeakers: Wilson…

I tested the Boulder 866 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"), then repeated some tests with the magazine's more recently acquired APx555 system. But first, I preconditioned the amplifier by following the CEA's recommendation of operating it at one-eighth the specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes. At the end of that time, the top panel was very hot, at 115.5°F (44.2°C), and the heatsinks were too hot to touch, at 133.3°F (56.3°C). The Boulder amplifier's output stages appear to be biased heavily into partial class-A…

Inside, the air was only marginally cooler, but before I could leave, an excessively happy salesman introduced himself. After a bit of low-level chit-chat, he asked me if I was into British audio. I told him I "Never heard of it."

After flashing a condescending smile, he directed me to a stark, nearly empty demonstration room (that I hoped had working AC) and showed me an unusual-…

But a phono preamplifier such as the component under review—the Pro-Ject Phono Box RS2 ($1999)—could, with its many features, keep you up all night, playing. A component like the RS2 can increase your hands-on involvement with your vinyl playback, which…

On the blues-tinged "Bloodless," with loading set to 200 ohms, Bird's five-string violin pizzicato plucking shone with substance and body. But with loading at 400 ohms, an increased sense of air gave most instruments pleasing purity, without excessive politesse. Piano key strikes sounded clean and refined. Bird's pizzicato felt more exciting on the attacks—so present and convincing it gave me…