Description: Three-way, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) doped-silk dome tweeter; 5¾" (146mm) doped paper pulp-cone midrange; 8" (203mm) paper pulp-cone woofer. Enclosure types: rear-ported woofer, rear-vented midrange, tweeter sealed in its own enclosure. Frequency response: 31Hz– 23kHz, ±3dB, room average response (RAR). Sensitivity: 87dB/W/m @ 1kHz. Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 2.6 ohms minimum at 135Hz. Minimum recommended amplifier power: 50Wpc.
Dimensions: 40 5/16" (1023mm) H (with spikes) × 12" (305mm) W × 15 5/16" (390mm) D. Weight:…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Spiral Groove SG-2.1 turntable and Centroid tonearm, VPI HR-X turntable and tonearm; Grado Epoch, The Reference, and Signature Reference, Benz Micro SL, Audio-Technica AT-MONO3/LP phono cartridges.
Digital sources: Primare CD35 Prisma CD player, Mytek Brooklyn DAC+.
Preamplification: Sutherland Phono Blocks Refined and Phono Loco phono preamplifiers; Sutherland Line Blocks line stage.
Amplification: VTL Ichiban power amplifiers.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Sasha DAW, Elac Debut 2.0 F6.2.
Cables: Shunyata Alpha v2 NR and…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
For logistical reasons, I measured a different sample (serial number 0384) from those auditioned by Brian Damkroger. Except when stated otherwise, the measurements were performed with the grille removed. Also, to avoid the possibility of damaging the cabinet's finish, I did not remove its protective film (footnote 1). I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Wilson SabrinaX's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses of the individual drive-units.
When I measure a…
A few months ago, a friend asked me to recommend a record player. This friend knows and loves music as much as I do; when he visits, we spend our time drinking wine and listening to records. Last time, it was Scott Walker, Fela, Joni Mitchell, Jacques Brel, Burzum, and both glorious sides of The Chronic.
"How much do you want to spend?" I asked cautiously. His answer: $500, tops.
For a sane, music-loving American, that's a reasonable sum to allocate to buying a really good record player, way better than the ones you'll find at big box stores or, God help us, Urban Outfitters. Yet…
Listening
If I expected the Pro-Ject to sound flimsy or polite, I needn't have worried. As soon as I dropped the needle on a 45 of Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Got Myself a Good Man" (Soul S 35063), the congas blasted out of my 1967 Altec Valencias, followed by the tambourine. Soon, the Motown rhythm section locked on. The single sounded dynamically expressive, propulsive, and juicy, just begging to be turned up.
If I expected the Pro-Ject to sound flimsy or polite, I needn't have worried. As soon as I dropped the needle on a 45 of Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Got Myself a Good Man" (Soul S 35063), the congas blasted out of my 1967 Altec Valencias, followed by the tambourine. Soon, the Motown rhythm section locked on. The single sounded dynamically expressive, propulsive, and juicy, just begging to be turned up.
Few records make me as happy as Have Moicy! (Rounder Records 3010), a 1976 collaboration between Michael Hurley, the Unholy Modal Rounders, and Jeffrey Frederick and…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Non-suspended, belt-drive turntable. Speeds: 33.3rpm, 45rpm, 78rpm. Speed adjustment: none. Wow and flutter: 33: ±0.17%; 45: ±0.15%. Pivoted, carbon fiber tonearm with synthetic sapphire bearings. Effective length: 218.5mm; effective mass: 6gm; overhang: 18.5mm. Sumiko Rainier: moving magnet cartridge with elliptical stylus: Frequency range: 15Hz–25kHz; Output voltage: 5.0mV.
Dimensions: 19 1/5" (488mm) × 9¼" (235mm) × 15½" (393mm). Weight: 12.3lb.
Finish: wood veneer.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 20S054562. Handmade in Europe.
…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Garrard 301 turntable in a Box Furniture Co. plinth; Thomas Schick 12" tonearm; Ortofon SPU Classic G cartridge.
Digital sources: Denafrips Terminator DAC; Denafrips Gaia DDC; Sonore ultraRendu; Small Green Computer sonicTransporter i5 server running Roon Core.
Preamplification: Shindo Aurieges preamplifier; Auditorium 23 SPU step-up transformer.
Power amplifiers: Shindo Montille; single-ended amplifier with triode-wired 307A output tubes built by Oliver Sayes.
Loudspeakers: Altec Valencia 846A.
Cables: Interconnect:…
In 1979, I visited Philips Electronics' renowned Research Center in Eindhoven, Holland, to examine a prototype of what would eventually be called a compact disc player. In 1989, I returned to the Eindhoven lab to witness the birth of the first sigma-delta DACs, which eliminated the problem of large linearity errors at low recorded levels in resistor-ladder DACs.
Perhaps the century-long presence of the Philips research center in the Netherlands led to the country being a hotbed of science-based audio engineering. Kees Schouhamer Immink, who was responsible for the optical-disc reading…
Learning how to use the wheel didn't take long, and the inconvenience of having to walk over to the MU1 wasn't a problem given that almost all the operations it enables are "set'n'forget."
Since I purchased the review sample, along with a lifetime subscription to Roon, the Roon Labs Nucleus+ music server ($2559) has been my primary source for digital music. I have been using it with network-connected D/A processors that can act as a Roon endpoint, like the PS Audio DirectStream and MBL N31. I am currently without a NAS drive, so Roon accesses my music library via an internal drive I…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Music streamer/Roon endpoint with Intel i3 processor and 4GB RAM running Linux and Roon Core, 3.5", 480×320 pixel, color TFT display, and optional internal SSD for music data storage. Digital audio outputs: two AES/ EBU (multichannel capable, with switchable volume control) and one Grimm LS1. Digital audio inputs: one each AES/EBU, coaxial S/PDIF, TosLink S/PDIF. Other inputs/outputs: FM cable input; Ethernet network port; 2 USB ports; 3.5mm socket for external IR remote sensor. All sample rates and formats supported. Tidal, Qobuz, and Spotify…