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Exposure owner/designer John Farlowe graduated from the UK's University of Sussex at the end of the swinging '60s. He put his B.Sc in electronic engineering to use at HiWatt, manufacturers of tube guitar amplifiers. His keen interest in pro audio, particularly in sound reinforcement for rock bands, led him to Midas (studio mixing desks and systems), where, as director and designer, he designed and built mixing desks and got together with the late Dave Martin of Martin Audio. They became heavily involved in sound systems for Pink Floyd. Midas desks and Martin speakers were used at many live…
The DAC's current-output signals are led via selected screened cables to the Exposure's analog board. Here a selected transistor is connected in common-base mode with an active load to deliver a phase-correct voltage to the passive filter. This in turn leads to the output buffer, a powerful emitter-follower with a constant current load. This also acts as a Sallen and Key low-pass filter, using polypropylene film capacitors.
The analog output is non-invasively muted by relay, and capacitor-coupled via a small Philips electrolytic. You might question such a choice until you discover that…
Sidebar 1: The Art and Science of CD Player Design
Engineering, as expressed by great audio designers, frequently bridges the gulf between science and art. Some audio products can be better understood as expositions of sound reproduction techniques than as clear expositions of scientific principles. But the achievement of a high artistic standard for audio equipment is gauged by sound quality, not design principles.
A component that by received standards has a weak technological base may nonetheless perform well, even outstandingly, when executed by a good designer. "This can't…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
CD transports: Theta Basic, Krell KPS-20t.
D/A processors: Muse DAC1, Audio Synthesis DAX-2, QED Digit Reference.
CD Players: Krell KPS-20i/l, Audiolab 8000CD, Marantz 17 K1 Signature, Cary CDP, Krell KAV-300cd.
Preamplifiers: Conrad-Johnson Premier Fourteen, Audio Synthesis Passion.
Power Amplifiers: Krell FPB 600, Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven A, Naim NAP250.
Integrated Amplifiers: Krell KAV-300i, Audiolab 8000S, Musical Fidelity A1000.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio WITT and CUB, Quad ESL-63, Spendor SP2-2.
Cables: Siltech and…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Exposure's non–loop-feedback single-ended analog stages would make one anticipate some moderate distortion at peak level, and this was indeed present. I should also note that my first sample showed a near-inaudible high-frequency tone in the right channel. The second sample, taken at random from the production line, was in the clear. Exposure will report back when they've checked this out; an out-of-spec DAC chip is suspected.
Track access was quick—2.5 seconds for track 15 of the Sony test disc—while the gap error correction rated average, at 1.0mm…
Sidebar 4: Specifications
Description: One-box CD player with 8x-oversampling digital filter, digital volume control, multibit DACs, and a S/PDIF data output (via a 75 ohm BNC connector). Nominal output: 2V RMS at 0dBFS. Output impedance: 1.0 ohm. Power consumption: approximately 12W.
Dimensions: Not noted.
Serial number of unit reviewed: Not noted.
Price: $1995 (1999); no longer available (2019). Approximate number of dealers: 7.
Manufacturer: Exposure Electronics, Unit 18, Winston Business Centre, 43 Chartwell Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 8TU, England, UK. Tel: (44)…
Audio Connection in Verona New Jersey welcomes Garth Leerer of Musical Surroundings on Saturday, June 8, from Noon to 5pm for their 9th annual Analog Open House. Audio Connection will feature new products direct from the Munich High End show, including the first US showing of the AMG Viella Forte turntable; DS Audio’s “entry level" E1 optical cartridge system; Clearaudio Concept Active turntable, Jubilee MM and MC cartridges, and the Smart Matrix Professional Silent record cleaning machine. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP at 973 239-1799 or by E-mail to audioconnect@verizon.net.…
It’s a keeper. Those are the thoughts that stuck with me after listening to the British-made Graham Audio LS5/9f ($7999/pair), a two-way reflex loading loudspeaker that had its US launch at Washington state’s Gig Harbor Audio on Saturday afternoon, May 25.
Most of my listening was to a 15ips tape of select jazz and classical tracks prepared by Yarlung Records—everything from “Missing Miles” from Yuko Mabuchi Plays Miles Davis to Jung-A Lee’s Fantasia from A Private Organ Recital in Walt Disney Hall and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke’s Handel. Using an old Pioneer tape deck, Gig Harbor Audio…
On Saturday, June 15, 10am to 6pm, Definition AV (2934 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403; 310 829 9888) will host an event featuring representatives from Cambridge Audio and Bowers and Wilkins and showcasing those companies' latest products.
Cambridge Audio will show it's Alva direct-drive turntable, the Edge A integrated amplifier, the Edge NQ preamplifier (with built-in network player), and Edge W power amplifier.
B&W will present the wireless Formation Audio suite, which includes the Duo, Wedge, Audio, Bar, and Bass.
A visiting manufacturer recently expressed the idea that digital processors and transports are the worst value in high-end audio. He contended that, because they all sound bad, their differences and degrees of imperfection are meaningless. In his view, the very best digital differed very little from the worst. His advice? Buy a moderately priced CD player and enjoy your LPs.
Based on my experience with a wide range of digital processors, I hold the opposite opinion. Sure, the best digital processors are expensive, but the difference in the musical experience between superlative and…