There are two loading options: Moving four jumpers per channel switches from the MC setting…
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The large circuit board is beautifully laid out—there's a lot of physical space separating the power supply from the signal path, and the parts of the pcb containing the audio circuitry—the left and right circuits are physically separate—have a ground plane layer to reduce noise. Loading instructions for moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges are silk-screened on the board itself—a touch that ensures that the second owner will have them even if the first owner manages to lose the owner's manual.
The AcousTech was quiet enough to satisfy most analog lovers, but did exhibit more steady-state roar than the Linn. The difference was small, but for those sensitive to such things, perhaps significant. I was not bothered by it.
The Linn threw a wider soundstage, which I liked. The AcousTech's soundstage was tighter and more focused. This was very noticeable on "In Your Mind," where the Linn had musicians placed to the outsides of my speakers. On the other hand, the way they were bunched together with the AcousTech gave the performers a palpability that was very convincing. It was really…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: solid-state MM/MC phono preamplifier. Voltage gain: 61.5dB (MC), 42dB (MM). Input impedance: 100 ohms in parallel with 0.01µF (MC), 47k ohms in parallel with 200pF (MM). Maximum output: 8V RMS. Recommended load: 10k ohms or greater. Power consumption: 10W.
Dimensions: 18.5" W by 2.5" H by 12.75" D. Weight: 20 lbs.
Serial number of unit reviewed: n/a.
Price: $1200. Approximate number of dealers: 30.
Manufacturer: AcousTech Electronics, 1000 W. Elm Street, Salina, KS 67402. Tel: (913) 825-8609. Fax: (913) 825-0156. Web: www.acousticsounds.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
LP Playback: Linn LP12 turntable, Lingo power supply, Cirkus suspension, Ekos tonearm.
Phono Cartridges: Linn Arkiv, Transfiguration Temper, van den Hul Frog.
Preamplifier: Conrad-Johnson ART.
Power Amplifiers: Audio Research VT200, Cary Audio Design CAD805C monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Alón Circe, B&W John Bowers Silver Signature.
Cables: Siltech interconnects, Black Orpheus speaker cables.
Accessories: Audio Power Industries Power Wedge 112, Magro Stereo Display Stands.
Room Treatment: ASC Tube Traps, Studio Traps, Bass Traps; RPG…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The AcousTech PH-1 was reasonably quiet in both modes, its A-weighted S/N Ratio measuring 61.8dB (MC) and 83.8dB (MM). Under the more taxing unweighted, wide-bandwidth conditions, these figures reduced to 53dB and 74.5dB, respectively. The voltage gain at 1kHz measured 41.8dB (MM) and 57.7dB (MC).
The PH-1's output impedance measured a low 220 ohms at all frequencies, meaning that it will have no compatibility problems with any line preamplifiers with which it will be used. Its input impedance at 1kHz measured 49.9k ohms (MM) and 125 ohms (MC).
The…
Sam Tellig wrote about the AcousTech PH-1P Premium phono stage in 2508:
Chad Kassem, of Acoustic Sounds, distributes the AcousTech PH-1 phono stage, designed by Ron Sutherland—my reference phono stage since its introduction in 1997. You can buy a better phono stage if you have deep pockets, but the PH-1 is hard to beat at $1200 [Wes Phillips reviewed the PH-1 in June 1998—Ed.] The price hasn't changed in five years. Way to go, Ron and Chad!
Chad asked Ron to come up with a premium version, the PH-1P, with hand-soldered parts and a gold-plated circuit board. The payoff is said to…
Not every audiophile needs an amplifier powerful enough to tax a small town's power grid while simultaneously draining his or her bank account. So, having quickly sold out of its ultra-limited-edition, extravagantly powered and priced combo of kWp preamplifier ($14,995) and kW power amp ($27,995) that I reviewed in January 2004, Musical Fidelity (footnote 1) set about capitalizing on the enthusiastic reviews earned by those giants with less expensive, less powerful, "real-world" replacements.
At $4500, the kW Hybrid preamp isn't exactly inexpensive. Nor is the kW750 stereo…
At the other end of the spectrum, amp and preamp offered rich, deep, and slightly underdamped (but not "fat") bass. Well-recorded kick drums had pleasingly weighty and elastic textures, and if the kW750 erred every so slightly in favor of a "thick" bottom, I'll take that over polite, overdamped, and hyperdetailed—as if the initial strike was more important than the consequences. I don't want a kick drum or an electric bass to sound "polite"—I want it to appropriately kick ass!
If anything, the Wilson MAXX2's high-frequency presentation and their ability to express air are somewhat…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
kW Hybrid Line Preamplifier: Two-channel, tube-transistor preamplifier. Frequency response: 20Hz–30kHz, ±0.5dB. Maximum output voltage: >62V RMS. Maximum instantaneous output current: 4.5A peak–peak. Output impedance: <0.5 ohm. Line inputs: Input impedance: 500k ohms. Maximum voltage gain: 12.5dB. THD+noise: <0.0068% (5V output, maximum volume). Signal/noise: >105dB ref. 1V output at half volume, A-weighted. Input sensitivity for 1V RMS output: 240mV. Overload margin: 40dB. Channel separation: >84dB, 20Hz–20kHz, maximum volume. Channel-balance…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Simon Yorke S7 turntable; Immedia RPM-2, Graham Phantom tonearms; Lyra Titan stereo & mono, Graham Nightingale, Sumiko Blackbird cartridges.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW SACD player, Alesis Masterlink hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Musical Fidelity kWp preamplifier, Manley Steelhead phono preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio MAXX2.
Cables: Phono: Hovland MG 2 Music Groove. Interconnect: Acrolink 6100, Shunyata Antares, Transparent Audio Reference, Harmonic…