Analog Sources: Technics SL-1200GAE turntable with Hana EL cartridge; Roksan Radius 7 turntable with Corus Silver, Dynavector 20X2L cartridges.
Digital Sources: Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC, Integra DPPS-7.2 DVD-A player.
Preamplification: Dynavector SUP-200, Bob's Devices CineMag 1131 step-up transformers; Lounge Audio Copla active step-up device; Dynavector P75 Mk.3, Lounge Audio LCR Mk.III, Parasound Halo JC 3+ phono preamplifiers; Pass Labs HPA-1, Rogue Audio RP-1, Simaudio Moon Neo 350P preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: First Watt J2,…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Fathom f212v2: Powered, sealed-box subwoofer. Drive-units: two 12-W7 12" cone woofers with 3.5"-diameter voice-coil and 3" peak–peak excursion. Effective piston area: 168 in3. Magnet weight: not specified. Low-pass filter: variable, 30–130Hz, 12 or 24dB/octave. High-pass filter: not supplied. Inputs: stereo or mono balanced (single XLR connector), stereo or mono unbalanced (single RCA connector). Input modes: Master, Slave. Outputs: single balanced (XLR) to additional subwoofer. Input impedance: 50k ohms (RCA), 100k ohms (XLR). Input sensitivity: 166V for 105dB…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I performed a full set of measurements on the PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium power amplifier, using both my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It") and my vintage Audio Precision System One. As I did so, I got a strong feeling of déjà vu: the amplifier's behavior was similar in many respects to that of the ProLogue Premium integrated amplifier, which Robert Deutsch reviewed in June 2012.
As the review sample of the ProLogue Premium was fitted with EL34 output tubes, I set the bias switch on the amplifier's right side panel to the…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ittok tonearm, Spectral moving-coil cartridge; Day-Sequerra 25th Anniversary FM Reference tuner.
Digital Sources: Bryston BCD-1 CD player & BDP-2 media player with IAD sound board & BDA-3 DAC; Lenovo W510 laptop computer running Windows 7 (64 bit), Mark Levinson USB driver, JRiver Media Center 20.
Preamplifier: Bryston BP-26.
Power Amplifier: Mark Levinson No.334.
Integrated Amplifier: Mark Levinson No.585.
Loudspeakers: Revel Ultima Salon2 & Ultima…
Saturday November 5, 1–7pm, Toronto's Wynn Audio , who demonstrated a Goldmund-Tidal-Thales system costing $1,135,196 at last weekend's TAVES show, are opening their new showroom at Unit 31-20 Wertheim Court, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3A8.
Simple Gifts, a new live recording from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS), is filled with eminently accessible, decidedly optimistic American music written between 1854 and 1993. Its frequently dance-worthy melodic beauty makes for a most lovely 77 minutes of pure pleasure, and is conducive to both focused listening and background enjoyment. Available as both a 24/48 download from HDTracks (which I auditioned) and other sites, as well as in CD form, the recording reflects the positive, "new world" outlook that inspired many of its compositions.
Simple Gifts begins with…
For your consideration. It’s the time of year when both the Grammy nominations and those for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame are due. For the moment, I’ll leave the annual Grammy debacle—the nominations come out on Dec. 6—for a later rant.
Visiting Cleveland? Stop by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, i.e. the Rock Hall, not only because the I.M. Pei structure itself is impressive but because inside is a wonderland of artifacts sure to entrance even the most casual rock music fan.
That having been said, and pretending for a moment that it still means anything and anyone still cares…
My Friday-morning train from upstate New York arrived in Manhattan ahead of schedule—how often does that happen?—giving me the luxury of walking, rather than taking a subway or a cab, to the Park Lane Hotel, located on West 59th Street: this year's venue for the New York Audio Show. So I set out from Lexington Avenue and headed west on 57th Street, admiring as I did the window displays of the many high-end jewelers and clothiers and galleries along the way. By the time I cut north toward 59th Street—the southern border of Central Park—the passersby were more well-dressed, the uniformed…
I don't get out much. In particular, I don't normally go to audio shows. But this weekend I attended the New York Audio Show, which was held at the Park Lane Hotel, on the south end of Manhattan's Central Park—just a short subway ride (followed by a shorter walk) from my New York apartment. It was pleasant enough, I suppose, but also a good reminder of the reasons I don't usually go to audio shows.
Reason # 1: There are people there. People who aren't me. With opinions.
Reason # 2: A hotel is a lousy place to demonstrate a fine audio system.
Some clichés are true, as…
Whether large in scope and scale or just a few small rooms at the end of a hotel hallway, I get a kick out of hi-fi shows—and this is a truly beautiful time of year in New York City. Add to that the fact that this was my first show as an esteemed Stereophile correspondent, and you can imagine my excitement. (Pinch me!)
At 1:00pm, I met up with John Atkinson, Art Dudley, Jim Austin, and Jana Dagdagan; we drew straws for floor assignments and hit the hallways of this year's show venue, the Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South. The show was abuzz and practically jammed from the start: the…