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I know that Hegel Music Systems founder and chief engineer Bent Holter named his company after a music group he used to play in, called the Hegel Band. But
every time I listen to recordings via products made by Hegel Music Systems, my mind still drifts to the analytic-poetic philosophies of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)—and it's not just because they all share a name. Even when I am not playing German music from the Romantic era, I speculate about how naturally Hegel products synthesize my experiences of sound (objective) and music (subjective) in a way that overcomes and negates…
CES 2017 saw the introduction of the 350Wpc Mark Levinson No.534 stereo amplifier ($20,000). Todd Eichenbaum, Director of Engineering for Harman International's Luxury Audio Group and designer of the No.534, explained that it was developed to fit between Levinson's entry-level No.532H stereo amplifier ($8000) and the $50,000/pair No.53 reference monoblock amplifiers. The No.534 is a fully differential, fully discrete, dual-monaural amplifier. It uses the company's Pure Path circuit design, which includes a folded cascode, high-bias circuit to drive its 24 output transistors (12 per channel),…
The Vacuum Tube Logic room was difficult for me
and I am not sure why. Luke Manley was, as always, the most convivial and informative host. I visited his room three times, collecting photos and data, and every time Luke was smiling his big Luke-smile: "Herb, how can I help you?" He handed me a list of all the products and their prices: That small gesture always makes my life happier and easier. The room was well-lit—and yet I failed to get good pictures.
But the sound? Ahhhh! Music reproduction was world-class/top-shelf, with just the right touches of pepper and sunshine to keep it from…
Mark Levinson introduced its new No.523 stereo preamplifier ($15,000) at CES 2017. Todd Eichenbaum, who designed the No.523, explained that it offers many of features found in the company's No.52 preamplifier ($30,000). However, compared to that reference preamp, the No.523 is an all-new design. It features six line-level inputs, a phono preamplifier, and a headphone amplifier (there's a 1/4" jack on the preamp's front panel). The No.523 is identical in every way to Levinson's No.526 preamplifier ($20,000), apart from lacking that unit's internal DAC.
Robb Niemann, the CEO of Rutherford Audio, North American distributor for Burmester, had new product and corporate news to share. Two years ago, Burmester lost its charismatic and charming leader, Dieter Burmester, when he tragically passed away at a young age. Just this month, Andreas Henke, Porsche's marketing manager for Germany, accepted an offer to join Burmester as its CEO, a move that will strengthen the bond between Burmester and the noted automobile manufacturer. Robb also mentioned that the company plans to introduce new product at the Munich show, specifically a new flagship…
Ypsilon's Demetris Baklavas had his new Phaethon integrated amplifier ($25,000) on display. This amplifier delivers 110Wpc into 8 ohms and 180Wpc into 4 ohms. It features four line-level inputs, and uses two triodes in its three-stage circuit design. Of interest, this design employs an interstage transformer for each channel. However, the most stunning Ypsilon product on display was their MC-26L-SLV silver-wire step-up transformer ($18,500), sitting next to the turntable in the room's live exhibit. Demetris explained this moving-coil step-up device begins as 25 pounds of pure silver wire that…
I liked the orange Micromega M-One integrated amp at Rocky Mountain AudioFest 2016 more than the silver one (pictured) at CES 2017. I liked it more because it was a rich, good color and it matched the orange Focal Sopra No.2s it was driving. I liked it because it played beautiful music in front of a backlit rice-paper wall. The whole presentation looked, and felt, and sounded so Zen clear, relaxed, and revelatory. I thought it was the best sound at RMAF.
Ever since the silver age of giant Japanese receivers, I've always cringed when presented with a feature-laden box of audio parts…
The Acoustique Quality Passion loudspeakers ($20,000/pair) made their way to Las Vegas from the Czech Republic, courtesy of Vladimir Sapara. The flagship loudspeaker in the Acoustique line, it is based on 25 years of loudspeaker design, and features a cabinet by Novague Design.
The 6-ohm impedance, three-way Passion features Scanspeak Illuminator tweeter and midrange drivers, and a Scanspeak Revelator woofer, all with proprietary tweaks. Its MDF cabinet has 3cm-thick side panels, and there are no parallel walls internally. In addition, the cabinet's active internal damping system uses…
For those of you who like all of your functions tucked away in a single shiny box, Burmester has a product for you. The main all-in-one 161 Receiver is based on the company's Music Server 151 and the system also includes the B15 speakers (not shown) and the handy empty case that sits below the active electronics. Burmester says the empty case with fold down front door (shown below) is part of the product since their customers don't like clutter and prefer to store extraneous stuff like AppleTV boxes and game consoles out of the way. I realize that probably sounds a bit pretentious to some,…
There's nothing remotely reticent about California Audio Technology's (CAT's) new CAT MBX 900 Trinity satellite loudspeakers ($50,000/pair) and companion CAT MBX 58 Miramar subwoofers ($50,000/pair). Designed to be used together, their presentation mirrors the strong, driving energy of Brian Barr, founder and CEO of the 27-year old company.
Nor will it come as any surprise that the Trinity/Miramar duo are an excellent match for CAT's Morris Kessler-designed SAE 2HP-D power amplifier, which Michael Fremer reviewed in the October 2016 Stereophile. I didn't have time to sit down and take a…