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PSB Alpha P5 loudspeaker
I have reviewed many cost-no-object loudspeakers over the years. But as I wrote in my review of this little gem: "While any competent engineer can design a superb loudspeaker if allowed an unlimited bill of materials, the true test is being able to produce a great- sounding, budget-priced speaker out of parts that cost a mere handful of dollars." Yes, there are many speakers that offer greater bass extension, dynamic range, and imaging precision, but at prices that range from five to 500 times as expensive as the Alpha P5.…

“The…

An acoustic bass-centric track I…

Description: Tubed integrated amplifier with remote control. Tube complement: 4 EL84 output tubes, 2 12AX7/ ECC83 small-signal tubes. Inputs: 3 line, single-ended (RCA), phono MM/MC (RCA). Maximum power output: 10Wpc into 6 ohms (8.25dBW). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB (phono); 20Hz–80kHz, –3dB (line). THD (1kHz, 10W into 6 ohms): 1% or less. Sensitivity/Input impedance: 3.0mV/47k ohms (phono, MM); 0.33mV/100 ohms (Phono, MC); 180mV/47k ohms (line). S/N (IHF-A): >84dB (phono, MM); >64dB (phono, MC); >95dB (line). Power consumption: 98W.
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Analog sources: Kuzma Stabi R & Kuzma 4Point 11" tonearm; Thorens TD 124 turntable & Jelco TS-350S tonearm; Hana ML and Denon DL-103 phono cartridges.
Digital sources: Apple MacBook computer running Qobuz and Tidal; BorderPatrol DAC SE, Tascam CD-200iL CD player; Western Digital T2 Mirror Drives (2).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 A23 and Bob's Devices moving-coil step-up transformers, Shindo Allegro.
Power amplifier: Shindo Haut-Brion.
Integrated amplifier: Cary SLI-H80.
Loudspeakers: DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93, Klipsch…

Nostalgia struck when I unpacked the Luxman SQ-N150 and hoisted it onto the test bench. This compact integrated amplifier uses a pair of EL84 tubes for each channel's output—I used to own a sweet-sounding Vox AC30 guitar amplifier back in the 1960s, which also used a quartet of EL84s.

Down to business: I measured the Luxman using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Looking first at the line inputs, the voltage gain with the volume control set to its maximum was 32.8dB into 8 ohms at the loudspeaker terminals and 27.45dB…

Meshell Ndegeocello: Ventriloquism
Naïve M6702 (2 LPs). 2018. Meshell Ndegeocello, Jebin Bruni, prods.; S. Husky Hoskulds, eng.; Pete Min, mix, mastering. DDA? TT: 53:29

When I was a kid and felt overwhelmed by various fears and foes (asthma attacks, roaches, rats, guard dogs, dark halls, ghosts), I locked myself in my bedroom, wrapped myself around a little GPX boom box, and found comfort on the FM dial. Z100, Hot 97, and Power 105 gave me Lisa Lisa's "I Wonder if I Take You Home," Ralph Tresvant's "Sensitivity," The System's "Don't Disturb This…

Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos 1 & 2, Rondo Brillant, Hebrides Overture
Roberto Prosseda, piano; The Hague Residentie Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend
Decca 4817207 (5.1-channel DXD download, CD). 2018. Bert van der Wolf, prod., eng. DDD. TT: 62:08

Bert van der Wolf of Northstar Recording, producer of many wonderful albums for Channel Classics and other labels, now has a license to release on his website, www.spiritofturtle.com, the projects he records for Decca "in all the High Resolution versions that I have available." I hope his model…

The new sound room is equipped with $750,000 worth of high-end luxury speakers and cables from Göbel High-End in Germany and reference-quality amplifiers, preamplifiers, and digital/analog convertors from CH Precision in Switzerland.

Bending Wave USA is the US distributor for Göbel High End. For more information, call (954) 716-7407 or visit www.BendingWaveUSA.com.