Sixty years after Italian explorer and merchant Marco Polo chronicled his journey to Asia, Tangier-born Abu Abdallah Ibn Battuta (b. 1304, d. 1368–1377) spent close to 30 remarkable years traveling to what were then the four corners of the earth. Following the words of…
According to the 2018 edition of the UN's World Happiness Report, Denmark is the third-happiest nation on Earth, trailing only its neighbors Finland and Norway.
I heard that yesterday afternoon, on NPR. The reporter even spelled out the word used by Danes to describe their feelings of happiness: hygge. Apparently, at present, Denmark is positively rotten with hygge.
But I was uncertain that I'd heard correctly. And I was dubious that the UN…
Johannsen went on to explain how Selective Laser Melting—which, in some previous Ortofon models, was used to manufacture small frame-style cartridge bodies—can be used to make a better SPU shell: "The lasers melt very fine powder. In some areas…
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The core component of my beloved, daily-driver desktop system is a Mytek Brooklyn DAC-preamp-headphone amp. Through this system I play high-resolution files and Internet sources (Tidal, Qobuz, Netflix, and YouTube). One of the Brooklyn's two line-level inputs delivers NPR news and baseball from my Kenwood KT-990D FM/AM tuner. I mostly use this system with headphones, but currently, the Brooklyn's line-out feeds a pair of Bel Canto Design's compact e.One REF600M monoblocks driving the shelf-mounted Dynaudio Excite…
Description: Line-level hybrid (tubed/MOSFET) preamplifier and headphone amplifier. Tube complement: four 12AU7/ECC82. Frequency response: 1Hz–100kHz, ±1dB. Line-level inputs: 3 unbalanced (RCA), 2 balanced (XLR). Variable outputs: 2 unbalanced (RCA), 2 balanced (XLR). Maximum gain, line stage: 14dB unbalanced, 20dB balanced. Output impedance: 50 ohms (1kHz).
Dimensions: 18.5" (470mm) W by 4.5" (115mm) H by 17" (430mm) D. Weight: 30 lb (13.6kg) net, 45 lb (20.4kg) shipping.
Serial number of unit reviewed: RP7-0559.
Price: $4995. Approximate number of…
Analog Sources: Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable, Jelco 850L tonearm; AMG Giro G9 turntable & 9W Turbo tonearm; AMG Teatro, EMT TSD 75, Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue, Hana SL, Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Ex moving-coil cartridges; Kenwood KT-990D FM/AM tuner.
Digital Sources: Mac mini computer running Audirvana Plus 3.2; HoloAudio Spring "Kitsuné Tuned Edition" Level 3, Mytek Brooklyn DACs; JVC X-Z1010 CD player (used as transport).
Preamplification: Tavish Design Adagio phono preamplifier; Pass…
I measured the Rogue RP-7 using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). The RP-7's volume control operates in 0.5dB steps, with the maximum level indicated as "192" on the front-panel display. All of its outputs—balanced, single-ended, and headphone—preserved absolute polarity (ie, were non-inverting). The balanced input impedance measured a very high 174k ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz, dropping very slightly to 162k ohms at 20kHz; the unbalanced input impedance was lower, at 24.5k ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz, and 21k ohms at 20kHz. The RP-7's…
The single child of an upper-Westchester family, Jane So (not her real name) assists her employer in curating fine art for the city's premier galleries and museums. Her job also includes gifting her employer's millions to charitable organizations and the like. But in her off hours, when the boss isn't watching, Jane…