A fairly inexpensive Quadraspire rack and Esprit power conditioning and cables completed a system that on Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” replicated her voice beautifully and delivered a generous helping of her characteristic breathy vocals. Treble and bass were well-integrated in a system that excelled in transmitting intimacy as well as the…
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In the room opposite its smaller system, Playback Distribution presented Amphion Krypton3x White floorstanding speakers ($24,000/pair) driven by Esoteric’s F-12 class-A integrated amplifier ($18,000) and N-01XD-SE network streamer ($22,000).
In December 2023, I took the train from New York to Los Angeles to attend the Los Angeles & Orange County Audiophile Society's 30th annual Gala. I took the trip because it is both stimulating and satisfying to spend an afternoon in the company of more than 200 audiophiles and music lovers; I also wanted to see John Curl presented with the Society's fourth Innovation Award, by George and Carolyn Counnas of Zesto. John was given the award "for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of solid-state audio amplifiers, circuit innovation, mastering recorders and much more."
I first…
Setup & listening
Like the Halo JC 1+, the JCA100 has single-ended RCA and balanced XLR input jacks, along with pass-through output jacks. The two amplifiers share the same two pairs of high-quality loudspeaker binding posts, switches to set the voltage gain to 29dB or 23dB, and to select Normal or Low output-stage bias.
Like the Halo JC 1+, the JCA100 has single-ended RCA and balanced XLR input jacks, along with pass-through output jacks. The two amplifiers share the same two pairs of high-quality loudspeaker binding posts, switches to set the voltage gain to 29dB or 23dB, and to select Normal or Low output-stage bias.
The JCA100 operates in class-A up to its full power into 8 ohms when its bias is set to Normal, which is how I used them. (Parasound said that with the switch set to low, the JCA100 delivers up to 15W in class-A.) It runs hot. To allow sufficient ventilation, I…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid state, class-A monoblock power amplifier. Inputs: 1 single-ended (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 1 single-ended (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR) pass-through loop for multi-amping; 2 pairs five-way binding posts. Power output: 100W into 8 ohms (20dBW), 200W into 4 ohms (20dBW). Class-A output power: 100W into 8 ohms (Normal bias). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, +0/–0.25dB; 2Hz–120kHz, +0/–2dB. Slew rate: >130V/µs. Voltage gain: 29dB or 23dB, switchable. Input impedance: 50k ohms (unbalanced), 100k ohms (balanced). Input sensitivity (for 100W into…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+ file server; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream MKII D/A processor; MBL N31 CD player/DAC; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 A/D converter.
Power amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1+ monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: GoldenEar BRX; KEF LS50.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Vodka (Ethernet), AudioQuest Coffee (USB), DH Labs (1m, AES3). Interconnect: Ayre/Cardas (balanced). Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: AudioQuest Dragon Source & High Current, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: 24"-high, single-…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the performance of one of the Parasound JCA100 Tribute's with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. I preconditioned the amplifier by operating it at one-eighth the specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes with the bias of the output stage set to Normal. At the end of this time, the temperature of the side-mounted heatsinks, measured with an infrared thermometer, was 111.1°F (43.9°C) and that of the top panel 95.0°F (35.0°C). An amplifier with a class-A output stage runs hottest when idling, so I remeasured the temperatures the next day, after the…
My first encounter with an Audiovector loudspeaker was at the 2019 Toronto Audiofest. Driven by colorful (both sonically and visually) Alluxity electronics, the R 3s sounded pure and very fine. As I sat listening to the R 3 Arretés, the R 8 Arreté, their big brother, sat quietly in the corner, seemingly pleased with the performance of its smaller sibling.
I ended up reviewing the R 8 instead of the R 3, which in retrospect hardly seems fair:It was the R3 I heard that day, the R 3 that attracted my attention and got me interested in the brand. I didn't hear a peep from the R 8 Arreté—…
Listening
Audiovector specifies a frequency range of 23Hz–53kHz for the R 3 Arreté—quite a boast for a speaker so small and light, though it was clear from my auditioning that it is capable of surprising in-room low-frequency extension. When, at the very end of the review period, I listened to some warble tones from the Stereophile Editor's Choice CD, the R 3s set me straight: The 40Hz tone was reproduced at full volume. The 31.5Hz tone was down by about 6.5dB, according to the SPL Meter app on my iPhone. The 25Hz tone was down 12dB—easily audible. I could hear the top part of the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: 2.5-way bass-reflex loudspeaker in a wood-veneered high-density fiberboard cabinet, open-back tweeter, and downfiring port. Driver complement: One "Arreté" AMT tweeter with "S-stop filter"; one 6.5" midwoofer and one 6.5" woofer with carbon-fiber/aramid fiber/ synthetic wood resin cones. Crossover frequencies: 320Hz, 2.9kHz. Frequency range: 23–53kHz. Sensitivity: 90.5dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Power handling: 350W.
Dimensions: 40.7" (1034mm) × 9.45" (240mm) × 14.2" (360mm). Weight: 49.9lb (22.67kg).
Finish: African Rosewood, Black…
Sidebar 1: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable with Origin Live Encounter Mk4 tonearm, Pure Fidelity Stratos MC cartridge.
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+; MacBook Pro; Mytek Brooklyn Bridge (original version).
Preamplification: EAR 834P phono preamplifier.
Amplification: First Watt F7 (used with Mytek Brooklyn Bridge as preamp).
Integrated amplifier: Pathos InPol Remix MkII.
Cables: Interconnect: Mix of AudioQuest, Audio Note, The Chord Company. Speaker: Auditorium 23. Digital: AudioQuest, generic.
Accessories: Butcher Block…