Analog sources: Thorens TD 124 MKII turntable; The Wand tonearm; Dynavector DV-10X5 MKII, EMT TDS 15N, Kuzma CAR-30, and Luxman LMC5 cartridges.
Preamplifiers: Aurorasound Vida MKII phono, Manley Chinook phono, Tavish Audio Design Adagio phono.
Integrated amplifiers: PrimaLuna EVO 400, Triode Lab EVO 45.
Loudspeakers: Devore Fidelity O/baby, Heretic AD614, Volti Audio Razz.
Cables: Interconnects: AudioQuest Pegasus RCA, Analysis Plus Silver Apex RCA, Triode Wire Labs Spirit II. Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: AudioQuest NRG Z, Triode…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Based in Bulgaria, European audio company Thrax has been active since 2009. Their ingenious and varied design approaches seen over several product lines have continued to intrigue me with their conceptual originality, innate musicality, and imaginative use of a broad spectrum of technologies. Their products range from valve (tube) amplification to digital audio and, more recently, loudspeakers. There are 16 products in the Thrax range.
Thrax founder and chief engineer Rumen Artarski packs a capacious scientific kitbag. His love of music and fine sound reproduction is self-evident. In the…
With further exploration of familiar program, it became clear that the treble range was delicately resolved, very detailed, and natural. While almost self-effacing, it possessed exceptional expressiveness combined with subtle dynamic nuance. When I concentrated further I also heard beguiling immediacy with enchanting microdetail and exceptional transparency. There was no detectable "horn" coloration. The delicate tactility on offer reached beyond those many excellent Heil-type folded ribbons (AMTs) while offering wide distribution in all planes. Off-axis room reverberation sounded highly…
Sidebar 1: Measuring the Drivers
Considered as a sequence of sounds over time, audio energizes a room with a complex jumble of fundamental tones and thousands of harmonics, augmented by room reflections and longer-term reverberation. This sounds like a recipe for aural confusion, but we learn instinctively from earliest childhood to distinguish direct sound from a source, person, or loudspeaker from the reverberant field. Without that skill, stereo perception in rooms would be impossible.
Audio listeners are accustomed to moderate amounts of distortion from a loudspeaker…
Sidebar 2: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded standmount loudspeaker. Driver complement: custom ring-diaphragm compression tweeter loaded with a proprietary ultrashort horn with shaped directivity; ultralow-distortion Purifi midwoofer. Crossover: Sealed and potted, with wax-impregnated foil-wound inductors and capacitors with silver lead-out wires. Aeco binding posts. Frequency response: 36Hz–20kHz (–3dB). Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 87dB/2.83V/m, measured at 2W into 4 ohms. Power handling: 250W max, 25W min.
Dimensions: 13.4" H × 8.3" W × 13.4" D. Weight:…
Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Linn LP12 turntable with Keel chassis, Karousel main bearing, Radikal motor control, Naim ARO tonearm with Lyra Delos cartridge.
Digital sources: Naim UnitiCore network server and S/PDIF source. Roon Nucleus +. Naim ND555 Streamer-DAC with two 555PS(DR) power supplies.
Preamplification: Townsend Allegri Reference, Naim SuperLine-SuperCap DR phono preamplifier.
Power amplifier: Naim NAP250.
Loudspeakers: Finkteam KIM, BBC LS3/5a 15 ohm.
Accessories: Several 4- and 5-tier Naim FRAIM racks; Transparent XL MM2, Naim NAC A5…
Sidebar 4: Measurements
As the schedule didn't allow sufficient time for Martin Colloms's pair of Thrax Sirens to be shipped to me for measurements, Thrax arranged for a different loudspeaker to be sent from their factory in Bulgaria. This sample had the serial number 211123. I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system with a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the speaker's behavior in the farfield and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield responses.
According to the manual, the Siren "is best heard with the tweeters at, or just below, ear height." I therefore started by examining…
Southwest Audio Fest v1.0 in Dallas, Texas, was the site of the North American debut of the YG Acoustics Sonja 3.2 loudspeaker.
The Sonja 3.2 is a reference-level modular speaker with a cabinet of solid aluminum; each speaker weighs 320lb. Constellation Audio provided the amplification for the system: Centaur II mono amplifiers and Virgo II preamplifier. An Audio Research Reference Phono 3 SE preamplifier worked with a Pure Fidelity turntable and cartridge for vinyl playback. Digital front-end duties were performed admirably by the MSB Premier DAC.
The listening…
Sound Lab is an electrostatic speaker specialist. The company's pithily named G745-3C ($20,000/pair) debuted at the first Southwest Audio Fest. These speakers aren't small, but they are suitable for relatively compact spaces, thanks to the panels' modest 20" width.
Visually, these curved monolithic panels dominated the small room where they were demoed. They sounded great streaming tracks from Tidal using a Benchmark DAC3 B. The David Berning 845 ZOTL Gen 3 HiFi One Edition 60W, class-A monoblock tube amps ($75,000/pair) provided power. Cabling was by EnKlein Bespoke Wireworks.
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"I'm back, back in the saddle again"—actually, I'm back at the Montreal Audiofest, held March 22–24 at its usual grand locale, the Bonaventure Hotel. For one weekend each year, this storied hotel with the heated rooftop swimming pool becomes the land of audio gear, audio purveyors, audiophiles, a record fare, live music, and music-and-booze tours, two of them this year: the show's sophomore wine-and-music tour, and, true to the spirit of Montreal's sordid role during US prohibition, its inaugural "Prohibition Night" consists of music paired with a variety of whiskeys.
But don't…