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I performed a complete set of measurements on one of the Accuphase A-300s (serial number L2Y188) in its Normal mode with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. I preconditioned the A-300 by following the CEA's recommendation of running it at one-eighth the specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes. At the end of that time, the temperature of the top panel was 97.6°F (36.4°C) and that of the side-mounted heatsinks 120.4°F (49.1°C).

As auditioned by JVS, the balanced input was wired with pin 2 negative, the opposite of the AES standard. (A rear-panel switch…

I had my reasons—especially price. The prices of those earlier Estelons were a poor fit for my budget. I was also troubled by the fact that, despite rhetoric about driver and component choice, advanced cabinet materials and construction, and fastidious engineering, Estelon has been stingy with details and specifications—not a complete disqualifier but rather a missed opportunity to…

Hankering for a recording with a greater sense of space and place, I moved to another recording by Les Siècles, one that has become a favorite of mine, Fauré's Requiem Op.48, which adds the vocal group Ensemble Aedes to the mix, both ensembles conducted by Mathieu Romano (24/96 FLAC, Aparté AP201). This piece was recorded in Abbaye de Lessay, in Manche, which offers a warm acoustic without loss of detail. From the first, defining pedal, everything was sweet and clear, and the AURAs delivered the voices and instruments distinct from the enveloping ambience. However, I heard less of the…

Description: Three-way, four-driver floorstanding loudspeaker in a sealed, "thermoformed composite" enclosure. Drive units: 1" (26mm) Scan-Speak textile-dome "Illuminator" tweeter, two 5" (130mm) "Satori" Egyptian Papyrus-cone midwoofers, one 10" (250mm) "Faital" hard-pressed paper-cone woofer. Kubala-Sosna internal wiring. Frequency range: 35Hz–25kHz. Impedance: 4 ohms (minimum 2 ohms at 58Hz). Sensitivity: 90dB/2.83V/1m. Minimum amplifier power: 30W. Recommended room size: 160–645ft2.
Dimensions: 53.7" (1366mm) H × 15.1" (384mm) W × 14.4" (367mm) D…

Digital sources: Oppo Digital UDP-103 universal disc player, Custom Intel/Win11 music server running JRiver Media Center v30 and Roon, Merging Technologies Hapi MKII, exaSound s88 Mark II, and Okto DAC8 Pro D/A processors. QNAP TVS-873 NAS. Preamplifiers Coleman Audio 7.1SW for balanced DAC-to-amp switching.
Power amplifiers: Benchmark AHB2, NAD C 298.
Loudspeakers: KEF Blade 2 Meta, Revel Performa3 f206; two JL Audio e110 and 1 SVS SB-3000 subwoofers.
Cables: Digital cables: AudioQuest Coffee (USB). Analog interconnects: Benchmark Studio&…

I measured one of the Estelon Aura loudspeakers, serial number F35204B, in KR's apartment, using his NAD C 298 amplifier for the testing. I measured the Estelon Aura's impedance with Dayton Audio's DATS V2 system and 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. Kal and I lifted the Aura on to a dolly for the measurements, but to minimize the effect of the first reflection from the ground, I measured the response and dispersion with the…

On "Ring Them Bells," from the same album, Sufjan Stevens's band-geek arrangement features more than a dozen instruments including a viola, French horn, lap steel, and electric drums, sometimes playing loudly in unison and sometimes creating a floral setting for his delicate tenor voice, which here was thankfully recorded without the usual heavy reverb and overdubs. The d1-unity rendered the instruments with vivid tone color remarkable for a digital source, which lent the playing an unusual amount of beauty and realism. The astonishing electric guitar solo by Bryce Dessner of the…

Yes, folks, digital audio was once…

The Viking's ability to expose Gieseking's morphing tempos enabled me to revisit and mind meld with Gieseking's transcendental Debussy via a four-CD box set of his performances of Debussy and Maurice Ravel (New Classical Adventure/Audiophidelity LC 12281). These CDs are digital remasters made from a digital source, most likely several steps removed from the original analog masters, yet the Viking found the room, air, microphones, and-I swear, during the quietest passages-some faint tube glow and a few momentary hints of these recordings' magnetic-tape origins. These are subtle things I'…