1) If your tonearm's output leads include a separate ground wire, is it connected to the phono preamplifier's ground lug? (This is more critical with moving-magnet cartridges.)
2) Does your turntable have a ground lug? (Read the instruction…
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First, let's talk about problems with grounding and hum. I regularly get e-mails from frustrated readers asking if I have a solution to a problem that seems impossible to solve: turntable-related ground hum. When the e-mail doesn't include what its writer has done so far to eliminate hum, my job is easy. I just go through the usual checklist:
Pink noise spectrum of Ortofon Windfeld Ti phono cartridge loaded with 47k ohms (blue) and 30 ohms (red).
In the midst of his December 2023 Gramophone Dreams column, Herb Reichert presented the results of an experiment. He was listening to the most recent version of Zu Audio's Denon DL-103, installed on his new-old Lenco. He hooked it up to the moving coil input of his SunValley SV-EQ1616D phono preamp, which apparently is intended for use with low-output MC cartridges since it loads them down with a 50 ohm shunt resistor—a heavy load for all but the lowest-impedance MCs. The rough rule…
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos.2, 3, 12 & 13
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, cond.
Deutsche Grammophon 4864965 (3 CDs) (reviewed as 24/96). 2023. Shawn Murphy, Nick Squire, prods.; Murphy and Squire, engs.
Performance *****
Sonics *****
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, cond.
Deutsche Grammophon 4864965 (3 CDs) (reviewed as 24/96). 2023. Shawn Murphy, Nick Squire, prods.; Murphy and Squire, engs.
Performance *****
Sonics *****
Auditioned with the bloody conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as a backdrop, these riveting, superbly recorded performances confront listeners with the inescapable ravages of war. They also open a window on the shifting political convictions of one of the greatest composers to emerge during the early years of the Soviet…
Naim has comprehensively reimagined its Classic Series, which has been around for some 20 years with improvements along the way. Included in the new range of products is the 200 series, comprised of two products: the NAP 250 power amplifier, which I reviewed in the November 2023 issue of Stereophile, and the NSC 222 streaming preamplifier ($8999), which is reviewed here. A third component in the New Classic series, the NPX 300 power supply (also $8999), which is intended to be paired with the NSC 222 and other Naim components, is also considered in this review.
In brief, the NSC 222 is a…
Setup
We set up the complete system as a connected, synchronized unit. Thus the NSC 222 was powered by the NPX 300 supply upgrade, the NAP 250 was installed and the Naim rack was leveled and locked. The supplied Powerline Lite mains cables were connected, with 6m NAC A5 speaker cables and the included Naim interconnects. These components had all been used previously in demo systems; still, a couple of weeks of use as a background music source served to clear the cobwebs. My highly specified Linn LP12 was engaged with the installation of a high-output Hana MH moving coil cartridge.…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description (NSC 222): Streaming digital/analog preamplifier. Analog inputs: (1) moving magnet phono; (1) eight-pin DIN, also compatible with five-pin cables; (1) pair RCA. Digital inputs: (2) TosLink (up to 24/96), electrical S/PDIF on BNC and RCA (up to 24/192 PCM or DSD64 via DoP). Outputs: one pair each XLR, RCA. One 6.35mm headphone jack. Digital formats supported: WAV, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, AAC, OGG, WMA, DSD, and M4A. Supports gapless playback in all formats. Network: Ethernet (10/100Mbps), Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n/ac). Power consumption: 25W typical, <2W network…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog source: Linn LP12 player with Keel chassis, Karousel main bearing, Radikal motor control, Naim ARO tonearm, and Lyra Delos and Hana MH cartridges.
Digital source: Naim UnitiCore network server and S/PDIF source, Roon Nucleus + server control with Qobuz, etc.; Linn Klimax DSM streamer-DAC, Naim ND555 Streamer-DAC with two 555 PS(DR).
Preamplification: Townshend Allegri Reference control unit, Naim SuperLine-SuperCap DR phono preamp.
Power amplifier: Naim NAP 250DR, D'Agostino Progression 350 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Magico A5,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured a different sample of the Naim NSC 222, serial number 519712, than that auditioned by Martin Colloms. Using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system, I performed a complete set of tests with the preamplifier connected to the NPX 300 power supply. (The NPX 300 was sitting on the floor, as far away from the preamplifier chassis as the two umbilical cables allowed.) I then repeated some of the tests with the NSC 222 powered by its internal supply.
I connected the Naim to my router with an Ethernet cable, and when I powered up the preamplifier, it asked to…
Register to win a pair of MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 8 Loudspeakers (retail value $2,999.00 ) we are giving away.
From the company:
In a recent Stereophile review, the MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 8 Loudspeakers, masterfully designed by Andrew Jones, have captured the attention of audiophiles with their exceptional sound quality. Hailed as "a revelation in audio fidelity," these speakers showcase Jones' expertise in a compact yet powerful design. A reviewer observed, "The SourcePoint 8 doesn't just play music; it breathes life into every track."
Remarkably, the…
When I was offered the opportunity to review a Burmester product—the 216 stereo power amplifier—I accepted immediately, mainly out of curiosity. Berlin-based Burmester is an important hi-fi brand, but I knew very little about the company and their products. What better way to learn more than to review one of their products?
Burmester's creation story
When you're building a hi-fi system, there's something right about starting with the preamp. It just makes sense. It's what Dieter Burmester did in building a hi-fi company.
The preamplifier is the operational hub of any hi-fi…