Description: Tube-rectified single-ended triode integrated amplifier capable of outputting 3.5Wpc into 8 ohms (5.4dBW). Tube complement: Input/preamp, one pair each: Sophia Electric 12AX7, Northern Electric 6SN7; rectifier: Sophia Electric Aqua 274; power, one pair each Electro-Harmonix 2A3 EH or KR Audio 2A3. Maximum gain: 21.7dB. Input sensitivity: 350mV for max power. Total harmonic distortion: 1% at rated power. Bandwidth at rated power: 20Hz–20kHz. Frequency range (at 1W): 20Hz–2kHz. Input impedance: 220k ohms. Output impedance: Not specified.
Dimensions…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: VPI Avenger Direct turntable with 12" VPI FatBoy tonearm, Hana Umami Blue MC cartridge; Thorens TD 124 turntable with 9.5" The Wand Plus tonearm, Luxman LMC-5 MC cartridge.
Digital sources: HoloAudio May DAC, Sonore opticalRendu, Roon Nucleus+, Small Green Computer power supply, TRENDnet switch, Apple iPad mini.
Preamplifiers: PrimaLuna EVO 100 phono, Aurorasound Viva II phono.
Integrated amplifiers: PrimaLuna EVO 400.
Loudspeakers: Heretic AD614, Volti Audio Razz, Voxativ Ampeggio 2024.
Cables: Interconnects: Agent Pur,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
After carefully installing the Triode Lab 2A3 EVO's tubes, I performed a complete set of tests of the amplifier with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system using the Electro-Harmonix 2A3 Gold output tubes, then repeated the testing with the KR 2A3 tubes that KM told me he preferred. As usual, I waited for an hour after powering up the amplifier before starting the testing.
The 2A3 EVO inverted polarity from both the 4 ohm and 8 ohm output transformer taps. The input impedance was a usefully high 61k ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz, 41k ohms at 20kHz. The source impedance…
Unfortunately, there are always manufacturers at shows from which I fail to gather enough information to file a thorough report, so then I have to to follow up later. I finally caught up with Berlin-based cartridge manufacturer Tedeska Vinyl Groove Pick-Up Technology and their kind representative Francesa Lee, who explained their new wares, which were on static display at High End Munich.
Tedeska cartridges are all moving coils. They make mono and stereo cartridges. And this is where ordinary ends. Each Tedeska cartridge is a unique combination of tone wood, cantilever, and tk.…
As one of Munich’s most prestigious distributors, Mansour Mamaghani’s Audio Reference again pulled out all the stops in a huge, glass enclosed central Atrium space that showcased more brands than there is space to list.
One of the highlights of their mobbed, standing-room-only press event was a presentation in which Impex Records’ Abby Fon shared the company’s new, 1STEP, all-analog pressing of the best-selling Getz/Gilberto with jazz saxophonist Stan Getz’s son, Nick Getz. Standing as I was at a terrible angle, way to the left of the soundstage, I scribbled some notes while…
A few summers ago, I briefly got it in my head that I could become a wine connoisseur. This was due to a very generous and unexpected gift. A local acquaintance had passed away, and his wife wanted to rid her basement of his small wine collection.
I don't know why I was chosen as the lucky recipient, but after stammering half a dozen thank-yous, I suddenly owned about 150 fine wines. A few carried four-figure price tags.
Reliably telling a Pinot Grigio from a Chardonnay isn't part of my skill set. Grape varieties, terroir, vintages? You might as well ask a toddler to become…
Screen graphics and more
The A8's touchscreen is tastefully designed, not garish. It does look a little less contrasty than the swish, enormous screen on the HiFi Rose RS520. On the A8 home screen, a row of five colored digital tiles fills most of the area. They are, from left to right: Music (where you can create a library); Streaming (including Tidal, Qobuz, HighResAudio, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, and—unusually—Soundcloud); Files (where things like Alarms and Audiobooks are stored), Source, and Settings.
Firing up the unit for the first time produces an animated…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Music streamer, DAC, preamp with 6" LCD touchscreen, onboard parametric EQ, virtual VU meters, dedicated control app, AK4191EQ delta-sigma modulator, AK4499EX D/A converter, and the XMOS XU316 audio processor. Capable of decoding up to stereo DSD512, 32/768 PCM data, which can be accepted by USB, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi. S/PDIF and HDMI ARC inputs support stereo PCM up to 24/192 and DoP64. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz (±0.25dB). Output level: 4.2V XLR, 2.1V RCA. Dynamic range: 128dB XLR, 125dB RCA. THD+N: 120dB XLR, 119dB RCA, unweighted. Crosstalk: –…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Eversolo A6 Master Edition. Aurender A20 streamer and DAC controlled with Conductor 4 iOS app. HiFi Rose RS520. 16" MacBook Pro M1 Max running Roon 2.0. Roon ROCK running on a Lenovo ThinkCentre.
Preamplifiers: Benchmark HPA4, BAT VK-90.
Power amplifier: Krell FPB 200c (recapped).
Integrated amplifiers: Anthem STR, PrimaLuna EVO 400.
Loudspeakers: Focal Utopia Scala Evo, Tekton Moab Be, Piega Coax 811.
Cables: Speaker: AudioQuest Thunderbird Zero. Power: AudioQuest, RSX, Clarus. Interconnect: AudioQuest, Clarus.
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Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured a different sample of the Eversolo DMP-A8 from that auditioned by RvB. The serial number was 800A805CC764, and my sample was fitted with the v1.2.80 firmware.
Looking first at the line-input performance with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system, the DMP-A8 preserved absolute polarity (ie, was noninverting) with both balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs. With the volume control set to "0dB," the gain was –0.06dB from the balanced inputs to balanced outputs and from the unbalanced inputs to the unbalanced outputs. Setting the volume…