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Although I expected the 300SEI to have unusual measured performance, I wasn't prepared for the amplifier's extreme deviations from what we regard as good technical performance.

First, the 300SEI's output impedance was a whopping 4 ohms at 20Hz, 4.2 ohms at 1kHz, and 4.8 ohms at 20kHz. This is by far the highest output impedance I've measured in a power amplifier. With an output impedance roughly comparable to that of many loudspeakers' load impedances, we can expect significant departures from flat response when the 300SEI drives most loudspeakers (more on…

The 300SEI's crosstalk is shown in fig.5. The amplifier measured a straight 40dB of channel separation across the audioband—mediocre performance at best. This poor measured separation may have been due to noise as the signal/noise ratio was also less than impressive. It measured 72dB (left channel) and 66dB (right channel) unweighted over a 22Hz-22kHz bandwidth,…

How do I keep my audiophile life in tune with my wife, the estimable K-10? Keen-eared audiophile that she is, supportive musical mate extraordinaire, even she sometimes needs a break. We inhabit a Chelsea loft. Hey, we love it, but there's no place to run away to, slam the door, and just be alone. Well, there's the bathroom, but audiophiles need to pee a lot.

So what happens when it's that time of the month for me, and multiple deadlines encroach? When writing reviews and columns from home, do I fire up the big system and…

My first experience with a single-ended triode amp wasn't as good as my first ride in a convertible, my first trout caught on a dry fly, or my first kiss. But it was better than my first ride on a Ferris wheel, my first cigarette, my first day as a substitute teacher, and my first hernia repair. It didn't hurt, it didn't make me throw up, and it left me wanting more.

My first SET was a Cary Audio Design 300 SEI integrated amplifier, on loan for a magazine review in 1995 (footnote 1). Then as now, the Cary was an…

[Sproingggg] It's stiff! I couldn't use this interconnect with the fairly lightweight player section of the YBA CD1 Blue Laser. Designers' Reference practically suspended the blessed thing above…

A couple of years ago I was assembling a review system around a pair of Magnepan MG3.5/R speakers and, because of their external crossover system, I didn't have speaker cables of the right lengths. I'd been favorably impressed with Synergistic Research's AC Master Coupler AC cord, so I decided to try the rest of their line. SR's approach is to match cables to specific classes of components and listener preferences, so I dutifully filled out the "System Diagnostic" form detailing my system (the Maggies, a VPI/VPI/Clearaudio analog…

Having spent much time in the past five years experimenting with the sound signatures and interactions of speaker cables, interconnects, and power cords from JPS Labs, AudioQuest, Straight Wire, Cardas, Monster Cable, Acoustic Zen, and Synergistic Research, I continue to regard cables not as aural afterthoughts but as essential components. From the humblest rigs to the most expensive systems, I've seen how careful fine-tuning with cables can help maximize the music-reproduction potential of each associated…

"I see you don't believe in audiophile power cords!"

Synergistic's Ted Denney III was poking around behind my equipment racks

Well, I didn't use to. While I had found PS Audio's Lab Cable to work well with the company's Power Plant P300, and while I routinely used Audio Power Industries' Powerlinks with source components, I had never experienced night-and-day sonic improvements from an AC power cord.

This explanation didn't faze Mr. Denney. "So I'll start by replacing just the Krell's AC…

Description: Interconnects and loudspeaker cables with Active Shielding. AC cord.
Dimensions: 19" W by 3.5" H by 12" D (with BNC connectors on cables) (Master Control Center for Active Shielding).
Prices (both for the lengths tested and per 1m): $199/1m pair (Alpha Sterling interconnects); $250/1m pair (Alpha Sterling interconnects with Mini-Power Coupler); $350/10' pair (Alpha loudspeaker cable with Mini-Power Coupler). Designers' Reference AES/EBU and BNC S/PDIF digital datalink: $1000/1m, $1500/1.5m. $2000/1m pair terminated with RCAs or XLRs, $500/pair…