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I remember the first PS Audio product: a simple phono stage. It was so simple—a passive RIAA EQ filter flanked by a pair of primitive op-amps—that when the schematic was made public, I built one myself; I was in the midst of my DIY years. I thought it was, to use a word from that time, nifty. Paul McGowan went on to other things and other companies, eventually reviving PS Audio and building it into its present form with a wide range of interesting and substantive products. Most recently, PS Audio added a line of loudspeakers inspired by Paul's erstwhile partner in other ventures, the late…
One of my favorite and, hence, most familiar recordings is Cyrus Chestnut's 1994 debut album Revelation (16/44.1 WAV CD rip, Atlantic Jazz, 82518-2). Nicely recorded by our friend Jim Anderson, this whole album is a delight. In particular, I am fascinated by track 3, "Lord, Lord, Lord," where Chestnut's lilting, rolling expository interacts with bassist Christopher J. Thomas in bopping syncopation, underpinned by Clarence Penn's solid drive on drums. The piano is up front, the bass behind with drums over on the left, and there's just enough space for them to fit quite convincingly at the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way standmount loudspeaker with passive radiator. Drive units: 2.5" planar-magnetic tweeter with Teonex diaphragm; 6.5" cast-frame polypropylene-cone woofer, 6×9" rear-firing passive radiator. Frequency response: 35Hz–20kHz (–6dB) in half space, down to 30Hz (–6dB) in room. Crossover frequency: 1750Hz, Linkwitz-Riley 6th-order acoustic. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms (5.6 ohms minimum). Sensitivity: 83.5dB/2.83V/m. Recommended amplifier power: 50–150W.
Dimensions: (each speaker) 14.5" (368mm) H × 8" (203mm) W × 13" (330mm) D. Net weight: 26.6lb (…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Custom Intel/Win11 music server running JRiver Media Center v32 and Roon 2, Merging Devices Hapi II DAC. QNAP TVS-873 NAS. Oppo Digital UDP-103 universal disc player.
Power amplifiers: Benchmark AHB2, NAD M23, Buckeye Purifi 1ET-9040BA monoblock, in for review.
Loudspeakers: KEF Blade Two Meta with IsoAcoustics Gaia II feet, KEF LS60 Wireless, KEF KC92 subwoofers (in for review).
Cables: Digital interconnects: Mogami Gold AES TD DB25-XLR snake. Analog interconnects: Mogami Gold AES TD DB25-XLR snake, Benchmark Studio&Stage…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, and an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the PS Audio Aspen FR5's quasi-anechoic frequency- and time-domain behavior in the farfield. I used an Earthworks QTC-40 microphone for the nearfield responses and Dayton Audio's DATS V2 system to measure the impedance magnitude and phase.
PS Audio specifies the Aspen FR5's voltage sensitivity as 83.5dB/2.83V/m; my estimate was…
What’s in a name? Joe Finn of Timonium, Maryland’s Gramophone clearly knows the answer. He brought a compact system to CAF, one stocked with overachieving gear and equally ambitious cables, courtesy of AudioQuest.
Source component was a HiFi Rose RS150B streamer ($5000) into a Chord Ultima Integrated amplifier ($11,250), driving either Totem Element Metal V2 speakers ($17,850/pair) or Totem Tribe Tower speakers ($6300/pair).
AudioQuest cables and conditioning included AQ Mackenzie XLR ($369/pair), and AQ Rocket 88 bi-wire ($1289.95/8 foot pair), as well as AQ NRG Y-3 power…
Harmonia Distribution brought a respectable system to CAF, including a Grimm Audio MU2 Media Player Streamer Preamplifier ($17,500), PrimaLuna EVO 400 Tube Preamplifier ($4995), and a product I raved about at Stereophile and continue to use, the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid Power Amplifier ($7195).
This setup was completed with the latest iteration of the renowned BBC mini-monitor, Harbeth P3ESR XD Bookshelf Loudspeakers ($2990/pair) in oak, and Sbooster power supplies.
This all-Infigo-meets-Alta room was bathed in Infigo Audio’s Hans Looman’s usual blue light glow, showering the room with the same mystical vibrations I heard from this room at some CAF long since past.
Loomans brought the whole Infigo megillah to the show, including his Infigo Audio Method DAC 4 ($35,000) and Infigo Audio IS-1 Cryo Streamer ($7000), with analog source duties relayed by a VPI Shyla MC Cartridge ($2000) mounted on a VPI Avenger Direct Statement turntable ($50,000).
Loomans’s amplification included his Infigo Audio Method 7 Preamplifier ($20,000) into Infigo Audio…
Angie Lisi of American Sound of Canada always presents desirable components—CAF2024 was no exception. This year, Lisi launched the North American debut of German-made Perpetuum Ebner turntables, the new Phasemation SA1500 integrated amp, new Avantgarde Colibri Series speakers and subwoofer, new Avantgarde Zero Itron speakers, and her exclusive line of Italian Synthesis Art in Music tube amplification.
In room 641, an Aurender N30 Streamer ($23,000) was paired with a tubed Synthesis Roma 117DC preamplifier ($5695) into Synthesis Roma 98DC SE tubed monoblocks ($9800/pair), driving…
Show attendees entered John Semrad and Dave Slagle’s room and let out an involuntary gasp. The components on display epitomized bespoke, handmade craftsmanship, of the highest quality, with purity and provenance their bywords.
The setup included a Garrard 301 turntable in a Semrad bocate wood plinth with a Sorane TA1L tonearm ($1875) mounted with a Mutech Hayabusa MC cartridge (4500€).
Slagle’s electronics included an EM/IA MC Trio SUT ($6000), and an EM/IA LR Phono Corrector phono stage ($33,750).
“The Trio SUT allows for up to three tonearms to be routed to…