What I noticed most during the review period was the extraordinary volume of data the 701T was vacuuming off those pits and lands and turning into music. As I have gotten to know it better, what I've noticed most is how the 701T sorts and delivers all that data…
search
In Gramophone Dreams #88, I described the sound of TEAC's VRDS-701T CD transport as "dense and precise in a way I had never previously heard from digital." I went on to explain, "by 'dense,' I mean there was a tangible corporeality effected by seemingly infinite quantities of small, tightly packed molecules of musical information."
MQA via JPS Labs in binaural
I only own one MQA recording, but it's a doozy. It's on a CD, and surely one of the most real-sounding live recordings I've encountered.
Inside the Moment is a luxuriously packaged Chesky Records production (Chesky Records CD JD397) of Camille Thurman singing and playing saxophone, recorded live at New York's Rockwood Music Hall with a B&K binaural head feeding an MSB A/D converter, engineered and mastered via the sharp, wise ears of Nicholas Prout.
Before I acquired this spectacular CD, I'd only experienced MQA via streaming on Tidal…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-channel D/A converter, streamer, line-level preamp, and headphone amplifier. Digital inputs: two coaxial (one S/PDIF, one BNC), two optical (TosLink), one USB, one Ethernet (RJ45). Analog inputs: stereo pair balanced (XLR), stereo pair single-ended (RCA). Audio outputs, line-level: stereo pair balanced (XLR), stereo pair single-ended (RCA); headphone: single-ended (¼" stereo), 4-pin balanced (XLR). Other: clock sync input. 12V trigger in/out, RS-232 serial port (control). Frequency response: 5Hz–80kHz, +1/–5dB. THD: 0.002%. S/N ratio: 108dB (1kHz…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Dr. Feickert Analog Blackbird turntable with Sorane SA1.2 tonearm with a Benz Micro Gullwing SLR moving coil, or Nagaoka MP-200 moving magnet. Plus, EMT 912-HI tonearm with EMT's JSD6 moving coil.
Digital sources: Denafrips Terminator Plus DAC, HoloAudio May Level 3 and Spring 3 KTE DACs, dCS Lina DAC with Master Clock; TEAC VRDS-701T transport, Onkyo C-7030 CD player.
Preamplifiers: HoloAudio Serene line preamp; PrimaLuna EVO 100 and MoFi MasterPhono phono stages.
Power amplifiers: First Watt SIT-4, Parasound Halo A 21+, Elekit…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I performed a full set of measurements on the TEAC UD-701N using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. I started the testing by examining the performance of the UD-701N's DAC. I used the coaxial and optical S/PDIF inputs, both of which accepted data sampled at rates up to 192kHz, and USB data sourced from my MacBook Pro running on battery power. I also connected the UD-701N to my network and installed the TEAC HR Streamer app on my iPad mini. The app doesn't appear to allow access to the processor's settings, however; it's just for playback including the usual…
Turning to the UD-701N's analog line inputs, these preserved absolute polarity for all four output types. The single-ended line input impedance was a fairly high 23.4k ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz, 19.6k ohms at 20kHz. The balanced input impedance was much lower, at 1920 ohms at all audio frequencies. With the volume control set to the maximum, "100," the voltage gain with a 1kHz balanced input was 18dB from the balanced line output and 25.3dB from the balanced headphone output. The gain with an unbalanced input was 5.8dB higher from all the outputs. Setting the line outputs to "Fixed 0dB" gave the…
I have a day job at a museum. One of my favorite things about working there is taking the elevator from my office down to one of the floors open to the public; I walk into the galleries through a discreet panel in the wall. This makes me feel like I'm in one of those horror-movie manors with a tunnel concealed behind a bookshelf. Sometimes I startle people, which I kind of enjoy.
Mostly I like spending time looking at art, especially in the early mornings when the galleries are empty. Lately, I've been watching art handlers hanging a roughly 100'-long tapestry depicting some manner of…
Listening to the Leben makes what he means rather obvious. The first thing I noticed is the ample drive, grunt, and dynamic freedom—for me, the first and least things a good amp should accomplish. On "Intro" from an LP of 2009's eponymous record by The xx (Young Turks YT031LP), the programmed drums hit with such stupefying force that I sat grinning until the side ended. The Leben rendered those beats with real snap and with vanishingly little temporal smearing or hangover. The record is most remarkable for how effectively the band uses silence and dynamics. This, I thought, is how their…
VPI Industries: Pure Audio Project, Stenheim, Audio Research, Gryphon Audio, Luminous Audio, Nordost
Mat and Harry Weisfeld presented two dedicated rock ‘em, sock ‘em systems at last month's CAF2024 show. The first room marked the debut of the new VPI Forever Series Model One turntable, which is currently in house at Chez Micallef under review.
In the Adams Room, two VPI Forever Series Model One ‘tables ($5250 each) were up and running a VPI Shyla MC cartridge ($2000) and a VPI Goldy MC cartridge ($1300), respectively.
An Audio Research Reference 3SE Phono Stage ($17,000) ran analog signals to an Audio Research Reference 6SE linestage ($17,000), into Audio…
Register to win a pair of Chesky Audio LC1 Bookshelf Monitor speakers (MSRP $996) Stereophile is giving away.
Introducing the LC1 Bookshelf Monitor – Bringing Hi-End Audio to New Audiences. The Ultimate Hi-Fi Bookshelf Speaker, crafted to set a new standard in sound quality. Using a high density polymer cabinet, the LC1 embodies the sound of a speaker 10 times its size. Amaze yourself with this ultimate listening experience.
Superior audio quality is evident in every aspect of the LC1. Opting for a hands-on approach, no printed circuit boards are used; instead, each…