Analog Sources: Technics SL1200 Mk.2 turntable; Abis SA-1.2 tonearm; Jasmine Turtle MC, Ortofon CG 35 Di, Zu Denon DL-103 cartridges. Pioneer PLX-1000 turntable; Ortofon 2M Red, Shure M35X cartridges.
Digital Sources: Integra DPS-7.2 DVD-A player, Halide DAC HD USB D/A converter.
Preamplification: Lounge Audio Copla MC step-up amplifier; Lounge Audio LCR Mk.III, Parasound Halo JC 3+ phono preamps; PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium preamplifier.
Integrated Amplifiers: Line Magnetic LM-518IA, Rogue Audio Sphinx.
Power Amplifier: PrimaLuna ProLogue…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Sidebar: Sophia's Choices
Sophia Singer's office system is built around a vintage Garrard 401 turntable with an SME 3009 tonearm, a Goldring cartridge ("I don't go for very expensive cartridges, because I'm paying to replace the stylus so often"), a "bog-standard" Rotel integrated amplifier, and Heybrook Helios loudspeakers ("I'm a great fan of buying used equipment"). In Singer's front room are a Nottingham Analog turntable (also with SME arm), AcousTech phono preamp, Classé preamplifier, Chord Electronics power amp ("My son had it, but then he moved to the States and couldn't get it…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Elac Debut B6's frequency response in the farfield; for the nearfield frequency response, I used an Earthworks QTC-40, which has a ¼" capsule and thus doesn't present a significant obstacle to the sound.
My estimate of the Elac B6's voltage sensitivity was 85dB/2.83V/m, which is 2dB below the specified 87dB/2.83V/m. I suspect that this difference is due to the B6's behavior in the top octaves (see later). I have plotted how the Elac's impedance varies with frequency on a more…
For those who want to deep dive into an artist, in other words obtain every scrap of material that artist has released and them some, seeking out bootlegs, or more politely, gray area material, can get a little obsessive. If you’re one of those, then you may have noticed that the fight against these releases seems to be over. The RIAA, the record labels, BMI and ASCAP seem to have all decided that because there’s no real money left in CDs, this battle is no longer worth fighting. Which means that if you cruise Amazon.com or eBay.com for example, searching for a favorite artist, all kinds of…
Since the return of the LP, which by the way, continues unabated despite the many predictions that this is a fad that’s gonna wither sooner than later, colored vinyl has emerged as a premium product, usually going for many dollars more than the plain black. If you are susceptible to such nonsense, then it’s boom times for LPs in every hue under the rainbow. Clearly someone in my lineage had relations with a fish because if it’s colored and flashy—think jigs, spinners, lures—then I’m there, grinning like a child and opening my wallet like a ridiculous adult.
A teal Saxophone Colossus? A…
When do 12 hands + 12 eyes = boundless creativity? When you start by gathering up the six New York-based composers of the highly heralded Sleeping Giant collective, and letting them loose in the contemporary art collection of the Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation for Art in the Detroit suburbs. Next, you invite each collective member to find inspiration in one of the collection's artworks, and transform wherever they're led into compositions for the four-time Grammy-winning Chicago new-music sextet, Eighth Blackbird. Then you put it all together, and end up with Hand Eye, a recording of…
Thursday April 7, from 6–9 pm, John DeVore of DeVore Fidelity (above) and Mike Pranka, the distributor for Well Tempered Labs and Dynavector, will presenting a night of music making at Don Better Audio (2888 Weybridge Road, Shaker Heights, OH 44120). John will be playing the new Gibbon X loudspeakers and Mike the new Well Tempered Royale 400 turntable with its 16" tonearm. The system will include amplification from VTL and a formal seminar starts at 7:30pm.
It has been more than five years since John last appeared at the Ohio dealer and the event is part of Don Better Audio's series of…
On Wednesday and Thursday, April 6 & 7, 5:30pm–8:30pm, The Audio Salon (Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Unit F1, Santa Monica) will present the first public demonstration in California of Wilson Audio's new Alexx loudspeaker.
John Quick from dCS will be discussing and demonstrating the new Rossini Player, Rossini Clock, and the Vivaldi 2.0 Playback System while Bill McKiegan from Dan D'Agostino will be present on Thursday to demonstrate the new Momentum Series amplification. The SAT tonearm, with a Lyra Atlas Reference phono cartridge, will be mounted on the TechDAS Air Force…
Saturday April 9, from noon until 5pm, Metro Washington DC's Command Performance (115 Park Avenue, Suite #2 in Falls Church, VA) welcomes Kazutoshi Yamada and Eric Pheils of Zanden Audio for a special event. Mr. Yamada and Mr. Pheils will premier Zanden's flagship electronics: the Mk.II versions of the Model 9600 KR845 monoblock amplifiers (above) and the Model 3000 preamplifier. They will also demonstrate the Model 1200 Mk.III phone stage, Model 120 phono stage, Model 3100 preamp, and the Model 8120 stereo amp.
Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to (703) 532-7239 or by E-mail to…
The night before I started to write this review, PBS began a five-part series on computers called "The Machine that Changed the World." The first episode described the development of the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Accumulator), the first electronic computer. The ENIAC used 18,000 vacuum tubes, had over 500,000 solder joints, required a room 30' by 50', had to be physically reprogrammed with patch cords to perform different tasks, and packed less computing power than today's $4.99 pocket calculator.
Any of us who have bought computers know the scenario well: By the time you…