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"Kevin Voecks is a genius, no ifs, ands, or buts." I wrote those words nearly 30 years ago, in a review of the Mirage 750, where I had also recommended Mirage's 350 bookshelf model (footnote 1). The 350, which costs $300/pair, was the first affordable bookshelf loudspeaker whose sound actually excited me. When I think now of how that speaker sounded back then, I chuckle. By today's standards, the Mirage 350 had some shortcomings. The transition between its tweeter and mid/woofer was raspy, there were prominent cabinet resonances, and the upper bass was a bit ripe. Nonetheless, it presented a…
I'm anxious to see John Atkinson's measurements of the M106's bass extension. In terms of clarity, neutrality, and forcefulness, I found the speaker's bottom end impressive for a bookshelf model of its size: just 14.9" high by 8.2" wide by 10.8" deep, and weighing just 17.6 lbs. In Eberhard Weber's Endless Days (CD, ECM 1748), Rainer Brüninghaus's bass-synthesizer lines filled and enveloped my listening room. From my notes: "Bloooooooom!"
The Performa3 M106 exhibited two strengths that deserve more detailed discussion. In these areas, the speaker exceeded the performance of any other…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, stand-mounted loudspeaker with rear-firing port. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) aluminum-dome tweeter, 6.5" (165mm) aluminum-cone woofer with cast frame. Crossover frequency: 2.3kHz. Low-frequency extension: 39Hz (–10dB), 54Hz (–6dB), 59Hz (–3dB). Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Sensitivity: 87dB/2.83V/m. Recommended amplification: 50–150W.
Dimensions: 14.9" (381mm) H by 8.2" (210mm) W by 10.8" (278mm) D. Weight: 17.6 lbs (8kg).
Finishes: Piano Black, High Gloss Walnut.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: SB0004-000021 & '22 ("Made in…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV, Rega Research Planar 3 turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Koetsu Urushi cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players.
Preamplification: Creek Destiny, Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stages; Audio Valve Eclipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 75.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek Destiny.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Excite X12, Epos Elan 10.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Revel Performa3 M106's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. Though the M106 is supplied with a grille, and an optional foam plug for its port, I performed the measurements without either. Revel specifies the M106 as having a voltage sensitivity of 87dB/2.83V/m; my estimate was 86.4dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the specified figure. My impedance measurement confirmed the 8 ohm spec, the speaker's impedance…
What a difference a change of location can make! What was originally a major challenge—AudioVision SF, one of the country's major dealerships, literally had the rug pulled out from under them by their landlord last spring, and needed to raise money and scurry to a new location—has turned into a major opportunity: a spanking new venue, whose main listening room sounds much—that's much, as in much—better than before.
At the store's grand opening party, held in the midst of the California Audio Show, AVSF co-owner Antonio Long (above) explained that the store's architect, Jeff…
Professional digital audio is like gravity to consumer audio's antigravity: pro gear draws music into digital files, and consumer audio releases those same notes back out again.
It's not surprising, then, that many audiophile digital-to-analog converters come to us from the pro-audio industry, which has a hierarchy similar to the consumer side: value-oriented products all the way up to ultimate-performance brands. Examples of pro-audio companies that also offer audiophile DACs for consumers abound: Benchmark, CEntrance, Grace Design, Korg, Mytek, and Nagra, to name a few.
Igor…
The all-metal, infrared remote control fits nicely in the palm and has seven buttons: Power, Source, Balanced/Unbalanced, Headphone A/B, Mute, and Volume Up/Down. A small light lets you know that a button has been pressed. I found that the remote worked flawlessly.
After running for several days, the Voltikus was warm, the Zodiac much warmer—due to the jitter-baking "oven" inside, I guess.
Setting It Up
I went to the Support area of Antelope's website and downloaded and installed the Zodiac Platinum DAC Audio Driver for Apple OS X (v.2.09, 2/11/2014), which worked as promised…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Zodiac Platinum: DSD-capable D/A processor and headphone amplifier. Inputs: USB: 2.0 Hi-Speed, datastream up to 480Mbits/384kHz, Type B. One 10M/WC on BNC: 10MHz sinewave, 44.1–384kHz. One AES/EBU XLR: 44.1–192kHz. Two S/PDIF RCA: 44.1–192kHz. Two optical TosLink. Two RCA analog: –10dBV unbalanced (2V RMS max). Two &3188;" TRS analog: +4dBu balanced (26dBu max). Outputs: One AES/EBU, dejittered, reclocked digital output, 110 ohms. Two S/PDIF, dejittered, reclocked digital outputs, 75 ohms. Two analog XLR, balanced, fully differential drive; trimmable, 14–…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Apple MacBook Pro computer (2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive) running OS 10.6.7, Audirvana Plus, iTunes 11.1.5, Sonic Studio Amarra Computer Music Player 2.5, Songbird 1.9.3, XLD; Western Digital 2TB NAS device; Oppo BDP-103 universal BD player; Meridian Digital Media System (Control 15, QNAP TS-669 Pro NAS); Apple iPad Air, Mini Apple iPod Touch (1G), Apple iPhone 4S.
Digital Processors: AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC, Benchmark DAC1 USB & DAC2 HGC, MSB Analog DAC.
Preamplifier: Marantz AV7005 in Pure Direct…