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The sonic consequences appeared to be a surprising if subtle increase in musical drive—surprising because the 997 reissue was already so good in that respect. Yet when I used the newest sample of the EMT arm to play some of my favorite records by Dexter Gordon, David Grisman, and Bill Monroe—or some beloved 78s by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, and Red Allen (footnote 3)—it was easier than ever to interpret what I was hearing not as mere sound but as music, being made on the spot by people who leaned in to every note. It also seemed that the improvement in the 997's bearing housing…
Most new preamplifier-processors now fall into one of two categories. First are the fully featured models, with ever-growing numbers of channels to support such immersive surround-sound formats as Dolby Atmos, Aureo3D, and DTS-X. An example is Marantz's 13.2-channel AV-8802, which replaces the 11.2-channel AV-8801—a sample of which I've owned for barely a year and use only in 5.2! The second category is that of such high-end models as Classé's Sigma and NAD's M17, which offer only 7.1 or 7.2 channels, and from which nonessential features have been trimmed in favor of audiophile-grade circuit…
Straight-through sonics
The straight-through sound of the XMC-1, from both analog and digital sources, was clean and open—not bright, accented, or distorted in any way, and with no added warmth. Overall, it was more neutral than friendly, which I count as a plus. With all its options for tweaking the sound—including tone controls, parametric EQ, and Dirac Live—it was reassuring that the XMC-1 begins with a clean palette. I played a wide array of sources through many inputs, and the XMC-1 handled everything with aplomb, including PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD.
The straight-through sound of the XMC-1, from both analog and digital sources, was clean and open—not bright, accented, or distorted in any way, and with no added warmth. Overall, it was more neutral than friendly, which I count as a plus. With all its options for tweaking the sound—including tone controls, parametric EQ, and Dirac Live—it was reassuring that the XMC-1 begins with a clean palette. I played a wide array of sources through many inputs, and the XMC-1 handled everything with aplomb, including PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD.
Dirac Live…
As an audio scribe, the fiercest demons I wrestle are beliefs—yours and mine; those of my friends, my editors, my fellow reviewers; and those of the engineers and promoters of the products I write about. Sometimes the force of these rabidly held and (mostly) conflicting beliefs paralyzes me with self-doubt: What do I know? What makes me qualified to listen and judge?
At the start of every review, the white noise of these diverse creeds fills my head and prevents me from listening in a relaxed and open state of mind. If the product performs amiably right out of the box, I eventually…
Through the new (made in Oxfordshire, UK) Falcon LS3/5A speakers (review to appear in August 2015), I was playing, fairly loudly, "Back in the U.S.S.R.," from the mono vinyl reissue of The Beatles. The woman with tattooed legs was singing along with "Those Ukraine girls really knock me out . . ." The girl with the suspenders raised her voice: "Did you buy this record when it first came out?"
Embarrassed to admit my age, I said, "Yes—but this is a reissue."
Her boyfriend grinned widely. "This sounds amazing! I'm gonna buy the whole set."
I asked if he had a turntable.…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state integrated amplifier with tone and balance controls, optional plug-in DAC module (USB, S/PDIF coaxial, S/PDIF TosLink, Bluetooth), optional FM/AM tuner module, optional phono module, and powered output for IR repeater. Preamplifier inputs: 5 unbalanced (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR). Speaker outputs: 2 (selectable). Headphone output: dedicated, low impedance (<50 ohms) on ¼" jack. Power output: >110W into 8 ohms (20.4dBW), >170W into 4 ohms (19.3dBW). Frequency response: 10Hz–100kHz, ±2dB line. Continuous current: >8.5 amps (…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Acoustic Signature WOW XL, Pioneer PLX-1000, Thorens TD-124, VPI Traveler turntables; Abis SA 1.2, Acoustic Signature TA-1000 tonearms; Grado ME & Mono, Ortofon CG 25 DI II & 2M Black, Shure SC35C, Soundsmith Carmen, Zu Audio DL-103 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Puresound A-8000 CD player; Halide HD, Line Magnetic LM 502 CA DACs; Mac mini computer.
Phono preamplification: April Sound GB-1, Blue Horizon Prophono, LFD LE, Schiit Mani, Soundsmith MMP3.
Integrated Amplifiers: Hegel Music Systems H160, Line Magnetic LM518 IA,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Creek Evolution 100A using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com, and the January 2008 "As We See It"). Like many modern integrated amplifiers, the Evolution 100A covers all the bases in terms of sources and purposes, with USB, S/PDIF, and Bluetooth digital, FM, analog line-level, and analog phono inputs, as well as speaker, headphone, and line-level preamplifier outputs. To minimize strain on the amplifier's output stage, I measured the performance of the optional phono and D/A modules at the preamplifier outputs with the speaker…
Herb Reichert returned to the PLX-1000 in July 2015 (Vol.38 No.7):
Within minutes of submitting my review of Pioneer's PLX-1000 turntable for the March 2015 issue, I had second thoughts: I'm new at this magazine. If the PLX-1000 doesn't play better than budget audiophile 'tables, as I said it did, in no time my credibility will be circling the porcelain bowl.
Hoping to avoid shame and insolvency, I began to relisten, rethink, and reevaluate. I played a lot more records, using as many different cartridges and phono stages as I could. I carefully compared the Pioneer to my current…
Shure SC35C moving-magnet cartridge
Over and over, I'm listening to John Coltrane's tenor-sax solo in "I Wanna Talk About You," from The Gentle Side of John Coltrane (LP, Impulse! ASH-9306-2). I keep asking myself: Have I ever heard a recorded sax sound this realistic? The tenor I hear in my room is the exact size of a real one—and I can hear it moving in front of the microphone. Is this possible? I think these thoughts because I'm using a Shure SC35C cartridge (list price $75 but available for as little as $35) on the Pioneer PLX-1000 ($699), driving a Schiit Mani phono stage ($…