search
One record I've been wowing visitors with lately is David Murray's Spirituals (LP, DIW-8042), recorded by the great engineer Jim Anderson at the late Phil Ramone's A&R Studios, in New York, in January 1988. In "Amazing Grace," Murray explores much of his tenor saxophone's range, braying high and digging down deep, as bassist Fred Hopkins plucks the depths and drummer Ralph Peterson Jr. rumbles and explodes on toms. Pianist Dave Burrell, almost buried in the mix, mostly plays blocks of pounding gospel chords to cut through the clamor. This track—and, indeed, most of Spirituals—sounds…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Ayre Acoustics Codex with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Source materials were WAV and AIFF test-tone files, played on my MacBook Pro running on battery power with Pure Music 3.0. (I couldn't get the TosLink optical input to work with S/PDIF data sourced from an Astell&Kern AK100, footnote 1) Apple's USB Prober utility identified the Codex as "Ayre USB Interface" from "Ayre Acoustics," and the serial number was given as "Streamlength(tm)." The Codex operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous USB…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units (all made with Accuton's Cell Concept technology): 1" diamond-dome tweeter, 7" ceramic-dome midrange, two 10" long-throw aluminum-sandwich-dome woofers. Crossover frequencies: 320Hz, 3.8kHz. Frequency response: 20Hz–60kHz, ±2dB. Sensitivity: 88dB/m/2.83V. Impedance: 6 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum. Power rating: 350W. Included: Stainless-steel stands with Black Diamond Racing Cones and pucks.
Dimensions: 47.6" (1220mm) H by 15.4" (395mm) W by 25" (640mm) D. Weight: 209 lbs (95kg…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn & Castellon turntable & stand; TechDAS Air Force One turntable; Kuzma 4Point, Morch DP-8, Reed 3P, Swedish Analog Technologies tonearms; Lyra Atlas & Atlas SL & Etna, Ortofon Anna & A95, Ikeda (mono), Miyajima Labs Zero (mono) & Madake cartridges.
Digital Sources: Simaudio Moon Evolution 650D transport-DAC & 780D streaming DSD DAC; Lynx Hilo A/D-D/A converter; Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System; Pure Vinyl, Vinyl Studio softwares.
Preamplification: Ypsilon MC-10L & MC-…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Marten Coltrane 3's frequency response in the farfield; for the in-room and nearfield frequency responses, I used an Earthworks QTC-40. Because of the Coltrane 3's size and weight, I traveled to Michael Fremer's place to measure the speaker in situ, but it was too heavy for us to lift it very high off the ground. The earlier-than-usual reflections of the drive-units' output from the ground meant that I had to aggressively window the impulse-response data, thus compromising the…
The audio industry lost another of its veterans on May 23 with the passing of George Bischoff. Over more than four decades, George touched many facets of the industry beginning with Personalized Audio, his retail shop in Dunellen, NJ. He began many creative audio pursuits. He sold over 300 kits that replaced the two tweeters of the Dahlquist DQ 10. With his first speaker he independently discovered the Dynaco A35's aperiodic bass loading. George was an importer for Pink Triangle turntables, Helius tonearms and Beard electronics. He was a partner and co-designer for Melos starting with the…
This is a true story about a surprising 1W integrated amplifier—a push-pull, class-A, output-transformerless tube amp—that drove my DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93 speakers to 90dB average levels with grace, spiderweb detail, liquidity, and—unbelievably—a small degree of bass slam.
What the hell is it?
Have you ever observed an object for which you had no name? I mean, no whatchamacallit name at all? In the anthropological story of humans, the act of naming has powerful significance. In our everyday world, humans, objects, and forces don't fully exist for us until they're baptized,…
Later, when I inserted in front of the ZOTL—which I now used as a tubed line stage—PrimaLuna's ProLogue Premium, a 36Wpc tubed amplifier ($2199), the slam pinned my psychic VU meters, but transparency and flow weren't diminished at all. If you're a freak for pace, rhythm, and timing (aren't we all?), the Linear Tube Audio amp can shake, boogie, and run with the best. Oh, yes—and it plays Schubert lieder as sung by Elly Ameling, and Robert Johnson's "Walking Blues" as performed by Paul Butterfield!
The combo of microZOTL2.0, ProLogue Premium, and Soul Supremes played music in a uniquely…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Tubed, stereo headphone amplifier with separate 12V DC power supply module. Tube complement: two 12AT7 miniature dual-triodes, two 6SN7 octal dual-triodes. Maximum output power: 1Wpc into 4 ohms, 0.5Wpc into 14 ohms. Voltage gain: 10.3dB into 4 ohms, 12.4dB into 14 ohms. Sensitivity: 600mV RMS for full output. Output impedance: 2 ohms. Input impedance: 50k ohms.
Dimensions: 9.4" (241mm) W by 4.7" (120mm) H by 7.7" (197mm) D (amplifier chassis). Weight: 5.5 lbs (2.5kg).
Finishes: Black or Midnight Blue, clear Lexan top.
Serial number of…
"This is getting to be a habit."
That's how I ended the first paragraph of my review of Bowers & Wilkins' 800 Diamond speaker, in the May 2011 issue; apparently, Stereophile's habit of reviewing models from B&W's 800 series remains unbroken.
Later in that review, I said that "The 800 Diamond doesn't look radically different from its predecessors." That doesn't apply to the 802 D3 Diamond ($22,000/pair). It's still a three-way system with tapered-tube high-frequency and midrange enclosures, stacked and nestled into a generous bass enclosure that's vented on the bottom into…