Description: D/A headphone amplifier. Digital inputs: 1 USB (Type B), 1 optical (TosLink). Input formats/resolutions: PCM (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384kHz, up to 24 bits), DSD (DSD64, DSD128). Analog outputs: 2 single-ended (RCA and ¼" headphone jack), 2 balanced (XLR and two 3.5mm headphone jacks). Maximum output level: headphone or preamp mode, 7.0V balanced, 3.5V single-ended; DAC mode, 4.0V balanced, 2.0V single-ended.
Dimensions: 5.3" (137mm) H by 2.1" (55mm) W by 9" (230mm) D. Weight: 3.1 lbs (1.4kg).
Serial number of unit reviewed:…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Marten is a small Swedish loudspeaker manufacturer with great aspirations, some of which the company has largely met. Leif Mårten Olofsson founded Marten and designs the speakers, while brother Jörgen Olofsson runs the business as CEO—a division of creative and administrative labors similar to the working relationship between David and Norman Chesky, the founders of Chesky Records and HDtracks.
Marten's ambitious "statement" model, the Coltrane Supreme 2—a 78.8"-tall, 507-lb design that costs half a million bucks—effectively makes the point that this little company can build big.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Apple MacBook Pro computer (2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) running OS 10.10.4, Roon v.1.1 build 102, JRiver Media Center 19, iTunes 12, Amarra Computer Music Player, VLC, Reaper 4.78, XLD; Western Digital 2TB NAS Device; Oppo BDP-103 Universal BD player; Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System (Control 15, QNAP TS-669 Pro NAS); Apple iPad Air & iPhone 6. Benchmark DAC1 USB & DAC2 HGC, Ayre Acoustics QB-9DSD, AudioQuest DragonFly, Chord Hugo TT USB DACs.
Preamplifier: Marantz AV7005 in Pure Direct Mode.
Power…
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,…