Description: Streaming D/A converter. Digital inputs: AES/EBU (XLR), S/PDIF (2 RCA, 1 BNC), S/PDIF (2 TosLink), Bluetooth with Qualcomm aptX audio support and Ethernet RJ45, USB Type B (high-resolution audio). Analog outputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR), 1 pair single-ended (RCA). Sample rates supported: PCM to 32-bit/44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.2, 192, 384kHz; DSD (via USB only) to 2.8224, 5.6448, 11.2896MHz. Frequency response: 2Hz–100kHz, +0/–0.3dB (full range). THD at 1kHz, 0dBFS (A-weighted): <0.0001%. Intermodulation distortion: <0.0001%. Dynamic range: 124dB…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable & Castellon stand; Kuzma 4Point, Swedish Analog Technologies tonearms; Lyra Atlas & Atlas SL & Etna SL, Ortofon Anna & A95, Miyajima Labs Zero (mono) & Madake cartridges.
Digital Sources: Simaudio Moon Evolution 650D CD player & Moon Evolution 820S power supply; Lynx Hilo A/D-D/A converter; Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System; JRiver Media Center, Pure Vinyl, Vinyl Studio.
Preamplification: Ypsilon MC-10L & MC-16L step-up transformers; Tru-Life Audio, Ypsilon VPS-…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Simaudio Moon Evolution 780D with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Source materials were WAV and AIFF test-tone files, played with Pure Music 3.0 on my MacBook Pro running on battery power. Apple's USB Prober utility identified the processor as the "MOON USB DSD HD AUDIO" from "SIMAUDIO LTD," and confirmed that the 780D's USB input operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. The AudioMIDI app indicated that the Simaudio DAC operated at all PCM sample rates from 32 to 384kHz, with a bit depth of up…
I am a big believer in supporting events promoted by specialty audio retailers. They reinforce the idea that audiophiles and manufacturers—even reviewers—are parts of a vibrant community that believes that listening to music with the highest possible quality is one of the more important things in life. The "Music Matters" evenings arranged by Audio Advice in North Carolina, Definitive Audio in Seattle, and Listen Up in Colorado exemplify that idea, and it was in April 2015, at Listen Up's Denver store, that I used a pair of PSB's new Imagine T3 tower speakers to play the audience some of my…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, five-driver, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) titanium-dome tweeter, 5.25" (133mm) compressed felt/fiberglass-cone midrange, three 7" (178mm) compressed felt/fiberglass-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 450Hz, 1.8kHz, with fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley filters. Frequency response (on-axis): 23Hz–20kHz, ±1.5dB; 24Hz–23kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 89dB/2.83V/m. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum. Power handling: 20–300W.
Dimensions: 47.6" (1208mm) H by 11.5" (292mm) W by 15.04" (382mm) D. Internal…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ekos tonearm, Linn Arkiv B cartridge.
Digital Sources: Antipodes DX Reference and Aurender N10 music servers; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; dCS Rossini disc player with Rossini Clock; PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream D/A converter; AudioQuest JitterBug, UpTone Audio ReGen USB cleaner-uppers; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 USB A/D converter.
Preamplification: Channel D Seta L.
Power Amplifiers: MBL Corona C15, Pass Labs XA60.5 (all monoblocks).
Cables: Digital:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the PSB Imagine T3's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40, which has a ¼" capsule and thus doesn't present a significant obstacle to the sound, for the nearfield frequency responses. I also used the Earthworks mike for the in-room response.
My estimate of the Imagine T3's voltage sensitivity was 89.2dB/2.83V/m, confirming the specified figure. The PSB's electrical impedance magnitude and phase are shown in fig.1. Other than in the regions between 28 and…
Saturday, July 23, 10am–12pm: Constellation Home Electronics (215 North Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe) will host a digital-audio seminar and listening event designed to equip music enthusiasts with the tools needed to understand, embrace, and optimize digital-audio playback systems.
David Ellington of AudioQuest will be on hand to conduct shared listening evaluations using a wide array of high-performance digital-audio cables and components. For more info, visit the Constellation website or call (505) 983-9988. RSVP here.
Sunday, July 24, from 2-5pm, The Source A/V Design Group (3035 Kashiwa Street, Torrance CA 90505) will host an open house with the LA&OC Audio Society, MBL North America, and Kimber Kable. Ray Kimber, President of Kimber Kable, will talk about his new Axios headphone cables plus the properties and advantages in braided-wire technology while Jeremy Bryant, CEO of MBL North America, will present products from MBL's new Noble Line of electronics, including the N51 integrated amplifier, the N21 stereo amplifier, and the N31 DAC/CD player, the unique, omnidirectional, MBL Radialstrahler…
Letters in Response
National Op-Amps
Editor: I was quite dismayed to read "The THD Wars Are Over?," John Atkinson's recent "News Desk" item on the Stereophile website In it, he asserted that "there is no doubt in my mind . . . that amplifiers (and preamplifiers) will sound better, the less spuriae [distortion] with which they contaminate the signals passing through them." Not only do you provide no evidence whatsoever for this assertion, but it flies directly in the face of 45 years of the subjective listening tests that Stereophile pioneered. To put it simply, to date there is…