Description: Desktop D/A converter and headphone amplifier with Bluetooth receiver. Inputs: optical TosLink (24/192), coaxial RCA (24/384), driverless USB (16/44/48), HD USB (32/384, DSD128), A2DP/aptX Bluetooth (16/44/48). Outputs: two ¼" (6.35mm) headphone jacks, 1?8" (3.5mm) headphone jack, 1 pair stereo phono (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Power supply: 12V 0.5A. Lots of multicolored lights. No other specifications supplied.
Dimensions: 9.2" (235mm) W by 1.8" (45mm) H by 8.8" (225mm) D. Weight: 6.6 lbs (3kg).
Finishes: Black, Silver.
Serial number…
search
Sidebar 1: Specifications
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 V1 Build 30, JRiver Media Center 19, iTunes 12, Amarra Computer Music Player, VLC, Reaper 4.78, XLD; Western Digital NAS Device (2TB); Oppo Digital BDP-103 universal BD player; Meridian Sooloos Control 15 music server (QNAP TS-669 Pro NAS); Apple iPad Air & iPod Touch 1G & iPhone 6.
Digital Processors: AudioQuest DragonFly USB DAC, Auralic Vega, Ayre Acoustics QB-9DSD, Benchmark DAC1 USB and DAC2 HGC, Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Chord Hugo TT with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It"). Sources were S/PDIF on TosLink and coaxial from the SYS2722, and USB from my 2012 MacBook Pro running on battery power. (I didn't test the Bluetooth performance.) Macintosh's USB Prober utility reported the Chord's product string as "HugoTT" from "Chord Electronics Ltd," and confirmed that the USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. Except where noted, all measurements were taken from the Chord's balanced outputs.
…
Nuvistors—miniature, small-signal, vacuum tubes made of metal and ceramic—were introduced by RCA in 1959, at the dawn of the transistor revolution. RCA used them throughout the 1960s in its New Vista line of television sets, mostly in the tuner section. But by the early 1970s, solid-state devices had all but replaced tubes, nuvistors included (with a few notable exceptions). Ampex based the electronics of its well-regarded, late-'60s MR-70 open-reel tape deck on nuvistors, which were also used in microphone preamplifiers—in both cases for their very low noise and reputation for reliability…
One time, a cable manufacturer added to my system, one by one, various of his cable models. After each successive installation, we listened to the same recording. When several of his cables had been installed, he exclaimed, "Now it's starting to sound like music!"
"I've got news for you," I said. "It was sounding like music before your cables were installed. Please—I've been doing this for almost 30 years. Save that line for a kid, okay?"
Sure enough, when we first played music through the Nu-Vista 800, Michaelson gave me that old, familiar look of "Well! There you go!" While I…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Hybrid integrated amplifier using both nuvistors and bipolar transistors. Tube complement: 4 JAN 7586. Inputs: 4 pairs unbalanced (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Line-level outputs: 1 pair fixed (RCA), 1 pair variable (RCA). Speaker connections: 2 pairs 4mm banana plug/binding posts. Output power: 330Wpc into 8 ohms (25.2dBW). Output voltage: 52V RMS, 20Hz–20kHz; onset of clipping, 147V peak–peak. Damping factor: 200. THD+N (typical): <0.005%, 20Hz–20kHz. Signal/noise: >107dB, A-weighted. Input impedance: 40k ohms. Frequency response: 10Hz–30kHz…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable, Cobra tonearm, Castellon stand; TechDAS Air Force Two turntable; Graham Engineering Phantom Elite, Kuzma 4Point, Swedish Analog Technologies tonearms; Air-Tight PC-1 Magnum Opus, Fuuga, Lyra Atlas & Etna, Miyajima Labs Zero (mono) & Madake, Ortofon Anna cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lynx Hilo A/D–D/A converter; Meridian Sooloos Digital Media System; Simaudio Moon Evolution 650D CD transport–DAC; Pure Vinyl, VinylStudio LP-ripping software.
Preamplification: Ypsilon Electronics MC-10L…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I performed a full set of measurements on the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800 (footnote 1) using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). As the amplifier is specified as having a maximum power output of 330Wpc into 8 ohms, I preconditioned it before the measurements by running it at one-third that power into 8 ohms for an hour. Following that period, the top panel was warm, at 99.5°F (37.5°C), and the heatsinks hotter, at 121.9°F (49.9°C).
With the Nu-Vista 800's volume control set to "114.5," its maximum voltage gain at 1kHz…
Tuesday, October 27, 6–9pm: Huppin's (8016 North Division, Spokane) will host an evening of music, hi-fi, and technology. Manufacturer representatives from AudioQuest, Klipsch, MartinLogan, and McIntosh will be on hand to share new products, play great music, and answer questions.
The event will provide an excellent opportunity to see and hear MartinLogan's new flagship Neolith loudspeakers. Additional featured gear will include AudioQuest's NightHawk headphones, DragonFly USB DAC, JitterBug USB filter, and a range of analog and digital cables.
There will be prizes, as well as…
In the world of record collecting, those who are obsessed by 45’s, 7” singles, are a special breed. It’s a strain of record collecting that I’ve fortunately not contracted. I have a couple pals though who are deep into singles. After the endless arguments about sound quality, how 45s sound better than LPs—one beer and we’re off—going record shopping with them is an all day affair. After digging through every box in the store, they have to listen to each and every single that looks interesting, looking of course for that special groove, that ultimate jam. They live to seek the little black…