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AUX Classic: $999–$1599, depending on finish
This handsome, Italian-made satellite-subwoofer computer speaker system features four 100W digital amplifiers in its sub: two for the single-driver bass-reflex satellites and two for the sub itself. The sub (14" by 8" by 11 ") can be placed under a desk, and the satellites (each 8" by 4") on the desk, or the three pieces can be fitted together and carried in the optional “boombox supreme” leather bag. The subwoofer sounded very clean and went quite low, while the tweeterless satellites managed to sparkle…

Editor’s Note: Rather than place cables in the usual “Recommended Components” classes, we’ve just listed those cables that members of the magazine’s review team either have chosen to use on a long-term basis or have found to offer good value for money. They are therefore implicitly recommended. Where a cable has been found to have specific matching requirements or an identifiable sonic signature, it is noted in the text. “Try before you buy” is mandatory with cables; many dealers have a loaner stock to make this easier.

Interconnects…

Complain if you will, analog lovers, about the evils of digital technology, but in one area there isn't a whiff of argument: the esoteric pursuit of rescuing live recordings with marginal sound. Without question,…

Cassie was exaggerating—there are bands that, for artistic, philosophical, or other reasons, enthusiastically…

As the title suggests, it consists of Brookmeyer's arrangements of standards—"How Deep Is the…

And the more time I spend making real music, the less I'm impressed with home…

Description: Tubed stereo power amplifier. Tube complement: eight KT120 (matched pairs, output), four 6H30 (driver). Input: Balanced, pin 2+ (IEC-268). Output taps: 16, 8, 4 ohms. Power output: 150Wpc (21.75dBW) continuous, 20Hz–20kHz into matched load. Approximate actual power available at clipping: 160W. Power bandwidth: 5Hz–80kHz, –3dB. Frequency response: 0.5Hz–120kHz, –3dB at 1W. THD at 1kHz: typically 0.6% at 150W, <0.03% at 1W. Input sensitivity: 2.0V RMS for rated output, Voltage gain: 24dB into 8 ohms. Input impedance: 300k ohms, balanced. Output…

Analog Sources: Clearaudio Concept turntable, tonearm, and moving-magnet cartridge; Clearaudio Ovation turntable, Clearaudio Talisman V2 cartridge.
Digital Sources: Benchmark DAC1 HDR, Bel Canto DAC 3.5VB Mk.II D/A converters; Bel Canto CD 2 CD player; Bel Canto VB-1 power supply; Sony Vaio laptop computer.
Preamplification: Clearaudio Nano & Basic+ phono stages.
Power Amplifiers: Rogue Audio M-180, Simaudio Moon Evolution 880M (both monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: Revel Performa F30, Mårten Django.
Cables: Digital: Stereovox HDVX…

I measured the Audio Research Reference 150 using Stereophile's loan sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It" and www.ap.com). Before performing any measurements, I installed a new set of tubes, both the 6H30 small-signal tubes and the four matched pairs of KT120 output tubes. The instructions in the manual for setting the bias current for each pair were clear: With zero input signal, each main tube was set to a voltage drop of 65mV DC, measured at its test points, with the slave tube running between 57 and…