Description: Jitter filter and resolution-enhancement device. Inputs: S/PDIF coaxial on BNC, S/PDIF TosLink optical, I2S bus (ST-type optical optional). Outputs: S/PDIF coaxial on BNC, I2S, AES/EBU, ST-Type optical. Output word length: 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 bits (user-selectable).
Dimensions: 8.5" W by 2" H by 7" D. Weight: 7 lbs (shipping).
Serial number of unit tested: 83317.
Price: $1595. Approximate number of dealers: 180.
Manufacturer: Audio Alchemy Inc., Westlake Village, CA 91362 (1996). Company no longer in existence (2012).
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Sidebar 3: Specifications
According to designer Bill Reed, the Nelson-Reed 8-04/B was not originally intended to be an audiophile speaker system, but was instead designed as a high-quality monitor for the critical recording engineer who wanted to be able to walk from the studio into the control room and hear the same thing from his speakers that he heard "live." The fact that modern studio mike technique ensures that this could never happen is probably beside the point. The point is that reproducing the original power and dynamic range of live music is a formidable challenge, which practically no audiophile speakers…
JGH returned to the Nelson-Reed 8-04/B in July 1988 (Vol.11 No.7):
Subsequent to my initial tests of the 8-04/B, I moved the speakers into my video room and tried them for reproducing film soundtracks. I wasn't too surprised to find them superb for this application. Dialog intelligibility was better than it has ever been before, their tremendous dynamic range gave unprecedented impact to blockbuster soundtracks, and their outstanding imaging capability revealed something I had never noticed before, nor even thought about before: The sounds of moving objects often don't track their visual…
Sidebar 1: Review System
Equipment used for my tests included the Ortofon MC-3000 cartridge with its T-3000 stepup transformer, the Well-Tempered Arm on the Sota Star Sapphire turntable, Sony CDP-705ESD, Rotel 965, and Proceed CD players, CD player, a Sony PCM-F1 digital processor and SL-2000 VCR, Pioneer LD-S2 laserdisc player, an Enlightened Audio Design D/A converter, the Threshold FET-10 preamp and line controller, Audio Research SP9 II, and Octave Research, Boulder 500AE, Threshold SA-1, Sonic Frontiers SFS-80, and Audio Research M300 power amplifiers. Audio interconnects were…
Through the excellent Kingsound KingIII electrostats ($14,995/pair), Hegel H30 350Wpc amplifier ($15,000), Purity Audio Design new Reference class-A balanced linestage preamplifier ($10,995), Purity Audio Design Harmonia 300B tube buffer ($5500), M2Tech's new Young DSD/DCD DAC ($1699), Trigon CD II ($4250), and Dana Cables, music sounded very smooth but somewhat damped on top. A tenor sax sounded especially warm and inviting.
The Harmonia is the first 300B tube buffer, and comes in both single-ended and fully balanced versions. Sophia Electric 300Bs were used in the demo. "The whole idea…
Clayton Shaw, who designed Emerald Physics loudspeakers and founded the company, returned last year with Spatial Audio loudspeakers. The Spatial Hologram M2 standard ($1995/pair) contains a new Hologram Circuit, and is a completely passive, analog, high-efficiency, open-baffle speaker. Each baby contains two 12' mid/woofers and one coaxially mounted compression driver. Designed to eliminate floor bounce, it claims not to need DSP or bi-amping.
Paired with a Prism Lyra 1 DAC/preamp ($2350) and Red Dragon M500 monoblocks ($1600/pair), this little system's very nice midrange shone on a 176.…
Admittedly, the title seems almost melodramatic, if not messianic. But after Emerald Physics' handicapped presentation at, I believe, the last Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I was not expecting to hear such fine and pleasing sounds. While ample credit is due PS Audio's brand new DirectStream pure 1-bit DSD-decoding DAC ($6000), thanks also be to Mark Schifter's canny programming of the DSP2.4 DSP crossover/equalizer ($850) that comes with Emerald Physics' CSE MK2 Controlled Dispersion, DSP-controlled, open-baffle loudspeakers ($3500/pair). Thanks as well to the new Emerald Physics EP 100.2 power…
In an exhibit surprisingly free of whisky (unless I was too preoccupied to notice), Music Hall offered proof that you don't have to break the bank (assuming you have one to begin with) in order to get good sound. "Very smooth, nice, and pleasant," I wrote of the enjoyable music from the new Music Hall C-DAC 15.3 three-input DAC/CD player ($549), Creek Evo 50a 55Wpc integrated amp ($1195), and Epos Elan15 bookshelf loudspeakers ($1395/pair). The player contains two different DACs, a Burr-Brown for CDs and a Wolfson for external sources. Source was a computer playing Pure Music, and connected…
Released in early April, Channel D's Pure Vinyl 4.0 ($299, or $139 for previous users) enables you to easily split tracks via automation. Rob Robinson (above) describes it as "a major upgrade in usability. We've smoothed the rough edges and made it easier to use, while retaining the same sound." (The list of at least 25 improvements takes up a full sheet.) The software also has a built-in crossover time-alignment feature for time alignment of subwoofers, thereby enabling the sounds of main speakers and subs to arrive at your ear at exactly the same time with maximum impact and slam.
Pure…
Designed by Art Powers Sr., who, I understand, manufactured some of the older Lamm amplifiers and designed their loudspeakers, Madison Fielding's second-generation Flagstone all-weather speakers ($3500/pair) include down-firing 10" Eminence 150W active custom-made woofers, and claim a frequency response of 44Hz–15kHz ±3dB. The Flagstone series consists of two models and three variations, and claims to cover an area of up to 1000 sq. feet.
Heard with a Marantz SA 8005 SACD player, Parasound P 5 preamp, and A 21 amplifier, the sound was surprisingly good. Yes, my SACD pressing of Patricia…