Sidebar 2: Measurements
Unlike the EL34-equipped Compact 100s that I favorably reviewed a couple of years back (Vol.11 No.11), the Compact 160s have this front-panel switch to switch between pentode and triode modes. Nice for the listener; awkward for the reviewer who therefore has to measure every aspect of performance twice. I'll try to concentrate on the differences between the two modes, but bear with me if the words "pentode mode" and "triode mode" pop up rather frequently.
Looking first at output impedance, the 160 is a typical classic tube design in that it doesn't much…
Sidebar 3: Specifications
Description: Tubed monoblock amplifier. No specifications given.
Dimensions: 13.5" W by 8.5" D by 7.5" H each.
Serial numbers of review samples: AMC 1605305 and 1605306.
Price: $3000/pair (1991); no longer available (2014). Approximate number of dealers: 25.
Manufacturer: VTL Amplifiers Inc., 4774 Murrieta Street, Suite 10, Chino, CA 91710. Tel: (909) 627-5944. Fax: (909) 627-6988. Web: www.vtl.com.
A visiting manufacturer recently told us here at Stereophile of an ongoing informal "survey" he was conducting. He would ask strangers to name three brands of loudspeakers. Their responses were not what I would have expected. They almost invariably named Japanese companies—two of the most commonly mentioned were Hitachi and Panasonic. Other than my spell-checker insisting that I change "Hitachi" to "hibachi," I have nothing in particular against these two manufacturers; they are well-recognized in many product categories. But loudspeakers? I can only guess that the respondents were dredging…
The rear connection panel, site of the bi-wire terminals and the tweeter-level control, was a bit small and cramped when used with heavy-gauge audiophile cables—when will manufacturers stop recessing these panels? And one of the terminals on one of the XPLs came loose during the testing. It never lost electrical contact, but had to be tightened with caution to keep from twisting and (possibly) breaking the internal contact.
The cabinet finish of the XPL series is noteworthy. Our 160s were dressed in a flawless, high-gloss black lacquer which would not be out of place on a top-quality…
Sidebar 1: Associated equipment
Analog Source: Oracle Delphi Mk.IV turntable, Oracle 345 arm, Dynavector XX-1L cartridge.
Digital Source: Sony CDP-X77ES CD player
Preamplifier: Rowland Consonance.
Power amplifiers: Threshold SA/12e and Krell KSA-250.
Loudspeakers: PSB Stratus Gold.
Cables: Interconnects were AudioQuest Lapis and Cardas Hexlink (the latter in a 25' balanced configuration from preamp to power amp). All listening was done in the bi-wire mode using 7' lengths of AudioQuest Clear.—Thomas J. Norton
Sidebar 2: Measurements
Fig.1 shows the magnitude and phase angle for the impedance of the XPL-160. The port is tuned to about 33Hz. The system's minimum impedance of 4 ohms indicates an easy load for any reasonably designed amplifier to drive.
Fig.1 JBL XPL-160, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed). (2 ohms/vertical div.)
Fig.2 shows the (MLSSA-derived) impulse response, the lazy hump typical of high-order crossovers. Particularly notable is the lack of ultrasonic ringing which is often visible on the tail of the impulse response, especially on systems…
Sidebar 3: Specifications
Description: Three-way loudspeaker. Drive units: 10" woofer, 3" metal-dome midrange, 1" metal-dome tweeter. Crossover frequencies: 800Hz, 4kHz. Frequency response: 40Hz–25kHz (–6dB points). Impedance: 6 ohms nominal. Power recommended: 20W minimum, rated 150W continuous, 600W peak. Sensitivity: 90dB/W/m.
Dimensions: 15" W by 33" H by 13" D (dedicated stands increase height to 42"). Weight: 62lbs.
Price: $2498/pair (1991); no longer available (2014). Dedicated stands optional at $222/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 75.
Manufacturer: JBL…
For its PerfectWave DirectStream D/A processor, featured on our September issue's cover, PS Audio took a different approach. Rather than using the usual off-the-shelf parts, designer Ted Smith used Field-Programmable Gate Array chips (FPGAs) to process DSD data without compromising the integrity of the music. Art Dudley takes the new DAC out for a test drive and returned impressed by what he heard. This issue also sees the indefatigable Mr. D. enthusing about 47 Laboratory's Model 4730 Midnight Blue FM tuner—which uses a dial! A dial!
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Forget those damned blade wielding misfits from today’s mindless slasher films, real horror films need a monster and after Lugosi and Chris Lee’s vampires, never was there a better monster than Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein who was fleshed out with speaking parts in James Whale’s still brilliant Bride of Frankenstein, the only one of the great Universal horror films to transcend its genre with comedy, allusions to WWI, and yes, if you must, possible nods for and/or against homosexuality and religion. The 1998 film Gods and Monsters is a clever exploration of Whale’s bio and all the film’s…
