Although the review that follows won't be the last of the survey, this seemed a good time for a recap…
search
In Stereophile's January 2016 issue, I began a series of reviews of $10,000 CD players and transport-DAC combinations: an informal and serial survey, the goal of which was to gather, over time, the likeliest candidates for one's Last CD Player Ever. My choice of $10,000 as the target price was more or less arbitrary, although, in retrospect, that's about what I've invested in my go-to combination of turntable, tonearm, and pickup head—so, who knows? Maybe my subconscious was acting out.
My only gripe regarding ergonomics is that, with the EAR's disc drawer open, its Open/Close button is difficult to see and to access. Thankfully, as with every other CD player of my experience, applying pressure to the drawer's front edge had the same result as pressing Close. So I did that.
Listening, CD player
One of the first discs I played through the EAR was a recording of Mahler's Symphony 1 that I've raved about more than once in these pages: the one by Dimitri Mitropoulos and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, recorded in 1940 (Sony Classical Masterworks Heritage MHK 62342…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Tubed CD player with digital inputs. Tube complement: two PCC88 (6DJ8) or ECC88 (7DJ8). Digital inputs: 2 S/PDIF (RCA, TosLink), 1 USB. Analog outputs: 1 single-ended (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR), 1 headphone. Maximum output: 5V. Signal/noise: 95dB. Total harmonic distortion: 0.5%.
Dimensions: 17.1" (435mm) W by 2.6" (65mm) H by 11.2" (285mm) D. Weight: 17.6 lbs (8kg).
Finish: Black with polished chrome faceplate.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 615-002-A550.
Price: $6795. Approximate number of dealers: Not disclosed. Warranty: 1 year.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Linn LP12, Thorens TD 124 turntables; Audio Origami UniArm, EMT 997, Rega Research RB 300, Thomas Schick tonearms; EMT OFD 15 & TSD 15, Shindo Laboratory SPU pickup heads; Denon DL-103 cartridge.
Digital Sources: AudioQuest DragonFly Black & DragonFly Red, Halide Design DAC HD USB DACs; Apple iMac G5 computer running Audirvana Plus v.1.5.12; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Hommage T1 & T2 step-up transformers, Shindo Laboratory Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the EAR Acute Classic with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). As well as the Audio Precision's optical and coaxial S/PDIF outputs, I used WAV and AIFF test-tone files sourced via USB from my MacBook Pro running on battery power with Pure Music 3.0. Apple's USB Prober utility identified the EAR DAC as "xCORE USB Audio 2.0" from "XMOS" and confirmed that its USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. Apple's AudioMIDI utility revealed that, via USB, the Acute Classic accepted 16- and 24-bit…
Manufacturers' Comment
Editor: I was completely baffled by Art [Dudley]'s assessment of the Acute Classic CD player. "[G]rainy" in no way describes what I have heard from any of EAR's digital products—quite the opposite. I don't mean to say that Art didn't hear what he heard. Again, quite the opposite—I have the utmost respect for his hearing and his writing.
The fact that John Atkinson's measurements corroborated what Art was hearing was the first clue that something was wrong with this particular player. When I ran the measurements past Tim de Paravicini, he responded that the…
Reviewers of high-fidelity gear are a trend-sniffing, topology-bandying bunch. When four of our kin gathered last November over lunch, during the 2016 New York Audio Show, the high-end chatter flew fast and furious. "Did you hear those mother-rocking big horns on the seventh floor?" "Nah, man, the Bruno Putzeys speakers on nine were best in show." "What about those li'l Lowthers on eight? Great sweet spot, but small as peanuts."
And so it goes. Hi-fi reviewers couldn't live without one another. Heck, we may need each other more than consumers do! For my Stereophile byline, I have the…
The NEATs' wide-range resolution of touch and timing created something unique in my experience. With the right record, such as Tower of Power's Back to Oakland (LP, Direct-Disk Labs SD 16601), the Iota Alphas came viscerally alive, as keen as cunning cats, with deeply commanding rhythmic movement heard from nearly every instrument. The music seemed to lift off, at times providing emotional involvement that knocked me clean, cold, dead out! The Iota Alphas also played it nimble and extremely quick, with élan, guts, and gusto.
NEAT meets the Kuzma-Shindo team
My appraisals of audio…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, ported, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 2"-high planar-magnetic tweeter, 4" plastic-cone mid/bass driver, 5.5" down-firing paper-cone woofer. Crossover frequencies: 80Hz, 5kHz. Frequency range: 33Hz–22kHz. Sensitivity: 86dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms.
Dimensions: 17.6" (450mm) H by 7.8" (200mm) W by 6.25" (160mm) D. Weight: 15 lbs (6.8kg).
Finishes: American Walnut, Natural Oak, Black Oak, Satin White; others on request.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: IA160015A & B.
Price: $1995/pair. Approximate number…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Kuzma Stabi S turntable & Stogi tonearm, Music Hall MMF-7.3 turntable; Denon DL-103, Goldring Elite MC, Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridges.
Digital Sources: Apple MacBook computer running Audirvana Plus; Halide DAC HD, PS Audio NuWave DACs; Western Digital T2 Mirror Drives (2).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 A23 moving-coil step-up transformer, Heed Audio Quasar phono stage, Shindo Laboratory Allegro preamplifier.
Power Amplifier: Shindo Laboratory Haut-Brion.
Integrated Amplifier: Heed Audio Elixir.
Loudspeakers: DeVore…