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We have not observed any relationship between measured separation and the listenability or musicality of Decca pickups, and we have probably listened to (and tested) as many of them as anyone in the US, as both checks are used to determine the suitability of all incoming Hark Vs for resale to perfectionists. Also, with regard to tracking force vs distortion, all Mark Vs are required to produce an undistorted 100Hz sinewave at between 2 and 4 grams in order to meet minimum specifications.

Over the years, much has been said about Decca's lack of quality…

Description: Tip-sensing matrixing phono cartidge. Stylus: 0.5 to 0.6-mil spherical. Recommenced tracking force: 3 grams. Cartridge weight: 5 grams. Nominal output: 7.5mV.
Price: $109.50 ($135 for Export model) (1974); $1600 (Jubilee, 1995); $4495 (Reference, 2005).
Manufacturer: Decca, New Malden, England (1974); Presence Audio, Overdale, Haglands Lane, West Chiltington, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 2QR, England (2005). J. Wright Audio Services, Unit 12, Stanley Lane Industrial Estate, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 4SF, England. Tel & Fax: 0044 (0)1746…

First stop, a return to the High End Zone/Perfect8 Technologies room on the 2nd floor. I couldn't cover this exhibit on opening day because the visually striking…

The Monitor Audios were used with a pair of VTL 100W Compact monoblocks, connected with Monster M1 speaker cable, while the preamplifier was a combination of the Mod Squad Line Drive Deluxe AGT and Vendetta Research SCP2 phono preamp. Source components consisted of a Marantz CD-94 CD player used to drive a Sony DAS-R1 D/A converter, a 1975-vintage Revox A77 to play my own 15ips master tapes, and a Linn Linn Sondek/Ekos/Troika setup sitting on a Sound Organisation table to play LPs. Interconnect was Audioquest LiveWire Lapis.

The speakers sat on a pair of…

Looking at fig.1, the way in which the R300's impedance changes with frequency, the speaker appears to be a kind load, never dropping below 8 ohms. In conjunction with its reasonably high sensitivity—I measured 89.5dB/W/m for the 1kHz 1/3-octave—the R300 should mate well with inexpensive, low-powered amplification.

Measured in the nearfield, the microphone almost touching the dustcap, the bass extension was only moderate, at –6dB at 62Hz, though as can be seen from…

Description: Two-way, sealed-box, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 0.75" metal-dome tweeter, 8" doped paper-cone woofer. Crossover frequency: 4.2kHz. Frequency response: 50Hz–20kHz ±3dB. Sensitivity: 90dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Amplifier requirements: 15–100W.
Dimensions: 18.5" H by 12.5" W by 10" D. Weight: 22 lbs each.
Price: $669/pair (1989); no longer available (2017). Approximate number of dealers: 50.
Manufacturer: Monitor Audio, Cambridge, UK (1989); Monitor Audio Ltd., 24 Brook Road, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7XJ, England, UK. Tel…

I photographed Vanatoo's Gary Gesellchen outside his room, because when I first visited, it was jam-packed. I had been impressed by Vanatoo's affordable, active, Transparent One bookshelf speakers at…

Curtains were drawn, revealing just a small slab of pale blue sky at the front of the room, where the occasional airplane would pass by. The first system we listened to comprised an Oppo Sonica DAC ($800; Modwright tube output $2500) for volume control feeding, an ampsandsound Stereo 15 amplifier ($2800), and a pair of ampsandsound Hudson speakers ($30,000/pair in rosewood veneer). The source was a Mac mini running Sonic Studio's Amarra Luxe app ($99), which supports…