I measured the Lamm L2.1 Reference preamplifier with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 As We See It"). All measurements were taken at the preamplifier's Direct inputs, which bypass the input switching. The gain with the volume control set to its maximum was 8.8dB, unbalanced input to unbalanced output; and, as expected, 6dB higher from unbalanced input to balanced output. The twin volume controls operated in accurate 1dB steps, and the unity-gain setting at the unbalanced outputs was with the controls set to 3:30. Both sets of outputs…
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My main task is to describe an audio component's basic character. How was it made? How did it fit into my system? How effectively did it deliver musical performances? My goal is to create stories that generate sounds and images in your mind—stories that will allow you to imagine how the component might perform in your system.
I can hear the moans from all you objectivist guys: Please, Herb, spare us your purple prose.
But guys! Our full appreciation of music, art, and perfectionist audio depends entirely on our ability to imagine. The most practical measure of any hi-fi…
If your DAC can deliver 10th-century plainchant with more luminous melodic air or tone-perfect sacredness than this modest analog rig, please write and tell me about it, because I have never experienced any digital that could. It's why I invest my cookie-jar money in black discs. It's why I raved about the Hana EL cartridge and its alnico magnets.
I sat, eyes closed, strongly affected by nothing other than the truth of the tones I was experiencing. The choir is revealed as a mass of individual voices, each one unique in sound and position.
The best thing about reviewing audio…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Belt-drive turntable. Motor: AC synchronous. Speeds: 331/3, 45rpm. Platter: aluminum, 4.9kg.
Dimensions (without tonearm): 18.4" (468mm) W by 4.25" (108mm) H by 14.5" (369mm) D. Weights: 24.25 lbs (11kg) net, 28.7 lbs (13kg) shipping.
Finish: Birch ply (plinth).
Serial number of unit reviewed: 000018.
Prices: $1595 with blank armboard; $1995 with Jelco SA-250 tonearm; $2095, as reviewed, with Jelco SA-750 tonearm. Approximate number of dealers: 8.
Manufacturer: AnalogueWorks, Divine Audio Ltd., Harborough Innovation Centre,…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn Sondek LP12, Palmer 2.5, Rega Research Planar 3, Roksan Series 7, Thorens TD 124, VPI Scout Jr. turntables; Abis SA-1, Audio Origami PU-7, Roksan Nima, SME M2-9 tonearms; AMG Teatro, Dynavector DV-20X2L, EMT TSD 75, Hana EL, Zu Denon DL-103 moving-coil cartridges; Ortofon 2M Black, Roksan Corus Silver moving-magnet cartridges; Soundsmith Carmen moving-iron cartridge.
Preamplification: Bob's Devices CineMag 1131, Dynavector SUP-200, Lounge Audio Copla JFET-MC step-up transformers; Dynavector P75, Lounge Audio LCR Mk.III, Parasound…
Dinesh Paliwal, CEO of Harman International Industries, was addressing engineers and the audio press in a crowded conference room at the opening of Harman Luxury Audio's new Engineering Center of Excellence (ECOE), in Shelton, Connecticut. Paliwal singled out as the ECOE's first beneficiary the Mark Levinson brand, with the goal of revitalizing it as Harman's flagship marque. (Other brands in the HII stable include Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Crown, AKG, Lexicon, and Revel.) To achieve this, he gave the ECOE team access to Harman's R&D budget of $400 million; brought on Todd Eichenbaum…
The amplifier has three operating states: Off, via the rear-panel power switch; On, by pressing the front-panel button, which turns on all audio circuits and activates all outputs; and Standby, an energy-saving mode. Within Standby are three more options, selectable via the amplifier's internal webpage or RS-232 connector: Green, the factory default, is the lowest-power standby mode; it disables the Ethernet and RS-232 inputs, but permits wake-up via the trigger inputs. Power Save, a moderate energy-saving standby mode, permits wake-up via RS-232 or Ethernet. Normal mutes all outputs, but…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state monoblock power amplifier. Inputs: 1 unbalanced (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 pairs Hurricane spade connectors with banana-plug sockets (not available on 230V models). Power output (20Hz–20kHz, 0.25% THD+N): 400W into 8 ohms (26dBW), 800W into 4 ohms (26dBW), stable into 2 ohms. Frequency response at 400W: 10Hz–20kHz, ±0.05dB. Input sensitivity: 2.83V RMS output for 150mV input. Input impedance: 60k ohms (balanced), 30k ohms (unbalanced). Output impedance: 0.054 ohm, 20Hz–1kHz; 0.055 ohm at 5Hz; 0.056 ohm at 10Hz; 0.59 ohm at 20kHz…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn Sondek turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ittok tonearm, Spectral moving-coil cartridge; Nakamichi 600 cassette player; Day-Sequerra 25th Anniversary FM Reference, McIntosh Laboratories MR-78 FM tuners.
Digital Sources: Bryston BCD-1 CD player & BDP-2 media player with IAD soundboard & BDA-3 DAC; Oppo BPD-103 universal BD player; Lenovo P50 computer running Windows 10 Pro (64-bit), JRiver Media Center 22.
Preamplifiers: Bryston BP-26, Mark Levinson ML-7 & No.526.
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.334…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured one of the Mark Levinson No.536 monoblocks (serial no.1250) with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Before doing any testing of a power amplifier, I precondition it by running it at one-third its specified power into 8 ohms for 60 minutes. (This power level results in the highest thermal stress on the output devices of an amplifier having a class-B or -AB output stage.) After an hour driving 133W into 8 ohms, the temperature of the No.536's heatsinks was fairly hot, at 114.8°F (46°C), and its top panel was warm, at…