It should be realized that no DAC is perfect. The conversion process from the digital to the analog domain…
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In 1995, as the compact disc enters its second decade of commercial reality, it's fair to say that the associated hardware has come of age, exorcising at last the digital gremlins of time-base jitter and quantization noise. Digital-processor maturation is particularly evident in the design of the all-critical D/A processor. The simplistic digital circuitry of yesterday has given way to considerable design sophistication that deals directly with jitter and low-level nonlinearities.
Sidebar 2: Specifications
Description: Two-way, stand-mounted loudspeaker with 6½" woofer and 25mm aluminum-dome tweeter. Bass alignment: reflex (rear-firing port). Crossover frequency: 3kHz. Crossover type: first-order low-pass, overdamped second-order high-pass. Frequency response: 55Hz–20kHz ±3dB. Recommended amplifier power: 10–90W. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Minimum impedance: 6 ohms. Sensitivity: 88dB (2.83V at 1m).
Dimensions: 8¼" W by 15¼" H by 8" D. Weight: 11.4 lbs. each (5.2kg). Internal volume: 11 liters.
Price: $349/pair (1990); no longer available (2015). Approximate…
The trumpet and harpsichord are two instruments that are often treated unkindly by CD players. On Kathleen Battle's and Wynton Marsalis's Baroque Duet (Sony Classical SK 46672), both Wynton's up-front trumpet and Anthony Newman's background harpsichord popped into space with immaculate timing with the DP-90. The flow of transient attack and decay were closer to the real thing than I've ever experienced from CD. The bouncy, rhythmic pluck that underscores harpsichord timbre was readily resolved—in fact, for the first time I was able to precisely discern its exact phrasing. I simply felt…
Sidebar 1: Measurements
The Accuphase DC-91 had a maximum output level of 2.64V from the balanced outputs, 2.54V from the single-ended outputs. The output impedance measured a low 49 ohms (balanced) and 52 ohms (unbalanced) at any audio frequency. These low output impedances suggest that the DC-91 will drive any preamplifier and cable with ease, and will not be loaded down by low input impedances. The DC-91 doesn't invert absolute polarity from the single-ended outputs, but the XLR connectors are wired with pin 3 hot—contrary to the AES standard of pin 2 hot. This will cause the DC-91 to…
Sidebar 2: Specifications
DP-90 CD transport: Digital outputs: ST-type connector with Hewlett-Packard optical link; AES/EBU balanced XLR; EIAJ-standard optical TosLink; S/PDIF coaxial. Power consumption: 12W.
Dimensions: 18.75" W by 5.875" H by 14.625" D. Weight: 45.2 lbs.
Serial number of unit reviewed: E3Y570.
Price: $7595 (1995); no longer available (2015).
DC-91 digital processor: Multiple Multi-Bit, 20-bit resolution D/A converter. Digital filter: 20-bit, 8x-oversampling. Frequency response: 4Hz–20kHz ±0.3dB. THD: 0.002% (20Hz–20kHz, no level specified). S/N…
In a typical phono cartridge, the stylus is at one end of an oversize cantilever (oversize in comparison with the cartridge's other moving parts), the fulcrum of which is nearer the cantilever's other end. That design makes possible a certain amount of mechanical compliance that, when the cartridge is lowered to the record surface, helps the stylus seat itself in the groove rather than bounce or skip all over the place. Without at least a modicum of springiness, cueing up a record would be more difficult, and jukeboxes and automatic record changers might never have been possible. Imagine!…
The first of the new DST 62-inspired cartridges was a one-off, made for Schröder's personal use. But as he explained to me, "It became clear that [the cartridge] was way too good to just leave it at that." So Schröder suggested to the builder some changes, and eventually partnered with Robin Wyatt, who came up with the name Tzar DST.
According to Schröder, the Tzar DST's compliance is "very low," and the cartridge performs best in a tonearm with an effective mass of 25gm or more. (He's also designing a new tonearm of his own that will suit the Tzar and various vintage cartridges from…
1918: Konosuke Matsushita founds Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Japan).
1965: Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. (Japan) introduces the first Technics product, a two-way acoustic-suspension loudspeaker designed to compete with the increasingly popular line of sealed-box speakers made by Acoustic Research (US).
2008: Matsushita renames itself Panasonic Corporation.
2010: Panasonic halts production of the revered Technics SL1200 turntable, thus ending an era and the Technics brand name, whose wide-ranging audio products had become synonymous with smooth sound,…
I doubted the straitlaced, extremely neutral Technics speakers could handle such twisted madness, but they did . . . at least sort of. The SB-C700s turned this stinking Two Penny Opera into a slightly more fragrant package of honky-tonk cabaret—but still with an enjoyable dose of wink-wink tongue and cheeky.
Two Penny Opera is a "live in the studio" album recorded at London's Pathway Studios. Much to engineer Jim Custence's credit, the recording presents a convincing illusion of a fully energized smoky cabaret with only the dimmest colored lights for guidance. Custence has struck an…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, coaxial, rear-ported loudspeaker. Drive-units (coaxial): 0.75" (19mm) dome tweeter, 6.5" (160mm) flat woofer. Crossover frequency: 2.5kHz. Frequency response: 20Hz–100kHz, –16dB; 45Hz–80kHz, –10dB. Sensitivity: 85dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms.
Dimensions: 13.1" (336mm) H by 8.9" (229mm) W by 11.2" (286mm) D. Weight: 18.7 lbs (8.5kg).
Finish: White or black.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: WX5AA001035 (both), "Made in China."
Price: $1699/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 10. Warranty: 3 years, parts & labor…