Hmm. It had been four years since I'd reviewed a record player: Pro-Ject's Debut III, in the February 2010 issue. And with the surging popularity of vinyl—hell, Rough Trade NYC's enormous new record store, in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, even sells turntables—the thought of a plug-and-play turntable-tonearm-cartridge combination for $1200 intrigued me. Sure, Leland—send it on.
Design
The Ikura features a two-plinth design…
Music Hall Ikura Turntable and Tonearm: Motor: DC synchronous. Speeds: 331/3 & 45rpm (manual change). Speed deviation: ±0.9%. Wow & flutter: ±0.15%. Rumble: below –70dB max. Platter diameter: 11.81" (303mm). Platter weight: 2 lbs (0.91kg). Armtube material: aluminum. Effective tonearm length: 8.92" (228.6mm). Tonearm weight w/o counterweight: 250gm. Effective tonearm mass: 11gm. Overhang: 0.7" (18mm). Mounting distance of arm base: 212mm. Compatible cartridge weights: 2.0–16.0gm. Power supply: 115V/60Hz or 230V/50Hz. Power consumption: 2VA.
…
Analog Sources: Rega Research Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek Destiny.
Loudspeakers: Epos Elan 10.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Accent Speaker Technology Black Orpheus. AC: manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Celestion, Echo Busters, Salamander Designs, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina
The album was recorded at Columbia Records' 30th Street Studio in Manhattan in December 1950 (that's no typo: 64 years ago), and even the Sony Legacy CD reissue that came out 10 years ago (with DSD mastering by Mark Wilder, but no SACD follow-up) sounded shockingly good…
"We have to make people aware of DXD," Scheelke told Stereophile via Skype. "I'm starting off with enough material for people to test. Once people are aware of the format…
Between tree trimming, over imbibing and driving my wife to the brink of full blown mental illness with the up down, jet engine-…
Best New Releases:
1. Sonny Rollins, Road Shows, Vol. 3 (Okeh).
2. Keith Jarrett & Charlie Haden, Last Dance (ECM).
3. Kenny Barron & Dave Holland, The Art of Conversation (Impulse!).
4. Ambrose Akinmusire, The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier to Paint (Blue Note).
5. Fred Hersch, Floating (Palmetto).
6. Sylvie Courvoisier Trio, Double Windsor (Tzadik).
7. The Bad Plus, The Rite of Spring (Okeh).
8. Matt Wilson Quartet + John Medeski, Gathering Call (Palmetto).
9. Frank Kimbrough…
Earl Wild: Works for Piano
Cesar Franck: Prelude, Chorale and Fugue; Gabriel Fauré: Barcarolle No.3 in G Flat, Op.42. Maurice Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit.
Earl Wild, piano.
Audiofon Stereo 207 (LP). Julian H. Kreeger, prod., Peter McGrath, eng.
Darn…
1948: Brook Electronics Inc. (Elizabeth, New Jersey) introduces the 12A audio amplifier and 12A3 preamplifier, beginning the era of high-fidelity audio separates.
Since hi-fi's postwar beginnings, hundreds of high-quality audio inventions for the home have thrilled and satisfied music lovers worldwide. But inevitably, no more than a few score companies, and maybe a dozen or so engineer-designers, have defined audio's most creative and enduring achievements.…