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Upstairs
I have three separate audio systems, at three price levels. This allows me to introduce a component under review into a matching system, where components complement each other harmoniously and musically.

What I had been calling my reference system, I am now calling the upstairs system. This system is built around the Wilson Audio Sasha DAWs, which I reviewed in December 2019, driven by the mighty McIntosh MC462 solid state stereo amplifier, which I reviewed in April 2019. Phono stage and preamplifier are tubed, from Audio Research. The upstairs system is where I…

Description: Streaming D/A processor/preamplifier. Digital inputs: four TosLink (supports up to 24/192), two RCA (supports up to 24/192), one USB-A (supports up to 24/192 and up to DSD128), one USB-B (supports up to 32/768 and up to DSD256). Analog line inputs: three pairs unbalanced (RCA), two pairs balanced (XLR). Analog outputs: one pair unbalanced (RCA), one pair unbalanced fixed-volume line-out (RCA), two pairs balanced (XLR). Digital output: one pair (RCA). Connectivity: two Ethernet LAN ports, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas. Streaming: AirPlay, Bluetooth,…

Analog sources: VPI HW-40 turntable, VPI 12" Fatboy tonearm, Pro-Ject Classic EVO turntable, Lyra Etna cartridge, Ortofon Bronze Cadenza cartridge, Sumiko Amethyst cartridge.
Digital sources: MacBook Air running Qobuz, Bricasti M1SE DAC, Musical Fidelity M1 CDT transport, Pro-Ject CD Box RS2 T transport.
Preamplifiers: Audio Research Corporation REF3SE phono preamplifier, Audio Research Corporation REF6SE preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: McIntosh MC275 VI stereo tube amplifier, McIntosh MC462 Quad Balanced stereo amplifier.
Loudspeakers:…

I measured the Primare PRE35 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system, repeating some tests with the magazine's higher-performance APx500 system. Looking first at the analog inputs, the balanced and single-ended line input impedances are specified, respectively, at 30k ohms and 15k ohms. I measured, for the balanced inputs, 29.6k ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz, and for the unbalanced inputs, 14.8k ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz and 13k ohms at 20kHz.

The maximum gain at the balanced outputs was 16.7dB for the balanced inputs and 22.75dB for the single-ended inputs. There are…

"The SCENE Water Resistant Bluetooth speaker is portable and supports up to 12hrs of playback. IPX7 waterproof rated, giving you a high-quality music experience for any adventure. Scene features a digital amplifier, dual 48mm drivers and passive radiators bring the beats."

Click here for more info about the speaker.

To enter the sweepstakes, all you need is an account on this website. If you don't already have one, click on the link labeled "…

Within each category, products are listed by class; within each class, they're in alphabetical order, followed by their price, a review synopsis, and a note indicating the issues in which the review, and any subsequent follow-up reports, appeared. "Vol.45 No.6" indicates our June 2022 issue, for example. "WWW" means the review is also posted online.

Stereophile's Recommended Components list is concerned mainly with products available in the US…

The classes each cover a wide range of performance. Carefully read our descriptions here, the original reviews, and (heaven forbid) reviews in other magazines to put together a short list of components to choose from. Evaluate your room, your source material and front-end(s), your speakers, and your tastes. With luck, you may come up with a selection to audition at your favorite dealer(s). "Recommended Components" will not tell you what to buy any more than Consumer Reports would presume to tell you whom to marry!

Class A Best attainable sound for a…

A+

J.Sikora Reference: $47,000 w/o tonearm
This Polish company's top-of-the-line turntable is a nonsuspended, high-mass design, weighing 253lb. The dynamically and statically balanced platter alone weighs 40lb! Drive is with four square belts spun by four Papst DC motors. MF found that the plinth was immune to knuckle raps and motor start-up noises and wrote that the Reference was very quiet. He decided that this J.Sikora 'table had been superbly tuned to extract deep, well-controlled bass free of overhang or excess. The measured speed accuracy was impressive, as…

A+

SAT CF1-09Ti: €88,000 SAT CF1-12Ti: €92,000
These two cost-no-object tonearms appear outwardly identical to the Swedish manufacturer's original CF1 arm. However, there is now a titanium tube running through the carbon-fiber armtube and the CF1's removable carbon-fiber headshell has been stiffened with a frame made from titanium. The 9" arm was auditioned, but the 12" arm should be just as good (but longer). Prices are when purchased separately; when the arms are purchased with the SAT XD-1 turntable (see "Turntables"), the prices are €50,000 ('9Ti) and €60,000 ('…

A

Analog Relax EX1000: $17,750
The top-of-the-line cartridge from Japanese company ZOOT Communication has a higher output voltage and a higher output impedance than typical moving coils. Nevertheless, not only did MF find that the Audio Relax was a superb tracker; he also wrote that "Velvet Fog" Mel Tormé had never been better served on record than through the EX1000: "The sonically sensual vocal presentation oozes 'velvet' without sounding at all soft, warm, or muffled, nor does it sacrifice transient articulation. This cartridge gets more of that correct…