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Those concerned that audio engineers on the whole are a meek lot, drawn to our hobby for its lack of physical mayhem, have clearly never met Jeffrey Jackson. The last time I saw him, he was wielding a rock the size of a small gravestone, applying it to the lock on a recalcitrant door in a series of blows that made me fear for the very fabric of reality. That this happened in glinty daylight in an industrial park with a steady stream of cars going by merely added to the sense of danger. Those concerned that motorists on the whole are lacking in vigilance would have had their fears confirmed:…
Electronics were all by Experience Music: a single-ended amp using French R120 indirectly heated triode tubes as output devices; an LCR phono stage; and a passive autoformer volume control. The source was a Saskia idler-drive turntable from Win Tinnon Audio, of Alabama, with a Thomas Schick tonearm and a newish Ortofon G-style SPU pickup head.
Jeffrey put on an album by the late R.L. Burnside, a country-blues singer and guitarist. A repeated acoustic-guitar phrase appeared from the direction of the speakers—an up-tempo, rhythmically driving sound that seemed physically whole and real,…
In 2015, the venerable Canadian audio company NAD introduced its soon-to-be-popular D 3020 integrated amplifier ($499), which combined 30Wpc output, streaming capability, and an onboard DAC in a slick, contoured case. NAD's latest D/A integrated also smartly combines trend with functionality, lifestyle convenience with technological advancement. The C 328 Hybrid Digital amplifier ($549) goes its older, smaller sibling a couple steps better in features, while reverting to NAD's traditional look: an unfancy box finished in a dark shade of matte gray with subtle white lettering and logo. Like…
Out of the gate, the C 328, like many, didn't cotton to Jackie's bag. Onto the platter of the Thorens I dropped Bluesnik, from 1961 (LP, Blue Note BLP 4067)—the sound was weak, thin, and musically lacked thrust and commitment. Overall tone was solid and resolution very strong, but there was no meat on the bones, no flesh-and-blood bodies blowing the tunes behind these hard bop notes. A cardinal sin: the NAD didn't let the collective genius of Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Drew, Doug Watkins, and Pete La Roca shine; instead, it clothed their majesty in ill-fitting clothes.
I've been on a major…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-channel, class-D integrated amplifier with DAC. Inputs: 2 pairs single-ended (RCA), 1 pair single-ended (RCA) MM phono, 2 pairs TosLink, Bluetooth. Outputs: 1 pair single-ended (RCA), subwoofer; two pairs five-way binding posts, speaker; ¼" stereo jack, headphones. Dynamic power: up to 210W into 2 ohms. THD, 20Hz–20kHz: <0.03% (100mW–40W, 8 and 4 ohms). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.3dB. Continuous output power: 50Wpc into 4 or 8 ohms. Voltage Gain: 47dB digital, 37dB analog. Input sensitivity, 40W into 8 ohms: 250mV. Signal/noise: >…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Kuzma Stabi S & Stogi turntable & tonearm; Thorens TD 124 Mk.I turntable, Jelco 350S tonearm; Denon DL-103, Hana EL, Ortofon Quintet Bronze cartridges.
Digital Sources: Apple MacBook computer running Audirvana Plus; LG BD550 Blu-ray player (as transport); Halide DAC HD, PS Audio NuWave DACs, Western Digital T2 Mirror Drives (2).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 A23 MC step-up transformer, Lounge Audio Copla MC step-up, Heed Audio Quasar phono preamplifier; Shindo Laboratory Allegro preamplifier.
Power Amplifier: Shindo…
The day I installed the review samples of Legacy Audio's Studio HD loudspeakers, my friend Jay-Jay, a speaker manufacturer, dropped by to hang out and eat Mexican food. When he spotted the glossy black Legacys, he laughed.
"So, Herb—looks like these speakers are going to get a bad review."
"Why's that?"
"You told me you didn't like shiny speakers."
I grinned. "You're right, I don't—especially when they're heavy, and sparkle like a custom low-rider."
"Those Legacys you're looking at are finished in what they call Black Pearl, which is a pearlescent process…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the NAD C 328 using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). Because class-D amplifiers emit relatively high levels of ultrasonic noise that would drive my analyzer's input into slew-rate limiting, all measurements were taken with Audio Precision's auxiliary AUX-0025 passive low-pass filter, which eliminates noise above 200kHz.
Looking first at the line-level analog inputs: With the NAD's volume control set to "0.0dB," the maximum voltage gain at 1kHz into 8 ohms measured 25.6dB from the speaker terminals and 1.…
Let me interrupt this story to remind everyone: The raison d'être of expensive audio gear is to let the listener experience the sound and feeling of masterfully crafted violins being bowed by artists propelled by singular life forces. Robbing a violin recording of its natural color spectrum is a denial of the violin's, the artist's, and the recording's purpose.
The Studio HDs reproduced the momentum and intense artistry of Hahn's playing, but diminished her violin's rich tones and unique textures. I hoped a tubed power amp would help.
With the PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium
The…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, stand-mounted, rear-ported dynamic loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) dual-pole AMT tweeter; 8" (200mm) woofer with silver thread/graphite-woven cone and cast frame. Crossover frequency: 2.8kHz. Frequency response: 41Hz–30kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 86.5dB/W/m. Impedance: 6 ohms nominal, 7.15 ohms average, 3 ohms minimum. Recommended amplification: 30–300W.
Dimensions: 13" (330mm) H by 10.8" (275mm) W by 10.8" (275mm) D. Weight: 32 lb (14.5kg).
Finishes: Black Pearl; nine premium woods.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: LA180412 (…