Sidebar 2: Measurement
I ran a conventional set of measurements, not so much to find a cause behind any facet of the NAD's sound quality, but to see if there were any particular aspects which would lead to system incompatibility problems. At this price level, I would be surprised by any electronic component that didn't depart from neutrality, so careful system matching is even more essential with an affordable preamplifier than with expensive models.
The moving-magnet RIAA response is shown in fig.1. Sensibly curtailed in the bass with the infrasonic filter on, it starts to rise…
Sidebar 3: Specifications
Description: Solid-state preamplifier with three line-level inputs, one phono input (MC or MM), headphone output, two tape loops, one external processor loop, and bass and treble controls. Specifications: RIAA error (phono): ±0.3dB. Frequency response (line-level): –0.3dB points at 20Hz and 20kHz. Input impedance: 47k ohms in parallel with 100/200/320pF (MM phono), 100 ohms in parallel with 1000pF (MC phono), 100k ohms in parallel with 220pF (line). Output impedance: 150 ohms (Normal, High), 1000 ohms (Tape/EPL). Maximum output level: 12V RMS (Normal), 12V RMS…
This review and its companion that will follow next week spotlight two very different and equally recommendable recordings of contemporary music with a common theme: the quest for freedom and justice in perilous times. This week's special, Lament/Witches' Sabbath (New Focus Recordings), due out today (November 9), contains four works by Mathew Rosenblum, an East Coast composer who occasionally ventures into forbidden territory as he blends percussion, acoustic instruments, electronics, voice and microtonal elements in extremely visceral, moving, and sometimes gut-wrenching ways.
Recorded…
I love the New York Audio Show. I wish all American audio shows could take place at The Park Lane Hotel at 36 Central Park South. Why? Because NYC has more excellent audio dealers than any towns not touching the Pacific ocean. And because, when I need a break from hotel halls and Eagles singing Diana Krall, I can sit on a bench in Central Park's Hallett Nature Sanctuary and watch the turtles on rocks—or have snacks at the Plaza Food Hall. November 9th–11th is a way cool time for a show because the trees in the Sanctuary are all yellow-to-red aglow. Not to mention, I could ride my bike there…
A fun fixture of every audio show is the hanging badge-on-a-lanyard we all acquire at the registration table. I'm glad for these things—at least the large-print editions—because they help me overcome the steady embarrassment I feel because I can't remember any names. If you know me, I am sure you have talked to me while I've stared at your belly trying hopelessly to memorize your name. Unfortunately, somebody with deeper character flaws than mine decided that these badges should hang on swiveling clips—enabling more than 50% of them to be facing the wrong way. Yesterday I realized this design…
"We want the Beatles! We want the Beatles!" the packs of teenage girls screamed as they chased Herb Reichert down the halls of the Park Lane Hotel, grabbing for his still-ample hair. Stereophile's Fab Four—Ken Micallef, Jim Austin, Herb Reichert, and myself—hit the halls early for the first day of the New York Audio Show. As Herb has explained, I knew that Friday, November 9th was also the release date for Giles Martin's remixed The Beatles (aka the White Album), and I had a strong hunch that Chad Kassem would have some LP copies at his Acoustic Sounds booth—after all, his company pressed…
We know, we know, it's only November 12. But it's one heck of an issue, featuring our Products of 2018, and it's hitting newsstands, tablets, and mailbox now! The versatile Ovation PA 8.2 preamplifier from German company AVM is featured on the December cover and this issue's line-up of reviews has a European flavor: as well as the AVM, we audition Elac's Adante AF-61 speaker and EMT's HSD 006 phono cartridge (Germany); the ATC CDA2 CD player, Harbeth P3ESR minimonitor, and Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 bookshelf speaker (UK); Ortofon SPU Wood pickup head (Denmark); and Aqua Formula xHD DAC (Italy…
Thursday November 15, 7:30–10pm, Audio Vision S.F. (1628 California Street—at the end of the historic cable car line—San Francisco, CA 94109) is holding what they call a "BIG FREE HOME AUDIO EVENT!!" Featured will be D/A processors from Chord Electronics, a SME Reference turntable system, loudspeakers from Raidho, and Nordost power and cabling systems.
Attendees are asked to bring some music to re-experience and are told to expect a night of unparalleled sonic excellence There will be wine, beer, light nibbles, and some prizes as well!! RSVP to info@audiovisionsf.com or call (415) 614-…
The last time I covered the New York Audio Show it was not, frankly, a great experience. The show was really small. It seemed like everyone was playing Diana Krall or some pop-classical piece from an audiophile label. Nobody, it seemed, dared to play interesting music.
This year's experience was better—much better. The first room I walked into—the Audio Note UK room—was playing an old cello LP; it sounded like Jacqueline du Pré, but I'm not sure. A good Audio Note UK system is a very fine way to listen to old classical LPs, among the finest. The next room I walked into—the Vitalis Audio…
John Atkinson reviewed the Aqua Formula xHD in December 2018 (Vol.41 No.12):
Jason Victor Serinus reviewed this non-oversampling (NOS) digital-to-analog converter from AQ Technologies, aka Aqua Acoustic Quality, in June 2018. The Formula xHD, which costs $17,000, has no chips or digital filters, instead using a 24-bit, four-branch, resistor-to-resistor (R2R) ladder based on field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). When JVS listened to a recording of Vadim Gluzman performing the Brahms Violin Concerto, with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra under James Gaffigan (SACD/CD, BIS 2172), he found…
