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In switching from ECM New Series to 2L, Norwegian women's vocal ensemble Trio Mediæval has moved from a label known for atmospheric acoustics to one lauded for capturing resonant 3D space and pristine silences. Aided by label founder/producer/engineer Morten Lindberg, who has received 28 Grammy nominations and one Award, Trio Mediæval delivers…

My previous encounters…

After two years of COVID-enforced isolation, the ever-dapper Philip O'Hanlon, founder and president of On A Higher Note distribution, flew to the PNW (footnote 1) to present, on October 2, the US premiere of the Graham Audio Limited Anniversary Edition LS8/1 loudspeaker. At $9700/pair with stands, the Graham Anniversary Edition LS8/1 looked right at home in the tastefully appointed, main floor showroom of three-floor Gig Harbor Audio…

• Extraordinary Resolution of Detail: The noisefloor was significant lower than that of any other amp I've reviewed. The amount of information retrieved from very familiar recordings in some cases changed my reaction to the music. Over the last…

Designers frequently make minor changes in an electronic component's design throughout its market life cycle. As these changes tend to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, manufacturers seldom make a big deal about a capacitor change here, a tube change or wiring reconfiguration there. This strategy is partly due to the company reluctance to get the market excited about subtle changes, and so not piss off the gal who just plunked down some heavy green for what she thought was the latest design.

Nevertheless,…

Description: Two-channel, tube power amplifier. Tube complement: four matched pairs 6550C output; four 6922 drive; four 6922 input. Power output: 100Wpc continuous, 20Hz–20kHz, into 8 ohms (20dBW). Power bandwidth (–3dB): 15Hz–80kHz. Frequency response at 1W: 1Hz–100kHz, –3dB. Total harmonic distortion: typically 1% at 1kHz at 100W, below 0.05% at 1W. Input sensitivity: 1.0V RMS (balanced or single-ended) for rated output. Input impedance: 200k ohms balanced, 100k ohms single-ended. Overall negative feedback: 10dB. Slew rate: 15V/µs. Risetime: 3µs. Hum and noise…

For this review I used the Goldmund Studio/Syrinx PU-3/Koetsu Urushi and California Audio Labs Delta/Sigma II front-ends, Vendetta Research SP-2C and EAR 834P phono stages, Audible Illusions Modulus L1 and Audio Research Reference 1 line stages, and Acarian Systems Alón V Mk.II and Circe loudspeakers. Wires included MIT Digital Reference and MI-350 CVTwin Terminator interconnects, and Acarian Systems Black Orpheus tri-wired speaker cable.—Robert J. Reina

A full set of measurements of the Audio Research VT100 was made using its balanced inputs, with selected measurements repeated in the unbalanced mode, as noted below.

Following preconditioning/warm-up, the VT100 was very hot, though not hotter than the normally expected range for a tube amplifier. The Audio Research VT100's input impedance measured 178k ohms (98.9k ohms, unbalanced). The output impedance (at the 8 ohm taps) measured a maximum of 1.26 ohms at 20Hz and 1kHz, and 1.54 ohms at 20kHz. Voltage gain measured 23.8dB into 8 ohms (and an almost…