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Paired with the Cary SLI-80HS integrated amplifier and playing Miles Davis's 1969 stereo release Filles de Kilimanjaro (LP, Columbia CS 9750), the F301s presented the quintet of Miles, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams in vivid miniature. The F301's treble range gave Miles's trumpet spice and heat, while the mids helped outline the top end of Carter's acoustic bass. The Fynes recreated the rumbling lower notes of Carter's bass—except that instrument's very lowest notes—with convincing weight. Tony Williams's ride cymbal was clean and distinct, surrounded by…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, rear-ported, standmount loudspeaker. Drive units: 1" (25mm) polyester-dome tweeter. 6" (150mm) multi-fiber cone woofer. Crossover frequency: 3.2kHz. Crossover type: 2nd-order low-pass, 3rd-order high-pass. Frequency response: (–6dB typical in room) 44Hz–28kHz. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Sensitivity: 89dB/2.83V/m. Recommended amplifier power: 25–100W(RMS). Continuous power handling: 50W (RMS).
Dimensions: 11.8" (300mm) H × 7.5" (190mm) W × 10.7" (271mm) D. Weight: 11.7lb (5.3kg).
Finishes: walnut, black ash, light oak.
Serial…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Kuzma Stabi R turntable & Kuzma 4Point 11" tonearm; Hana ML MC phono cartridge.
Preamplification: Tavish Audio Design Adagio phono preamplifier.
Integrated amplifiers: Schiit Audio Ragnarok 2, Cary Audio SLI-80HS.
Loudspeakers: Quad S2.
Cables: Interconnect: Shindo Laboratory, Triode Wire Labs Spirit II. Speaker: Auditorium 23. AC: Triode Wire Labs Obsession NCF power cord, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius line conditioner, Salamander five-tier rack; IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards (under…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system to measure the Fyne Audio F301's farfield behavior with a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone. (I left the vestigial grille that covers the woofer in place for the measurements, as it appears to provide the necessary acoustic environment for the tweeter.) For the speaker's nearfield responses, I used an Earthworks QTC-40 mike, which has a small (0.25"-diameter) capsule.
Although the Fyne F301's specified sensitivity is a high 89dB/2.83V/m, my estimated sensitivity was slightly lower, at 86.2dB(B)/2.83V/m. The Fyne F301's nominal…
VAC's Statement 452 iQ Musicbloc amplifier ($75,000 for a single amp; $150,000/pair mono, as reviewed) is tall, young, and lovely, but unlike the girl from Ipanema, it isn't tan. Nor, at 280lb in its flight case, is it likely to "go walkin'." Getting the pair moved into my listening room required considerable effort—fortunately not mine.
Sized similarly to many modestly sized floorstanding loudspeakers, a pair of 452s makes for a striking physical presentation. They were first introduced to the public at the Capital Audiofest, November 2019—though at AXPONA earlier last year, VAC demoed…
The Bob Katz recording, made at New York's Church of St. Mary the Virgin, utilized but a single AKG C-24 stereo tube mike hung on a boom 30' in the air and about 40' from the Westminster Choir, conducted by Joseph Flummerfelt. Scott Hull at Masterdisk cut this reissue from the original tape; plating was at Mastercraft, and pressing was done at Pallas, in Germany.
Through these VAC amps, my room evaporated, leaving an enormous space, wide, tall and deep, near the back of which appeared the 25-voice choir—and, behind them, the Aoelian-Skinner organ. When John Atkinson came to measure, I…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Mono/Stereo power amplifier. Tube complement: 4 6SN7GTB; 8 Gold Lion KT88. Maximum output power: 225Wpc into 4 ohms (20.5dBW), stereo; 450W into 4 ohms (23.5dBW), mono. Frequency range: 4Hz–75kHz. Power bandwidth: 20Hz–70kHz. No other specifications provided.
Dimensions (approx.): 8.5" W × 29.5" H × 18.5" D. Weight: 280lb (gross weight in flight case).
Serial number of units reviewed: 1929702 & '703.
Price: $75,000 each, $150,000/pair, mono (as reviewed). Approximate number of dealers: 14.
Manufacturer: Valve Amplification…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable with Castellon stand; SAT CF1-09 and Kuzma 4Point tonearms; Lyra Atlas Lambda SL, Ortofon MC Century, MC Anna Diamond, A95, A90, and MC A (mono), Grado Epoch3, Miyajima Labs Infinity (mono), Grado Epoch (mono).
Digital sources: dCS Vivaldi One SACD player/DAC, Lynx Hilo A/D-D/A converter, Roon Nucleus server; Pure Vinyl and Vinyl Studio software.
Preamplification: darTZeel NHB-18S, Ypsilon MC-10L, MC-16L step-up transformers and VPS-100 phono stage, CH Precision P1 phono stage with X1 PSU.…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Because of the VAC Statement 452 iQ's bulk and weight, I drove my Audio Precision SYS2722 system and its host PC (see the January 2008 "As We See It"), test loads, digital and analog oscilloscopes, cables, and other gear to Michael Fremer's place for the measurements. The only space available for me to set everything up was in the garage, along the corridor from Michael's basement listening room. I ran two extension cables from a 20A outlet in the corridor, one for the test system and the other for one of the amplifiers (serial number 1929703). I later repeated…
Frank Zappa: The Hot Rats Sessions
Zappa Records/UMe ZR20032 (6 CDs). 1969–2019. Frank Zappa, prod.; Joe Travers, Craig Parker Adams, Jack Hunt, others, engs.
Performance *****
Sonics ****
Zappa Records/UMe ZR20032 (6 CDs). 1969–2019. Frank Zappa, prod.; Joe Travers, Craig Parker Adams, Jack Hunt, others, engs.
Performance *****
Sonics ****
Frank Zappa's first real solo album (he conducted but did not play on Lumpy Gravy) is probably his greatest recording and perhaps his most uncharacteristic in that his singing voice is nowhere to be heard. The one vocal, "Willie the Pimp," is sung by Captain Beefheart, whose Zappa-produced pinnacle Trout Mask Replica was released the same year (1969). All of the social satire and low…