search

Jürgen Reis, 59, whom John Atkinson respectfully describes as "an engineer's engineer," joined MBL in 1982, when the company was three years old. After improving the original MBL preamp, he designed MBL's first three-way speaker system, the MBL 101, in 1986.

As Reis's work continued, he found time to sing baritone/bass in the award-winning Hanover Choir, play guitar in a rock band, and serve as a recording engineer. With time for only one serious recording project per year, he currently records the superb ensemble Concerto Köln for…

Description: Solid-state, stereo line preamplifier with "MBL Unity Gain," remote control, and MBL SmartLink connectivity. Inputs: 5 pairs single-ended (RCA), 2 pairs balanced (XLR), and option for either phono MC (RCA) or 3rd pair balanced (XLR). Outputs: 5 pairs variable outputs in two groups—(Group 1) 2 single-ended (RCA) + 1 balanced (XLR), (Group 2) 1 single-ended (RCA) + 1 balanced (XLR)—and 2 pairs fixed outputs, 1 single-ended (RCA) and 1 balanced (XLR). Input impedance: 2.3k ohms (CD-In), 10k ohms (XLR-In), 50k ohms (Aux-In), 100 ohms (optional MC-In/…

Digital sources: dCS Rossini SACD/CD transport & Rossini DAC & Rossini Clock; EMM Labs DV2 DAC; Roon Nucleus+ music server with linear power supply; Linksys routers (2), Small Green Computer Sonore opticalModules (2), TP-Link gigabit Ethernet media converters plus multi-mode duplex fiber optic cable (2); Small Green Computer/ HDPlex four-component 200W linear power supply (3); external hard drives, SSD USB sticks, iPad Pro.
Power amplifiers: Dan D'Agostino Master Systems Progression monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia…

I measured the MBL Noble Line N11's performance with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"), repeating some of the tests with a loan sample of Audio Precision's more-recent, higher-performance APx555 system. As advised in the manual, using the front-panel menu, I deactivated all the N11's inputs other than one of the balanced inputs and the unbalanced CD1 input for the measurements. I performed all the testing with the N11 set to its recommended Unity Gain mode and its volume control set to its maximum in that mode, "70." I then…

Rather than continue the New Orleans piano tradition, Booker leapt forward and sideways, combining classical, jazz, blues, and R&B forms into a completely original music that earned him the nickname "The Bronze Liberace." His audacious virtuosity was difficult to capture in the studio, but 1982's Classified: Remixed and Expanded…

Manufactured and marketed by Spatial, Inc. for three years (the last reference I was able to find was the 1981 Audio magazine annual equipment guide), its claim to fame…

Turntable: VPI HW-19 Mk.II fitted with the Well-Tempered Arm and Ortofon X-5MC cartridge; CD player: Musical Concepts modified Magnavox 1040; Power amplifiers: Belles Model One, plus a 180Wpc amp of my own construction; Speakers: Legacy-1; Interconnects: Mogami Neglex; Speaker cable: LiveWire BC-4. The Spatial Coherence was auditioned alone and in a side-by-side comparison with a Harman/Kardon Citation 21.

Source material used: LPs: The Scott Hamilton Quintet in Concert (Concord Jazz CJ-233); The King James Version, Harry James and his Big Band (…

Description: Full-function solid-state preamplifier with two phono inputs, three line-level inputs, two tape loops with selectable two-way dubbing. Original published specifications: Frequency response: 10Hz–40kHz +0, –0.5dB. Max output: 10V. THD: 0.05%. IMD: 0.05%. Phono S/N ratio: 80dB. Measured performance (footnote 1): RIAA accuracy: R channel, –0.25dB at 20Hz, –0.75dB at 20kHz (net: ±1dB); L channel, –0.25dB at 20Hz, –0.25dB at 20kHz (net: ±0.5dB). Line level frequency response: R channel, 20Hz–30kHz, +0dB, –0.1dB; L channel, 20Hz–30kHz, +0.5dB, –0.1dB.…

Looking out that desk window, I notice also the spring-warmed radiance of the sun, the racing shadows of ravenous sparrows, and daffodils. Each one of those things, in its way, affects…