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Nothing about Alice Phoebe Lou's musical career reflects industry norms. She maintains complete control over every aspect of her work, from creation to release. The result is always original and fascinating. Lou is at her best when she has an…

As it happened, yes it was a coincidence. True, my music was pretty loud, and the bass from the Piega Premium Wireless 701 loudspeaker system ($7495/pair) was anything but reticent, especially considering the tower's sleek appearance. But I was not the source of the specific noise that caused the complaint. That was the sloppy bass from another neighbor's inferior sound system. (The bass from this Piega system isn't sloppy.)

And yet, when…

As mentioned earlier, in regular use, the active 701 speakers receive wireless input from the Connect…

Piega 701 wireless active loudspeaker: Two-and-a-half–way active, reflex-loaded loudspeaker system. Drive-units: LDR 3056 ribbon tweeter; (2) 140mm MDS midrange/bass. Frequency range: 34Hz–35kHz. Amplifier power: 200W. Inputs: Wi-Fi and unbalanced analog line-level (RCA).
Dimensions: 41.7" (1060mm) × 7.1" (180mm) × 9.1" (230mm). Weight: 62lb (28kg).
Finishes: Anodized, Black, White.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 8192, 8194. Designed and built in Switzerland.
Price: $7495/pair. (For US market, price includes one Connect). Approximate number of…

Digital sources: MBL N31 CD player/DAC, Hegel H90 integrated amplifier (internal DAC).
Analog sources: MoFi UltraDeck+ turntable and tonearm with UltraTracker MM cartridge, Clearaudio Performance DC Wood turntable with Tracer tonearm and Talismann MC cartridge.
Preamplification: Clearaudio Balance V2 phonostage, MoFi StudioPhono phonostage.
Cables: Cardas Audio Clear Reflection C7 power cables, Ansuz Acoustics, AudioQuest, and Morrow Audio (interconnects and other cabling).
Accessories: AudioQuest Niagara 1000 Low-Z Power Noise-Dissipation…

I first looked at the behavior of the Piega Connect wireless control unit, using my Audio Precision SYS2722 analyzer. Measured at its analog output jacks in variable mode, this had a maximum gain of 0.3dB. The fixed mode offered the same 0.3dB gain. The analog input clipped at 2.2V. A 1kHz signal at –12dBFS at the coaxial and optical digital inputs resulted in a level at the analog outputs of 534mV, suggesting that the Connect's gain architecture is very similar for both analog and digital signals. Both digital inputs locked on to data sampled at rates from 44.…

I chose the Sphinx because it was a hybrid tube–class-D design that, to my ears, blended French-wine tube flavor with the grip and authority of class-D solid-stateness. The Sphinx was proletariat, not patrician, but it still showed me the merry music of Paris during La…

The Sphinx V3's MM/MC phono input did proclaim the virtues of analog.

Back to the Maggies
I connected the $995 Mytek HiFi Liberty DAC into the $1595 Rogue Sphinx…

Description: Hybrid integrated amplifier with 12AU7 tubes in line stage and class-D output stage. Power output: 100Wpc into 8 ohms (20dBW), 200Wpc into 4 ohms (20dBW). THD: <0.1% typical, <1% at rated power. Frequency response: 5Hz–20kHz, ±1dB. Input sensitivity: 1.0V RMS. Power requirements: 115/230V–50/60Hz.
Dimensions: 15.5" (400mm) W × 5" (130mm) H × 17" (435mm) D. Weight: 25 lbs (11.4kg) net, 30 lbs (13.6kg) shipping.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 3057.
Price: $1595 with remote volume control. Approximate number of dealers: 50. Warranty…

Analog Sources: turntable (see J.Sikora Initial turntable with Jelco TK-850M tonearm, Ortofon 2M Black and Hana EL phono cartridges.
Digital Sources: Mytek HiFi Liberty DAC; Integra DPS-7.2 CD player used as transport.
Integrated Amplifier: Rogue Audio Sphinx.
Loudspeakers: Harbeth M30.2. P3ESR, Magnepan .7, KEF LS50.
Headphones: HiFiMan HE6se, ZMF Vérité.
Cables: Interconnect: Cardas Iridium. Speaker: Cardas Clear Cygnus.
Accessories: AudioQuest's Niagara 1000, PS Audio PerfectWave PowerBase; Sound Anchor speaker stands; Dr.…