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The Doors flew like a comet across the rock/pop universe, running only four and a half years and six studio albums with lead singer/poet/shaman Jim Morrison. L.A. Woman, their last album, marked a hard turn back to the rock and blues basics from whence they sprang in 1966 as a hot bar band on Sunset Strip. It is a masterpiece, a hit out of the gate that has grown in stature over time. Morrison took a…

I warned Art that this could be a problem because I only like class-A amplifiers, "and they all weigh more than that." Art rolled his eyes, turned his head toward the…

Patiently, gently, and mindfully, I removed the Mullards, then, even more carefully, I inserted the JJ 12AT7s. Voila, a new amp was born.

The sound-character change was significant, as Luca had predicted. The Levante…

Description: Hybrid (tube-BJT-MOSFET) stereo integrated amplifier with no global feedback, output switchable between class-A and class-AB. Analog inputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR), 4 pair unbalanced (RCA). Outputs: 1 pair 3-way loudspeaker binding posts; one ¼" (6.3mm) unbalanced headphone output. Output power: 30Wpc into 8 ohms (14.8dBW) in class-A, 120Wpc into 8 ohms (20.8dBW) in class-AB, 200Wpc into 4 ohms (20dBW).
Dimensions: 17.3" (440mm) W × 5.1" (195mm) H × 19.3" (490mm) D. Weight: 66lb (30kg).
Finish: Metallic Sand Gloss/Gold or Dark Titanium/Silver…

Analog sources: Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable with Schick 10.5" tonearm, Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Ex moving coil cartridges; EMIA, Koetsu, and Lundahl LL1931Ag SUTs, EAR Phono Classic, Sutherland Engineering Little Loco phono stages.
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+ music server; HoloAudio May (Level 3) D/A processor; Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, dCS Bartók DAC/Streamer with Mosaic control app.
Integrated amplifiers: Pass Labs INT-25, Rogue Audio Sphinx V3, RAAL-requisite HSA-1b.
Power amplifier:…

When I unpacked the Riviera Levante amplifier and lifted it onto the test bench, it struck me that this is actually eight amplifiers in one. It has balanced and single-ended line-level inputs. Its output stage can be operated in class-A or class-AB. It was supplied with two choices for the two input stage ECC81/12AT7 tubes: vintage Mullards or modern JJs. Add to those variations that the Levante has a headphone output and an optional phono stage (not fitted to the review sample), and it became clear that I had a lot of testing ahead of me.

I decided to…

However, I recently installed Dirac Live 3, which effectively reduces the available system gain by almost 20dB! In my salad days, I would have designed and built a balanced driver with gain for…

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Description: Stereo line-level preamplifier with remote control and relay-selected resistor arrays for level control. Inputs: 1 pair RCA (unbalanced), 1 pair XLR (balanced). Input impedance: 2k ohms. Input sensitivity: 9.2V @ 0dB. Outputs: 1 pair RCA (unbalanced), 1 pair XLR (balanced). Output impedance: 20 ohms (RCA), 40 ohms (XLR). Gain: –99dB to +10dB (RCA output), –93dB to +16dB (XLR output). Maximum output level: 25V (RCA), 50V (XLR). DC offset at output: <1mV RMS. Frequency response: 20Hz–100kHz, ±0.1dB. Channel separation: >130dB (1kHz). THD+N (1kHz…

Digital sources: Oppo Digital UDP-105 universal disc player, custom , exaSound s88 streaming DAC and Okto DAC8 PRO D/A processors. QNAP TVS-873 NAS.
Preamplifiers: Coleman Audio 7.1SW for source switching, Pass Laboratories XP-32.
Power amplifiers: Benchmark AHB2, NAD C 298.
Loudspeakers: Revel Ultima2 Studio with IsoAcoustics Gaia I isolation feet. Revel Performa3 f206 for surrounds. Two SVS SB-3000 & one SB-2000Pro subwoofers.
Cables: Digital cables: AudioQuest Coffee (USB). Analog interconnects: Benchmark Studio&Stage XLR-XLR,…