The LAiV Harmony GaNM monoblock
Opening a LAiV product box is a step-by-step graphically…
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The first thing I noticed about the LAiV Audio GaNM monoblock amplifier ($4694/pair; footnote 1) is its unusual shape and size; it occupies space differently than the other, more basic amplifiers on my rack. The GaNMs sat there giving off a megalithic vibe. In either of their two finishes (silver and gold or black and gold), the solidity and seriousness of their sculptural form upstaged any glamor effects offered by their glossy OLED front panel, deeply engraved top-plate logo, and gold accents.
When auditioning a new audio component, I invariably start with some ideas about what I should listen for, based on my preconceptions about the pitfalls and propensities of products in its category. For example, with single-ended triode amplifiers, I listen first for punch and transient definition in the lower octaves. With solid state amplifiers, I check for realistic tone and air in the upper octaves. With digital, I'm listening for sound that's awake and unprocessed. With every component, I start by hoping I can spot their colorations and assess their level of importance.
I could not…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I examined the SPL Performer s900's behavior on the test bench with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. Before I started the testing, I removed the two transit bolts on the bottom panel then preconditioned the amplifier by operating it at one-eighth the specified power into 8 ohms for 30 minutes. At the end of that time, the temperature of the perforated top panel was 139.6°F/58.9°C. This amplifier runs hot!
The Performer s900 has both balanced and single-ended inputs. I performed a full set of measurements at the balanced inputs, repeating some tests at the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Class-AB solid state power amplifier. Output power: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW), 370Wpc into 4 ohms (22.67dBW), 420Wpc into 2 ohms (20.2dBW) at <0.07% THD at 1kHz. Output voltage: 40.2V RMS. Damping factor: >280. Gain: 26dB. Input impedance: 20k ohms. Input sensitivity: 8dBu, trimmers to –5.5dB in 0.5dB steps. Output impedance: <0.035 ohm. Frequency range: 10Hz–80kHz. Noise (A-weighted): –123dB. Connections and rear-panel controls: IEC power socket; XLR balanced and RCA single-ended inputs (switchable); input trimmers; speaker outs with…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Technics SL-1200MKV turntable with KAB 3-speed mod, fluid damping, and tonearm wiring; Hana SL MK II cartridge.
Digital sources: dCS Bartók APEX, Cambridge Audio MXN10, Lynx Hilo.
Preamplifiers: Benchmark LA-4, McIntosh MA6500 (line); Pro-Ject Phono Box RS2 (phono).
Power amplifiers: Benchmark AHB2, Aragon 8002.
Loudspeakers: Bowers & Wilkins 808, Amphion Two18, Amphion One18.
Accessories: Butcherblock Acoustics equipment rack, SME turntable cable, various cables and connectors made by Belden, Canare, Mogami,…
I am not big on streaming overall, but I do like to find new releases on Qobuz, enjoy the live feed from the Berlin Philharmonic via their Digital Concert Hall, and sample multichannel music on Apple Music. If I really like something, I buy discs or downloads to add to my local collection. (Usually I can find one or the other.) Unless you already have a big library—a huge library—streaming has its attractions. Plus, I must admit, as much as I dislike the cheesy adjective, audio streamers are hot!
And why not? They efficiently encapsulate so many functions that one might regard a…
In building my listening systems over the years, my primary goal has been to hear as much of the source recordings, and as little of the system itself, as possible. Every piece of every system imposes its own sound to some degree onto what comes out of the speakers. I don't only mean obvious, measurable things like distortion, noisefloor, S/N ratio, and so on. Those matter, certainly, but there are also things we hear but aren't usually measured, likely having to do with how the components in a system interact.
I've never not heard differences when I've changed pieces in my reference…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
After I connected the Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition Gen 2's Ethernet port to my router and installed the Eversolo Control app on my iPad mini, the app informed me that the processor was running software version v1.5.75. Roon recognized the Eversolo as an MQA decoder and renderer that would handle 32-bit network PCM data with sample rates up to 384kHz. I connected my MacBook Pro to the Eversolo's USB port; Apple's USB Prober app identified the processor as "Eversolo DMP-A6" from "MQA" and confirmed that the USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous…
I first saw Benchmark's AHB2 stereo power amplifier at the 2013 Convention of the Audio Engineering Society, in New York City. On silent display in Benchmark's booth on the convention floor, its compact size and comprehensive features made the amp immediately attractive, and the design was described as a departure from traditional analog and digital amplifiers (footnote 1, more on that later). It was also explained to me that the AHB2 was based on designs by Benchmark's founder, Allen H. Burdick (whose initials it bears). By the time of Burdick's retirement, in 2006, Benchmark didn't yet…
David Gordon, Brand Ambassador of Audio Research.
Valerio Cora, who served for four years as executive leader of Minnesota-based Audio Research Corporation, founded Toronto-based loudspeaker company Acora Acoustics in 2018, and was a minority investor in both companies, has been relieved of his responsibilities.
"Acora Acoustics and Audio Research Corporation are separate businesses," reads a press release issued July 2. "Audio Research's operations, product development, dealer support, service, and warranty support continue independently."
Roger Hwang of…