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Once hailed as the most expensive amplifier in domestic audio—a distinction that has long since passed by the wayside, even when one accounts for inflation—the legendary Audio Note (Japan) Ongaku was put through its paces in the Kondo room. Though designed as an integrated amp—its stereo pair of 211 tubes, run single-ended, offer 27Wpc—this Ongaku was being used as a power amplifier, by means of its direct inputs. Pricing information was unavailable at the time of my visit.
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I performed a full set of measurements on the T+A Symphonia using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system. I controlled the amplifier both with the front-panel controls and with the T+A Music Navigator G3 app, which I installed on my iPad mini after connecting the amplifier's Ethernet port to my network. With the network connection active, Roon recognized the processor as the Roon Ready "T+A Symphonia."
As the Symphonia appears to use a class-D output stage and because class-D amplifiers emit relatively high levels of ultrasonic noise that would drive my…
Photo: Tim McCusker.
Not many hi-fi dealerships can say they've survived half a century of history. Natural Sound, which is based in Framingham, Massachusetts, about 20 miles west of Boston, is one that can. Founded by Jim Lackey in 1975, Natural Sound turns 50 years old this November. Lackey continues as the company's owner and president, though General Manager Pete Chinigo manages everyday business. In a recent conversation with Chinigo, I learned more about how business is going and what it takes for a hi-fi store—Natural Sound and others—to continue surviving into an uncertain future…
Grado has announced the Signature S750 headphones, the third model in its Signature Line. At the heart of the S750 is an all-new S2 50mm driver paired with a newly developed "B" cushion, a combination designed to fine-tune the listening experience.
The S2 driver is built from the ground up by Grado. It features a carbon fiber and paper composite diaphragm mated to a lightweight copper-plated aluminum voice coil. Grado engineered the driver to deliver a natural presentation, with high definition and a wide dynamic range. The new drivers are housed in hand built all-aluminum open-back…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Streaming integrated amplifier with FM tuner. Output power: 250Wpc into 4 ohms, 125Wpc into 8 ohms (both equivalent to 21dBW). Frequency range: 1Hz–60kHz. Preamp S/N ratio: 105dB, unweighted; 109dB, A-weighted. Digital inputs: 1 standard S/PDIF (coax); 1 TosLink; 1 USB DAC; 1 HDMI ARC. Analog inputs: two pair single-ended on RCAs. Analog outputs: one pre-out; two subwoofer out (RCA). DAC with two 32-bit sigma-delta D/A converters per channel. PCM sampling rate up to 768kHz. DSD: single-bit D/A converter, up to DSD512. Signal processor with four…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Aurender A20 streamer and DAC. Grimm MU1. HiFi Rose RS520. Evernote DMP-A10. Sony S900ES SACD player. 16" MacBook Pro M1 Max running Roon 2.0. Roon ROCK (Lenovo ThinkCentre).
Preamplifiers: Benchmark HPA4 linestage. Quad 33 (2024).
Power amplifiers: Audia Flight FLS10, T+A R 2500 R integrateds. McIntosh MHA100 (headphone). Quad 303 monoblocks (2024).
Loudspeakers: Focal Utopia Scala Evo. Estelon X Diamond Mk II.
Headphones: Audeze LCD-4, HiFiMan Susvara Unveiled.
Cables: Loudspeaker: AudioQuest Thunderbird Zero.…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded standmount loudspeaker. Drive units: 7.1" (180mm) MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) NeoTec woofer with neodymium magnet system, 1.1" (28mm) Esotar 3 cloth-dome tweeter with Hexis inner-dome structure. Crossover frequency: 3.6kHz. Crossover topology: second-order. Frequency response: 50Hz–23kHz ±3dB, 43Hz–33kHz ±6dB. Impedance: 4 ohms. Minimum impedance: 4.6 ohms. Sensitivity: 86dB/2.83V/1m. IEC power handling: 180W.
Dimensions: 17.3" (440mm) H × 8.46" (215mm) W × 15.75" (400mm) D. Height on stands: 40.5" (1029mm). Weight: 32…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+ file server; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; MBL N31 CD player/DAC; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 A/D converter; NetGear Nighthawk router.
Power amplifiers: Parasound JCA100 Tribute monoblocks.
Integrated amplifiers: NAD M10, NAD M10 V3.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Contour 20, GoldenEar BRX, Magico S5 2024.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Vodka (Ethernet), AudioQuest Coffee (USB), DH Labs (1m, AES3). Interconnect: Ayre/Cardas (balanced). Speaker: AudioQuest Robin Hood. AC: AudioQuest Dragon Source & High Current;…