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The Wadia's error correction was good—the player produced no glitches in its analog output until track 32 of the Pierre Verany Test CD, which has 1.5mm gaps in the data spiral. Its maximum output level as supplied was 2.25V, with an almost perfect match between the channels. The output impedance was extraordinarily low, at less than 1 ohm (unbalanced), and still just 15 ohms from the balanced outputs. The player's output was absolute-polarity-correct from both sets of outputs, the balanced jacks being wired with pin 2 "hot."

All measurements were taken…

Fig.4 Wadia 830, right-channel departure from linearity (2dB/vertical div.).

Fig.5 Wadia 830, waveform of undithered 1kHz sinewave at -90.31dBFS, 16-bit data.

The 830's distortion levels were low and, as can be seen in fig.6, of low order, with the third harmonic predominating. This spectrum was taken from the unbalanced input;…

There are times when even I will…

On K&D's "Going Under," the Mac set out an amazing, hugely palpable and present male vocal replete with compelling lyrics. The fully formed, 3-D imagery was a pleasure to experience. Every acoustic element was cushioned in huge draughts of air limitless in scope. Skittering left and right across the soundstage of this track is a cymbal-like effect that makes a springy, silvery latticelike sound as it whips back and forth over the lyrics. The Mac sprinkled it so far beyond the speaker boundaries I had to crane my neck to…

The amplifier also excelled at tying all elements of a…

Description: Tubed stereo power amplifier. Tube complement: eight KT88 or 6550, four 12AX7A, two 12AT7. Inputs: RCA/XLR with mode switch. Output meters: left/right channels calibrated in W and dB, mode switch for peak hold and lights. Power output: 130Wpc (21.1dBW) into 8, 4, or 2 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz. Frequency response at 1W output: 20Hz-20kHz, -0.25dB; 10Hz-100kHz, -3dB. Harmonic distortion at any power level: 0.5%, 250mW to rated power per channel, 20Hz-20kHz. Maximum intermodulation distortion: 0.5%, if instantaneous peak power output doesn't exceed twice the…

Analog source: SpJ tonearm, La Luce turntable. Cartridges: Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, Forsell Air Force One, van den Hul Grasshopper IV Gold, Clearaudio Insider.
Digital source: dCS 972 D/D converter, dCS Elgar D/A converter, both running at 24-bit/192kHz, Burmester 969 and Forsell Air Reference CD transports.
Preamplifiers: BAT VK-50SE/VK-P-10, Mark Levinson No.32 Reference.
Power amplifiers: Linn Klimax Solo 500s, Forsell Statement, Accuphase M-2000.
Loudspeakers: JMlab Utopias.
Cables: Interconnects: Synergistic Designer's…

Unless otherwise noted, the measurements given are for balanced operation. Also, unless noted otherwise, 8 ohm measurements were made from the 8 ohm output terminal, 4 ohm measurements from the 4 ohm terminal, and 2 ohm measurements from the 2 ohm terminal.

Due to a mix-up in returning the MC2000's tubes to their storage box after the photo shoot for this issue's cover—which preceded the taking of these measurements—it's possible that one or more tubes were not correctly placed in their specified locations during this testing. In theory, at least, this…

Fig.4 McIntosh MC2000, balanced, THD+noise (%) vs frequency at (…