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A+:

Benchmark DAC3 HGC: $2399 (includes remote) $$$ ★
Benchmark DAC3 B: $1899 $$$ ★
Benchmark’s DAC3 HGC—the last three letters designate this as the audiophile version, with a headphone amp and two analog inputs—supports files up to 24/192 and DSD64, the latter as DoP (via USB). Bearing in mind the manufacturer’s suggestion that there should be no audible difference between their DAC1 and DAC3, Jim Austin wrote, “In fact, I found the sounds of the two DACs quite different. The DAC1 was brighter; … the DAC3 was all about depths, in several respects … I…

A+:

Ortofon MC Vertex: $16,999.99
See The Spin Doctor on p.37 of this issue. (Vol.49 No.10)

A:

Aidas AG-CU series Malachite Silver: $7025
Aidas CU-series Durawood: $5700
These hand-built, low-output moving coil cartridges from Lithuania use the same basic generator, boron cantilever, Alnico 5 magnet, and nude MicroLine stylus, but differ in the wire used to wind the coils and the material used for the cartridge body. The Durawood uses copper wire and a body made from multilayered wood; the Malachite uses silver-plated copper wire and…

A+:

CH Precision P1 Phono Stage: from $31,000. As reviewed, $48,500 ★
Built with a sleek aluminum-alloy case with no screws visible on any of its surfaces, the Swiss-made CH Precision P1 is no less sophisticated inside. This solid state phono preamplifier offers multiple inputs, two of which address current-amplification circuits—an approach that, according to Michael Fremer, produces “the best signal/noise ratios” and does not require cartridge loading to achieve flat response. For use with its voltage-amplification inputs, the P1…

A+:

BennyAudio Odyssey: $45,300 with 14" tonearm
This massive belt-drive turntable measures 15" wide × 10" high × 15" deep, and weighs 130 lb. The multilayer platter alone weighs more than 38 lb and is powered by a brushless three-phase, eight-pole, 20W motor via a Delrin pulley and a 3mm round, vinyl methyl silicone (VMQ) elastomer belt. The motor is governed by a custom-programmed microcontroller and features soft start and stop, continuous speed control via an open-loop system that monitors and corrects platter speed after each revolution, adaptive speed…

A:

Ampsandsound Yellowstone: $25,000
This massive tubed preamp uses two 12AX7 (ECC83) twin triodes for line-input voltage gain; one 12BH7 as a driver; two 12AX7s for phono-input voltage gain; and one 12BH7 as a driver. There are also two 5AR4 rectifiers. The phono stage also uses 1:9 and 1:18 Cinemag step-up transformers. Listening to the phono input, Ken Micallef found that the Yellowstone was among the most neutral and transparent amplification machines he’d heard in-house. “It adds just a touch of warmth,” he wrote, “giving music a sweet liquidity and…

A+:

Acoustic Signature TA-7000 NEO: $21,995 for 12" Silver, $19,995 for 9" Silver ★
The TA-7000 uses 4N silver internal wiring, a gimbaled ball/race bearing system, and a carbon-fiber armtube with an internal lattice structure that adds stiffness and damping. It is available with SME or Rega-type mounts and in 9" and 12" versions. The model reviewed was the 9", which conforms to the standard Rega geometry. It pays to be cautious when adjusting arm height, Michael Fremer advised, as the pillar goes, in a hair-turn of the grub screw, “from rock-solid secure to…

A (FULL RANGE):

Audiovector R8 Arreté: $86,600/pair includes Freedom Grounding Cables ★
Optional grounding cable adds $3850. (Vol.44 No.9 WWW)

Bang & Olufsen Beolab 90: $211,800/pair ★
(Vol.40 No.1 WWW)

Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 Signature: $60,000/pair
(Vol.47 No.3 WWW)

Dutch & Dutch 8c: $16,500/pair (stands necessary) ★
(Vol.42 No.8, Vol.43 No.4 WWW)

Dynaudio Confidence 30: $24,000/pair $$$ ★
(Vol.44 No.8 WWW)

EgglestonWorks Viginti: $46,998/pair ★
(Vol.41 No.6 WWW)

…

AcousTech The Big Record Brush: $36.95
With grounding wire: $52.99
This large-handled brush has soft bristles of both natural hairs and conductive synthetic fibers, and makes dusting LPs nearly foolproof. The 5.5"-wide bristle area easily spans the width of any LP’s grooved area. Version with ground wire ($52.99) does “a pretty effective job of dissipating static electricity,” Mikey said. (Vol.31 No.9)

Acoustic Signature Load S record weight: $949
The Load S is made from aluminum alloy, weighs 1.6 lb (715gm), and uses five of Acoustic Signature’s…

A+:

ampsandsound Bigger Ben: $6400
See “Integrated Amplifiers.” (Vol.47 No.11 WWW)

Ampsandsound Mogwai SE: $4500
Class A+ is as a headphone amp. Rating is Class A as a power amplifier. See Power Amplifiers. (Vol.48 No.12 WWW)

ampsandsound Red October SE: $14,000
ampsandsound Red October XL SE: $18,000
The low-gain, zero-feedback, dual-mono, single-ended triode Red October headphone amplifier uses a 300B tube for each channel’s transformer-coupled output, driven by a single 12AX7 double triode. The front…

Analysis Plus Silver Apex Interconnects: $1219.99 (1m pair) ★
The Analysis Plus Silver Apex uses as its conductor an oxygen-free copper “stabilizing strand” covered with pure silver, in an arrangement the manufacturer describes, somewhat elliptically (haw), as “a hollow oval cable inside a hollow oval cable inside a hollow oval cable,” said to be double shielded and thus quiet. And Michael Fremer found it to be so: In his words, the Silver Apex is “highly recommended!” (Vol.42 No.5)

Argento Audio Flow Ultima phono interconnect: $8850/1m pair
Flow Ultima is…