The PhD runs on 16 alkaline "D" cells. (I didn't compare the sound of Energizers to the sound of Duracells, but you're welcome to do so and report back.) As we all know, and as Ron Sutherland explains in the instructions, an amplifier doesn't make a signal "bigger," but basically modulates the output of the power supply—…
In his "Analog Corner" in the January 2004 Stereophile (Vol.27 No.1), Michael Fremer found a lot to like about Ron Sutherland's ultraslick PhD phono preamplifier, calling it "one of the best-sounding phono preamplifiers I've heard" and noting that, in some areas, he'd "not heard better performance from any phono preamp." In particular, MF was taken by the PhD's transparency and its lack of background noise and electronic detritus, and pointed out its purity of tone and "luscious, liquid, velvety midband response, and ultra-…
Description: Battery-powered phono preamplifier. Inputs/outputs: 1 each, unbalanced (RCA). Input impedance: user-adjustable, 100 or 200 ohms, 1k or 47k ohms. THD+noise: <0.02%, A-weighted. Noise: <150µV, A-weighted, 47k ohms @ 50dB gain. Battery life: >800 hours actual listening time. Status indicators: Green (power on), Yellow (standby/signal monitor), Red (low batteries).
Dimensions: 17" (431mm) W by 4" (101mm) H by 14" (355mm) D. Weight: 38 lbs (17.3kg).
Serial number of unit reviewed: None indicated.
Price: $3000. Approximate number of…
Analog Source: VPI HR-X turntable & tonearm; Lyra Titan, Grado Statement Reference cartridges.
Digital Sources: Burmester 001, Ensemble Dirondo CD players.
Preamplification: VTL TL-7.5 line stage; Sonic Euphoria PLC, Placette Remote Volume Control passive line stages; Ensemble Fonobrio phono preamp; Burmester 011 preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: VTL S-400, Simaudio Moon Rock, Mark Levinson No.20.6 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Thiel CS6.
Cables: Nirvana S-X Ltd., Audience Au24, Nordost Valhalla, Silversmith Silver interconnects and…
Though not obviously colored, the Whest PS.20 did sound a bit electronic—it simply wasn't as "free of electronic detritus" as MF had described the Sutherland PhD in his January 2004 column (Vol.27 No.1).
Perhaps the essence of this "Follow-Up" to Michael Fremer's review of the Whest PS.20 + MSU.20 can be gleaned from our comparisons of it and the Sutherland PhD. I agree with MF that some listeners will prefer the Whest's more dynamic presentation, others the PhD's purity and "mesmerizing flow." I…
The PhD's plug-in modules made it very easy to perform complete sets of measurements in all its various modes. I used an almost fresh set of batteries to power it.
The voltage gain at 1kHz accurately conformed to the specified figures. I measured 45.6dB ("45"), 49.7dB ("50"), 55.05dB ("55"), and 61.1dB ("60"). The input impedance (at 1kHz) also accurately tracked the specification: 99.8 ohms ("100"), 199.4 ohms ("200"), 973.9 ohms ("1k"), and 43k ohms ("47k"). The PhD's output impedance was usefully low, at 251 ohms across the audioband. However, there was…
But a glance under the Caliburn's shiny skin reveals a clever, purposeful design based on rigorous scientific methodology…
The bearing shaft itself is a single, massive unit 5" long and 1…
A tonearm's antiskating force needs to gradually increase across the plane of play, in order to compensate for the increasing…