Fig.8 Linn Numerik, frequency response (top) and de-emphasis error (bottom) (right channel dashed, 0.5dB/vertical div.).
Fig.9 Linn…
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Fig.8 is the Numerik's frequency response and de-emphasis error. The processor rolls off half a dB at 20kHz, and the de-emphasis circuit has a 0.3dB positive error in the treble. The result will be a slight brightening of the sound when playing those rare discs recorded with emphasis. Crosstalk performance (fig.9) was excellent, with 100dB of channel separation at 1kHz, and holding to better than 100dB at any audio frequency.
Sidebar 4: Specifications
Description: Remote-controlled two-box (transport and processor) CD player. Conversion: dual 20-bit ladder DACs. Digital filtering: 8x-oversampling. Audio specifications: none provided.
Dimensions: 12.5" W by 3" H by 13" D (each box, not including rear-panel connectors).
Price: $5590. Approximate number of US dealers: 100.
Manufacturer: Linn Products Ltd., Floors Road, Waterfoot, Glasgow, Scotland G76 0EP, UK. Web: www.linn.co.uk. US Distributor: Audiophile Systems, Indianapolis, IN (1992); Linn Inc., 8787 Perimeter Park Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL…
ZAPPA: The Yellow Shark
Ensemble Modern; Peter Rundel, Frank Zappa, conductors
Barking Pumpkin R2 71600 (CD only). Frank Zappa, prod.; Spencer Chrislu, Harry Andronis, Dave Dondorf, engs.; Todd Yvega, Synclavier asst. DDD. TT: 72:00
Ensemble Modern; Peter Rundel, Frank Zappa, conductors
Barking Pumpkin R2 71600 (CD only). Frank Zappa, prod.; Spencer Chrislu, Harry Andronis, Dave Dondorf, engs.; Todd Yvega, Synclavier asst. DDD. TT: 72:00
This live recording was culled from seven September 1992 concerts given in Vienna, Berlin, and Frankfurt by the Ensemble Modern, a Frankfurt-based chamber orchestra that performs only contemporary music. Unlike most other performances of Zappa's music by conservatory (ie, "classical") ensembles, which have often been little more than public-relations…
Letters? Boy, did we get letters last year when we ran the very first "Records to Die For": subscription renewals, subscription cancellations, groveling gratitude, death threats, paeans, pans, madness, ecstasy, invitations to any number of sanity hearings (we sent our regrets)---and that was just from our own staff. How could we not do it again?
And here we go---"Records to Die For II," guaranteed to tickle or offend almost everyone. As in "RTDF I," which appeared just over a year ago in the January 1991 issue, our writers' choices were narrowed down to impeccable performances recorded in…
Peter Van Willenswaard
A preliminary remark. Within the realm of this "Recommended Recordings" series I cannot recommend any of the recordings discussed below in the CD format. Although my writings in "Industry Update" quite regularly deal with digital audio, and quite enthusiastically so because of the interesting and often promising developments in that area, no CD that I know of, played through any D/A equipment that I know of, even comes near to what many LPs do to me. I like good CDs, but I love good records. On the occasional evening that I am free of my reviewer's duties and find…
A preliminary remark. Within the realm of this "Recommended Recordings" series I cannot recommend any of the recordings discussed below in the CD format. Although my writings in "Industry Update" quite regularly deal with digital audio, and quite enthusiastically so because of the interesting and often promising developments in that area, no CD that I know of, played through any D/A equipment that I know of, even comes near to what many LPs do to me. I like good CDs, but I love good records. On the occasional evening that I am free of my reviewer's duties and find…
Denis Stevens
ENSEMBLE HUELGAS: O cieco mondo
The Italian Lauda, c.1400-1700
Ensemble Huelgas, Paul van Nevel, dir. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 7865-2-RC (CD only). Wolf Erichson, prod.; Andreas Neubronner, eng. DDD. TT: 60:53 I began producing broadcasts of early medieval music in 1949 on the UK's BBC Third Programme, and my standards, like its, became almost impossibly high. Because of this background I judge more recent attempts with severity, for beyond the expected excellence of sound quality, I await a superlative performance allied to program-building of impeccable taste. In…
ENSEMBLE HUELGAS: O cieco mondo
The Italian Lauda, c.1400-1700
Ensemble Huelgas, Paul van Nevel, dir. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 7865-2-RC (CD only). Wolf Erichson, prod.; Andreas Neubronner, eng. DDD. TT: 60:53 I began producing broadcasts of early medieval music in 1949 on the UK's BBC Third Programme, and my standards, like its, became almost impossibly high. Because of this background I judge more recent attempts with severity, for beyond the expected excellence of sound quality, I await a superlative performance allied to program-building of impeccable taste. In…
Markus Sauer
When I got Richard Lehnert's fax telling me I was invited to contribute to this year's edition of Stereophile's "Recommended Recordings" feature, the first thing I did was to dig out the first installment in the January 1991 issue. I wanted to see what my fellow contributors recommended last year in order to avoid duplicating their choices.
When I got Richard Lehnert's fax telling me I was invited to contribute to this year's edition of Stereophile's "Recommended Recordings" feature, the first thing I did was to dig out the first installment in the January 1991 issue. I wanted to see what my fellow contributors recommended last year in order to avoid duplicating their choices.
Damn. Miles Davis's Kind of Blue and Weather Report's Heavy Weather were mentioned, as were Andreas Vollenweider's Caverna Magica, Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland, Italian Violin Music on Edition Open Window, Respighi's Pines and…
Thomas J. Norton
As I stated last time around, my selections follow a self-imposed criterion: they must be easily obtainable, which largely limits me to CDs. A rather looser requirement on performance might enable me to recommend a number of audiophile recordings; a looser one on sound might, more importantly, enable me to sneak in a recommendation of the 1962 von Karajan Tosca on London LP or CD, the original London cast recording of Miss Saigon, or the astonishing Kleiber Beethoven Fourth (with the Seventh) on, of all things, a Philips video laserdisc, any of which knock me out…
As I stated last time around, my selections follow a self-imposed criterion: they must be easily obtainable, which largely limits me to CDs. A rather looser requirement on performance might enable me to recommend a number of audiophile recordings; a looser one on sound might, more importantly, enable me to sneak in a recommendation of the 1962 von Karajan Tosca on London LP or CD, the original London cast recording of Miss Saigon, or the astonishing Kleiber Beethoven Fourth (with the Seventh) on, of all things, a Philips video laserdisc, any of which knock me out…
Lewis Lipnick
GEORGE LLOYD: Symphony 5
George Lloyd, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Albany Records Troy 022-2 (CD only). Tony Faulkner, eng.; Martin Compton, prod. DDD. TT: 56:28 One of my colleagues in the National Symphony, Edward Skidmore, discovered this recording, for which I shall remain forever grateful. This five-movement symphonic masterpiece (completed in 1947) comes from the pen of a seriously underrated 20th-century composer. Faintly reminiscent of Vaughan-Williams's pastoral style, with a hint of Richard Strauss's rich orchestral scoring, the Fifth stands as one of the…
GEORGE LLOYD: Symphony 5
George Lloyd, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Albany Records Troy 022-2 (CD only). Tony Faulkner, eng.; Martin Compton, prod. DDD. TT: 56:28 One of my colleagues in the National Symphony, Edward Skidmore, discovered this recording, for which I shall remain forever grateful. This five-movement symphonic masterpiece (completed in 1947) comes from the pen of a seriously underrated 20th-century composer. Faintly reminiscent of Vaughan-Williams's pastoral style, with a hint of Richard Strauss's rich orchestral scoring, the Fifth stands as one of the…
Richard Lehnert
SHIRLEY HORN: You Won't Forget Me
Shirley Horn, voice, piano; Charles Ables, bass; Steve Williams, drums. With: Miles Davis, trumpet; Buck Hill, trumpet; Branford Marsalis, tenor saxophone; Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Toots Thielmans, harmonica, guitar; Buster Williams, bass; Billy Hart, drums
Verve Digital 847 482-2 (CD only). Richard Seidel, Joel Siegel, prods.; David Baker, eng. DDD. TT: 71:13 Amazing singing---guts, heart, and brains all the way down---quintessential jazz conversation that feels like someone crawled upside your heart to deliver intimate…
SHIRLEY HORN: You Won't Forget Me
Shirley Horn, voice, piano; Charles Ables, bass; Steve Williams, drums. With: Miles Davis, trumpet; Buck Hill, trumpet; Branford Marsalis, tenor saxophone; Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Toots Thielmans, harmonica, guitar; Buster Williams, bass; Billy Hart, drums
Verve Digital 847 482-2 (CD only). Richard Seidel, Joel Siegel, prods.; David Baker, eng. DDD. TT: 71:13 Amazing singing---guts, heart, and brains all the way down---quintessential jazz conversation that feels like someone crawled upside your heart to deliver intimate…