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Back at the end of September 2005, I dropped by Jonathan and Kathleen Scull's Chelsea loft after work. I can't remember why; I think I was returning some gear. But we had also just finished shipping the 2006 Stereophile Buyer's Guide to the printer that day, and it was possible that I needed some high-quality musical R'n'R. Sitting in Jonathan's listening seat—the legendary Ribbon Chair"—and enjoying the sound of his system, I flashed on the days when he worked for Stereophile full-time and I occasionally used to pop round to his place, just two blocks away from what was then our office, on…
It's music that matters, of course, and good grief, how this speaker loved piano music. I slid Emanuel Ax playing Brahms' Handel Variations and the two Op.79 Rhapsodies (CD, Sony Classical SK 40486) into the Ayre C-5xe universal player. The freedom to the sound of the piano on this recording was reproduced pretty much in full measure by the Electra. The highs sounded airy, the midrange clean and uncolored, and the lows relatively weighty for a small speaker. I worked on the master of Robert Silverman's new recording of Beethoven's Diabelli Variations (Stereophile STPH017-2) while preparing…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Stand-mounted, reflex-loaded, two-way loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" beryllium inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5" W-cone woofer. Crossover frequency: 2kHz. Frequency response: 46Hz–40kHz, –3dB. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Sensitivity: 89dB/W/m. Maximum power handling: 90W continuous.
Dimensions: 15.2" (385mm) H by 10.375" (264mm) W by 15" (380mm) D (with terminals). Weight: 33 lbs (15kg).
Finishes: Gloss black and aluminum baffle, with wooden side cheeks (rosewood or cherry).
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 10A00004 11 & 12.
Price: $3995…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe universal player; Olive Symphony, Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 media servers; Mark Levinson No.30.6, Benchmark DAC 1, Grace m902 D/A processors; Alesis MasterLink hard-drive recorder.
Preamplifiers: No.326S, No.32 Reference.
Power Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.33H monoblocks.
Cables: Digital: Kimber Illuminations Orchid AES/EBU, AudioQuest SVD-4 S/PDIF, OptiLink 5 TosLink. Interconnect: AudioQuest Cheetah, Madrigal CZ Gel-1, Ayre Signature Series, Crystalconnect, Canare (balanced); DiMarzio, Canare (unbalanced). Speaker…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Electra 1007 Be was of average voltage sensitivity, at an estimated 88dB(B)/2.83V/m. Its impedance (fig.1) covered a wide range, with a minimum value of 4.3 ohms at 200Hz and a maximum value in the low treble of 21.5 ohms at 3kHz. With amplifiers having a high source impedance, such as typical tubed designs, this will tend to tilt up the speaker's response at high frequencies. The saddle in the impedance-magnitude trace at 52Hz indicates the tuning frequency of the rectangular, rear-facing port.
Fig.1 Focal Electra 1007 Be, electrical…
I'm a tinkerer. From homemade audio isolation and room-treatment products to a local area network (LAN) connecting my Macintosh laptops, I'm always building or modifying something. One of my latest projects is a combination of parts swaps and custom-machined bits to better adapt the ergonomics of my exotic Italian Bimota motorcycle to my distinctly un-Italian 6'3" frame. But regardless of what I'm into, I can't resist the urge to tinker.
Harry Weisfeld, the man behind VPI, is also a tinkerer, of which the evolution of his TNT turntable provides ample evidence (footnote 1). There…
Setup
The Hot Rod replaced my TNT V in my system, and has overlapped a number of system changes and other reviews. I began my listening using a Grado Reference cartridge, but upgraded midway to the wonderful new Statement Reference, both feeding my VAC CPA1 Mk.III preamplifier or the Conrad-Johnson Premier 15/17LS combination.
The Hot Rod replaced my TNT V in my system, and has overlapped a number of system changes and other reviews. I began my listening using a Grado Reference cartridge, but upgraded midway to the wonderful new Statement Reference, both feeding my VAC CPA1 Mk.III preamplifier or the Conrad-Johnson Premier 15/17LS combination.
The TNT-HR's integrated tonearm and deletion of the tri-pulley assembly made setting it up a snap. Similarly, adjusting and using the 'table were straightforward and intuitive. A few points bear mention, however. First, the TNT likes to be level—really level—…
Another area where the new rig improved on the previous version was in its reproduction of transients. Leading edges of notes, from the very soft to the loudest, most explosive crescendo, were all a little sharper and cleaner than before. As a result, the HR's overall presentation seemed tighter, but without losing any of the TNT's beguiling coherence and effortless, relaxed feel. It just sounded as if everyone had sharpened up their playing ever so slightly, or was having one of those days when everything just clicks.
I don't know if the HR/12.5's added detail and precision resulted…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Integrated manual, belt-drive turntable-tonearm combination.
Prices: TNT V-HR, including JMW 12.5 tonearm, $8000. Tonearm only, $2800. Optional SDS motor/speed controller, $1000 ($800 if purchased with turntable). Approximate number of dealers: 69. Warranty: 5 years, turntable & tonearm.
Manufacturer: VPI Industries, 77 Cliffwood Ave. #3B, Cliffwood, NJ 07721. Tel: (732) 583-6895. Fax: (732) 946-8578. Web: www.vpiindustries.com .
Sidebar: Associated Equipment
Analog source: Grado Statement Reference, The Reference, Benz-Micro LO4 cartridges.
Digital source: Wadia 861, Simaudio Moon Eclipse CD players.Preamplifier: VAC CPA1 Mk.III, Conrad-Johnson Premier 15 phono stage and Premier 17 line stage.
Power amplifiers: Classé CAM-350, Mark Levinson No.20.6, and VTL Ichiban monoblocks, VAC Renaissance 70/70.
Loudspeakers: Magnepan MG3.6/R, Impact Technologies Airfoil 5.2.
Cables: Nirvana SX Ltd., Nordost Valhalla, Synergistic Research Designer's Reference and Resolution Reference, Alpha-Core Micro-Purl, TQ2,…