Analog source: Simon Yorke turntable; Graham 2.2, Immedia RPM2 tonearms; Transfiguration Temper W, Lyra Helikon mono, Lyra Titan cartridges; Linn combo of Sondek, Ekos, Aktiva, Lingo, Linto.
Digital source: Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD player, dCS Verdi-Purcell-Elgar SACD combo.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, ASR Basis Exclusive phono sections; Halcro dm10 preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: Halcro dm68, Musical Fidelity KW monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Avanti III, Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy 7.
Cables: Phono: Hovland Music Groove,…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The big Pass Labs XA160 ran very warm, its chassis being almost too hot to touch after the usual one-hour preconditioning at one-third power (53W) into 8 ohms. Interestingly, the distortion rose very slightly during that period, from 0.14% to 0.2%, but as it plateau'd rather than continuing to rise, I imagine this reflects the amplifier's transfer function settling in as the active devices came up to their operating temperatures.
The XA160's voltage gain into 8 ohms was 26.25dB for both balanced and unbalanced signals. (I shorted pins 1 and 3 of the XLR…
And that goes for the rest of your playback chain. Cable a little bright? Cover your ears! Get that unique Hammond tonewheel character right and pleasing, and you're saying something. The Hammond sound was simply incredible through the No.32/Klimax kombo, all lashed up with Synergistic Research Designer's Reference Active Shielding and Nordost SPM Reference on the Utopias: extended, linear, powerful, yet perfectly integrated into the rest of the frequency spectrum. And yes, with just a hint of sweetness at the very top, like a cherry perched on that dessert you'd better not be thinkin' of…
Why even put it that way? Because I think the idea of "where it lives" is important, and relates to that primitive sense humans seem to have for sound and music. It's alive! The closer a component gets you to that feeling, the better it is, in my book. I was completely captivated listening to "Secretly Happy" from Fascinoma. At that point, I'd have told anyone how happy I was!
Spoiled. K-10 and I are so spoiled.
Studio Traps or no, I found the very top of the No.32's frequency band a hair less alight and bright than those of some other preamps. But again, the beauty of the…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Line-level preamplifier with optional phono stage. Inputs: 3 pairs balanced (XLR), 5 pairs single-ended (RCA, optional), 2 pairs phono (XLR or RCA), 2 Controller/DC cable connectors, ground terminal. Outputs: 2 pairs balanced (XLR), 2 pairs single-ended (RCA), 1 pair record-out (XLR), 2 pairs record-out (RCA). Controller connectors: IEC AC mains receptacle, ground terminal, 2 Controller/DC cable connectors, three 3.5mm mini-jacks (for IR input, trigger out, trigger in), 3 Mark Levinson Link communications connectors, 6-pin RJ-11 RS-232 port, two 8-…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog source: SpJ tonearm/La Luce turntable; Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, Forsell Air Force One, van den Hul Grasshopper IV Gold, Clearaudio Insider cartridges.
Digital source: dCS 972 D/D converter and Elgar D/A converter at 24-bit/192kHz; Burmester 969, Forsell Air Reference CD transports.
Power amplifiers: Linn Klimax Solo 500 monoblocks, Accuphase M2000, McIntosh MC2000.
Loudspeakers: JMlab Utopia.
Cables: Interconnects: Cardas Golden Reference, Synergistic Research Designer's Reference Active Shielding, XLO The Limited, TARA The…
Sidebar 3: Nos.32 & 380S
After I reviewed the "S" revision of the previous top-of-the-line Mark Levinson preamplifier, the No.380 (Stereophile, November 1997, Vol.20 No.11), I bought the review sample. Naturally, therefore, I was interested in hearing how the $14,950 No.32 Reference stacked up against the $6495 No.380S. So I arranged to use the review sample of the No.32 for a few weeks before it needed to be sent to Jonathan's Manhattan loft. I left the preamp warming up for two days before I did any serious listening, and the formal comparisons were performed just before it was…
Sidebar 4: Measurements
Unless otherwise noted, the measurements presented are for balanced operation in the standard gain settings (+6dB balanced, +12dB unbalanced), the level control set to maximum.
The output impedance of the Mark Levinson No.32 at its line output measured 13.9 ohms in the left channel, 14.2 ohms in the right (and 10.3 ohms left, unbalanced). The results for the balanced output impedance are just slightly higher than specified, but in any event are so low that they are still outstanding. The line-level input impedance measured a usefully high 103k ohms (96k…
Sidebar 5: Paul Bolin wrote again about the No.32 in April 2004 (Vol.27 No.4):
During the period I was reviewing the Halcro dm10, VTL TL-7.5 Reference, and BAT VK-51 SE preamplifiers, John Atkinson decided it would be enlightening to have me listen to these state-of-the-art contenders in comparison to the venerable Mark Levinson No.32 Reference (reviewed by Jonathan Scull in January 2000). How, we wondered, would the new boys stand up when compared not only with each other, but also with a long-term resident of Class A of "Recommended Components"? So, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend,…
NEIL YOUNG: Are You Passionate?
Reprise 48111-2 (CD). 2002. Neil Young, Booker T. Jones, Duck Dunn, Poncho Sampedro, prods.; John Hanlon, eng.; Aaron Prellwitz, Alex Osborne, asst. engs.; Tim Mulligan, mix, mastering; John Hausmann, Denny Purcell, mastering; John Nowland, A/D transfer. AAD? TT: 65:29
Performance ****?
Sonics ****
Reprise 48111-2 (CD). 2002. Neil Young, Booker T. Jones, Duck Dunn, Poncho Sampedro, prods.; John Hanlon, eng.; Aaron Prellwitz, Alex Osborne, asst. engs.; Tim Mulligan, mix, mastering; John Hausmann, Denny Purcell, mastering; John Nowland, A/D transfer. AAD? TT: 65:29
Performance ****?
Sonics ****
Like Bob Dylan's, Neil Young's 1990s recordings were a mixed bag: some good (Sleeps With Angels), some less thrilling (Mirror Ball). Notorious not only for his recorded missteps (anything on Geffen from the mid-1980s), Young has also been known to…