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The dCS Elgar Plus is derived from the Elgar DAC, long my digital reference when fed a dual-AES output from the original dCS 972 D/D converter. "The Plus offers many improvements over the standard Elgar," explains the documentation, "the most important being the addition of DSD and SDIF-2 interfaces, the ability to slave to an outside word clock, a digital output, and a substantially expanded Function Menu."

All dCS DACs feature dCS's patented Ring DAC technology, which accepts 16-bit/44.1kHz data from a CD…

Little did he know how right he would be. Who could predict that, 40 years later, Avery Fisher's crystal ball had been spot on—that thousands of units of this American audio engineering classic would be the centerpieces of the music and fidelity pastime, of vintage audio?

Forget everything…

Analog sources: Luxman PD-555 vacuum-hold & PD-444 direct-drive turntables; Mayware Formula 4, Dynavector DV-505 tonearms; AudioQuest 7000, Koetsu Pro IV & Rosewood, Goldbug Mr. Brier cartridges; Cotter Verion step-up transformer; Technics 1520, Otari MX 5050 4-channel, Ampex 44 open-reel tape recorders.
Digital sources: Balanced Audio Technology VK-D5 CD player, Timbre D/A processor, Audio Alchemy CD Transport.
Preamplification: Convergent Audio Technology Ultimate preamplifier, Wright Sound WPP100C phono preamplifier, Benz-Micro Series 2…

Editor's Note: Because Peter Breuninger used either classic Bozak loudspeakers or exotic horns to audition the Fisher 500-C, I asked Wes Phillips to comment on the receiver's sound quality when used with a modern, more conventional speaker design. Wes auditioned S/N 58022S through its line stage only.—John Atkinson

"Could you do me a favor?" John Atkinson asked. "We're starting a new feature on classic hi-fi components and I'd like you to listen to the first one, a Fisher 500-C."

Saying "No" would have been like telling St. Peter I didn't want…

The biggest challenge in reviewing and testing vintage audio equipment is knowing the condition and history of the review sample. Seemingly original and "museum-condition" units may have had repairs or modifications that are not readily visible.

For this review, I listened to three of five 500-C units with both vintage and modern loudspeakers to give the reader a broad usage range. The older speakers were Bozaks, which were initially designed for and matched with 1950s and 1960s tube amplifiers that ranged in output from…

A factor that must be taken into consideration when reviewing a piece of vintage gear is the provenance of the samples tested. The Fisher 500-C Peter Breuninger sent me for measurement was serial number 58022S, and it varied from original condition in the manner described by PB in the "Reviewing & Testing Vintage Audio Components" sidebar. Peter had fixed high-quality brass speaker terminal adapters to the 8 ohm output screw connectors; I performed all the tests using this transformer tap.

After plugging in the four Electro Harmonix 7591A output tubes…

Description: Two-channel FM receiver. Tube complement: seven 12AX7 (phono, tone control, phase inverter stages); four 7591 (output stage), 6HA5, 6HR6, two 6CW4, three 6AU6/EF94 (tuner stages). Output power 30Wpc at 0.7% harmonic distortion (14.8dBW) into 8 ohms from 8 ohm tap, 75Wpc "total music power." Frequency response: 25Hz–25kHz, ±1.5dB. IM distortion (60Hz/7kHz, 4/1) 0.7%. Tuner: IHF FM usable sensitivity: 1.8µV. Signal/Noise Ratio: 70dB. Selectivity: 60dB. FM channel separation: 35dB. Power requirements: 105–120V, 50/60Hz. Total power consumed at full…

Though the fourth collaboration of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, H.M.S. Pinafore was the first to be an international hit, and was unquestionably the…

"I think I just got 2000 bucks' worth of difference. Moved the [Paradigm 7se Mk.III] speakers two more feet from the back wall, toed 'em in a little, and Radiohead exploded from my humble setup."

So what compelled Daniel to e-mail Editor Atkinson? "Everybody knows about speaker placement. What I want is more info. I want to know basics, I want to know advanced…