Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable; Continuum Cobra, Graham Phantom tonearms; Lyra Titan i, Air Tight PC-1, Transfiguration Orpheus cartridges.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW DM25 DAC & transport, Alesis Masterlink BPT-modified hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Blue Amp MC 42 phono preamplifiers; Musical Fidelity kWP, DartZeel NHB-18NS preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX2, Peak Consult El Diablo.
Cables: Interconnect…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Taken together, these unusual interconnect, loudspeaker, and AC cables brought a new measure of spaciousness, scale, smoothness, heretofore unimagined detail, and overall musical ease and naturalness to my music system. And they did it while sounding neither dull nor bright—just right.
I start with that observation not in an effort to be cute, but as a good-natured warning to ill-natured skeptics: Unless you're open to the idea that such a thing is possible, the 2300 words that follow will be little more than nonsense, howsoever differently I intend them.
There's more:…
Weight was more of an issue with the speaker cables than the other Aluminata models: Their stranded termination leads were, of course, significantly more flexible than the rest of the cable; in my system, with the Quad ESLs raised somewhat inelegantly off the floor, the combination of heavy cables and floppy leads made hooking up a clumsier procedure than usual. Those WBT locking bananas weren't just a luxury, they were a necessity—without them, the Aluminata speaker cables disconnected themselves.
During their stay here, the JPS Aluminatas all worked without a hitch. I should also…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-core alloy conductors with granular aluminum shielding, configured as interconnect pairs, single-wire speaker cables, and AC cords.
Dimensions: Interconnect: 1m, 2m, 6m. Speaker cables: 8'. AC cord: 2m. Other lengths available.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: Interconnect pairs: 1m, 63068, 63069; 2m, 63066, 63067; 6m, 63070, 63071. Speaker-cable pair: 54353, 54354. AC cords: 32304, 32305.
Prices: Aluminata interconnect: $2999/1m pair with WBT locking phono plugs; $600 each additional 0.5m. Aluminata speaker cable: $6099/4' pair with…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Linn LP12 turntable with Naim Armageddon power supply; Naim Aro tonearm; Miyabi 47, Supex 900 Super cartridges.
Digital Source: Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: EAR 834P, Linn Linto phono preamplifiers; Lamm LL2, Artemis Labs LA-1 preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Quad II and Lamm ML2.1 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Quad ESL.
Cables: Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Nordost Heimdall & Valhalla. Speaker: Nordost Heimdall. AC: JPS Labs The Digital (CD players), Cardas Golden Reference (some other components).
…
I can't remember a time when I wasn't concerned about power quality. I grew up around finicky, home-brew ham-radio gear and labs full of instruments, and with both, power-conditioning gear was standard fare. When I moved into high-end audio, it seemed obvious that power quality was important. As a result, I've experimented with a wide range of power-conditioning equipment, from simple ferrite loops to huge isolation transformers, and even exotic laboratory power supplies that could vary the voltage, frequency spectrum, and shape of the AC signal.
So when Audience introduced their…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: AC-line power conditioner with power-factor correction, RF/noise filtering, transient suppression, and 12 Hubbell high-conductivity power outlets. Current/voltage: 15A or 20A/130V, standard; 220V, 230V, 240V available.
Dimensions: 19" (483mm) W by 5" (127mm) H by 9" (229mm) D. Weight: 15 lbs (6.82kg).
Finishes: grained and satin-anodized aluminum silver or black chassis.
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: none found.
Price: $3800. Approximate number of dealers: 100. Warranty: 10 years.
Manufacturer: Audience, LLC, 120 N. Pacific St., #K-…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Meitner CDSD & CDII SACD transport & converter, Simaudio Andromeda CD player.
Analog Source: VPI HR-X turntable & tonearm, Lyra Titan cartridge.
Preamplification: Sutherland PhD phono stage; VTL TL-7.5, Sutherland Direct, Placette Active line stages; Halcro dm10 preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: VTL Ichiban monoblocks & S-400; Halcro dm58 & dm88 monoblocks; Mark Levinson No.20.6 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Sophia 1 & Sophia 2floorloudspeakers/">.
Cables: Stereovox SEI 600II…
Over the years, I have used and enjoyed in my audio system large, single-purpose components. Each of these chassis has had but one role: preamplifier, amplifier, digital-to-audio converter (DAC), etc. I guess I've been just a little suspicious of products with multiple functions crammed into a single small chassis; I've figured that the designer may have cut a corner that could affect the sound.
Which brings me to the topic of this review, the Bryston B100-DA SST, which is three separate components in one slim chassis: a DAC, a preamplifier, and a 100Wpc power amplifier. (An MM phono…
Returning upstairs, I remotely browsed my laptop's music folders via the Squeezebox until I found the My Music directory and the "Stereophile Music CD Test Program" playlist. During my audition of the B100-DA, I selected various tracks from this playlist from my listening-room chair, using the Squeezebox's handheld remote. I also used the free subscription to Pandora.com supplied with the Squeezebox to set up my own Internet radio station to play Keith Jarrett recordings over my system.
Setup
The B100-DA SST's chassis is slim, and smaller than that of the Bryston 4B-SST power…