I would like to particularly thank all the faithful subscribers who have been with Stereophile since way back. That core of readers has supported this magazine both morally and financially through some real hard times. Starting with JGH's move to Santa Fe in 1978, issues of your favorite magazine came few and far between. Three "quarterly" issues (Vol…
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Ever since Vol.6 No.3 was published in August of 1983, Stereophile has been the leading subjective review magazine in terms of circulation. At that juncture our circulation was 12,000 and has now increased to 15,000. And it's all your fault!
The rumors have been flying, and his arrival is imminent—a couple weeks after you read this—so it's time our readers know: John Atkinson, for the last four years Editor of Britain's prestigious Hi-Fi News & Record Review (left), is joining the staff of Stereophile as Managing Editor and International Editor.
You can imagine how exciting an event this is for people here. John is respected far and wide in the field of audio journalism, and is credited for establishing HFN/RR as the premier audio journal of the English-speaking world. (I feel it's the best in any language.) John is also…
Many pundits in our industry say that CD is under threat from Super Audio CD, DVD-Audio, and dual-layer CD/DVD technologies. Conflicting stories abound, and even though I'm supposed to be well-informed, I've found some of them hard to sort out! For example, Michael Fremer, concluding a fine review of the $7500 Bow Technologies ZZ-Eight integrated CD player in August, compared its notable 16-bit/44.1kHz achievement with a DVD-based disc originally mastered at 24/96kHz and replayed on an inexpensive DVD player. He found the Bow wanting in some respects. What is the world coming to?
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Single-disc CD transport with remote control and coaxial (phono), coaxial (BNC), and balanced AES/EBU (XLR) data outputs. AT&T optical output is optional.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 18527.
Price: $2495 (1999); no longer available (2007). Approximate number of dealers: 75.
Manufacturer: Theta Digital Corp., 5330 Derry Avenue, Suite R, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. Tel: (818) 597-9195. Fax: (818) 597-1079. Web: www.thetadigital.com.
Sidebar 2: System
Working back from the sound in air, launched by Wilson WITT 2 speakers via Transparent XL cables: the power amplifier was a Krell FPB 600, driven either by directly controllable decoder outputs or via a Conrad-Johnson ART preamplifier. These decoders included that of the Krell KPS-25i, referenced to a dCS Elgar and the Audio Synthesis DAX Decade (configured for HDCD and full balanced operation). Comparison transports include the Krell and a trusty if discontinued Meridian 200, these also referenced to my assessment of the Theta Basic II transport.
Digital…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
There is little to say about the Jade's measurements. The digital output waveforms looked clean and fast when correctly terminated and viewed on an oscilloscope. Jitter measurement is a function of the decoder used, and can't be specifically determined for the transport alone.
Immunity from shock and vibration were very good, but error correction was barely average. While the absolute minimum Red Book standard is 0.2mm of missing data, in fact most players amble through 1.5–2.5mm, and some generations of Philips CD "engines" even navigate 4mm of…
Rumor had it that if the MF2500 amplifier had gotten any better in development, Conrad-Johnson would have had to include it in their "Premier" series. However, C-J's intention was to hold to the lower price of their established MF series, and so they have. Rated at 240Wpc and retailing for $3495, the '2500 is the core model of Conrad-Johnson's current range of "MF" power amplifiers. Its companion MF2250 offers 120Wpc, while the MF5600 delivers 120Wx5 for multichannel home-theater applications.
Like many Conrad-Johnson designs, the MF2500's higher performance goals have been attained…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state stereo power amplifier. Maximum output power: 240Wpc into 8 ohms (23.7dBW), 20Hz–20kHz, at less than 1% IMD or THD. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, +0/–0.1dB. Hum and noise: 100dB below rated output. Input impedance: 100k ohms.
Dimensions: 19" W by 6.75" H by 16" D. Weight: 55 lbs.
Serial number of unit reviewed: Not noted.
Price: $3495 (1999); no longer available (2007). Approximate number of dealers: 80. Warranty: 3 years.
Manufacturer: Conrad-Johnson Design, 2733 Merrilee Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031. Tel: (703) 698-8581. Fax…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog source: Linn LP12/Naim ARO/Koetsu Rosewood II/Lingo.
Digital sources: Krell KPS-25s, Marantz CD-7, Naim CDS11 CD players.
Preamplification: Krell KPS-25s; Conrad-Johnson Premier Fifteen, ART, and PFR.
Power amplifiers: Krell FPB 200 and FPB 650M; Cary 300SE LX20; Naim NAP250; Conrad-Johnson MF2300A, Premier Eleven A, and CAV50.
Loudspeakers: Wilson WITT Mk.II, B&W Nautilus 803, Sonus Faber Signum, Harbeth HL7ES, Quad ESL-63.
Cables: Transparent Music Wave Plus, van den Hul, Siltech.—Martin Colloms
Sidebar 3: Measurements
While the Conrad-Johnson MF2500 will drive 4 ohm loads with music, the output specification is given as 240Wpc (23.8dB/W) for 20Hz–20kHz, at less than 1% of IM or harmonic distortion, both channels driven into 8 ohms. Don't be concerned at that high-looking figure of 1% distortion—in practice, the figures are much less than this. What this figure reflects is C-J's disdain of slavish conformance to the artificially low distortion figures adopted by many companies without regard to sound quality.
Tested with the UK's 242V, 50Hz power supply, the MF2500…