Editor: In a recent conversation with my astrologist, I asked her why I have gotten so involved in the controversy over amplifier testing and design. She suggested that in a previous lifetime I was an evil radio repairman (which explains my use of tube circuits) who has come back in this lifetime to repent for my past sins. Judging by the number of phone calls I have received in the last two months from crazed audiophiles, I must have been very, very evil. The only way to pay my dues is to comment on recent Stereo Review and Stereophile amplifier…
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Letter: Why Amplifiers Sound the Same
In the last year I've written about several components of a truly engaging system: the VPI TNT Mk.IV turntable and JMW Memorial 12" tonearm (February '99), Grado Reference cartridge; the Wadia 830 CD player (October 1999); and Thiel's CS7.2 loudspeakers (February 2000). I've recounted the evolution of my listening-room setup as well, and described its optimization using ASC Tube Traps and Art Noxon's MATT test in the February issue. The final piece of the puzzle, and the one I'll tackle here, was the cable package from MIT: the MI-330 Shotgun Proline interconnects and the MH-750 shotgun…
MIT cables are designed as networks; the perameters of the network include impedances of the surrounding components. MIT designs interconnects to match load impedance ranges, for example. I used the medium-impedance (47k–100k ohm) interconnects to feed the Levinson No.20.6s, and high-impedance (100k–200k ohm) models upstream of the Adcom preamp. For speaker cables, it's the source impedance (tube or solid-state) that's matched by the cable, and I did the bulk of my listening with the Levinsons, hence I used the "solid-state" speaker cables.
But can good sound be "engineered in" with…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Input Specific Component Interfaces (interconnects) and Output Specific Speaker Interfaces (speaker cables) with built-in termination networks. Speaker termination via Iconn interchangeable, screw-on connectors, banana plugs, small or large spade lugs.
Prices: MI-750 Shotgun speaker cables (single-wire): $999/8' pair, plus removable Iconn ends ($9.95-$25.95/4). MI-330 Proline Shotgun interconnect: $849/1m pair, $1289/25' pair. Approximate number of dealers: 174. Warranty: 1 year.
Manufacturer: Music Interface Technologies/CVTL, Inc., 4130…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog source: VPI TNT Mk.IV turntable, VPI JMW Memorial 12" tonearm, Grado Reference cartridge.
Digital source: Wadia 830 CD player.
Preamplification: Sonic Frontiers Phono 1 phono preamplifier, Adcom GFP-750 line stage.
Power amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.20.6 monoblocks, VTL Ichiban, VAC Renaissance 70/70.
Loudspeakers: Thiel CS7.2.
Accessories: MIT Z-Systems, PAC Super IDOS, and Nirvana AC isolation and AC delivery systems; Nordost ECO3 and Music Fidelity DiskSolution CD treatments; ASC and Echo Busters room-treatment products; Bright…
The roadster's throbbing rumble became a roar as the tachometer soared above 4 grand. Like a giant hand, its thrust jammed me back into the seat. Racing along low to the ground, feeling every curve and bump, I began to understand: the automotive virtues of smoothness and insulation had been swapped for firm road grip and the ability to transmit to the driver each jolt and curve in the surface below. Long before I'd climbed into the driver's seat of Porsche's Boxster S, I had known about its low-end snort and speed—the main reasons I was considering a lease—but I had not known about its…
The rear panel has two special outputs (one 5-pin DIN connector, one 4-pin removable screw terminal) to trigger power for other units and for specific input selections. Just above are two RS-232 serial ports for future automation and control functions. The MC-1's main output panel has three pairs of standard stereo amplifier outputs for the front, surround, and rear speakers, as well as single jacks for the center and subwoofer channels. Just above that is the S/PDIF input subpanel, which has five coaxial RCA connectors and three optical connectors for digital input signals. Three stereo…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state digital audio/video controller with 8 sets of line-level analog input; 8 composite (RCA) and 8 S-video video inputs; 5 coaxial (RCA) and 3 optical (TosLink) digital inputs; 3 digital expansion ports for 24-bit/96kHz PCM digital audio. Outputs: Audio line-level: 8 main RCA (Front L/R, Center, Sides L/R, Rear L&R, subwoofer), 3 stereo pairs (2 record, 1 Zone 2). One coaxial digital audio output for digital-to-digital recording. Video: 3 composite (RCA), 3 S-video; 1 monitor, 2 record. Surround-Sound Processing: Dolby AC-3, THX, DTS.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital source: Krell MD-1 CD transport, Theta Carmen DVD/CD and Denon DVM-3700 DVD players.
Preamplifiers: Krell KBL, Mark Levinson ML-7A with L-2 phono section.
Power amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.334, Bryston 9B-ST.
Loudspeakers: Revel Ultima Salon, Mirage HDT-FCH-1 and HDT-RB-1, Velodyne HGS-18 powered subwoofer.
Video display: Sony 27" SNY-KV27V55 Trinitron direct-view monitor.
Cables: Interconnects: Digital: 75 ohm Silver Starlight and Ultralink Digital Pro coax. Analog: Bryston, Krell Cogelco Yellow, PSC Pristine R30 silver-alloy (all…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
With such a versatile component as the Lexicon MC-1, it's hard to know what to measure first. But as almost everything it does in terms of ambience regeneration and surround-sound processing can be assessed only by listening to the result, I concentrated my examination of the MC-1 in terms of its basic signal-path functionality. All the measurements were performed with the Lexicon set to 2-Channel mode, the tone controls set to flat, and with the left and right front analog output jacks putting out full-range signals.
As the Lexicon performs all its…