Beyond even my own sunny expectations, new cartridges continue to be designed and introduced at every price level: the parsimonious, the porcine, and, most significant of all, the middle of the road—which is where the healthiest market for virtually any product has to exist in the long term. That's among the reasons why I jumped at the chance to try the new Ortofon Rondo Bronze ($899).
Another reason is my respect for…
Listening
I've fallen into the habit of running-in new stereo cartridges by starting with side 1 of Georg Solti and the Vienna Philharmonic's groundbreaking recording of…
Description: Low-output moving-coil cartridge. Cantilever: one-piece tapered aluminum tube. Stylus: Fritz Gyger FG80 diamond. Output: 0.5mV. Compliance: 15cu. Channel separation: >25dB (1kHz), 18dB (15kHz). Channel balance: 1dB. Internal resistance: 6 ohms. Recommended load: 10–200 ohms. Frequency response: 20–20kHz, ±1.5dB. Weight: 10.5gm. Downforce range: 2.0–2.5gm. Recommended downforce: 2.3gm.
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: none.
Price: $899. Approximate number of dealers: 7.
Manufacturer: Ortofon A/S, Stavangervej 9, DK-4900 Nakskov, Denmark.…
Analog Sources: Linn Sondek LP12 (with Linn Basik power supply), Thorens TD 124 Mk.II turntables; Naim Aro, Rega RB300 tonearms; Miyabi 47, Denon DL-103 cartridges.
Digital Source: Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard, K&K Audio step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifier: Shindo Cortese.
Loudspeakers: Audio Note AN-E/SPe HE.
Cables: Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Shindo Silver. Speaker: Auditorium 23. AC: JPS Labs The Digital (Sony SCD-777ES).
Accessories: Mana Reference…
Everyone loves a record with a story, and this left-field near-masterpiece has a sad one to tell. For reasons he never specifically mentions, and which in the end could be plain old narcissism, Justin Vernon, whose nom de amor is Bon Iver, decided to lock himself away one winter in his dad's cabin in Northern Wisconsin with little more than a guitar, an analog recording rig, and a pack of voracious and unnamed torments. Available since fall…
While their individual histories, and how each managed to survive more or less intact for all these…
That was the first thing I noticed because, surprisingly, the Marantz's attacks and decays seemed faster, cleaner…
Description: Solid-state, stereo power amplifier, bridgeable for mono operation. Inputs: 1 pair unbalanced (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 pairs of speaker binding posts. Rated output power: 110Wpc, both channels driven into 8 ohms (20.4dBW); 220Wpc, both channels driven into 4 ohms (20.4dBW); 420W bridged into 8 ohms (20.1dBW). Frequency range (at 1W, 8 ohms): 5Hz–120kHz. Input impedance (balanced, unbalanced): 22k ohms. Input sensitivity (balanced, unbalanced): 2.0V. Voltage gain: 17dB (gain setting –6dB), 23dB (gain setting 0dB), 29dB (gain setting +…
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable, Cobra tonearm, Castellon stand; Graham Phantom tonearm, Ortofon Windfeld cartridge.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW SACD/CD player, BPT-modified Alesis Masterlink hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Einstein Turntable's Choice, WhestTWO phono preamplifiers; Musical Fidelity kWP, Marantz SC-11S1 preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX 2.
Cables: Interconnect: TARA Labs Zero. Speaker: TARA Labs…