J. Gordon Holt

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Perfection: Here at Last?

J. Gordon Holt Oct 12, 2015 First Published: Dec 01, 1979 0 comments

Long-time Stereophile readers May be dismayed by what appears to be our unfettered satisfaction with some of the recent crop of new components. Aren't we, after all, dedicated to the pursuit of perfection? Do we really feel that some products are all that close to it? The answer to both questions is "Yes."

Historical J. Gordon Holt Solid State Power Amp Reviews

Infinity HCA power amplifier

J. Gordon Holt Sep 15, 2015 First Published: Dec 01, 1979 0 comments

Imagine if you can a power amplifier with the bass richness, midrange liquidity, and high-end accuracy of the best tube amplifiers, and the inner detail, transient attack, and bass solidity and range of the best solid-state amplifiers. If you can imagine that, you can visualize what this amplifier sounds like.

As We See It J. Gordon Holt

Why Pay More?

J. Gordon Holt Jul 30, 2010 First Published: Dec 01, 1979 0 comments

A very popular myth among the audio unwashedand one still perpetuated by the pop hi-fi writersis that nothing is to be gained by paying more than $1000 for a stereo system (footnote 1). Members of the general public, including masses of people who enjoy live, unamplified music, have the impression that more money simply buys one wider and wider frequency range, and defend their $500 "compact" systems with the lame excuse that their ears aren't all that good, and who needs to hear what bats hear anyway? This is no doubt a soothing emollient for one's disinclination to invest more money in audio gear, but it is a supreme self-deception.

J. Gordon Holt Recording of the Month

Recording of October 1979: The Telarc 1812 Overture

Margaret Graham, J. Gordon Holt Aug 29, 2017 First Published: Oct 01, 1979 0 comments

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture (Op.49), Capriccio Italien (Op.45
), "Cossack Dance" from Mazeppa (LP), plus Marche slav, Op.31, Polonaise and Waltz from
Eugene Onegin
, Op.24, Festival Coronation March
(CD).

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Kiev Symphony Chorus; Children's Choir of Greater Cincinnati, Erich Kunzel cond.

Telarc Digital DG-10041 (LP, CD-80041 (CD). 1979 (LP), 1984 (CD). Edited at Soundstream, Inc. Robert Woods, prod.; Jack Renner, eng. DAA (LP), DDD (CD). TT: 35:19 (LP), 60:23 (CD).

I must say I'm getting a bit bored with the 1812 Overture, but as long as there are audiophiles, it will be recorded due to the stringent demands it can make upon one's playback system. This version produced by Telarc is going to be hard to beat. The cannon fire is unbelievable.

Historical J. Gordon Holt

How to Write an Ad

Lucius Wordburger Dec 31, 2000 First Published: Sep 03, 1979 0 comments

Everyone knows that advertising people make more money than ordinary people, but many assume that the high pay is because ad writing is so difficult. This is not true. Low-income people can write advertisements, too, so just in case somebody should accost you on the street and ask you to write an advertisement, here is how you may go about it.

Historical J. Gordon Holt Tube Preamp Reviews

Berning TF-10 preamplifier

J. Gordon Holt May 30, 1995 First Published: May 30, 1979 0 comments

Several issues back, we reviewed rather enthusiastically a pre-production prototype of this preamp. The original was an unprepossessing-looking device on two chassis, interconnected by a 3' umbilical, with a squat little preamp box and an even squatter power supply with humongous cans sticking out the top. We averred that it sounded nice. The production model is so nicely styled and functionally smooth that we wondered if it might not be another Japanese product. 'T'ain't.

Floor Loudspeaker Reviews J. Gordon Holt Historical

Infinity RS-4.5 loudspeaker system

J. Gordon Holt Nov 05, 2006 First Published: May 05, 1979 0 comments

There are certain manufacturers for whom every new product implies the promise of countless modifications, Usually a month or so apart, culminating inevitably in a version so far removed from the original that it must be assigned a new model designation—usually a letter suffix ranging from A, to D. By the time E is envisioned, another CE Show is approaching, so the decision is made to give the unit an exterior facelift and a brand-new model number. Presto! A new product for CES.

Solid State Preamp Reviews J. Gordon Holt

Harman/Kardon Citation Eleven preamplifier

J. Gordon Holt Oct 28, 2007 First Published: Apr 28, 1979 0 comments

This is not a new component, but like most others that aspire to very high standards of performance, it has undergone some changes (for the better) since it first went into production.

As We See It J. Gordon Holt Historical

High Fidelity at the Crossroads

J. Gordon Holt Apr 17, 1979 First Published: Apr 18, 1979 0 comments

101 years ago, the tinfoil cylinder started it all. Within 22 years, its heyday was done, and public support swung to favor the then-new wax-mastered disc. 1948 saw the switch to a slower speed and a finer groove, but the flat disc, traced by a stylus, has held sway for almost 80 years now. Even today, people with multi-speed turntables and a couple of arms (or plug-in cartridges) can reproduce from a single phono unit the earliest or the latest discs merely by the flip of two switches (for speed change and cartridge change). All that is about to come to an end.

J. Gordon Holt Recording of the Month

Recording of October 1978: For Duke

Margaret Graham, J. Gordon Holt Sep 05, 2017 First Published: Oct 01, 1978 0 comments

Bill Berry and His Ellington All-Stars: For Duke

Works by Duke Ellington

Bill Berry, cornet; Ray Brown, bass; Frankie Capp, drums; Scott Hamilton, tenor sax; Nat Pierce, piano; Marshal Royal, alto sax; Britt Woodman, trombone.

M&K Real-Time RT-101 (direct-to-disc LP).

This is to-date the best direct-to-disc recording I have heard. For once I can't complain about the high end being shrill or hard. The balances are excellent and the performances superior, with each member of the group getting his chance to show off. Marshal Royal's saxophone solos must be heard to be believed, Everyone present is obviously having a good time making music, which is the way it always ought to be but often isn't.