Tabla de contenidos para December 2019 en Stereophile

On genre There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind… the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. —Duke Ellington Before I became Stereophile’s editor—when I still had time for such things—I would occasionally pack up a camera and some lenses, get in my truck, and drive, usually south, in pursuit of good images and sounds. I’d spend a couple of weeks on the road, stopping to take pictures whenever I came across a picturesque town or valley or an abandoned drive-in theater. I’d try to end the day in some city or town that was likely to have live music. A couple of times on every trip, I’d find myself approaching an especially musical place:…

Digital sources Oppo Digital UDP-105 universal disc player, Baetis Prodigy-X PC-based music server running JRiver Media Center v25 and Roon, exaSound e38 Mark II D/A processor. QNAP TVS-873 NAS. Preamplifiers Audio Research MP1, Parasound P7. Power amplifiers Benchmark AHB2, Hegel C53, Classé Sigma Mono, Parasound Halo A 31. Cables Digital, AudioQuest Coffee (USB). Interconnects: AudioQuest Earth/DBS balanced, Kubala-Sosna Anticipation (RCA). Speaker cables: Benchmark Studio&Stage (NL2 to banana), Canare 4S11 (Blue Jeans Cable). AC Kubala-Sosna Emotion, SignalCable MagicPower 20A. AC Accessories AudioQuest Niagara 5000 and Brick Wall 8RAUD power conditioners, HDPLEX 400W ATX Linear Power Supply, CyberPower 850PFCLCD AC filter (supplied with Baetis server). Listening room 24' L by 14' W by 8' H, furnished with 2 MSR Acoustics Dimension4 SpringTraps in the front corners, 2 Ready Acoustics Chameleon Super Sub…

Analog sources Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable with Jelco KT-850L tonearm, Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue cartridge or My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Ex MC cartridge; AMG Giro G9 turntable & 9W Turbo tonearm, Hana ML MC cartridge. Digital sources Apple Mac mini computer running Audirvana Plus 3.2; HoloAudio Spring “Kitsuné Tuned Edition” Level 3, Chord Qutest, Denafrips Ares DACs. Preamplification Excel Sound ET-U50, EMIA Phono step-up transformer; Tavish Design Adagio phono preamplifier; PrimaLuna EVO 400 line preamplifier. Power amplifiers Schiit Aegir, Pass Labs XA25, Rogue Audio Stereo 100, Bel Canto e.One REF600M. Integrated amplifiers: Line Magnetic LM-518 IA. Loudspeakers Klipsch RP-600M, Harbeth M30.2 and P3ESR, Falcon LS3/5a, DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93, Zu Audio Soul Supremes. Cables Digital: AudioQuest Cinnamon (USB), Kimber Kable D60 Data Flex Studio (coax). Tonearm: AMG Reference.…

Description Remote-controlled, solid-state integrated amplifier/streaming DAC with software-assignable inputs, LCD screen, switch-mode power supply, and high-efficiency output stage. Inputs: 1 Ethernet on RJ45; 1 bidirectional USB 2.0; 1 S/PDIF on TosLink; 1 S/PDIF on miniTosLink; 1 pair RCA jacks assignable to MM/MC phono, line, or two S/PDIF digital inputs. Main outputs: 2 pairs of binding posts. Other inputs/outputs: trigger, SD card (for configuration and firmware). Supported formats: up to 32bits/192kHz PCM via USB; up to 24 bits/192kHz PCM via Ethernet, Coaxial; up to 24 bits/96kHz PCM via Optical; DSD64 via USB, Coax, Ethernet. Maximum output power: 140Wpc into 6 ohms (19.7dBW). Recommended speaker impedance range: 2–8 ohms. Frequency response: DC–30kHz, –0.1dB. THD+N at full power: 0.0005%. Thermal distortion: unmeasurable. Output impedance: 0.001 ohm. Signal/noise (unweighted, no reference level specified): 130dB.…

Description Portable, USB-powered, MQA-capable digital-to-analog converter with StreamLength asynchronous USB code. Supported operating systems: Apple OS 10.6.8 and later, Apple iOS 5 and later, Microsoft Windows 7–10, Android 4.1 and later, Linux capable (no support provided). Sample rates supported: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96kHz. Digital input: USB Type A, male plug. Analog output: three-conductor, 3.5mm phone jack. Maximum output voltage: 2.1V RMS into 10k ohms or higher; 16 ohms minimum headphone impedance. Supplied accessory: AudioQuest DragonTail USB A-to-C extender cable. Dimensions 2.26" (57.4mm) L by 0.73" (18.5mm) W by 0.47" (12mm) D. Weight: 0.77oz (22gm). Serial number of unit reviewed 92592-09839. Price $299.95. Approximate number of dealers: 191. Warranty: 1 year. Manufacturer AudioQuest, 2621 White Road, Irvine, CA 92614. Tel: (949) 585-0111. Web: audioquest.com.…

Vandersteen Quatro Wood CD and M5-HPA Thank you from all of us here at Vandersteen Audio for the great review by John Atkinson of our Quatro Wood CT speaker and M5-HPA high-pass amps. We realize the time and effort to review and to measure a speaker is daunting, and since John reviewed our flagship Model Seven Mk II and M7-HPA powered speaker system, his praise (and measurements that support that praise) is especially gratifying and duly appreciated! John’s review thoughtfully touched on many of Vandersteen Audio’s technologies, and indeed the Quatro Wood CT offers many of our most crucial technologies for the least amount of money: our cabinet-within-a-cabinet enclosure construction, which delivers those beautiful waterfall plots, our renowned carbon driver technology, and of course our high-passed powered-bass system with room…

ATTENTION ALL AUDIO SOCIETIES—we have a page on the Stereophile website devoted to you: stereophile.com/audiophile-societies. If you’d like to have your audio-society information posted on the site, email Chris Vogel at vgl@cfl.rr.com. (Please note the new email address.) Please note that it is inappropriate for a retailer to promote a new product line in “Calendar” unless it is associated with a seminar or similar event. CALIFORNIA ▪ Saturday and Sunday, November 9–10: The Burning Amp Festival returns to San Francisco, at the Firehouse and Building C of historic Fort Mason Center. Saturday, November 9: Seminars and a workshop where participants can build an audio component of their own! Sunday, November 10: DIY audio projects on display and for audition. Keynote speakers are Sean Casey, founder of Zu Audio, and audio…

Description Three-way floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1.06" by 1.31" High-Velocity Folded Ribbon (HVFR) tweeter, two 5.25" cone midrange units, three 5" µ 9" woofers powered by an internal amplifier, four 7" µ 10" planar passive radiators. Frequency range: 13Hz–35kHz. Nominal impedance: “compatible with 8 ohms.” Sensitivity: 92dB/W/m. Recommended amplifier power: 20–650W. Built-in subwoofer amplifier: 1600W, class-D. Finish Black Gloss. Dimensions 54" (1372mm) H µ 8" (203mm) W µ 16.62" (423mm) D; base increases width to 12.375" (314mm) and depth to 19.75" (503mm). Weight: 80lb (36.3kg). Serial number of samples reviewed BNAA N1 0718 0001/0008. Manufactured in China. Price $6598/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 200. Warranty: 3 years amplifiers, 5 years everything else. Manufacturer GoldenEar Technology Offices, PO 141, Stevenson, MD 21153. Tel: (410) 998-9134. Web: goldenear.com.…

The K-300i uses modern techniques that we’ve implemented in the recent designs and upgrades we’ve issued since the split. First, it has a differential current-mode input stage that drives a fairly conventional output stage. Though we’ve done such designs before, I discovered that by fine-tuning parts of the gain stage I could significantly reduce distortion—specifically the second-harmonic component. The predominant characteristic is now the third harmonic, which we’ve found makes the K-300i sound much better. In the amplifier circuitry, I then utilized a much lower output impedance than is typical, which produced a radical improvement in sound quality. It’s more difficult to implement this because of potential mismatches between output transistors, which tend to be amplified more in such a design. Matching of devices was not as difficult as I…

Description Two-way floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: Flat Manger Sound Transducer (MST), 8" (200mm) carbon-fiber/paper sandwich-cone woofer in sealed enclosure. Crossover frequency: 360Hz. Frequency range: 40Hz–40kHz. Impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 89dB/W/m. Max SPL: 106dB peak. Recommended power: 50–200W. Finishes Satin, wood veneer, or high gloss. Dimensions 44.8" (1139mm) H by 10.6" (270mm) W by 8.4" (214mm) D. Weight: 61.7lb (28kg). Serial numbers of samples tested 16149/16150 Price $14,995/pair for satin finishes, $17,495/pair for wood veneer finishes, $18,995/pair for high-gloss finishes. Manufacturer Manger Audio Hendunger Strasse 53, 97638 Mellrichstadt, Germany Tel: (49) 9776 9816. Web: mangeraudio.com. US distributor: MoFi Distribution, 1811 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660. Tel: (312) 738-5025. Fax: (312) 433-0011. Web: mofidistribution.com.…

Analog sources Kuzma Stabi R & Kuzma 4Point 11” tone-arm; Thorens TD 124 turntable & Jelco TS-350S tonearm; Hana ML and Denon DL-103 phono cartridges. Digital sources Apple MacBook computer running Qobuz and Tidal; BorderPatrol DAC SE, Tascam CD-200iL CD player; Western Digital T2 Mirror Drives (2). Preamplification Auditorium 23 A23 and Bob’s Devices moving-coil step-up transformers, Shindo Allegro. Amplification Shindo Haut-Brion. Integrated amplifiers Cary SLI-H80. Loudspeakers DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93, Klipsch Forte III. Cables Digital: Mytek (USB). Interconnect: Shindo Laboratory, Triode Wire Labs Spirit II. Speaker: Auditorium 23. AC: manufacturers’ own. Accessories IsoTek EV03 Aquarius line conditioner, Mapleshade Clearview Double Helix Mk.ll power strip; Salamander five-tier rack; BXI Anti Vibration Isolation Pads (under speakers); IKEA Aptitlig bamboo chopping boards (under Thorens turntable); 3"-thick studio-treatment foam damping (ceiling, walls).…

Following in the lineage of such iconic dub music masters as Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock and Lee “Scratch” Perry, producer Adrian Sherwood is the UK’s contemporary pioneer of dub: the reverb-filled, beats-rattling, bass-thick music that erupted from “sound system” parties in Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1940s. In the 1980s, London-born Sherwood cast a wide net with his On-U Sound Records label. He has produced, mixed, or remixed artists as diverse as KMFDM, Depeche Mode, Garbage, and Nine Inch Nails. But if you ask him, he’ll cite records with dub innovator Lee “Scratch” Perry—Time Boom X De Devil Dead (1987), From the Secret Laboratory (1990), and The Mighty Upsetter (2008)—as his most vital. The pair recently reunited for the album Rainford (On-U Sound), octogenarian Perry speak-rambling over nine tracks of sometimes…

B is for Bart Editor: I always enjoy your list of recommended components. I didn’t see the “B” category for digital processors. Did it get omitted or are there no processors worthy of this classification? —Bart Carpenter, Centennial, CO Our Class B components are still there! Only the header is missing. The header should have followed the entry for the Schiit Audio Yggdrasil. My apologies to you and all our readers for the error.—Jim Austin Class-conscious I think it time to have a Class-D listing in the solid state poweramp section. —George Stancheff Sydney, Australia Interesting suggestion, but, as technologies blur—consider the Devialet amplifier reviewed in this issue—I think we’re more likely to merge categories than to create new ones.—Jim Austin Affordable gear Editor: I’ll come right out and say…

The first vote I ever cast was in 1964, when I was 10 years old. Our fifth-grade teacher, a psychotic harpy who fined students 25 cents if they dropped a pencil, directed us to elect a Class President and a Class Treasurer: positions of indeterminate powers, although it was generally understood that they did not include the ability to wage war or annex adjoining classrooms. In retrospect—I didn’t realize it at the time—the very loud nominating process was straight out of Lord of the Flies, and even before the day’s final votes were cast, it was clear that the winners would not be chosen on the basis of intelligence, problem-solving skills, or ability to lead. It was a popularity contest. The winners were the brawniest boy and the prettiest girl.…

Description Solid-state integrated amplifier with iBias, class-AB output stage, and optional D/A module. Analog inputs: 2 balanced (XLR), 3 single-ended (RCA). Optional digital inputs: 1 Toslink optical; 1 S/PDIF coaxial; 2 HDMI (HDMI 2.0a, HDCP 2.2; supports DSD audio and 4K video); 1 USB-A (USB 2.0 host); 1 USB-B (USB 2.0 audio device); 1 Bluetooth with aptX. Outputs: 1 pair speaker outputs; 1 pair single-ended preamplifier outputs (RCA); 1 HDMI output; 1 12V trigger output. Output power: 150Wpc into 8 ohms (21.8dBW), 300Wpc into 4 ohms (21.8dBW). Voltage gain: 25dB, ref. 2V balanced input for full power output. Input overload: 10.4V, balanced; 6.8V, single-ended. Frequency response: 20Hz– 20kHz, +0, –0.22dB; <10Hz– 100kHz, +0, –0.57dB. THD: <0.015%, 1kHz at 150W into 8 ohms; <0.08%, 20kHz at 150W into 8 ohms.…

Digital sources dCS Rossini DAC & Rossini Clock; Mytek Brooklyn DAC+; Apple 2017 MacBook Pro computer with 2.8GHz Intel i7, SSD, 16GB RAM; Intel NUC7i7BNH with 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD running Roon; Linksys routers (2), Small Green Computer Systemoptique optical isolation bundle, TP-Link gigabit ethernet media converters plus multimode duplex fiber optic cable (2); Small Green Computer linear power supplies (4) & Small Green Computer 200W Linear Power Supply; external hard drives, SSD USB sticks, iPad Pro. Power amplifiers Dan D’Agostino Master Systems Progression monoblocks. Loudspeakers Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia 2. Cables Digital: Nordost Odin 1 & Odin 2 & Valhalla 2 (USB) & Frey 2 (USB adapter), Wireworld Platinum Starlight Cat8 and AudioQuest Diamond (Ethernet). Interconnect: Nordost Odin 2. Speaker: Nordost Odin 2. AC: Nordost Odin 2 & Valhalla,…

Description Tubed integrated amplifier with remote control. Tube complement: 4 EL84 output tubes, 2 12AX7/ECC83 small-signal tubes. Inputs: 3 line, single-ended (RCA), phono MM/MC (RCA). Maximum power output: 10Wpc into 6 ohms (8.25dBW). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB (phono); 20Hz–80kHz, –3dB (line). THD (1kHz, 10W into 6 ohms): 1% or less. Sensitivity/Input impedance: 3.0mV/47k ohms (phono, MM); 0.33mV/100 ohms (Phono, MC); 180mV/47k ohms (line). S/N (IHF-A): >84dB (phono, MM); >64dB (phono, MC); >95dB (line). Power consumption: 98W. Dimensions 11.69" (297mm) W by 7.40" (188mm) H by 9.88" (251mm) D. Weight: 27.33lb (12.4kg). Finish Silver. Serial number of unit reviewed 690500003. Price $2795. Number of US dealers: 55. Warranty: 3 years parts and labor (amplifier); 3 years (original Luxman factory-supplied JJ tubes). Manufacturer Luxman Corporation, 1-3-1 Shinyokohama, Kouhoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 222-0033, Japan.…

Unlike the world of recorded music, where streaming has decimated sales of physical products, book publishing is seeing the reverse trend: sales of eBooks are declining while those of both hardback and paperback books are recovering. I have been a book junkie all my life—the two long walls of my listening room are lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and I have many boxes of books in storage—but these days almost all my book reading is with the Kindle app on my iPad mini. Before I retired at the end of March 2019, most of my eBook consumption took place on the subway as I commuted to and from Stereophile’s Manhattan office. But these days I settle down to my reading in my listening chair, with my iPad both running the Kindle…

In 1979, when it was released in the UK, I couldn’t have imagined such a thing. But then, as a British teen who had just left school, I was more interested in seeing if the Clash were a spent force or not: They held a special place in my heart because the eponymously titled first album had, without exaggeration, changed my life in more ways than just my hairstyle. The Clash was my coming-of-age album and had been like a grenade tossed into my small suburban home. Yet, I was massively disappointed with their second album, Give ’Em Enough Rope: At the time there had been much debate on where punk was headed, but surely it wasn’t toward the overproduced AOR sound of this record. With an irrational but sincere…

Lee Scratch Perry’s Blackboard Jungle Dub (Clocktower, 1981). “Because it’s just such drastic stereo. A masterpiece.” King Tubby Meets the Upsetter – At the Grassroots of Dub (Fay Music, 1974). “That [album] documented the lineage of King Tubby and Lee Perry as dub masters early on a record. Play it on your turntable and be transported to a Jamaican sound system.” Brand (Joint International, 1977). “Keith Hudson was a wonderful producer and rhythm guitarist with completely his own style. Brand is another seminal dub album.” Augustus Pablo’s East of the River Nile (Message Records, 1977). “Although he wasn’t the first person to use a melodica in dub, Augustus is the one everybody knows as the master of melodica minor chords and haunting melodies.” Creation Rebel’s Starship Africa (On-U Sound Records, 1978). “That’s a…