SPRING/SUMMER |
2003
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Page Three |
EASTERN ELECTRIC:
What looks like a toy but performs like a titan? Why, the new
Mini Max tube preamp, of course!
Cute enough to cuddle, small enough to stow in your
brief case, the Eastern Electric Mini Max tube preamp
is a good example of the adage; you can’t judge a book by its
cover.
Following an almost fanatical path to simplicity, designer
Alex Yeung was willing to sacrifice features for performance;
an “audio hot rod,” of sorts. Mini Max strips the
preamplifier model down to its most elemental form, preserving
only what is absolutely necessary for operation. The first
obvious characteristic of this pursuit is the microscopic
chassis, adopted in an effort to minimize signal path length
by reducing the distance between the rear panel connectors and
the controls at the front. You’ll find no remote control, no
balance control, no mute switch and few inputs; all gadgets
that sap performance. What you will find are excellent parts
and pieces and hand wired, point-to-point construction. The
minimalist circuit topology employs two 12AU7 (with direct
coupling between the buffer and amplifying stages). The power
supply is a beefy choke filtered affair with tube
rectification (employing a 6x4). All “high-zoot” stuff for a
modestly priced product.
The Eastern Electric Mini Max is a hoot. It’s a
fun little preamp whose performance will take you by surprise.
No, it isn’t the best preamp on the Planet, but then you
wouldn’t expect that at $1195; would you? And yet there is a
growing number of listeners that have traded much more
expensive preamplifiers, favoring the Mini Max. I can
guarantee you’ll be impressed with the little guy and that
you’ll agree the Mini Max is a great value. It’s also a
great conversation piece. Just be prepared for the “Honey, who
shrunk the preamp?” jokes!
We’ll further tempt you with the
knowledge that Eastern Electric has a tube CD player in works,
with anticipated arrival later this summer and priced at
$1195.
Review on Enjoy the Music
HALO:
For more than twenty years Parasound has been a name
synonymous with unequaled value. Their electronics are
respected for both performance and reliability and compete
with significantly more expensive products. Modestly priced,
previous offerings have changed common perception about the
level of performance that can be achieved at the price point.
With the introduction of the Halo
line, Parasound looks to bring the same level of value and
performance to the high-end realm. The ambitious Halo
range spans the gamut from state of the art home theater
offerings to high end two-channel audio. Let’s talk about
their new “super-amps,” the JC-1.
You will be interested to know
that the design talent behind the JC-1 was provided
by the celebrated John Curl. Several seasons ago Parasound
enlisted the services of Mr. Curl and his team, CTC Builders,
to design “the highest-quality power amplifier ever made.” Did
they succeed? Your ears will have to be the judge of that, but
they sound really, really good here. The Parasound guys say:
“The JC-1 is among the most transparent, dynamic, and
sonically neutral solid-state amplifiers available. Its design
sophistication, quality of parts and superb construction make
the JC-1 and exceptional value.” After initial
listening, I’d have to agree with that statement, and they
seem at home with a range of loudspeakers. I know one
Parasound dealer that has sold three pairs of JC-1’s to
Wilson WATT/PUPPY owners, each of those buyers feeling the
amps make a truly superb match and each traded more expensive
electronics.
The JC-1 is practical,
powerful and eminently pleasurable. Practical because it
doesn’t run so hot as to be a hazard. Practical because of
it’s anticipated reliability (historically Parasound products
are bullet proof, and they are backed by a five- year labor,
ten-year parts warranty). Powerful, boasting a mountain-moving
400 watts in to 8Ω, and a stump-pulling 135 amps of peak
current; yikes!
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JC 1
Specifications: |
JC 1
Features: |
|
·
Continuous power output, 20 Hz- 20 kHz: |
·
Ultra-high bias Class A/AB operation |
|
· 400
watts RMS x 1, 8 Ohm |
· Designed
by John Curl and CTC Builders |
|
· 800
watts RMS x 1, 4 Ohm |
·
Exclusive two position bias level adjustment |
|
· 1200
watts RMS x 1, 2 Ohm |
· Balanced
input with discrete circuitry |
|
· Class A
power output, 20Hz – 20 kHz: |
· Vampire
Direct gold-plated OFC RCA input |
|
· 25
watts, bias set to high, |
· No
capacitors or inductors in the signal path |
|
· 10
watts, bias set to low, 8W |
· 1.9 kVA
encapsulated torroidal power transformer |
|
· Current
capacity: 135 amperes peak |
· Separate
supplies for input, driver and output stages |
|
· Dynamic
headroom: > 1.8 dB |
· REL and
Nichicon “Muse” capacitors |
|
· Input
impedance: 100 k W |
· 132,000
µF Nichicon “Gold Tune” filters for output stage |
|
·
Dimensions: 17-1/4"W x 7-5/8"H x 20"D |
· Harris
hyper-fast soft recovery diodes |
|
· Net
weight: 64 lbs. |
·
Parasound’s 10 years parts, 5 years labor warranty |
AUDIBLE ILLUSIONS:
After a seemingly endless procession of delays, the new
Audible Illusions L2 Line Stage preamp has finally
arrived!
Audible Illusions
products are respected by audiophiles around the world for
their outstanding performance and exceptionally high value.
The L2 remote controlled tube line stage preamplifier
continues that tradition by offering sound quality very
close to the best, for Hundreds or even Thousands less.
Since 1983 Audible Illusions has been building preamplifiers
that offer performance far beyond their asking price. Lauded
in the pages of Stereophile and The
Absolute Sound (and most every other audio publication),
the Audible Illusions Modulus tube preamps have received
countless rave reviews. You can be certain that the L2
will be joining the M3A in effusive praise.
With sound quality
close to the best, and priced far less, Audible Illusions
preamplifiers literally define the term value.
An outstanding
preamp, the Audible Illusions L2 offers the legendary
performance of the M3A to those who do not require a phono
input. The class-A triode, zero feedback design offers many
of the expensive design features found in the M3A, including
a substantial outboard power supply, ultra premium parts,
expensive Teflon® circuit board and special Alps motorized
volume potentiometer. A processor bypass loop is included
for those planning to integrate the L2 into a media
system.
The list of goodies
includes: · Remote control of volume and mute · Six line
inputs ·Tape monitor · Standby mode prolongs tube life ·
Class-A triode, zero feedback circuit · Two 6922 tubes ·
Outboard power supply · Proprietary Polypropylene and
Polystyrene capacitors · Non-magnetic all aluminum chassis ·
Processor bypass loop · $2495.
Oh yes, there will
be a John Curl designed plug in phono stage available for
those that want to add a turntable. Note: We are not sure
of specific availability or pricing on this option at this
time.
BASIS
AUDIO:
If any of the components you own are acrylic or have acrylic
surfaces, you know how easily that material is scratched, and
how difficult it is to polish if scratches do occur. Even the
simple act of dusting can result in fine scuffing. Black
acrylic, in particular, can be a royal pain, as even small
imperfections are painfully obvious.
Gobs of Plexiglas polishes are out there, and we’ve
tried our share of them. A few are good, most are mediocre,
others down right pitiful. The best among them are fairly
expensive and, more importantly, require a great deal of time
and expertise to achieve optimum results.
Basis Audio has for
years crafted beautifully finished turntables using black
Plexiglas plinths. Building turntables from clear or black
Plexiglas meant that great care and attention to detail was
required in the assembly process along with laborious final
polishing. Though Basis has refined their processes to
perfection, yet there was still a tremendous amount labor and
skill involved.
Recently the
company discovered two products that dramatically simplified
the process, and reduced the amount of expertise involved to
remove scratches on acrylic surfaces. The first, Golden
Touch polishing cloth, is a super high quality micro-fiber
material (all micro-fiber cloths are not the same) that will
not scratch delicate surfaces. The second part of the duo is
the Magic Potion polishing compound, a super high
quality blend specifically adapted for the task.
I recently received a bottle of Magic Potion
polishing fluid and a Golden Touch polishing cloth from
Basis. Right away I found the products more effective and far
easier to use than our usual methods. The Golden Touch
cloth simply will not scratch, and is the only product I’ve
found that can make that claim. Coupled with the effective
Magic Potion polishing fluid, I was easily able to remove
fine scratches that would have required far more time and
effort with other products.
The Golden Touch
Polishing cloth is great for cleaning camera lenses,
eyeglasses, computer screens, CDs or any other sensitive
surfaces prone to scratching.
The stuff works. $18 each.
MAGNUM-DYNALAB:
The famous “tuner guys” at Magnum-Dynalab have just announced
an exciting new option for their tuners; a triode tube output
stage. More than just an add-on, the upgrade is a sweeping
step forward using an entirely new main circuit board.
Features include: Zero feedback triode tube output stage, .093
circuit board, Solen polypropylene capacitors, torroidal
transformer, enhanced ground plane design and oxygen free
wiring.
The tube option adds $595 to any of the tuners in
the line (except the 108 which already has a tube output
stage). Though it can be retrofitted to older tuners, the
price is rather steep as the entire main board is scrapped and
a new one inserted in its place. You can check out the
Magnum-Dynalab Website (or give us a call) for upgrade
pricing.
Just out, the all-new 106 FM Tuner. The
106 features a Magic Eye tube (found on many high end
tuners of the past) for precise center tuning. A five-stage
front-end (offering excellent performance specifications) is
coupled to the triode analog section detailed above. Upgraded
parts include: Kimber Silver wiring, MIT capacitors and fully
complimentary balanced design. As a nice extra, the 106
comes outfitted with ultra-rare Amperex “Bugle Boy” 6922
tubes. Price $3995.
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