FALL	2007
Page Five

MUSICAL FIDELITY: The soon to come A1008 Super integrated amplifier is a component that bridges old school audiophile and today’s home theater and download generation.
Built-in DAC: A full switchable USB, SPDIF, Toslink and USB D/A converter is built in. You’ll get the most of any digital file from your CD player to your computer. High quality MM/MC RIAA Phono section
Dynamic Range: At a full 250 watts per channel, it is most likely all the power you’ll ever really need. It sounds like a sweet single ended triode amp when the need for delicacy is required. The A1008 super integrated amplifier has been designed to have no coloration, massive power and current delivery, virtually limitless stability margins, with minimal feedback, and super-quiet mechanical and electrical performance.
Tubes: The A1008 uses ECC88 tubes that offer incredible performance. The ECC88 tubes are quiet and very linear
Separate Power Supply: Research has shown that transformers' magnetic field interferes with delicate low-level signals. Having more than one transformer in a box creates even worse problems due to peak-summing artifacts and IM distortion. The only way to rid the amplifier of magnetic effect is to locate transformers outboard, as is the case with the A1008.
Home Theater Direct: If you’re one who wants the best of home theater and two-channel music all in system, the A1008 is perfect. When listening to home theater, the A1008 acts only as an amp for your front two channels. Listening to stereo, the A1008’s pre amp section is engaged insuring optimum performance. $5000

• External power supply

• 250 watts per channel

• MM/MC Phono Stage

• D/A Converter with 2 x SPDIF, 1 x TOSLINK and 1 x USB inputs

• Switchable Home Theater Bypass

• Preamp Output

• Tube preamp section

• $5000

The complimentary CD player, A1008 CD, is equally competent. M.F. touts the A1008 as having best CD transport in the world, with the most reliable and consistent data stream of any player available. The tube/transistor output stage has immense output current and voltage swing capacity so it will drive any amplifier/cable with ease.

• Internal power supply that can be disabled when sharing that of the 1008 amp

• 24 bit Delta-Sigma (Bit stream) dual differential 8X over sampling

• Jitter <135 pS

• Phillips CD Pro laser/drive mechanism

• $6000

SHAKTI: Now that I think about it, I haven’t pestered you lately with tweaks. I’ll atone for my indiscretion by writing about the Shakti products. Shakti is the Sanskrit word for energy. Through an energy conversion, inductive coupling process, the "antenna-like" circuits within Shakti attract and then resistively convert EMI to non-interfering heat.
        Audio/video components self generate a radiated EMI field that degrades signal transfer functions. Reducing this EMI field improves performance in any high resolution audio/video system. Placed near power supplies, DAC chips, capacitors and system wiring, Shakti offers increased resolution and refinement, quieter background, more air and improved spatial detail.
        The Shakti Electromagnetic Stabilizer (aka "the Stone") has three internal trap circuits (Microwave, RF and Electric Field) to absorb the broadest spectrum of EMI. It improves resolution for virtually all-major components in high definition audio/video systems, and has also been shown to measurably increase horsepower when placed on automotive CPUs). Music reproduction is clearer, with more liquidity, dynamics and focus. The improved inter-transient silence allows the listener to hear the subtle ambient cues essential for accurate perception of stage depth, width and focused imaging. The Shakti Stone goes for $249 but we’re having a re-introduction special of just $195.
        For locations where a Shakti Stone won’t fit, consider the Shakti On-Lines. Shakti On-Lines use a specially engineered circuit adapted from the larger Shakti Stone. The On-Lines provide efficient EMI reduction in situations where limited space is a consideration. In audio systems the On-Lines are typically used on all system cables (interconnects, speaker wire, AC cords and video cables). Placement is near the approximate center and/or connection points. In addition, many users who build or modify their own equipment are placing On-Lines on or near critical internal circuit parts such as DAC chips, capacitors and internal wiring. Self-adhering Velcro circles that are placed on the cable or component to be treated facilitate placement. On-Lines are On-Special for just $99 a pair.

CREEK: We’ve been really impressed with the Evolution integrated amplifier from Creek. Introduced at the 2007 CES, the Evolution Amp, rated at a hefty 85 wpc, features a robust power supply with 20,000 mFd of storage and dual winding transformer (providing separate feeds for the output section and front end). The piece features full remote control and even a headphone jack.
        Just a few hours out of the box the Evolution was sounding much better than expected. Performance continued to improve as break-in progressed, and about 100 hours in the amp really started to sing. Final evaluation proved the unit to be impressive indeed. Frankly, I was surprised at just how good it sounded so I decided to put it to the test in one of our high end systems. Again, really amazed! I had to remind myself I was listening to a $900 integrated amp. It was that good. The optional phono boards (MM or MC) will appeal to analog aficionados.
         Conceived and executed with similar passion and flair, the Evolution CD promises to be an equally enticing introduction. Internally we find the digital circuits are stabilized and isolated by no less than eight regulators. The three separate power supplies feed the analog, digital and clock sections independently. The Evolution CD is designed with a low jitter oscillator module that clocks the data from the drive to the D-A converter and also synchs the microcontroller. Also just $900