WINTER |
2009 |
 |
Page Four |
REFERENCE 3A:
Introduced at last year’s show, but updated since, the
Episode speakers were in the spotlight. This two-way
crossover-less design utilizes the company’s proprietary
(built in-house, by hand) Hyperexponential carbon fiber cone
driver coupled to their very refined 1” textile dome tweeter
and the Murata gold-coated fine ceramic super tweeter (also
found in the Grand Veena) that extends response into the
ultrasonic range. The Episode features absolutely top
drawer parts throughout, including a Mundorf Silver capacitor,
Bybee Quantum Filters and van den Hul wiring.
Powering the Episode was the Antique Sound
Labs AQ-1006 25 watt SET amp. It drove
the Episode handily on all but the most demanding
tracks and only when those cuts were played at very loud
levels. Sound quality was superb highlighted by that gorgeous
Reference 3A midrange, bass that surprised me and the
legendary sense of coherence that no other multi-driver
systems can equal. The Episode is an excellent speaker,
and a great all around choice for all but the largest rooms
(where you’ll want the Grand Veena). $5500.
On day three of the show I headed back to the
Reference 3A Suite for another visit. This day, Tash
(Reference 3A/Antique Sound Labs headmaster) had the Grand
Veena at center stage flanked by a pair of ASL Monsoon
($4000) 100 watt monoblock tube amps and driven by the
Flora transformer-based preamp ($3500), all fed by an EMM
Labs CDSA player. It sounded great! Not surprisingly, the
Grand Veena has attracted a lot of attention since its
introduction. Most recently from Harry Pearson, who writes in
TAS: “…this is now and in the future will be considered a
classic of its kind. It is, purely and simply, a great
loudspeaker, no matter how you slice it.” $7995, and worth
every cent.
Call
for CES Show Specials!
HERRON:
The VTSP-3 was
debuted at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in January,
2008 to a packed house. So crowded in fact I couldn’t get into
their suite for a listen! I dropped by to see Keith and the
new preamp on several occasions only to find all seats taken.
We’ve since received our very own unit and have been quite
impressed.
The VTSP-3 offers several advances over the
VTSP-2 including a precision non-resonant plate voltage
controller and improved tube circuitry. Two front panel
selectable gain modes allow precise system matching for
increased resolution.
We're hearing an improved level of refinement and
resolution from a preamp that was already spectacular in both
categories. Low distortion and freedom from grain have been
long standing qualities, and those characteristics take on an
even deeper meaning in the VTSP-3. $6700
MUSIC HALL:
Billed as “recession-busting hi-fi,” Music Hall
introduced two cool new products at this year’s show. First
up, the Music Hall dac25.2. Lots of folks today are
buying, storing and listening to music through their computer,
media server or portable music player. Many of those
distribute their tunes using Sonos, Squeezebox or similar
systems. Though convenient, these options are limited by their
modest DACs. The Music Hall dac25.2 addresses this
problem.
Pairing a state of the art digital-to-analog
converter with a tube output stage (single 6922), the
dac25.2 produces the clarity and precision of a 24 bit DAC
with the warm, rich, open sound of tubes. All the digital
inputs you could ask for are here, including USB, coax, AES/EBU
and TOSLINK. On the front panel you’ll find controls to select
between 96 kHz or 192 kHz up-sampling modes, a headphone
output and volume control. Great story, but the punch line is
the price, just $595! A steal!
Another new offering, the a50.2 integrated
amplifier offers 90 powerful watts and a gaggle of features.
It’s fully loaded with four line inputs, 1 tape loop, 1/8”
mini input for your iPod and a MM/MC phono input for just
$1199.
WIREWORLD:
Wireworld has announced upgrades to a number of their products
for 2009. Most of the interconnects and speaker cables are
included and can be identified by their Series 6
designation.
Equinox, Oasis and Solstice speaker cables will
move back to a round configuration from the previous flat
design and will be covered in a practical and attractive black
mesh fabric. The Solstice, Luna and Ultraviolet interconnects
now sport new RCA connectors with laser engraved aluminum
barrels. The Eclipse range of interconnects and speaker cables
use new terminations, the speaker cables will also be covered
in black mesh fabric.
Wireworld has introduced the Platinum Eclipse
interconnect and speaker cables at the top end of their range.
These become the first cables ever to use the new Composite
Dielectric Technology
which makes striking improvements in sound quality by
virtually eliminating the Noise Modulation Distortion NMD)
generated by conventional cable insulation materials. CDT
provides distinctly quieter backgrounds, dramatically cleaner
sibilance, higher resolution, tighter image focus and wider
dynamics than would be possible with the insulation materials
used in other cables. Interconnects at $2999 for 1M, speaker
cables are $19599 for a 2M pair.
QUICKSILVER:
Quicksilver's new Full Preamp is a technical tour de
force! Mike Sanders' unique design delivers the pure tube
sound Quicksilver is known for, without the limitations common
in other tube preamps. High output impedance is common among
tube preamps and can cause problems when mating with many
solid state amplifiers. The ultra-low 1.5 Ohm output impedance
of the Full Preamp allows it to drive any amplifier
known, using virtually any length or type of cabling.
Sonic performance is maximized through the use of extremely
short signal paths within the unit, minimal switching and no
transistors, regulators or circuit boards. The massive power
supply resides in an electromagnetically isolated subchassis
within the main preamp.
Looking in through the perforated top panel I noticed a pair
of AAA batteries on the board. What’s this? I phoned Mike for
an explanation and found they bias the tubes in the phono
stage. I’ve not seen this before but Mike tells me the
technique really improves performance. He must be right, the
phono stage sounds fantastic!
Without a doubt, Mike Sanders has another winner
here. For those Quicksilver fans out there, or anyone looking
for a great full-function preamp, this one may be your
nirvana. $3800
CLEARAUDIO:
Musical
Surroundings, together with Clearaudio, has created a very
special
turntable package
called the Emotion CMB Combo. They started with a
standard frosted clear Emotion table ($1,200) and upgraded it
to black color ($200), then upgraded the Satisfy Aluminum arm
to a space age Satisfy Carbon Fiber arm (featuring magnetic
anti-skating and 3 point ruby jewel bearings), a
$200 value, added a Ceramic Magnetic Bearing CMB ($300
upgrade) and topped it off with the outstanding Clearaudio
Maestro MM Cartridge ($1,000). Total retail is $2,995. Hold
onto your hats, the Emotion CMB Combo is just $1,995 -
that’s a $1,000 savings! Already have a cartridge? You can
purchase the ‘table and arm for just $1400.
The Ceramic Magnetic B magnetically levitates the
40mm acrylic platter for reduced friction, greater speed
stability and additional isolation.
The bearing upgrade alone is a significant, taking it
several steps beyond the standard Emotion, but add the superb
Maestro cartridge, and you have a formidable rig!
Our first unit was waiting for us when we returned
from the show. We’ve only got a few hours on it, but it sounds
incredible. I have to say, if you like the Clearaudio sound
(fast and articulate), it’s an outstanding bargain.
GINGKO: Gingko Cloud platforms are designed to work
optimally under a load of 30 lbs or more. Unfortunately, many
components (notably entry level turntables made by Rega, Music
Hall, Project, etc.) weigh less than 30 lbs. This is where the
new Cloud 14 comes in. The Cloud 14 has a
heavier top plate, with the added weight being a wood insert
under the top surface. The combination of the added weight and
the constrained layers of wood and acrylic results in
outstanding performance. Listening tests reveal, and lab tests
confirm, the exceptional performance of the Cloud 14.
In a recent article in
The Absolute Sound, Paul Seydor extols the virtues of the
Cloud 14 during a comparison of four budget turntables. He
writes: "The
bottom line? With loud playback levels and/or big, demanding
music, especially in the bass, the effect of taking any of
these four turntables (Music Hall MMF 2.2, the Project-1
Xpression III, the Rega P3-24) off the Gingko platforms is to
make it seem almost as if they're all literally broken."
"Is it worth adding a Gingko to a turntable like the MMF,
which more than doubles the cost of the setup? It seems an
absurd proposition, I grant, yet the improvements are more
audible than what you will hear most accessory products,
including cables, interconnects, line conditioners, cones,
pods, pucks, mats, clamps, weights…" Paul
Seydor,
The Absolute Sound, March 2009
Retail is $499, but we have an
introductory special at just $399.
MAGNUM DYNALAB:
Two new hybrid receivers and a pair of internet radio tuners
were introduced. The model MD209 and MD309
receivers both utilize a hybrid tube (6922) and solid state
gain stage driving current amplifiers employing Sanken output
devices. The MD209 makes 125 watts into 8 Ohms (doubles
into four) and the tuner board from an MD108. An optional DAC
(with USB input) is available. $4975.
The more powerful MD309 produces 225 watts
into 8 Ohms, features balanced topology and includes and LCD
touch screen for control. The inboard DAC is an option here as
well. $6975
The model MD-806 ($2695) and MD808
($4000) Internet Radios connect you to the myriad 20,000
stations online. Both offer and intuitive user interface, iPod
dock, triode tube audio section and inputs for USB, flash
memory, MP3, Ethernet and Wi-Fi. The MD808 adds24/192
up-sampling and Burr-Brown DACs.
NORDOST:
We’ve been having fun of late with the Frey
interconnects. These offer a wonderful
sense of speed and resolution, uncovering minute details while
recreating an impressively expansive sound-space. I’ll have to
admit that some of the lower cables in the line can be a bit
“zippy,” but the Frey is not; the top end is extended,
but very refined and wonderfully transparent. A great cable.
$895 for a 0.6M pair.
Announced at CES was the new
Valhalla Tonearm Cable. Inside are tiny 78 micron mono
filament conductors made of 99.999999% pure silver. Right
angle DIN and WBT RCA connectors are standard. Should be
killer! $2399 for 1.25M.
KOETSU:
Introduced at CES was the Onyx Platinum phono
cartridge. The hand-carved, oblong onyx body houses 10 turns
of silver-plated, hand-wound copper coil wire, a platinum
magnet, and a boron rod cantilever. Weight is 12.5 grams.
Price $8,000.
AUDIO PHYSIC:
On display were the latest introductions, Scorpio II
and Sitara full range
speakers and the Rhea subwoofer. We received the
Scorpio II before CES, so it was a familiar sight for us,
but the Sitara and (redesigned) Rhea were fresh
fodder.
Priced at $4000 ($4500 in Rosewood or Ebony), the
Sitara is positioned between the entry-level Yara
($2495) and the Tempo 6 ($5000). A pair of the
company’s new Hyper Holographic mid/woofer drivers give the
Sitara bass extension to 36 Hz and are paired with their
Hyper Holographic tweeter (check out
www.audiophysic.de
for a full explanation of the interesting technology behind
these extraordinary drivers) providing treble response to 40
kHz. The relatively small-statured speakers (38.6” high) are
intended for small to medium size listening rooms.
As noted, we’re no strangers to the new Scorpio
II. We’ve been enjoying them for a couple of months now
and have come to appreciate their remarkable qualities. Here
are the details.
The new Scorpio II now features the same
midrange drivers found in the Avanti ($12500) and Virgo
($18000), along with a revised silk dome tweeter. We find WBT
oxygen-free binding posts on the unique crossover module,
itself internally damped and decoupled from the enclosure.
Four metal cone 7” woofers (two per side) operate in a unique
“push-push” configuration. Since all four woofers move out and
in at the same time, forces acting on the cabinet are
effectively canceled, substantially reducing woofer induced
cabinet vibration and resonance.
We opted for the new Gloss Black finish, and are glad we did –
they’re gorgeous! Straight out of the box these speakers were
impressive, but I knew break-in with Audio Physic products was
really important. So I cooked them for a week using the IsoTek
burn in CD that we use so much around here. It’s a nifty
little thing to have. Oh, and one more note regarding break
in, which applies to anything, we’ve found that cycling the
component (or speakers) on/off seems to be more effective than
playing 24/7. I’ll usually run a component for 24 hours, then
turn it off for a few hours and repeat.
Ok, so off with the chatter, let’s talk about what
we hear. These things are fast! From bass to treble one is
immediately impressed with the Scorpio II’s ability to
start and stop. Acceleration is one thing, but
deceleration must be equally quick to complete the
transition and make the dynamic contrasts convincing. Believe
me, with the Scorpio II they are!
We also really like the midrange in the speaker.
It’s fuller and more expressive giving the speaker a more
natural overall balance. I can’t say the Scorpio was lean, it
wasn’t, but the Scorpio II is a bit more filled out
through the voice region. The II is also sweeter at the
top. It’s just as open and airy as its predecessor, but
there’s a more delicate sheen and delicacy at the top that
makes a lot of competitors sound grainy and stiff.
My sense is that the Scorpio II is easier
to place than the Scorpio. I think so because of the wonderful
sound we heard right from the get-go, even though the speakers
were relegated to a location that was convenient for break in,
but sub optimal for listening. Still, they sounded great.
Though we’ve only had the speakers a short time,
they’ve already found a place on our favorites list. The first
print review (Home Vision Magazine), Knut Isberner writes
about the Scorpio II: “A huge success by all standards,
enabling Audio Physic to set a new benchmark in the price
range.”
Scorpio II is $8495 in Cherry, Maple or Black
Ash, $8995 in Ebony, Rosewood, Piano Black or White.
Page
1
2 3 4
5 |
