WINTER	2010
Page Two

BASIS: Wow! That’s the operative word when describing the new Inspiration turntable from Basis. Heard in a system partnered with Nagra electronics and Verity speakers, the sound was simply stunning, easily the best I heard at CES. The sound was CD-like in its freedom from background noise and inter-transient silence, and yet produced the absolutely stunning inner resolution and truth of timbre that only analog can. Image stability was absolutely rock solid, and bettered even the uber-expensive (and excellent) Continuum. I could have stayed glued to that seat all day long. It was heaven!
        In speaking with the other manufacturers representatives there, all commented on how impressed they were with the Basis Inspiration. Julien Pelchat of Verity said he was amazed by the absence of surface noise and incredibly low noise floor.
        What led A.J. Conti to design the Inspiration? The inspiration for the Inspiration was his sonic masterpiece, the Work of Art turntable. He states: “Listening to the Work of Art is a revelatory audio experience. Music lovers comment that listening becomes a musical event more than listening session. No other turntable/tonearm combination convinces the listener in this way. It was imperative that the Inspiration display a meaningful degree of this “event feel”. So, A.J. Conti’s mission for the Basis Inspiration was “simple”: design a turntable system that performs as closely as possible to the unequalled Basis Work of Art at a more accessible cost.
         The Work of Art is an extremely difficult to build and very low production product. It became a repeated occurrence at Basis that after shipping a Work of Art the Basis team would enter into a type of “musical withdrawal”, with no product bringing the magic of the Work of Art.
         After a time A.J. Conti realized that he kept repeating two statements: “What will we do after shipping this Work of Art we are listening to” and “It is a shame that more music lovers in the world will not get to enjoy such musical satisfaction in their home”. It became an obsession for A.J. Conti to design a product that would allow a greater number of music lovers to enjoy a glimpse of that satisfaction from a much more accessible turntable. The result of this obsession is the Inspiration, truly inspired by the Basis Work of Art.
            To say I was impressed is an understatement. The Inspiration was such a game changer for me.

INSPIRATION SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: 17.70” wide x 16.75” deep x 12” tall to top
of Vector tonearm wire loop (450mm x 425mm x 305mm)
Weight: 100 pounds (45.5kg)
Wow and flutter: Immeasurably low using any available test records
Isolation: Greater than 70 db at 3450 hz
Price: $47k

LYRA: Allen Perkins and the good guys at Immedia unveiled a new and very unique cartridge Lyra cartridge. The Delos represents a major advance in phono cartridge technology. Read on.
         A major problem with most cartridge designs is that the signal coils are positioned so that applying normal tracking force misaligns the generator assembly thus restricting performance. The cartridge's signal coils should have the same angle as the magnetic circuit when the tracking force for playback is applied. However, almost every other cartridge is designed so that applying normal tracking force pushes the signal coils out of alignment with the magnetic circuit. This impairs the sensitivity and linearity of the coils and reduces sound quality.
         The Delos solves this problem with a new body structure and pre-angled damping system. The pre-angled dampers work together with the angle of the body structure so that, when tracking force is applied, the signal coils are optimally aligned with the magnet circuit. The Delos' unique damper, suspension and body design achieve better orientation of the coil former, which achieves a further improvement in consistency of flux forces across the entire coil former.
        The Delos features a high quality microridge stylus mounted on a boron cantilever for outstanding tracking ability, a non-parallel solid metal body for low resonances and 6-N high purity copper coils for outstanding clarity. The result is clearly improved sound quality, particularly resolution, dynamic range, transient impact and immediacy.
        Very few lucky souls have received cartridges to date (though the pipeline should be flowing shortly), but here’s a comment from one of our fortunate customers: “I've been listening most of the day to the Delos and must say this is a "killer" cartridge! Somewhat different from the other Lyra's I've owned as it really has a "soul" especially the mid-bass and midrange. I would call it Kodachrome vs Extachrome if that makes sense. I was expecting somewhat of a more lean, analytical sound, but what I am hearing is very seductive and slightly to the warm side. Detail and sibilance is very nice without being "etched." Seems to like most types of music and is super quiet in the grooves coupled with the Classic. Mates to the 10.5i SE well and resonance is about 10hz in both directions.” - N.T.
       At $1500, it’s a certified STEAL! Trade in any cartridge and a Delos is yours for only $1295.

BRYSTON: Join us in welcoming the highly respected products from Bryston of Canada! A name long associated with quality and dependability, Bryston first made a name for themselves in the world of professional audio with their robust amplifiers. Over the years their designs have received numerous awards for performance and reliability. Resale value is also excellent (a factor often neglected when selecting an audio component), making a Bryston product a good long term value.
        Every audiophile recognizes the Bryston name, and associates it with their heritage of fine amplifiers and preamplifiers. But recently Bryston has surprised everyone with their entry into the digital domain. The first product out of the gate, the BCD-1 CD player, has drawn universal praise from reviewers worldwide. To quote just a few:

· “With the BCD-1, Bryston has succeeded in building a CD player worthy of the company name. I haven't heard flagship players from other companies, but the BCD-1 is the best digital component I have heard. There may be better disc spinners out there, but I guarantee that many that are competitive with the BCD-1 cost multiples of its price and more than likely offer a different sound rather than one that's obviously better.” – Phillip Beaudette, Soundstage

· “Over time, I predict the Bryston BCD-1 will prove to resemble the Linn Sondek in one other way; it will be recognized as a landmark product of the CE era.” – Absolute Sound

· "Ultimately, if this player doesn’t stir the blood, you should get checked over for anemia.” - Alan Sircom, HiFi+

Priced at just $2695, the BCD-1 is a tremendous value. Offering a pure, clean and focused sound, built with Bryston reliability and backed with outstanding customer support. The BCD-1 should definitely be on your short (very short!) list.

        Hot on the heels of the CD player, Bryston released the BDA-1 Digital to Analog Converter ($1995), and my-oh-my, it’s a honey! Inside you’ll find fully discrete Class-A proprietary analog circuitry, two independent linear power supplies (with multiple stages of regulation) and dual Crystal CS-4398 DAC chips. All digital inputs are transformer coupled for precise impedance matching and isolation. Jitter reduction virtually annihilates digital distortion, dropping it to a vanishingly low 1/1000^th of a nanosecond. The BDA-1 upsamples 32K, 48K or 96K data to 192K and 44.1 or 88.2K to 176.4K, all at 24 bits.
        The ultra-versatile DAC is equipped with eight digital inputs, enough to satisfy even the most extensive digital system. Both balanced and single-ended outputs are provided along with an RS-232 port for software upgradeability, making the BDA-1 the most flexible high performance DAC on the market.
        Like its sibling, the BDA-1 has been an instant sales success and has likewise become the darling of the international press. The comments go like this: “During my considerable time with Bryston’s BDA-1 I put it through a myriad of music challenges and it impressed everyone. Externally it’s a simple design that nevertheless provides comprehensive connecting options. Internally, it showcases Bryston’s engineering and superb technical ability. Musically, the BDA-1 resolves dense mixes in a way that maintains the integrity of the music. Its smooth midrange and treble performance allow long non-fatiguing listening sessions, but the BDA-1 does not compromise detail, dynamics and immediacy in doing so. In fact, be prepared to also be startled by its dynamic prowess and bass power. If you’re in the market for a DAC, its’ time to open your wallet!” Edgar Kramer, Australian Hi-Fi.
       The BDA-1 DAC has just earned the 2009 Golden Ear Award from The Absolute Sound. A steal at just $1995.

Maybe you've seen the latest comments from Harry Pearson about the stunning 28B-SST2 amps? No, okay here you go: "Since I first reviewed this 1000-watt monoblock (issue 189), Bryston has twice updated its innards, each an audible improvement over the original. Yet it is the latest version (SST²) that is, putting it simply, a solid-state breakthrough, so much better than the original that I am flabbergasted (and a bit perplexed). It is faster by a good bit, with absolutely no edge or enhanced “definition”; indeed, it sounds much airier (particularly at the top) and more relaxed than did the original, while exhibiting more subtle dynamics, both at the micro- and macro ends of the spectrum. All of this is bathed in a pool of ambience that never sounds like too much second harmonic distortion (or, to these ears, euphonic in the colored sense at all)."
         "Need I say this is the most musical solid-state design I’ve heard, and from what I once would have considered the unlikeliest source?" Harry Pearson.
          We've got a pair of these babies on the way, so do call for our impressions. Don't forget, Bryston amps come with an unprecedented Twenty Year Warranty!

Reviews:

• 6moons.com
• HI-FI+
• Inner Ear Report

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