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M O D

I s s ue

Te n

A U D I O V I D E O M A G A Z I N E

al e sS i mpl i c i t yTo ne ar m

Tot heear soft het r ueaudi ophi l eandmus i cl ov er ,v i ny ls t i l lr ul es !

Today ,t hehi ghes tqual i t ys our c eofr ec or dedmus i cav ai l abl ei ss t i l l onv i ny l .Thoughs oundqual i t yc anv ar yf r om t het r ul ys ubl i met ot he mer el ymedi oc r e,t her ear eenoughL Psont hi spl anett ok eepal ot ofpeopl ehappyf ormanyy ear st oc ome,and( t hi si st her eal l ygood par t )t her ei sal s oas t r eam ofex c el l entnew r ec or di ngst hatar ebec omi ngav ai l abl eandar es t eadi l yi nc r eas i ngi nnumberast hey ear s goby .Vi ny lhasc r eat edal egac yf orus ,onet hatr emai nsr el ev anti n t hedi gi t alage,pr ec i s el ybec aus ei ti s n’ tdi gi t al .Oratl eas tmos tof t hem wer en’ t .Henc ei thast hepr opens i t yt os oundbet t er ;j us tt hat nobodyt houghtt hati tc oul dl as tt i l lnow,andbey ond!

Whati st hef ut ur eofv i ny l ?Thatdependswhet herpur c has i ngmus i c v i adownl oadst ak esof fandwear enott al k i ngaboutMP3buthi gh r es ol ut i onf or mat sl i k e24/ 96downl oadss uc hast hel i k esf r om L i nn andNai m.Fornow andt hef or es eeabl ef ut ur e,,v i ny lr ul esandwe c anal lbet hank f ult ot hel egi onsoff answhohav ek eptv i ny ls pi nni ngoutofi t sdar k es tday sandi nt ot he2ndgol denage!

Reflections

CONTENTS

5

I n t e r v i e wMi c haHuberofThalusAudio

Ap r e v i e wo fT hal usSi mpl i c i t y

11

8

TW Ak u s t i cRa v en0.

5turntable

Le h ma n n sBl ac kCubeSE

19

25

No t t i n g h a m An al ogueACE

St e pUpT r ans f or mer s

27

33

Re c o r dMa i nt enanc e

AMRPH7 7Phonostage

39

43

DrFe i c k e r tWo odpec ker

50

Or t o f o nA9 0

51

Ph o n oAc c es s or i es

Ho meVi s i t

54

FEATURE

AnI nt er v i ewwi t hMi c haHuberofThal esAudi o MrHuber ,whati syourbackgr oundand how di dThal est onear m comeabout ?Expl ai nt hest r engt hsandweaknessoft he Bur neJonesandGar r adZer o100desi gn andhow dot heThal esor i gi nalandSi mpl i ci t ysi mi l ar i t i esanddi f f er encesbegi ns andend?

MH:Mybac k gr oundi st heSwi s smac hi ne-and wat c hi ndus t r y .Af t ermyt r ai ni ngi nmec hani c al engi neer i ngIhav ewor k edt oget herwi t hAndr easSt r ehl eri ndev el opi ngwat c hmov ement f orf i v ey ear s .Myj obwasbui l di ngt hepr ot ot y pes ,andr egar di ngt hi sIhav ebui l ts ev er al f amousmov ement spar tbypar t :Mos er&Ci e Cal321/ 341/ 342,Har r yWi ns t on“ Opus7” , Maur i c eL ac r oi x“ L eChr onogr aphe” .Twoy ear s ago,Il ef tt hewat c hi ndus t r yandc onc ent r at ed i nbui l di ngt onear msonl y .

nots at i s f i edwi t ht hec ompr omi s i ng t et r agons ol ut i ons .Theyal l ow a l i t t l et r ac k i nger r or ,andmyf i r s t goalwast oc r eat eanabs ol ut el y t angent i alt r ac k i ngpi v ot edar m.

That ’ show t heThal eswasbor n.

Themai ni nnov at i oni st hatIus ea t r i angl ebas edgeomet r yi ns t eadof et r agon.Fort hes hor t l yl aunc hed Ihav es t udi edal otofs ol ut i onsr egar di ngt one- at mpl i c i t y ,Is t eppedbac kt ot he ar ms .Si nc eIwas17y ear sol d,It r i edt oc om- Si t et r agons ol ut i on,butIf ounda bi net heper f ec tgeomet r yoft het angent i al new v er s i on,whi c hc omesupwi t h t r ac k i ngwi t hadv ant agesoft hepi v ot edt onet hr eet i mesl es st r ac k i nger r ort han ar m.Themos tpopul ars ampl esi nhi s t or yar e ls ol ut i onspubl i s heds of ar . t heBJandt heGar r ar dZer o,per hapst her ear e al mor ei fy oudos omer es ear c h.Howev er ,Iwas

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I fwedoanov er v i ew: Bur neJ ones :Tet r agons ol ut i on,nonpar al l elar ms , needl et i pbet weenpi v otpoi nt s ,+/ 0.

030° Gar r ar d:Tet r agons ol ut i on,par al l elar ms ,needl et i p underbear i ngpoi nt ,+/ 0.

024° Thal es :New t r i angl es ol ut i on,wor k i ngal ongt he Thal es ’c i r c l e,abs ol ut el yt angent i al Si mpl i c i t y :Tet r agons ol ut i on,nonpar al l elar ms , needl et i punderbear i ngpoi nt ,+/ -0.

008° Yous ee,t hedi f f er enc er egar di nggeomet r yi ss i gni f i c ant ,butnothuge.Butt hebear i ngqual i t yoft he Thal esandSi mpl i c i t yi smuc hmor edev el oped,t hat ’ s whyt het heor et i c aladv ant ageshav ebeenbr ought t oanaudi bl ebet t err es ul tf ort hef i r s tt i me.

MH:Onl ymanuf ac t ur i ngwi t houtc ompr omi s i ng mak esi tpos s i bl et or eal i z eamor ec ompl i c at es ol ut i ont ot opt hees t abl i s heds oundqual i t y .The Thal est onear mc ons i s tofmor et han100par t s .

Ev er ypar ti sdes i gnedac c or di ngt oi t ss pec i f i c f unc t i on.Weus ef i nes ts apphi r eandbal lbear i ngs t or educ et hef r i c t i ont ot hel owes tv al uespos s i bl e.Thear mmat er i ali sc utoutofs ol i dbl oc k s , wedonotus es t r es s edmat er i all i k es heetort ube.

Al ls t eelpar t sar es t ai nl es sandpol i s hedt ot he bes tqual i t yav ai l abl ewor l dwi de.Theas s embl i ng i sdonebymyempl oy ee,Dani elSc hmi d,whoi sa wel l t r ai nedwat c hmak er .Bes i det he t r adi t i onalc r af t s mans hi p

uc t s .Tor eac ht hepr ec i s i onoft heSi mpl i c i t yf or ex ampl eat r adi t i onalar m neededt obe1, 500 i nc hesl ong,whi l et heThal esor i gi naldef i nest he r ef er enc e,whi c hc annotbet oppedt heor et i c al l y .

Whi l ei tmaybet r ueashor t erar m woul d

wewor kwi t hmos t moder nequi pmentt or eac ht hebes t qual i t yi nengi neer i ngandmanuf ac t ur i ng.

Descr i bet hei nt r i caci esoft hear m desi gnand assembl yf ori t shi ghr et ai lpr i ce.I not her wor ds,whatgoesi nt oaThal est onear mt o j ust i f yi t saski ngpr i ce?

Tr acki nger r orcanber educedwi t hl onger ar mseg10i nchor12i nch,al esscompl i cat eddesi gnopt i on?Orputi tanot herway, how i st heThal esdesi gnsuper i ort ol onger ar ms?

MH:Youc annotc ompar et her educ t i oni nt r ac k i ng er r oroft r adi t i onal12i nc har mswi t hourpr od

i nt r oducel essr esonance,woul dn’ tt hedual ar mt ubedesi gnoft heSi mpl i ci t yort headdi t i onalhor i zont alar mt ubeoft heThal es Or i gi nalt onear mi ncr easest heamountof r esonancei nt r oducedi nt ot hear m st r uct ur e?

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MH:Youar eabs ol ut el yr i ght ;t hi st as kneedsas pec i f i cs ol ut i on.Butbyf i ndi ngt hi s ,y ouc ant ur nt he handi c apt oabenef i tandt opt hedampi ngpr oper t i esoft r adi t i onals i ngl et ubedes i gn.Iam af r ai dI c annotpubl i s hal ldet ai l sr egar di ngt hi s ,butbas i c al l yt hedodgei st ot unebot har msi nhar moni c al l y andmak et hem dampi ngeac hot heri ns t eadofam pl i f y i ngt hei rr es onanc ef r equenc y .

Tak i ngi nc ons i der at i onbot has pec t s ,wec an s ayt her ec anbeaudi bl edi s t or t i onsi fy ou hav emor et han1°t r ac k i nger r oratt hei nner gr oov e.Butt heaudi bl edi f f er enc ebet ween0° and0.

1°i smuc hmor et hanbet ween0.

1and 1° ,bec aus et hel os tofneedl ec ont r oli shear abl eass oonasy oul eav et het angent i alpos i t i on.

Inot i cedt hecount er wei ghti sal sospl i tf or t het wopar t soft het onear m,pl easeexpl ai n t hewor ki ngsoft hecount er wei ght ,i ft her ei s anyt hi ngt oi tt hati sdi f f er entf r om convent i onalt onear ms?I fIam notmi st aken,t he count er wei ghtar r angemental sot akescar e oft heant i skat er equi r ement s?

Ont heSi mpl i ci t yt onear m –how ef f ect i vei st hear m desi gn/bear i ngcompar ed t ot heThal esOr i gi nal ?How doest he bear i ngdesi gncompar edt ot r adi t i onal pi vot edbear i ngs?

MH:Thi snow def i ni t el yt ouc hesononeoft he s ec r etofWHYt heSi mpl i c i t ydoeswor kt hat s moot hl y . . .Butbas i c al l y ,t hedi v i dedc ount er wei ght hasl i t t l emagnet sembeddedwhi c hmak esi tpos s i bl et oa)bal anc et hes i def or c es( ant i s k at i ng) ,b) r educ et hef r i c t i onand c )dampt het onear mt ubes .

Atwhatpoi nti st heamountoft r acki ngdi st or t i onconsi der edunaccept abl e?I st her ea cor r el at i onoft hesi zeoft her ecor dgr ooves vst hedi st or t i onl evel ?

MH:Thi si squi t ei nt er es t i ngands t ar t st ot ouc ht hel i mi toft oday ’ sk nowl edge.I nMuni c h2010Ihav edi s c us s edt hi swi t hs omef r i endsoft hei ndus t r y( Hel mut Br i nk mann,Fr ankSc hr öder )andwehav ec omet ot he s amec onc l us i oni ndependent l y : Bas i c al l yt het r ac k i nger r oraf f ec t st hemus i c s i gnal andaddsadi s t or t i ont oi t .Ther ei sac or r el at i onbet weent het r ac k i ngdi amet erandt hes i gnalf r equenc y .

Thenar r owert het r ac k i ngdi amet erandt hehi gher t hef r equenc yi s ,t hebet t ery ouc anhearaudi bl edi s t or t i on.Bes i dest hat ,t het r ac k i nger r orhasanot her i nf l uenc et ot het r ac k i ngpr oper t i es :Ass oonasi t l eav est het angent i alpos i t i on,t hedi amondi st ouc hed byt hel ef tandr i ghts i deoft hegr oov eal i t t l eoutof phas e.Thi soc c ur si nl es sneedl ec ont r ol .

MH:Af t erpl ay i ngwi t ht hr eepr ot ot y pesnow, wehav ei mpr ov edt hedoubl ec ar dani cbear i ng oft heSi mpl i c i t yandr eac haboutt hes ame f r i c t i onv al uesasf ort heThal esor i gi nal .Al lmy des i gni sbas edonv er yl i t t l ec l ear anc e,asmy phi l os ophyi snott oal l ow anymov ement ex c epthor i z ont alandv er t i c al .Ourt angent i al pi v ot edc ons t r uc t i onc anc ompar ewi t hanybal l bear i ngdes i gnr egar di ngf r i c t i on,butnotwi t h uni pi v ott onear msast heyhav eonl yonec ont ac tpoi nt .Buti nmypoi ntofv i ew,wedonot onl yneedasl es sf r i c t i onaspos s i bl e,butr i gi di t yandt hec or r ec tbal anc et oc ompens at et he i ns i def or c esc aus edbyt hef r i c t i onbet ween r ec or danddi amond.

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al e sS i mpl i c i t y Apr e v i e wo fag r o undbr e ak i ngpr o duc t

Asat onear m goes ,i thasbutas i mpl et as k , t ohol dt hephonoc ar t r i dgewi t habs ol ut e s t abi l i t yasi tt r ac k sac r os st her ec or dwhi l e addi ngnov i br at i onofi t sown.As i mpl e enought as kunt i ly our eal i z et heenor mi t y ofi t st as ki nr el at i ont ot hes i gnalt hec ar t r i dgei spi c k i ngup.Anydi s c r epanc yf r om t hepr es c r i bedr out ei sadi s as t ermagni f i ed manyt i mes .Thequal i t yoft heengi neer i ng i sagi v enandal lhi ghqual i t yt onear msar e, l i k epr ec i s i oni ns t r ument s ,bui l toft hehi ghes tqual i t y .Thepr ec i s ef i tandf i ni s hi sa nec es s i t yandpr obabl yunmat c hedi nany ot herc omponenti nt hemus i cpl ay bac k c hai ns av ef ort hephonoc ar t r i dge.

Thei nt er pr et at i onoft het onear mt heme v ar i esc ons i der abl y– r ac ebear i ngs ,k ni f eedgebear i ngs ,uni pi v ot ,of f s etbear i ng,par al l elt r ac k i ngands oon.Eac hhowev erhas i t sowns etofc ompr omi s est hatt hedes i gners t r uggl est oov er c ome.Anunenv i abl e t as ki ndeed.

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WhenIc amet ok now aboutThal es ,I wonder edi fi twasj us tanot herc ant ank er ousc ont r apt i on,anoddi t yt hatonl y s er v est ober emember edass uc hi n t heannal sofhi f ihi s t or y ?Per hapsIam bei ngt oohar s handt ooj udgment al ev enbef or es eei ngt hepr oduc ti n ac t i on.Ev enmor ei mpor t ant l y ,c oul di t out per f or ms oni c al l yev er y t hi ngel s e bef or ei t ,asThal uswoul dc l ai m?AsI wr i t et hi s ,Iam pai nf ul l yawar eoft he r es pons i bi l i t ywei ghi ngheav i l yonmy s houl der s–t ogi v eani mpr es s i onofa pr oduc tIhav enoi mpr es s i onofbec aus eal lIs eei si npi c t ur esands ome c or r es pondenc ewi t hMrMi c haHuber , t hedes i gneroft heThal est onear ms .I hav e,i nt r ut h,nots eent hepr oduc ti n t hef l es hs ount i ls uc ht i meIhav et he oppor t uni t yt ol i s t en,ev al uat eand r ev i ew t hear m,myr ambl i ngsi sas s uc h,mer es pec ul at i on.

i nger r or .Tr ac k i nger r oraswek now ofl eadst omanyi l l s–di s t or t i on, c hanneli mbal anc e,poorc hannel s epar at i on,ex c es s i v er ec or dwearand s oon.Ar ec or di sc utt angent i al l ywi t h as t at i onar yc ut t er ,whi c hnev er mov es ,howev ert opl ay bac kt he r ec or d,99% ofar msar epi v ot edone wayoranot her ,s oi tgoest or eas on t hatt r ac k i ngdi s t or t i onwi l lal way sbe ani s s ue.

Mi c hac al l shi sor i gi nalThal est onear m a‘ t angent i alpi v ot ed’t onear m.So i npr i nc i pl e,i thasc har ac t er i s t i c sof bot hapi v ot edt onear m andt hatofa t angent i alpar al l elt r ac k i ngar m.I t us esmat hemat i c algeomet r yt o ac hi ev e‘ per f ec t ’al i gnmentoft hec ar t r i dget ot hegr oov e.I ndoi ngs o,t he c ar t r i dgeneedst oc ont i nuous l yand mec hani c al l yal i gni t s el fbys ome means ,t ot hegr oov easi tt r ac k st he ec or d.I tdoess obymeansofs ome Mi c hac l ai mst her ear emanys hor t c om- r or tofout r i ggerar r angementt o i ngswi t h‘ t r adi t i onal ’t onear msandhi s s gent l yal i gnt hec ar t r i dget oapr es et c r eat i onov er c omesoneoft hemos t hear mt r ans v er s esov er c r i t i c alas pec toft hef unc t i onofac ar - amountast her ec or ds ur f ac e.Mi c hac l ai mshe t r i dget r ac k i ngar ec or dgr oov e–t r ac k t WWW. HI FI .

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ac hi ev est hi swi t houtc ompr omi s i ngont hemec hani - ont ot hedet ac habl eheads hel landt hent heheadc ali nt egr i t yoft hes t r uc t ur e.I tmayl ookot her wi s e s hel li si nt ur nmount edont hear mt ube. butIam as s ur edi t sr i gi di t yandmec hani c als t abi l i t y i swel lni ghi mpec c abl e.

Ast hedualar mt ubegoesal lt hewayt ot hepi v ot poi nt ,y ouc ans ayt hates s ent i al l yt heSi mpl i c i t yi s Theor i gi nalThal esi sahandbui l taf f ai randt he t woc ompl et es et soft onear mswor k i ngi nt andem. c ompl ex i t yoft hebear i ngdes i gnmak esi tav er y Thes l i ghtdi f f er enc ei ngeomet r yoft het woar m ex pens i v ei t em.Mi c hahaswor k edal i t t l ear oundt he t ubeswi l lef f ec tt hec ont i nuousc hangei nt hegedes i gn,wi t hs omedegr eeofs i mpl i f i c at i ont ot he omet r y .6j ewel sand4handpol i s hedmi ni at ur ebal l as s embl yandc os tt ohandmac hi net hev ar i ous bear i ngsar eus edi nt hedes i gnt oens ur et hat par t s ,andasar es ul tnow c anof f eramor eaf f or dwhat ev ermov ement sar ewi t habar emi ni mum of abl ev er s i on,onet hats t i l ladher est ohi s‘ t angent i al f r i c t i onandc hat t er ,i nor dert omai nt ai ns t at eof pi v ot ed’ar mc onc ept .Thust heThal esSi mpl i c i t y t hear tper f or manc e. wasbor n.

I nes s enc e,t heSi mpl i c i t yi si ndeedamuc hs i mpl er Thef i r s tuni t swi l lbemadeav ai l abl ei nabouta t onear mt ous eonapr ac t i c aldayt odaybas i s .Dual mont haf t ert hi si s s uei spubl i s hedasac t ualpr oduc - ar mt ube,t wos et sofbear i ngsandt woc ount er t i onwashel dupduet ot hedel ayofs omec r i t i c al wei ght s .Ac c or di ngt oMi c ha,2s mal lmagnet sar e c omponent s .Ac oupl eofpr epr oduc t i ons ampl es i nt egr at edi nt ot hes pl i tc ount er wei ghtt o‘ hol d’t he wer eondemodur i ngt heMuni c hHi ghEnds how i n t wopar t st oget herandbal anc eal ls i def or c es .

May ,butnonehasmadei t swayt oSi ngapor eas y et .Sot hi si sper hapsat eas erofwhatt oex pec t Thati saboutal lt hatc anbegl eanedf r om t hemat ewhent heSi mpl i c i t yf i nal l yar r i v es . r i al sIhav el ai dmyhandson.Howev er ,i fi twor k s ac c or di ngt oi t sl of t yc l ai msandi ts oundsasgood TheSi mpl i c i t ydi s pens eswi t ht heout r i ggerar r ange- asi tt heor et i c al l ys houl d,t hent hi swi l ldef i ni t el ybe mentandi ndoi ngs o,Ibel i ev ei t‘ s i mpl i f i es ’t he ones er i oust onear mc ont enderi nt heul t r ahi ghend s et uppr oc es s .Youmountt hec ar t r i dgeasper s t ak es !Wewi l ldoamor ec ompl et ef eat ur ei nt he nor malont ot hedet ac habl eheads hel lwi t ht hehel p nex ti s s uewhent hear m ar r i v es .St ayt uned! oft hes uppl i edpr ec i s i onc ar t r i dgeal i gnmentt ool ,

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TW Ac us t i c

Ra v e n0.

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Tur nt abl esgener al l yf al li nt ot woc at egor i es–l i ght wei ghts us pendedt ur nt abl esors ol i dpl i nt hwi t houts us pens i on.The l at t ers eemst obegai ni ngpopul ar i t yofl at ewi t hmanyhi gh qual i t yt ur nt abl esappear i ngi nt hes t or es ,mos toft hem appar ent l yf r om Ger many .Oneoft hemos thi ghl yr av edabout Ger mant ur nt abl ei st hel i nef r om TW Ac us t i c .

Nots ur pr i s i ngl y ,TW i st hei ni t i al soft hec ompany ’ sf ounderThomasWos c hni c k .Thes ubj ec toft hef eat ur ei shi sl at es t t ur nt abl e–t heRav en0.

5.Thehi ghl ys uc c es s f ulRav enOne hasbeenas or tofs t andar dbear eranda‘ mor eaf f or dabl eand mor ec ompac t ’v er s i onoft hehi ghermodel s ,t heRav enACand f l ags hi pRav enBl ac kKni ght .TheRav enOneowesi t ss uc c es s notj us tt oi t ss oundqual i t ybutal s ot heex qui s i t ef i tandf i ni s h i ts har eswi t ht hehi ghermodel s .TheTW t ur nt abl esar eal s o ex t r emel ys i mpl et os et up–t hi smak esf orac ons i s t entper f or manc eov ert i me.

Forr ef er enc ei nt hi sr ev i ew,t heRav en0.

5wi l lbec ompar edt o i t sbi ggerbr ot her ,t heRav enOnes oast ogi v eabal anc edper s pec t i v eofwhatt hedi f f er enc esar ebet weent heOneandt he 0.

5.

Gi v ent hes i mpl i c i t yofTW des i gns ,i t ’ sawonderhow TW i s abl et oof f erac heapert ur nt abl et hant heRav enOne–t her e ar es omei magesonTW webs i t es howi nghow t hei rt ur nt abl es ar emadeandi ti sappar ent ,y ouc ans eewher et hemoney goest o–CNCmac hi ni ngoft heex ot i cmat er i alTW us eex c l us i v el yf ort hei ronepi ec et ur nt abl epl i nt hs–ac ompoundof

al umi num andc opper .MrWos c hni c k ,anel ec t r oni c sengi neer byt r ai ni ng,i ss i mpl yc onv i nc edt hi smat er i ali st hek eyt o get t i ngt hes oundhei st r y i ngt oac hi ev ei nhi sdes i gns .TW t ur nt abl esc annev erbemas s pr oduc edands ur pr i s i ngl yi n t hi sdayandageofgl obal i s at i on,TW t ur nt abl esar ec ompl et el yf abr i c at edi nGer many .Thatmeanss omet hi ngshav e t oc os tmoney .

TW hasj us tl aunc hedt hec heaperRav en0.

5andIs uppos e her anoutofnamesandt he0.

5pos s i bl ymeansi ti shal fa Rav enOne.Bot ht hepl i nt handpl at t erus esex ac t l yt hes ame mat er i al sast heRav enOne–al umi num c opperc ompound f ort hepl i nt handDel r i nf ort hepl at t ers oy ous houl dnotf eel s hor t c hangedf ort he0.

5.Thepl i nt hi sj us tov erhal ft he t hi c k nes sandt hepl at t eri shal ft het hi c k nes soft hebi gger br ot her .Thatmeansl owermat er i al sc os tt houghIam not c er t ai ni twi l ls i gni f i c ant l yl owert hemanuf ac t ur i ngc os t .

TheDel r i npl at t er ,apl as t i c / ac r y l i cmat er i aldev el opedby Dupontandi ss ai dt ohav et hes or tofdens i t yandi nt er nal dampi ngt hatTW neededwi t hnoaddi t i onalbandai dsl i k e r ec or dmat soraddi t i onals t r uc t ur alr ei nf or c ement sr equi r ed.

Henc eTW t ur nt abl esar es uppl i edwi t houtanyf or m ofamat orr ec or d/ pl at t eri nt er f ac e.Rev i ewsont heRav enOnehav e al s oment i onedi ts oundedbes twi t houtanys or tofmator c l ampt houghy ouar ef r eet ot r y .The0.

5hasat hi nner( and l i ght er )30mm pl at t ert hant he60mm pl at t eroft heOne.The l i ght erpl at t erwi l lhav es omei mpac tonr ot at i onals t abi l i t yof WWW. HI FI .

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t het ur nt abl es y s t em.Heav i erpl at t er s ar edef i ni t el ybet t eri nt ones t abi l i t y andi ns omer es pec t s ,bas sex t ens i on.

TheRav enOneandRav en0.

5bot h us eDCmot or st hatmandat eagood powers uppl y .Themor eex pens i v e powers uppl yf ort heOnec omesi na ni c ec has s i swhi l et hec heaper0.

5 c omesi nac heaperwal lpl ugt y pe powers uppl y .Ont heOne,y ou c hanges peedv i as wi t c hesont he powers uppl ywhi l et he0.

5;y ouneed t omanual l ys l i pt hebel tov ert he l ar geroft hes t eppeds pi ndl e.

Ot herf eat ur est hats epar at est he Onef r om t he0.

5i nc l udes–t he Rav enOnehasal umi num f eetwi t h i nt egr albal lbear i ngwhi l et he0.

5’ s f eetar es i mpl eri ndes i gn–al umi num wi t haf el tpad.TheRav enOne’ sc an t ak eonas ec ondmot ort oi mpr ov e s t abi l i t yt houghatanaddi t i onalc os t .

TheRav enOne’ smai nbear i ngs haf t i sembeddedi nt oas t ai nl es ss t eel pl at e( whi c hi st henpr es sf i ti nt ot he WWW. HI FI .

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pl i nt h)t oadddampi ngands t r uc t ur al r i gi di t ywhi l et he0.

5doesnothav e t hi sf eat ur e.Thequal i t yoft hemai n bear i ngsofbot ht heRav enOneand 0.

5s houl dbei dent i c al–oi ll ubr i c at edTef l ont hr us tpadf ort hei nv er t edbear i ng.

Themount i ngoft het onear mi sal s o oneoft hemai ndi f f er ent i at orbet weent het womodel s–t heOne us esamas s i v ec opperpl at ewhi c h al l owst heus eofar msasl ongas 12i nc heswhi l et he0.

5i ss i mpl erand ac c ommodat est heus ual910.

5 i nc her .

The0.

5l ook sv er ymuc hl i k et he One,mi ni mal i s ti ns i z e,t her ei sno ex c es sf atany wher e.Ev er ypar tof t het ur nt abl es er v esapur pos e–and t her ear eonl y3t hi ngst hatmat t er– s uppor t i ngt hepl at t er ,mount i ngt he mot orandmount i ngt het onear m.

The0.

5i sabel tdr i v ent ur nt abl eand t hebel twass el ec t edaf t eraudi t i oni ngbel t smadeofdi f f er entc ompound WWW. HI FI .

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mat er i al sandt hef i nalc hoi c ei sbas edont hebes tbal anc ebet ween s oundqual i t yandc ons i s t enc yi nmanuf ac t ur e.

Fort hepur pos eoft hi sr ev i ew,aHel i usAur or at onear m andOr t of on Cadenz aRedar eempl oy ed.Thes i debarhasas hor tf eat ur eont hi s t onear m.TheCadenz aRedi ss i mi l art ot heCadenz aBl ueex c eptf or t her ubyc ant i l ev erandal i nec ont ac ts t y l usont heBl uev s .al umi num c ant i l ev erandel l i pt i c als t y l usont heRed. Af i r s ti mpr es s i onoft he0.

5i sav er yqui et( s omewoul dc al li t‘ bl ac k ’ ) bac k gr oundwher et het ur nt abl epai nt edav er yv i v i dandt hr eedi mens i onals ounds c ape.Thel ow noi s ef l oormeanst hedy nami c r angeoft het ur nt abl es y s t em i snow abl et or et r i ev et hes ubt l edet ai l sl os tt hr oughl es s ert ur nt abl es .I ti squi t eaneer i eex per i enc et o hears ubt l es oundsonf ami l i arr ec or dspoppi ngout–i tbec ameappar entt hatt hi si nf or mat i onr et r i ev edonl ys er v est omak et hemus i c l i s t eni ngex per i enc eamor ec ompl et eandf ul f i l l i ngone.

I nt er msoff r equenc ybandwi dt h,t he0.

5di dt ur nt hec or ner s ,a s ubt l er ol lof fi nt hehi ghf r equenc i es ,buti nawayy ouwoul dnot not i c eunl es saf ars uper i ort ur nt abl ei sc ompar edwi t hi t .Tonalc ol our sofunampl i f i edi ns t r ument swer ewel lpr es er v edwhi c hmeans t her ol lof fi shi gherupt hef r equenc yr angeandi nnowaymodi f i ed t hec har ac t eroft hes ei ns t r ument s .

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Themi dbandi sper hapswher et her eals t r engt hoft heRav en0.

5i s ,wi t h awel lr ec or dedpi ec el i k eJ enni f erWar nes-TheHunt er ,s howsc l ear l y t hatt he0.

5addsani c ewar mf eelt ot hes ound.As l i ghtdepar t ur ef r om neut r albutwasnev erc l i ni c alordet ai l edatt heex pens eofas oundt hat goesdownwel l ,wi t hmeatl eas t !Thatmeanst he0.

5nev ers ounded edgyandnev eremphas i z edac er t ai nr angeoff r equenc i esatt heex pens eofot her s( c r edi tt oof ort heOr t of onCadenz aRedandt heHel i us Aur or at onear m) .Iam begi nni ngt ol i k et hi st ur nt abl e,notbec aus ei t l ook sr eal l ys l eekbuti tac t ual l ymak esmus i cc omeal i v e.

Iam t hor oughl yi mpr es s edwi t hThomasWos c hni c k ’ sl at es tc r eat i on–i n t hatt hec ompr omi s esonal es s erbui l tt ur nt abl el i k et heRav en0.

5( as c ompar edt ot heRav enOne)doesnothamperi t smus i cmak i ngabi l i t i es .

I nf ac ti twoul ds eem t omet heRav en0.

5i ss omet hi ngofabar gai n ev enwhenc ompar edt ot heRav enOne.I ft her ewer ec ompr omi s es ,i n mymi nd,t hemos ts i gni f i c antonewoul dbet her oc ks ol i ds t abi l i t yt hat t heRav enOnec ani mbuei nt hes ound.TheRav en0.

5br i ngsdownt he c os tofowner s hi pf oraTW Ac us t i ct ur nt abl ebyat hi r df r om t heRav en One;as ubs t ant i als av i ngt hatenabl esani nv es t menti nagoodar m and c ar t r i dge.Orev enagoodphonos t age.Thenagai n,t heRav enOnes et s s uc hahi ghs t andar df oranaf f or dabl ehi ghendt ur nt abl et haty oumi ght j us tt ak et hepl ungef ort heRav enOnei ns t ead.Ei t herway ,y ouwi l lend upwi t har ec or dpl ay ert hatdoesj us t i c et oy ourmus i cc ol l ec t i on.

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FEATURE

Hel i usAur or aTonear m TheHel i usAur or at onear mi sanex c ept i onal l y s l eekdes i gn–t heonepi ec ear mt ubef r om t hebear i ngpr es ent sex c ept i onals t r engt hand r i gi di t y .Thebear i ngdes i gni suni quet o Hel i us–‘ dy nami c al l ybal anc i ngt hebear i ngs ar oundapoi ntofz er opot ent i al ’–meani ngi t us esdi f f er entmas sont hehor i z ont albear i ngsv i sav i st hev er t i c albear i ngs !Thec ount er wei ghtdes i gni sal s ouni que–i tpl ac est he c ent erofi t smas sasc l os et ot hepi v otas pos s i bl et oenhanc et r ac k i ngabi l i t y .Thear m t er mi nat esi nt oRCAc onnec t or sf oreas eof us e.Thear mi sav ai l abl ei ns ev er ali nc ar nat i ons–9,10or12i nc h,i nt er nal l ywi r edwi t h s i l v erorox y genf r eec opperandwi t hf i x edor det ac habl eheads hel l .

TW Ac us t i cRav en0.

5 $5500 TW Ac us t i cRav enOne $8800 Hel i usAur or a10”t onear m $2100 Or t of onCadenz aRed $1530

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LehmannAudi o

Bl a c kCu b eSEMK2 pl usc ompar edt oor i gi nalBl ac kCube

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Bes tk nownf ori t si nex pens i v eBl ac kCubephonos t ages i nc e1995,L ehmannhass i nc eex pandedi t sl i ne upwi t hhi gherper f or manc emodel sf ort hos ewi l l i ngt ot r adeupwhent heyupgr adet hei rf r ontendi n t andem.Thei rheadphoneampl i f i eri s n’ tt oos habbyei t her !

Iappr oac hedt heBl ac kCubeSEMK2wi t hs omet r epi dat i on,att wi c et hepr i c e,t heor i gi nalBl ac kCube i ss t i l lav ai l abl eatav er yr eas onabl eS$780andof f er sal ev elofper f or manc ec ompar abl et os ome phonos t agess el l i ngf ort wi c easmuc h,i fnotmor e.I st heor i gi nalBl ac kCube( whi c hbyt hewayhas s eengr aduali mpr ov ement smadeov ert hey ear ss i nc ei t s1995debut )t oogoodwi t hi ni t sownf ami l y ?

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Theonl ywayt of i ndoutj us twhatt heSEMK2 ( S$1400)of f er sov ert heor i gi nalBl ac kCubei st odo as hoot out .Weempl oy edt her es pec t abl eDrFei c k er t Woodpec k ert ur nt abl ewi t hanOr t of onRS212Dt onear m andCadenz aBl ueMCc ar t r i dgeal s of r om Or t of on.

Vi s ual l y ,t heBl ac kCubeandt heBl ac kCubeSE2ar e t wov er ydi f f er entdes i gns .TheBl ac kCubec omesi n av er yc ompac tandunas s umi ngs heetmet alc has s i s , whi c hdoesnot hi ngf oraes t het i c s–Is uppos ey ou payf orwhat ’ si ns i deoft hel i t t l emet albox .L ehmann us ess omepr et t yni c epar t s–WI MAc apsandpr emi um Anal ogueDev i c esopamps–s oy ouk now wher ey ourmoneygoes !Thi suni thasawhoppi ng max i mum of66dBgai n,i mpr es s i v e!Youc ans el ec t t hegai nt oopt i mi z ey ourc ar t r i dges i gnalt onoi s e r at i of r om 36dBupt o66dB.I mpedanc el oadi ngf or MCsr angef r om 47K,1Kand100ohms .I fy ourc ar t r i dgehasas pec i f i cl oadi ngr equi r ement ,t her ei sa har dwi r es l ott oi ns er tr es i s t or s .Obv i ous l yt hes t or e t hats el l st heBl ac kCubewi l lbeabl et oas s i s ti nt hi s r es pec t .

Thes mal lout boar dpowers uppl yi s ,t oputi tmi l dl y ,adequat e.

Obv i ous l yy ouc andobet t erwi t hanupgr adet ot hePWX powers uppl y .Idi dt r yi tbr i ef l ywi t ht hePWXaf t ert hi ss hoot outwasc ompl et edandIwi l lr epor tatt heendoft hi sf eat ur e aboutt hi supgr ade.

TheBl ac kCubeSE2i nc ont r as ti sc l ear l yac l as s i erpr oduc t .

Unl i k et heanony mousBl ac kCube,t heSE2hasabr us hal umi num f ac epl at eandal lc onnec t i onsar eatt hebac koft heuni t r at hert hant he‘ ones i dei nandt heot her s i deout ’ar r angementoft heBl ac kCube.ThePWXpowers uppl yc omesc ompl et ewi t ht heSE2.L i k et heBl ac kCube,t heSE2hasus eradj us t abl egai nf r om 36,46,56and66dB.ThePWXpower s uppl yi samuc hhef t i erbeas tt hatf eat ur esal ar ge30VAt or oi dalt r ans f or mer ,and20, 000uFofc apac i t anc ewi t hgr ound i s ol at i on.

Bot ht heBl ac kCubeandBl ac kCubeSE2ar el oadedt ot hedef aul t100ohmsf ac t or ys et t i ng.TheOr t of ons eemsqui t ehappy att hi ss et t i ng.Fi r s twef i r eupt heBl ac kCube.Fi r s ti mpr es s i onswer eex t r emel ypos i t i v eandIbegi nt ounder s t andwhy t heBl ac kCubehasdev el opedac ul tf ol l owi ngamongs tt he v i ny lf r at er ni t y .Thes oundwasv i v i d,l i v el yandv er ymus i c al .

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Ast heOr t of onl ower edt hef i nel i nes t y l usat t ac hedt oi t sr ubyc ant i l ev er ,Ihel dmybat ed br eat hast hef i r s tnot esemer gedf r om t hes peak er s .Il etoutas i ghofr el i ef ,aswhatemer ged f r om t heSE2i snot hi ngl i k ewhatIhav eex pec t ed f r om a‘ s oupedup’Bl ac kCubeor i gi nal .Ther ei s t hats ens eofex pr es s i v enes si nt hedy nami c TheBl ac kCubef orwhati t swor t h,i sv er yqui et r anget hatt r ul ys et st heSE2i nat ot al l ydi f f er ent andaddsnonot i c eabl enoi s et ot hes ound.Dy c l as sc ompar edt ot heor i gi nal ,whi c hnow nami c sar ewel lhandl edwi t hgoodi fnotper f ec t oundedmuc hl es sr ef i ned,muc hl es sex pr es s i v e r endi t i onofl ow l ev eldy nami c s .Per hapst her ei sa s anddef i ni t el ymuc hl es st onal l yc ol our f ul .Idi d l i mi tt oi t sr es ol ut i oni nabs ol ut et er msbutf or eal i z ehow muc ht het onal i t yofs omei ns t r uwhat ’ si t swor t h,i t sper f or manc ec ompar esf av our - notr shasbeenwat er eddownbyt heor i gi nal . abl ywi t hphonos t agest wi c ei t sas k i ngpr i c e.Hon ment Whi l et heor i gi nalBl ac kCubehasal es st hans t er es t l y ,i ti st hatgood. l i ngdept hpr es ent at i on,t heSE2es s ent i al l yr ec t i f i est hats hor t c omi ngwi t heas e.Ev enmor ei mNow t hatmak esi tex t r emel yt oughgoi ngf ort he es s i v e,t hes ounds t agi ngi smuc hmuc hmor e SE2.Ats l i ght l yl es st hant wi c et heas k i ngpr i c eof pr ec i s eands oundss eemst obeeer i l ys us pended t heor i gi nalBl ac kCube-andIj us ts hotmy s el fi n pr i nat hr eedi mens i onals pac e-s omet hi ngt he t hef ootf ors ugges t i ngear l i ert hatt heor i gi nal or i gi nalBl ac kCubewasnotc apabl eof .I nal lf ai r ( Bl ac kCube)meas ur esupt omos tphonos t ages s ,t heor i gi naldi dnots ound‘ bad’c ompar edt o at ,y up,t wi c et hepr i c eoft heor i gi nal-i thast odo nes t heSE2buti t ss hor t c omi ngsar er eadi l yappar ent bet t eri nmos t ,i fnoti nev er yas pec t-andt he ompar eds i debys i de.Bewar e;donot or i gi nalBl ac kCubehasv er yf ew weak nes s esl ef t whenc c ompar et heor i gi nalwi t ht heSE2,unl es sy ouc an t oc onquer .

Thes ounds t agei swi dei fnotpar t i c ul ar l ydeep s oundi ng.I nt er msofdet ai lr et r i ev al ,Iwoul dr at e t heBl ac kCubewel labov eav er age,def i ni t el ywel l abov et heper f or manc eex pec t edf r om s uc hani nex pens i v edev i c e.

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budgetf ort heSE2!

Theor i gi nalBl ac kCubeof f er sanaf f or dabl epr i c epoi ntf orv i ny ls t ar t er s wi t hamoder at epr i c edt ur nt abl e,ar m,c ar t r i dgeandphonos t aget oaugmentanex i s t i ngs y s t em.Onc et het ur nt abl ei supgr aded,t heor i gi nalBl ac k Cubec oul dbef oundwant i ngi ni t sabi l i t yt or es ol v et hei nf or mat i onabet t er t ur nt abl edel i v er s .That ’ swher et heSE2del i v er st hegoods .Thef ac tt hat t heor i gi nalBl ac kCubei ss t i l li ngooddemandmak esi teas yt ot r adeupf or abet t ermodel .

Bl a c kCu b eSE

Or i g i n a lBl a c kCu b e

Now aboutt heor i gi nalBl ac kCube-wi t habet t erpowers uppl y ,t hePWX, wi l li tdel i v er90% t heper f or manc eoft heSE2andc heaperbyaf ew hundr edbuc k s ?Al asno,muc hasL ehmannwoul dl i k ey out obuyaPWXf or y ourBl ac kCubeandt henf ol l ow upwi t ht heSE2,Iwoul ds t r ongl ys ugges t y ouei t hers t i c kwi t hy ourBl ac kCubeorgot hewhol ehogf ort heSE2 whi c hi s n’ tex ac t l yv er ymuc hmor eex pens i v e.

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Why ?Si mpl yt hi s ,t heBl ac kCubewi t ht hes t andar dpowers uppl yr ender st hi sdev i c er el at i v el y f or gi v i ng–i ts oundsmus i c alenought ok eept hel i s t enerengagedandf ormany ,t hi si senough.

Des pi t et hes amepar ent age,t heSE2i sadi f f er entbeas tal t oget her .Thepr ec i s i onandc ont r olof t heSE2i st ot al l yi nc ont r as tt ot heeas ygoi ngBl ac kCube.L ehmannc al l st heBl ac kCubewi t h PWXt he‘ SE’ .Ahal f wayhous ebet weent heBl ac kBoxandt heSE2.Iwoul ds ay ,t hePWXr obs t heBl ac kCubeofs omeofi t si dent i t yy etdonotev enof f eragl i mps eofwhatt heSE2i sr eal l y c apabl eof .Iwoul ds ays k i pt hi ss t ep,af t eral l ,t heSE2i ss t i l lv er yaf f or dabl ebyanys t andar ds andl i k et heor i gi nalBl ac kCube,abar gai nf ort heper f or manc ei tof f er s !

I n s i d et h ePWXp o we rs u p p l y

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Not t i ngham Anal ogueACESpaceDeck TheACESpac eDec ki st hel at es tdev el opmentoft hec l as s i c Not t i ngham Spac eDec k .Thought heACESpac eandt he Spac eDec kl ooki dent i c al ,t hedi f f er enc esar es i gni f i c ant .The ACESpac edi f f er sf r om t heSpac eDec kbyi nc or por at i nga new bear i ng( bas edont heHy per s pac ebear i ng) ,anew ar m boar dandanew mot ormount .

TheACESpac eal s ous esv er ydi f f er entmet al ur gyi nt hear m boar dandt hemot ormount .Bot hhav ebeenc hangedf r om al umi ni um t ol eadi mpr egnat eds t eel .Wi t hov ert wi c et he mas s( andbet t err es onanc ec ont r ol )t hes et wok eypl at f or ms of f ermuc hmor es t abl es uppor t .Toget hert hes ei mpr ov ement sbr i ngt heACESpac ec l os ert owar dst heper f or manc eof t heHy per s pac e.

Not t i ngham Anal ogueACESpac edec kTur nt abl eSpec i f i c at i ons : Ov er al lwei ght :43l bs Bear i ng:Oi lpumpi ngl eadbr onz e Di mens i ons :18w x14dx8h RCP:S$4990wi t har m

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Not t i ngham Anal ogueSpace294 TheSpac e294get si t snamef ort hepi v ott os pi ndl edi s t anc eoft hi st ur nt abl e.

TheSpac e294i soneoft hef ew t ur nt abl esont hemar k etev ert obes pec i f i c al l y des i gnedt ot ak eadv ant ageofa12i nc ht onear m.Thel ongerar mi sf av our edby s er i ousv i ny lent hus i as t sf ori t sl owert r ac k i nger r orc ompar edt oat y pi c al9i nc h or10i nc har m.

Not t i ngham Anal ogueSpac e294Tur nt abl eSpec i f i c at i ons : Ov er al lwei ght :58l bs Bear i ng:Oi lpumpi ngl eadbr onz e Di mens i ons :22w x16dx9h RCP:S$6990wi t har m

Themos ts t r i k i ngv i s ualel ementoft heSpac e294i st heov er s i z edpl at t er .At14 i nc hesi ndi amet er ,t hel ar gerpl at t erof f er smor emas sandbet t ers t abi l i t yt hana s t andar d12i nc hpl at t er .Theuni quedr i v es y s t em i st hec or ner s t oneofal lNot t i ngham des i gns–al ow t or quemot ort hatpr ov i desj us tenoughmoment um t o k eept hepl at t ers pi nni ngatt hec or r ec ts peed,t hemas soft hepl at t er pr ov i dest hei ner t i at ok eepi ts pi nni ngasdoesal ow noi s e,l ow f r i c t i on oi lbear i ng.L ow t or quemot or sgener at el es sv i br at i ont hanhi ght or que mot or ss obyus i ngal ow t or quemot or ,t henoi s ef l oori sdr amat i c al l y l ower ed.

Not t i ngham of f er samat c hi ngt onear mf ort heSpac e294– t he12i nc hAc eSpac e294t onear m.L ongerar mst endt o beheav i erar msbutt heAc eSpac e294us esc ar bon f i bert oai ds t i f f nes sandr i gi di t ywhi l er educ i ng wei ght .

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Revenge…. erm…Ret urnoft heTransf ormers At r ans f or meri spas s i v edev i c e–t wos et sofoppos i ngwi ndi ngsal l ow anel ec t r i c alv ol t aget opas s t hr oughbuts omet hi ngc hanges–t hev ol t agegoes upordowndependi ngont henumberofwi ndi ngson ei t hers i de.I nt hi sf eat ur ewewi l lnotdwel lont he ac t ualel ec t r i c alwor k i ngsofat r ans f or merbuthow i t i sus edi nv i ny lpl ay bac k .

Phonoc ar t r i dgespr i mar i l yf al li nt ot woc at egor i es– t heyar eei t heroft hemov i ngmagnet( MM)or mov i ngc oi l( MC)v ar i et y .Aphonoc ar t r i dgei si n s omeway ss i mi l art oat r ans f or mer–whent he s t y l ust r ac k sagr oov e,t hec ant i l ev erc onv ey st he mec hani c alv i br at i onener gyupt oas mal lmagnet , whi c hi sat t ac hedt ot hec ant i l ev er( henc et het er m mov i ngmagnet ) .Setbet weent hepos i t i onsoft he magneti sapai rofc oi l swoundonas of ti r onc or e– t heal t er nat i ngmov ementoft hemagnetbet ween t hec oi l sgener at esanel ec t r i c als i gnal ,t wopai r sof c oi l smak ef oras t er eopi c k up.

ForaMCc ar t r i dge,i ns t eadoft hemagnetbei ng mount edont ot hec ant i l ev er ,t hes of ti r onc or ei s mount edont ot hec ant i l ev er ;t hec oi l sar et hen woundont ot hes of ti r onc or es .Themagnet sar e mount edont ot hebodyt ogener at et heel ec t r i c al s i gnalont hec oi l .

Thewi ndi ngsont hec oi l sont hes of ti r onc or edet er mi net heout putl ev el .That ,i nes s enc e,i st hemaj or di f f er enc ebet weenanMM andanMCc ar t r i dgewi t hMM c ar t r i dgesof f er i nggr eat erout putt hanMCs .

Theout putofMCc ar t r i dgesar el i mi t edbyt he mov i ngmas soft hes t r uc t ur e-ast hes of ti r onc or e

andt hec oi l sar eont hec ant i l ev er ,mor ei r onand c oi l st r ans l at ei nt ogr eat ermov i ngmas swhi c hr educ est heabi l i t yoft hec ar t r i dget of ai t hf ul l yf ol l ow t hes i gnalont hegr oov e.MM c ar t r i dgeshav eno s uc hpr obl emsast hei r onc or eandt hec oi l sar e mount edont hebody .Henc emov i ngmagnet sc an hav easmanywi ndi ngsasi tneedf ort her at ed out putwi t houthav i ngt hes amec ompr omi s esas mov i ngc oi l s .

Butf ort r uev i ny l ophi l es ,MCc ar t r i dgesar emus i c al l y s uper i ort omov i ngmagnetc ar t r i dges .Bac ki nt he s ev ent i es ,phonos t ageswer eal lMM c apabl eonl y .

Tubepr eampl i f i er swer epl aguedbynoi s eandhi gh gai nphonos t agesonl ys er v et oi nc r eas et henoi s e l ev el .Tomak eus eofMCc ar t r i dges ,t hebes topt i on t heni st heus eofas t epupt r ans f or mert oi nc r eas e t hegai nbys ome20–30dB.Thegai ni sl i nearas t heSt epUpt r ans f or mer sar epas s i v edev i c esand t hes i gnalf r om t hec ar t r i dgei sampl i f i edwi t houtt he addi t i onofanyf or m ofel ec t r i c alnoi s e.Ass uc haMC bas eds y s t em us i ngaSt epUpTr ans f or merhasa l owernoi s ef l oor ,mor eex t endedhi ghf r equenc y r es pons e( asmuc has100k Hz ! )andv er yl i near gai n.Vi r t uespr i z edbyaudi ophi l es .

I nt hei nt er v eni ngy ear s ,asMCc ar t r i dgesbec ame mor epopul arwi t hv i ny lc ol l ec t or s ,ampl i f i ermanuf ac t ur er sar eabl et opr oduc eal ow noi s eMC/ MM phonos t aget hatr i v al st hes i gnalt onoi s er at i oof St epUpTr ans f or mer st hr oughaMM phonos t age.

Howev ert her er emai nsagr oupofdedi c at edv i ny l l ov er ses pec i al l yt hos eus i ngt ubebas eds y s t ems , whoc ont i nuet oembr ac et heSt epUpTr ans f or mer

f ori t ss oni cqual i t i es .

St epUpTr ans f or mer sar e‘ dedi c at ed’dev i c es– t heyneedt obemat c hedt oapar t i c ul arc ar t r i dge–us ual l yt hec ar t r i dge’ si mpedanc ebei ng t hes ol edet er mi ni ngf ac t or .Somet r ans f or mer manuf ac t ur er ss uc hasAudi oNot eUKof f er t r ans f or mer sf ort hei rownc ar t r i dges( whi c har e ofex t r emel yl ow i mpedanc ec ompar edt o ot her s )andanopt i onalmodelwi t hhi gheri m mpedanc ef or‘ gener alus e’ .Youwoul dneedt o k now whi c ht r ans f or merbes tmat c hesy our phonoc ar t r i dge.As ur es i gnofi mpedanc emi s mi s mat c hi swool l ybas sper f or manc e.

St epUpTr ans f or mer sdealwi t hex t r emel yl ow v ol t ages–0.

08mVi snotunc ommon!Henc et he hi ghgai noft heSt epUpTr ans f or merc anal s o pi c kupel ec t r i c ali nt er f er enc e.Somear ebet t er s hi el dedt hanot her sbutasar ul e,y ouneedt o f i ndas ui t abl el oc at i onwher ei tdoesnotpi c kup anyi nt er f er enc e.

Vi br at i oni sanot hers oni cdowns i def orTr ans f or merus er s ;t heyneedi s ol at i onasmuc has y ourt ur nt abl e!

Al lbei ngs ai danddone,St epUpTr ans f or mer s ar es i mpl ybr i l l i anti nhow t heygoaboutdoi ng t hei rbus i nes s .I fy ouar eus i nganMCc ar t r i dge andus i ngt hel ow gai nMM phonos t age,dogi v e y our s el fac hanc et ot r youtwhatagoodMC St epUpTr ans f or merc andot oy ourmus i c .Her e wef eat ur eaf ew f ory out oc ons i der .

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Ai rTi ghtATH2 TheATH2l ook sl i k eami ni at ur eAi rTi ghtpr eampl i f i er ,wi t h3 i nput sand2ohm/ 40ohm l oadi ng,t heATH2i sasuni v er s alasi t get s .Whyt hr eei nput s ?I ti sdef i ni t el ygear edt owar dst heav i d v i ny lc ol l ec t orwhoownsmor et hanonet ur nt abl e,ormay be2or 3di f f er entar msandc ar t r i dges !S$4995

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Audi oNot eANS1 Famousf ort hei rSETampl i f i er s ,Audi oNot ei sal s oas t r ong adv oc at eoft heSt epUpTr ans f or merf ort hei rMCs .The ANS1c anbehadi nt wov er s i ons–onewi t hl ow i mpedanc el oadi ngt os ui tt hei rown c ar t r i dgesandonef or‘ gener al ’ appl i c at i ons .S$900

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Mi yaj i maLabor at or yETR800 Hous edi nas ol i dt eakc as e,t heMi y aj i ma s pel l s‘ J apanes e’t hemomenty oul ayey es oni t .L i k et heATH2,t heMi y aj i maof f er s l ow andhi ghi mpedanc el oadi ng–t hel ow i mpedanc es ui t sany t hi ngf r om 2–20ohms whi l et hehi ghi mpedanc ef r om 20–40 ohms .I naddi t i on,andt hi si suni quet ot he ETR800,i tal s ohasa‘ demagnet i z er ’f unc t i on–i tdemagnet i z es( meani ngel i mi nat i ng r es i dualmagnet i s m)notonl yt het r ans f or merbutal s ot hec ar t r i dgeaswel l .I tdoes t hatbys hor t c i r c ui t i ngt hes ec ondar ywi ndi ng;obv i ous l yy ous houl dt ur nof ft hes y s t em whendoi ngs o!S$2400

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Or t of onVer t o Unl i k et heAi rTi ghtandt heMi y aj i ma,t heOr t of on Ver t omak esus eofi nt er nalj umper st oef f ec ti mpedanc ec hanges .I tc anhandl eanyc ar t r i dgef r om 5–50ohmsi mpedanc e.Or t of onc l ai mst heVer t o i swel ls hi el dedandus est hehi ghl yr egar dedL undahlTr ans f or mer s .Thi sDualMonodes i gni s Or t of on’ sc ont r i but i ont oaudi ophi l eswhol ov es v i ny l .S$1350

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Tr iTRMC1SE Thet hi r dJ apanes eSt epUpi sf r om Tr i ( Tr i odeCor por at i on) ,duali nput swi t hhi gh ( 22dB)andl ow ( 16dB)gai ns el ec t i on al l owst hi suni tt hewi des tf l ex i bi l i t yt o mat c hanyMCc ar t r i dgef r om 2–47ohms i mpedanc e.S$2100

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Vi nylMai nt enanceWor kshop Bei ngt hewor l d’ smos tl as t i ngmus i cs t or agemedi um –t her ear ebi l l i onsofL Ps r el eas edov ert hel as t60y ear s–t her ei ss omedegr eeofmai nt enanc er equi r edt o k eept hem i nt i pt ops hapeands oundgoodf oranot hers i x t yy ear s .Iam notk i ddi ngy ou;v i ny li sas t abl ec ompoundandpr ov ent oout l as tal lk nowns t or age medi um i nc l udi ngCDs( s omeofmyear l yCDsar enow unpl ay abl e) ,magnet i c t apes ,t humborhar ddi s kdr i v es .Tok eept heL Pgoi nghowev er ,y ouneedt ok eep t hem c l ean.

Ther ear eal otofmi s i nf or medaudi ophi l eswheni tc omest oL Pmai nt enanc e,es pec i al l yt henew l egi onsofL Pf ans ;henc ewehopet hi ss hor tf eat ur ewi l lhel py ou k eepy ourgr owi ngc ol l ec t i oni ni t spr i s t i nes hapef ormanyy ear st oc ome.

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St at i c I ndr yt emper at ec ount r i es ,s t at i cc anbeav er ys er i ousi s s ue–s t at i c hasbeenk nownt oc aus ec l ot hes( es pec i al l yt hos ewi t hs y nt het i c f i ber s )t obunc hup,orgi v ey ouas hoc kwheny out ouc hs omet hi ng madeofmet all i k eadoork nob.Toel i mi nat es t at i c ,t heeas i es twayi s t ohumi di f yt her oom wher et heobj ec t sar epl ac edi n.Her ei nour t r opi c alc l i mat es ,ourhumi di t yl ev el sr unashi ghas95%,henc es t at i c i sl es sofani s s ue.ForL Ps ,t hepl ay i ngs ur f ac ec anbepr onet obui l d upas t at i cc har gebuti tc anbeeas i l yel i mi nat edwi t haonc eov er br us hus i ngas i mpl ec ar bonf i berant i s t at i cbr us h.Thes ebr us hes howev erdoesnot‘ c l ean’t her ec or d,i tonl yr emov est hel i ntanddus t f r om t hes ur f ac e.

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St yl usGunk Thedi amonds t y l it hatt r ac k st hegr oov ei nanL Pwi l ldr edge upal lmannerofgr i meandv i ny lc ompoundl eec hedont ot he pl ay i ngs ur f ac e.I fl ef tunat t ended,t hes t y l usbui l dupc anbe qui t edi f f i c ul tt or emov e.Agunk edups t y l uswi l ldef or mt he s hapeoft hes t y l usandc r eat emor edr agi . e.f r i c t i on,whi c h wear soutt her ec or dgr oov eataf as t err at e.Themor ef r equent l yt hes t y l usi sc l eaned,t heeas i eri ti st omai nt ai nt he l i f eofbot ht hes t y l usandy ourr ec or ds .Butbewar e–many hav edamagedt hei rs t y l ust hr oughi nc or r ec tc l eani ngpr oc edur es .Manyc ar t r i dgemanuf ac t ur er sadv i s eagai ns tus i ngany k i ndof‘ br us hnf l ui d’c l eaner ,c i t i ngt hec l eani ngf l ui dc oul d c r eepupt hec ant i l ev er( v i ac api l l ar yac t i on)i nt ot hei nnar ds oft hec ar t r i dge,wr ec k i nghav oces pec i al l yamov i ngc oi l wher et hec oi li swoundar oundas of ti r onpi ec et hati sdi r ec t l yat t ac hedt ot hec ant i l ev er .Ont heot herhand,af l i c kor t wowi t hadr ys of tbr us hi s n’ tgoi ngt odot hej obei t her .

Gr oovePoo Pr operhandl i ngofL Psgoesal ongwayf r om at t r ac t i ngf ungus .Fungusi fl ef tunt r eat edonanL Pc anc aus ei r r epar abl edamaget ot hev i ny lc ompound.As kanyphot ogr apherwhohasac ol l ec t i onofl ens es ,f ungusi st hemos tdr eadedenemyandc an c aus ei r r epar abl edamaget ogl as sel ement s .Ast hes ay i nggoes ,pr ev ent i oni sbet t er t hanc ur e,c r eat i ngaf ungusf r eeenv i r onmentr educ est hec hanc esofaf ungus at t ac k .Howev erourwar m andhumi dc l i mat eenc our agesf ungusgr owt h–t heyus ual l ys t ar tf r om t hepaperoft heL Pj ac k etwhi c habs or bsmoi s t ur eandt heni ts pr eads t ot heL Pr ec or d,ev ent hepaperl abeli nt hec ent eroft heL Pi sapot ent i alf ungus bed.Asy ouneedt ohandl et her ec or dt opl ayi t ,ev ens l i ghtper s pi r at i onont hebac k

Oneoft hebes ts t y l usc l eaneri st heZer odus tSt y l usCl eaner .

TheZer odus ts y s t em mak esus eofas pec i alul t r as of tand s t i c k yc ompoundi ns t eadoff l ui ds .I nus e,t heul t r as of tpl as t i c padi sl i ght l ypr es s edagai ns tt hes t y l us( upwar ds–nots i deway s ! )andt hes t y l usgunkwi l ladher et ot hes t i c k ypad.Dabbi ngonc eort wi c ef orev er yL Ps i des eemsaboutr i ght !The padc anbewas hedaf t err epeat edus e.TheZer odus tSt y l us Cl eaners el l sf or$70.

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ofy ourhandsi senought os t ar tt hec hai nr eac t i on.Cor r ec t handl i ngofanL Pwheni ns er t i ngandr emov i ngf r om t hepr ot ec t i v es l eev eal s opl ay sapar t .Ones i mpl et i p:Av oi dput t i ng y ourhandsi ns i det hes l eev et oex t r ac tt her ec or d–dr opt he r ec or df r om t hes l eev eont oy ourhand.

Unl es sy ouhappent ol i v ei nal ow humi di t yenv i r onment , r ec or dc ol l ec t or sneedt opayat t ent i ont oi t ss t or age.I happent oc hanc euponar ec or dc ol l ec t orwhos t or eshi sr ec or dsi nac oupl eofc amer adehumi di f i er s !Comet ot hi nkofi t , ac oupl eofl ar gedehumi di f i erc abi net smak ef oragoods t or ages ol ut i onf oras mal lc ol l ec t i onofL Ps !Ial s ok now ofa wel l k nownc ol l ec t orwhok eptamas s i v er ec or dc ol l ec t i oni na r oom wi t ht heai rc ondi t i oners wi t c hedt o‘ dehumi di f i c at i on’ 24/ 7!Whenal lel s ef ai l sandf unguss et si n,y ouronl yr ec our s ei st ogett hem pr of es s i onal l yc l eanedass oonaspos s i bl e.

Pr of es s i onalc l eani ngmeansus i ngas pec i al l ydes i gnedmac hi net oc l eant her ec or dr i ghtdownt ot hegr oov es .I tus ual l y i nv ol v esal i ghtv ol at i l ef l ui d( us ual l yadi l ut es ol ut i onofal c oholanddi s t i l l edwat er )appl i edont ot hepl ay i ngs ur f ac e( not t hel abel ) ,al i ghts c r ubi sappl i edwi t has pec i al l ydes i gned br us ht ohel ps pr eadt hef l ui df ol l owi ngas t r ongv ac uum t o r emov et hec l eani ngf l ui d.Af ew dr opsofawet t i ngagentar e us ual l yaddedt ot hef l ui dt oi nc r eas ei t sabi l i t yt os eepdeep i nt ot hegr oov est odi s l odget hegr i me.

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I tus edt obet hec as er ec or dc l eaner sar es oex pens i v et hat onl yweal t hyr ec or dc ol l ec t or sc anaf f or dt obuyt hem whi l e l es s ermor t al shav et ot r udgedownwi t hanar mf ulofL Psat at i met oas t or et ogett hem c l eaned.Thank st ot hec ont i nuedi nt er es ti nv i ny ldes pi t et hepr es enc eoft heCD,t her e ar enow manyaf f or dabl ec l eani ngmac hi nest oc at erf or ev er ybudget .

Oneoft hemos tr es pec t edmak er sofr ec or dc l eaner si s Ni t t yGr i t t y ,andt heymak es omeoft hemos taf f or dabl e andef f ec t i v ec l eaner smak i ngt hem ex c el l enti nv es t ment s es pec i al l yf orr ec or dc ol l ec t or swi t hamodes tc ol l ec t i on.

Twooft hemos tpopul armodel si st hemot or i z edModel1.

5 ( S$1090)andt heev enmor eaf f or dabl emanualModel1 ( S$730) .Thes emac hi nesappl yt heabov ement i oned met hodofc l eani ngt hought edi oust ot heuni ni t i at ed,c an bequi t ef unast her ei snot hi ngqui t el i k et het r ans f or med ‘ l ook ’ofanol dandt i r edL Pl ook i ngc l eanandpr i s t i neonc e agai n.Ohdi dIf or gett oment i ont hec l eani ngpr oc es sal s o el i mi nat esal lt hes t at i cont her ec or dpl ay i ngs ur f ac e?

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Af t ert hel ovi ng…

Now t haty ouhav eac l eanedr ec or d,ar ey ougoi ngt o puti tbac ki nt oi t sdi r t yunder wear( t heol di nner s l eev e) ?Obv i ous l ynot !Get t i ngr epl ac ementi nner s l eev esi snotabi gi s s ue–mos ts t or est hats el lr ec or ds dos el laf f or dabl ebul kr epl ac ements l eev es .Ac l eaned r ec or d,pr oper l ys t or edi nanew s l eev eandpr oper l y handl edus ual l yl as tqui t eawhi l ebef or ei tneedsanot her s c r ubbat h.Ni t t yGr i t t yal s os el l st hei rownv er s i onof s l eev est hatus epr of es s i onalgr adepol y l i ned,ant i s t at i c s l eev eswi t hpaperbac k i ng.Pr i c ei s$49f orapac kof50 s l eev es .

Doc hec ki ft heout erj ac k etoft heL Pr ec or di t s el fi snot t hes our c eoft hef ungus ,i fi ti s ,t hengeti tc l eanedand gi v ei tal i ghtbak ei nac onv ent i onalov enat80degr ees Cel s i usf oraf ew mi nut est odr yi toutandk i l lt her emnant sf ungus .

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AnLPCol l ec t or ’ sbes tf r i end

A MR P H7 7 Pho noSt age

Foranaudi ophi l ewhoi si nt ov i ny l ,hal ft he I nt heear l yday sofRI AA( 1954) ,t he f uni sf i ndi ngt hati l l us i v eL Pi ns ec ondhand s t andar dus edf orequal i z at i onoft heL Ps , r ec or ds hops ,t heot herhal foft hef uni s di f f er sf r om onec ompanyt oanot her .I t get t i ngt hatL Pt os oundgr eat .Her eIwon’ t wasnotunt i lmuc hl at ert hatt hei ndus t r y dwel lont hef i r s thal fbutont hes ec ond. adopt edt he‘ c or r ec t ’s t andar d.Asar es ul t , Af t er80y ear soft heL Pr ec or d,t her eex i s t s whens omeoft hes eol dL Psar epl ay ed bi l l i ons ,y esbi l l i onsofL Psoutt her es ome- bac konamoder n‘ c or r ec t ’RI AAc ur v e,i t wher e–s omel ongf or got t eni ns omemus t y s oundsany t hi ngbutc or r ec t .Thedi l emma s t or er oom c ol l ec t i ngdus tandf ungus . f orc ol l ec t or si st of i ndaphonos t aget hat Thank st os omeaudi opubl i c at i onsbac ki n hasal lt heequal i z at i onc ur v esneededt o t heei ght i es ,i thasbr oughtt ot heat t ent i on br i ngt hes ev al uabl ev i ny lbac kt ol i f e. ofc ol l ec t or smany‘ c l as s i c ’s t er eo( ands ome not abl emonos )L Ps ,whi c hwentf r om obs c u- TheBr i t i s hL i br ar ySoundAr c hi v e,t he r i t yt onot or i et y .

BBC,Ger many ’ sI ns t i t ut ef urRundf unk t ec hni kGmbH( br oadc as tr es ear c h)and Thegol denageoft heL Pi snott oday ,wher e v ar i ousot heror gani z at i onsar ei nt hepr oy ouhav er emas t er ed180gm v i r gi nv i ny lof c es sofar c hi v i ngt hes er ec or dsi nt odi gi t al s omeoft hes emuc hv aunt ed‘ c l as s i c s ’but mus i cf i l esf orf ut ur eus e–Abbi ngdon bac ks omet i mei nt hef i f t i est ot heear l ys i x - Mus i cRes ear c hhass pentmanyy ear sc ol t i es–manywer emonoandwi t hs omeear l y l abor at i ngwi t ht hes eor gani z at i onst o s t er eor ec or di ngs .I nv ar i abl y ,t heywer er e- bui l dt heul t i mat ePhonoSt age–t heAMR c or dedus i ngt ubeequi pment ,mi x edus i ng PH77. s i mpl et ubeequi pmentandmas t er edus i ng c ut t er sdr i v enbyt ubeampl i f i er s .Asar es ul t , Thek eyel ementoft hePH77i si t sex t ent hes er ec or dshav eas ens eofl i v el i nes sand s i v el i br ar yofequal i z at i onc ur v esof f er ed v i br anc yi ni t ss ound,whi c hwasl os twhen –AMRc l ai msi thas23di f f er entc ur v es !I n s t udi oswents ol i ds t at e.Forr ealc ol l ec t or s , addi t i ont ot he‘ c l as s i c ’er ac ur v es ,t he anor i gi nalc l as s i cDec c a,RCAorCol umbi ai n PH77al s oof f er sac oupl eof‘ moder n’ nearmi ntc ondi t i oni swor t hmanyt i mest hat c ur v es .Tomyk nowl edge,Ihav enot ofas eal edandunpl ay edr emas t er ed180 c omeac r os sanyphonos t agewi t hs uc h gm v i r gi nv i ny lr epl i c a.

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anex t ens i v es ui t eoff eat ur es .How doesa‘ DMM’ ( Di r ec tMet alMas t er i ng)c ur v es oundt oy ou?I tc er t ai nl ydoesal otf orme!Formanyy ear s ,mos toft he L Pst hathai l edf r om Ger manyar eDMM onl yandt hey don’ ts oundgood–har s handpeak ys oundi ngwi t hl ean bas s .Iam gl adt or epor t ,f ort hef i r s tt i met hatIc an hearDMM f orwhati t swor t h–butonl yt hr ought he AMRPH77phonos t ageandnoot her .Howev er ,Iam get t i ngal i t t l eaheadofmy s el f .

ThePH77phonos t agei soneoft hel at es tpr oduc t s f r om t hi sUKbas edc ompany .AtS$17, 500i ti snotan

i nex pens i v e,v al uef ormoneyphonos t agel i k et he L ehmannBl ac kCubei nanyofi t si nc ar nat i onbuta s er i ousc omponenti ni t sownr i ght .AMRc l ai mst he PH77wi l lequal i z eandpl ayev er yL Pc or r ec t l y .I ti s af ul lCl as sA,z er of eedbac k ,f ul lt ubedes i gn hous edi naf ul ls i z edc has s i swi t hwhatAMRc al l sa ‘ v i r t ualbat t er ypowers uppl y ’ ,f ul l ydualmonowi t h t woi ndependentpowers uppl i es ,f ul lv al v er ec t i f i c at i on,Cc or et r ans f or mer sands oon.I nl i newi t h i t si nt endedpr of es s i onalappl i c at i onsappl i c at i ons– ar c hi v i ngol dL Ps ,i tc omeswi t habui l t i nanal ogue t odi gi t alc onv er t er ,whi c hout put st hedi gi t als i gnal v i aUSBout put .I n‘ nor mal ’us e,t he Anal oguet oDi gi t alc onv er t eri spower edof fs ot her ewi l lbenoel ec t r oni c noi s et oc or r uptt hes i gnal .AMRgi v es v er ydet ai l edi ns t r uc t i onsast ot hepr oc es soft r ans f er r i ngt hemus i cf r om y ourL Pt oy ourc omput eri nt hei r manual .Thedat as t r eam s houl dbe bot hPCandMacc ompat i bl ebuty ou wi l lneedt ogets omemus i cr ec or di ng s of t war ef ory ourc omput er .If or es ee t heappear anc eof‘ audi ophi l e’gr ade USBc abl es oon!

AMRi sf amedf ori t s‘ Opt i t r ans ’power t r ans f or merdes i gnandher ei nt he PH77,i ti sahandwounduni twi t hl ow l eak age–henc es ui t abl ef orus ei nl ow l ev elaudi oc i r c ui t s .I naphonos t age, t hi sas pec tbec omesmor ei mpor t ant t hanev er .Bybei ngabl et opl ac et he

powers uppl yasnearaspos s i bl et ot hec i r c ui t s el i c i t st hebes taudi oper f or manc ewi t houts i mul t aneous l yhav i ngt hedowns i desofel ec t r i c al i nt er f er enc e.

Hous edi nani dent i c alc has s i sast heot herAMR c omponent s ,Iam s ur pr i s edhow pac k edt he i nnar dsar e.Hi ghqual i t ypr opr i et ar yc omponent s ,es pec i al l yt heus eoff i l mc apac i t or sens ur est heuni tper f or msbey ond‘ Bes ti ni t sCl as s ’ per f or manc e.El ec t r oni cs wi t c hi ngenabl est he uni tt os wi t c hbet weent hev ar i ousequal i z at i on c ur v es .Fur t herc us t omi z at i oni sal l owedwi t h32 s t epsr es i s t i v eandc apac i t at i v el oadi ngf orMC andMM c ar t r i dges .I nt er es t i ngl y ,amongs ome oft hemor euni quef eat ur ei st hes el ec t or s wi t c hi ngbet weenel l i pt i c alors pher i c als t y l us , pi v ot edv spar al l elt r ac k i ngar msandmonoor s t er eoc ar t r i dge.Formor ei nf or mat i onont hi s , t her ei sas i debars omewher ewi t hi nt hi sf eat ur e.

Ex t er nal l y ,t hef r ontmount ed‘ power ’s wi t c h ac t ual l yput st heuni ti n‘ s t andby ’ .Ther eal powers wi t c hi sbehi ndt heuni t ,j us tabov et he powerc or d.AMRs ugges tt heuni tbel ef ton s t andbyt oenabl ef oraqui c kwar m upbef or ea l i s t eni ngs es s i on.Theuni tof f er sa‘ di r ec t ’nons wi t c hi ngi nput( by pas s est hes el ec t ors wi t c h– f orbes tr es ul t si fy ouhav ej us tones our c e)wi t h anaddi t i onal3s wi t c hi ngi nput ss oi fy ouhav ea t ur nt abl et hatc anmountmor et hanonear m, WWW. HI FI .

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FEATURE

hi smi ghtj us tbeoneofy ouropt i ons .Bot hbal anc ed ands i ngl eendedout put sar eof f er ed.

Iam s ur eamongt her eader sher ewewoul dhav e s k ept i c sast owhatAMRc l ai msr eal l ywor k s .Imus t c onf es sIam notac ol l ec t oroft hos ec l as s i cL Ps ,mos t ofmymus i chai l si nt hel as tf ourdec ades .Soi st he ex t ens i v ef eat ur es etoft hePH77woul dbeofl i mi t ed v al uet ome?Orputi tanot herway ,apar tf r om bei ng oneoft hef i nes ts oundi ngphonos t ageIhav el ai dmy ear son,i st her es omet hi ngt hePH77of f er st hatno

ot herdoes ?

Apar tf r om t he‘ s t andar d’RI AAs t age,t hePH77of f er s t heaf or ement i onedRI AADMM s t ageandal s oani nt er es t i ng‘ eRI AA’f or‘ enhanc edRI AA’ .Thel at t erc or r ec t s f orphas es hi f t s–Iam nots ur ei fi tmeansi tc or r ec t sf or t hephas es hi f t st hatoc c ur swi t hi nt her ec or di ngi t s el for ev enc or r ec tf ort hepl ay bac ks y s t em.

WhatIdok now i st hedi f f er enc ebet weenRI AAand eRI AAi sbl at ant l yobv i ousandr ec or di ngdependant-at t hes amet i me.Hav i ngbot hc ur v es enabl est heus ert os wi t c hbet ween t het woef f or t l es s l y ,us i ngt hes uppl i edr emot e,f ort hebes ts oundi ng opt i on.Whenus i ngt hes t andar d RI AAasar ef er enc e,t hePH77 s oundedi nv ol v i ng,har moni c al l yr i c h andf ul lbodi ed.OneRI AAappl i edt o t he‘ r i ght ’r ec or di ng,al lt heel ement s s uddenl ys napsi nt opl ac e–t he v oi c ei smor ef oc us ed,enunc i at i ons mor ec oher ent ,def i ni t i oni nc r eas es whi c hhel pst odef i net hec har ac t er oft hei ndi v i duali ns t r ument s .Ont he ‘ wr ong’r ec or di ngs ,t hes oundbec omesdr i erandl es si nv ol v i ng.You woul dr eal l yhav et oex per i menta l i t t l et os eewhi c ht her i ghts et t i ng f ory oui s !Per hapsaf t erwhi c hy ou mayev enmar kont heL Pst hat needsei t herones et t i ngort he ot her !

Whati sAMR’ sSel ec t orSwi t c hi ng Mos taudi ophi l esappeart obel i ev et hatt her ei ss uc hat hi ngas " t heul t i mat ec ar t r i dge"and" t heul t i mat ear m"t hatal way s get st hebes tf r om al lr ec or ds .I nr eal i t yt hi si snott hec as e.

Or i gi nal l yL P' s( mono&ear l ys t er eo)wer ec utwi t hl i neart r ac k i ngs y s t emsandus i ng" l i nec ont ac t "c ut t i ngmet hods( outof nec es s i t y ) .Theywer epl ay edbac kus i ngpi c k upswi t hs pher i c al needl esandus i ngpi v ot ed( r ot at i ng)ar ms .

Thedi f f er enc ebet weent hes emet hodsofpr oduc i ngandr epr oduc i ngt hes i gnalgener at edar angeofdi s t or t i ons ,whi c hwer e ear l yt ar get sf ori mpr ov i ngt her epr oduc t i onofmus i c .Oneof t hes ol ut i ons ,wi del yempl oy eds i nc et hemi dt ol at e1960' swas t opr edi s t or tt hes i gnalc uti nt ot heL Ps ot hedi s t or t i onswer e c ompens at edbyanequall ev eloppos i t epr edi s t or t i on,t he t ec hni quebei ngc al l edt r ac i ngc ompens at orort r ac i ngs i mul at or .Suc hL P' s( mos tf r om t hel at e60' st ot hel at e80' s )c ut us i ngat r ac i ng( di s t or t i on)c ompens at orwi l lr equi r eas pher i c al s t y l ust opl ayc or r ec t l y ,t heys ounddi s t or t edwhenpl ay edus i ng l i nec ont ac ts t y l i .

L i nec ont ac ts t y l iar ei nt heor yt hebes tc hoi c et opl ayL P' st hat ant e-andpos t dat et heus eoft r ac i ngc ompens at i on;howev er us i ngc ar t r i dgeswi t hs uc hs t y l ii nc onv ent i onalpi v ot edt one ar mspr oduc el ar geamount sofdi s t or t i ones pec i al l yi nt hei nner gr oov eswher emanyc l as s i c alpi ec eshav et hehi ghes tl ev el s .

ForL P' st hatant e-orpos t dat est heus eoft r ac i ngc ompens at i onandf ort heus eofpi v ot edar msi ti spr obabl ybes tt ous e mi l del l i pt i c als t y l i .I fal i neart r ac k i ngar mi sav ai l abl el i ne c ont ac ts t y l ic anbeus ed,howev ergr eatc ar emus tbet ak ent o adj us tt hev er t i c alt r ac k i ngf ori ndi v i dualL P' s .

Soi tmayber eas onabl et ohav eat ur nt abl eus i ngapai rof pi v ot edt onear msf i t t edwi t hs ui t abl ec ar t r i dgesf eat ur i ng ( r es pec t i v el y )s pher i c alandmi l del l i pt i c als t y l iandaf ur t her l i neart r ac k i ngar m wi t hal i nec ont ac ts t y l us .

Ar medwi t ht hek nowl edgebehi ndt hec ut t i nghi s t or yofL Ps , onei snow abl et ounder s t andt heneedf ordi f f er entar msand c ar t r i dges ,t oc or r ec t l yr epl ayeac handev er yr ec or d. www. amr audi o. c o. uk

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FEATURE Wh a ti sAMR’ sRI AADMM I nt h emi d 1970' sNe u ma n na n dTe l d e cd e v e l o p e dan e wc u t t i n g s y s t e mc a l l e dDi r e c tMe t a lma s t e r i n g( DMM)wh e r et h eg r o v ewa s c u td i r e c t l yi n t oame t a lf o i l ,n o ti n t oal a c q u e rl a y e r .

Th i se l i mi n a t e ds e v e r a lp l a t i n gs t e p si nt h ema n u f a c t u r i n gp r o c e s s , a l l o wi n gf o rt i g h t e rg r o o v es p a c i n ga n dmo r eh i g hf r e q u e n c yl e v e l .

Th e s ed i f f e r e n c e si nt h ema n u f a c t u r i n gp r o c e s sa n dt h ed i f f e r e n t me c h a n i c a lr e s o n a n c eb e h a v i o u ro fme d i at h eg r o o v ei sc u ti n t o ( h a r dme t a lv s .s o f tp l a s t i cl a c q u e r )g i v eDMM r e c o r d sav e r y d i f f e r e n tt o n a l i t yt ot r a d i t i o n a l l yma n u f a c t u r e dr e c o r d s .

So n i cd i f f e r e n c e se x i s te v e nt h o u g ha l mo s ta l lDMM r e c o r d sh a v e b e e n ,t ot h eb e s to fo u rk n o wl e d g e ,e q u a l i s e dt oRI AAs t a n d a r d s ( e x c l u d i n gEa s tGe r ma nAmi g a / Et e r n aDMM r e c o r d sa n do c c a s i o n a la c c i d e n t si nt h eEa s tGe r ma nc u t t i n gr o o mswh e nu n d e r t a k i n gc o n t r a c two r kf o rt h eWe s t ) .

RI AADMM s et t i ngi s ,t ome,agods end!Hav i ngl i v ed t hr oughmanyy ear sofs uf f er i ngt hr oughGer manDMM r ec or ds ,t hePH77f i nal l yget si t‘ r i ght ’ .Ial way swonder edwhatt hef us saboutDMM wasabout–ast hey s ounddr y ,wi t hpeak yhi ghsandl i ghtbas s .Thr ougha ‘ nor mal ’phonos t age,It hi nkCDs oundsbet t ert han t hes ec r ummyDMM L Ps !Thati sunt i lt hePH77c ame al ong.Ic onc edet hatf ormanywhof eelt hats ev ent eengr andbuy sar es pec t abl emus i cs y s t em andnot j us taphonos t age,i ts eemsl i k eus i ngas l edgehammer t opoundaquar t eri nc hl ongnai l .Thet r ut hi sunl es s s omeoneel s emak esaphonos t agewi t haRI AADMM s et t i ng,t heAMRPH77i st heonl yopt i onav ai l abl ef or now.

Sohow doest heRI AADMM s oundl i k e?I ns hor t ,a v er ymus i c al ,v er ybel i ev abl eandc er t ai nl yv er yl i s t enabl eex per i enc e.At ot alt r ans f or mat i on!Thebas send

i snow wei ght yandhadapower f ulc har ac t eri ns t eadof t heweeni es oundIam us edt o.Atl ongl as t ,t he‘ c or r ec t ’ equal i z at i onbr oughtoutt hev i r t uesofDMM r ec or di ngs –as t r ongs ens eofs pac eandper hapsi nt oday ’ sc ont ex t ,ev enal i t t l e3D.I thasav i v i dpr es enc ewhi c h mak esnonDMM r ec or di ngss oundmuf f l edandc onges t edi nc ompar i s on.Iam ut t er l ys pel l bound!Iwon’ t v ouc ht hatev er yDMM pr es s i ngwi l lhav et hi sef f ec tbutI c anc er t ai nl ys ayIhav enev erhear dDMM pr es s i ngs s oundedanybet t er !

Now al lt hatr emai nsi ss omek i nds oulwi l l i ngt ol oanme ac oupl eofL Psf r om Dec c a,RCAandCol umbi af r om t hat‘ gol dener a’t oc ompl et emyas s es s mentoft he PH77?Ti l lt hen,Iwoul ds ugges tev eni fy ouc annot af f or dt hePH77,y ous houl dgi v et hi sr emar k abl edev i c e al i s t en,es pec i al l ywi t habunc hofDMM L Psandhear whaty ouhav emi s s edf ort hel as t20y ear s .

Th es o u n df r o m DMM r e c o r d si so f t e np e r c e i v e da so v e r l yb r i g h t a n df o r wa r d .Wh i l et h i si sn o td i r e c t l yar e s u l to ft h ee q u a l i s a t i o n e mp l o y e d ,t h et o n a l i t yo fo v e r l yb r i g h tDMM r e c o r d sc a nma d e mo r ewe l l b a l a n c e do re v e nh a n d e db yg e n t l ya t t e n u a t i n gt h e u p p e rmi d r a n g ea n dl o we rt r e b l e .Th eRI AA( DMM)c u r v ei mp l e me n t e di nt h ePH77i ss u c ha ni mp l e me n t a t i o n .

I ti ss t r i c t l ys p e a k i n gn o ta ni n t e r n a t i o n a ls t a n d a r d( s u c ha sRI AA &CCI R)n o rad e f a c t os t a n d a r d( t h eEn h a n c e dRI AAc u r v ei sa n e x a mp l eo fad e f a c t os t a n d a r dd u et ot h ee q u a l i s a t i o nb u i l ti n t o t h eNe u ma n nCu t t i n gl a t h e s ) ,b u tr a t h e r ,ar e p l a ya d j u s t me n tt o a me l i o r a t et h i sc o mmo ns o n i cs h o r t c o mi n go fDMM r e c o r d s .

Wh a ti sAMR’ se RI AA Th ef r e q u e n c yr e s p o n s eo fa n yr e c o r dc u t t i n gl a t h ewi l lf a l la ta h i g h e rf r e q u e n c ya n db e c o mel e s se fc i e n t ,h e n c eal o we rl e v e lo f h i g hf r e q u e n c yd e t a i lwa sc u ti n t ot h eLPa tt h et i meo fma n u f a c t u r e .

Th eEn h a n c e dRI AAEQi sa na me n d me n to ft h es t a n d a r dRI AA t h a ta p p r o x i ma t e sc l o s e l yt h ea c t u a lf r e q u e n c yr e s p o n s eo ft h e c u t t i n gs y s t e ma n dc o mp e n s a t e sf o rt h i sp a r t i c u l a rr o l l o f f ;b r i n g i n gt h emi s s i n gl e v e lo fh i g hf r e q u e n c yd e t a i lb a c ki n t ot h er e c o r d i n g . www. a mr a u d i o . c o . u k

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DrFei c ker tWoodpec ker I t s‘ boutt i mer ealhi i sdes i gnedbypr of es s i onal s !

I fy oumi s t ak enl yt hi nkt hatDrFei c k er ts oundsl i k es omef unk yr aps t ar ( es pec i al l yi nt hehi f it r ade! ) ,y oumi ghtl i k et ok now t her ei sar eal DrFei c k er tandhehasar ealPHDi nphy s i c sandmat hemat i c s .

DrFei c k er thai l sf r om Ger manywher es omeoft hemos t di s t i ngui s hedt ur nt abl edes i gnsar egr abbi ng headl i nesi nt heaudi oi ndus t r y .That meanst her ei sal otofc ompet i t i on andc ompet i t i oni sgood–weget bet t ert ur nt abl esat c ompet i t i v epr i c es .

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The W t hec oodpe l ean c k eri mi e sDr num x ec u t pl Del i ono Fei a c t k e r er i npl s f t a ’ t sen n h bea at d e w t d e t i r e r c i yl hon s nga rwi i g ev Tho n t h elt s b t s a o h emb ugh d e ur D e e m nt s l ar r l u w y D abl i n l t m b rFe e i i s c l e( l l l a g a i n y r m o i S$5 e c e t a p k mea ar r h e s e d e a e d 000 r n d t a c l d nsm ut a e o ( m s i f D n f o f t ort i het el s mot ut– er nat t r e o s i a het n i s e c t d t or w t T d p o o o o ; e h l ur n f i f n p e a e c t us t nt ar one he1 Wo t han ar h s t abl i m m n w m g a a g o i e t eon 2 b r l e h d t n l m a h p t i c s a n i s sef wal n e e han i – c l D c . y oft her mi br k lpl ) The el ,an e f g u n r e r i h s e s e u c n a h e s r t g c f i d a e r , n s e i ut o r m u l d d v p i u f o r o ur e o l r a w r i c w r d o w l t eus equ ) ui eds und l . t ers f i out n–a t– ut r e,D i , t of u edahs a t c ppl hi i 9tr hec of nl c f rFe e i e k u y n t s r b k c s a s i b h s l w i s l q c e . t a a k u i rbu eel t Al er i hy s t t t ean nda ti a h t n o o t s d u o u 10. n’ rDr ex nso ar gh tt d 5t el t e s h n i nc l upp Fei n er i ng t s h h,y i e c v e k l e att ar y e l . e r r ou e a Ad tde f hem t ts n hr g c u i anm e d a l t e tc ome eebu eof s o r ) o s oun nt hep v eri .The ui t tal ons t . t tan s mot ls i n –33 l nt yar a o hw ts ord v e ,? mu u a t r ?an i f ha ppl i e v pt w i e e d,a s o12 hol d4 o y f s t t 5,t et s h e ”as el mi wi he‘ oal o t s h n l ong o mos obv ges unk l t i noww at o t tf ofa i mod us i t l st ns y n’b hi r m b e he c e s r ut r n l e t ( t t wdr t d h on u r i v nt i i enwat v ss abl ertr ai e. dt t ha obeomak s Spe i ed DC f orf es l i ght ut ur pee eus s e.W d hat WWW. HI FI .

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, s i s s ha o c e h swh , t m e bl e l o phi r f a t o ur n i ed udi d t n da e ng e r p h o s u owi f rt mot ous s o t o n f h he of el gt .K s sn l h i e r m k n f b t d nt i o nt r er t a e o o c a ou ome odpe ng ol ur i em et s m h t r r h ope ev e ass Wo unni , et s e l b ol at apr How t rh .The ri sr tt a o o t s n i o r . o e y x t t u o hav s o tne t e ue hem ar i m nt n s r i o t o e v i e t on gh f i h d ens l i i t n r e o o d n n b h p nt e a da ec t at Whe l tm s nt r s i us b o i r f p e f v u der ee . t m r e r w ot ea endt o h e o k n l b i e e L st h r nl y ofa em son h- di s g i o i r s or qu i ger . ai c an ,ori n no orah ndt f h i h our at on f ba l t i n hi g n o y i a t r y r p t p sa b e hep s i r e rv t c o a a a t l l o o nab i th anp mot he ont t s o c i y br l u lany at era y t o c i e m r or oad, tf ee rv ef o f l h ut l no ng est i l o i h s t uw i o hoo orw dy c h n t ra i o –w ot m he t

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TheWoodpec k eri st es t edwi t hanOr t of onRS212D9i nc ht onear m ( S$3200)andanOr t of onCadenz aBl ue( S$2100)MCc ar t r i dge.Phonos t agei st heL ehmannBl ac kCubeSE2.TheOr t of onRS212andi t s12i nc h equi v al ent ,t heRS309D( S$3400)c omeswi t hal ow s l ungc ount er wei ght anddy nami ct r ac k i ng–t het r ac k i ngf or c ei sef f ec t edbyas pr i ngwhi c h of f er smor es t abl et r ac k i ngov erwar psandhenc et hebenef i toft hel ow s l ungc ount er wei ghtwhi c hal s oaddss t abi l i t ybyput t i ngt hec ent erof gr av i t yoft hec ount er wei ghti nl i newi t ht hec ar t r i dge( i ns t eadoft hear m t ubef ornor malar mc ount er wei ght s ) .Bet t ert r ac k i ngenabl est hear mt o pr es er v et hedy nami c spi c k edupbyahi ghener gyc ar t r i dge( l i k emos ti f notal lmov i ngc oi lc ar t r i dges ) .

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TheWoodpec k eri st es t edwi t hanOr t of on RS212D9i nc ht onear m( S$3200)andan Or t of onCadenz aBl ue( S$2100)MCc ar t r i dge.Phonos t agei st heL ehmannBl ac k CubeSE2.TheOr t of onRS212andi t s12i nc hequi v al ent ,t heRS309D( S$3400) c omeswi t hal ow s l ungc ount er wei ghtand dy nami ct r ac k i ng–t het r ac k i ngf or c ei sef f ec t edbyas pr i ngwhi c hof f er smor es t abl e t r ac k i ngov erwar psandhenc et hebenef i tof t hel ow s l ungc ount er wei ghtwhi c hal s oadds s t abi l i t ybyput t i ngt hec ent erofgr av i t yof t hec ount er wei ghti nl i newi t ht hec ar t r i dge ( i ns t eadoft hear mt ubef ornor malar m c ount er wei ght s ) .Bet t ert r ac k i ngenabl est he ar mt opr es er v et hedy nami c spi c k edupbya hi ghener gyc ar t r i dge( l i k emos ti fnotal l mov i ngc oi lc ar t r i dges ) .

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t hi ns ol i dr ubyc ant i l ev er ,andf i nal l yt he Cadenz aRed( S$1640)us esaf i nel i ne s t y l usonat ubul aral umi num c ant i l ev er .

Es s ent i al l y ,t heCadenz as er i esof f er san i dent i c alengi nei nanal umi num/ s t eel bodybutt hes t y l usandc ant i l ev eropt i ons al l ow f oradi f f er ents oundf ordi f f er ent s y s t emsorpr ef er enc es .Ther ei sev ena monov er s i on,t heCadenz aMonof orc ol l ec t or sofmonoL Ps .Atj us tov er10gms , t heOr t of onCadenz asar eat adheav i er t hanmos tc ar t r i dgesbutnoti nt heunmanageabl et er r i t or yy et .Rec ommended t r ac k i ngf or c ei sbet ween2.

2–2.

7gms whi c hi st y pi c alf orl ow c ompl i anc e mov i ngc oi lc ar t r i dges .Out putl ev eloft he Cadenz aBl uei shi ghat0.

5mVandr ec ommendedc ar t r i dgel oadi ngi sf r om 50 ohms .

Tur nt abl esi nt hi spr i c er angeof f ert he f i r s ts i gni f i c antupgr adepat hf r om ent r y l ev elt ur nt abl esl i k et heRegasandPr oj ec t s .Whi l et hes eent r y l ev elt ur nt abl es of f erex c ept i onalv al uef ormoney ,t her ei s onl ys omuc has i mpl edes i gnc ando.Es s ent i al l yat ur nt abl ei st hef oundat i onof t hes y s t em andbei ngi t sf oundat i on,i t needsanel ementofi nt egr i t yt o‘ gr ound’ WWW. HI FI .

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FEATURE

t hes y s t em.

TheWoodpec k eri si nev er yr es pec t ,anef f ec t i v eupgr ade–t hes ounds t agei sofa bi ggers c al e,t hei ns t r ument sandes pec i al l y v oi c esf l es hedoutt onal l ywi t hmor ebody , k i c kdr umshav emor ei mpac tandwei ght , deepbas sbec omesmor eappar entandef f or t l es s .Thes peeds t abi l i t yoft heWood pec k eri si mpec c abl e,es pec i al l yi nt hel ow bas sr egi on,t hi st ur nt abl es y s t em i sabl et o s us t ai nnot esandof f er ss uper i ordef i ni t i onof t hebas si ns t r ument s ,t heus ualbugbearof l es s ert ur nt abl es .Thes oundi smor eef f or t l es s ,nat ur al l ydet ai l edandmos ti mpor t ant l y , i tc angener at eamor e3di mens i onals ound s t age.Yougetagoods ens eoft hel ay er i ng oft hei ns t r ument s ,t her el at i ons hi poft he pos i t i onoft hei ns t r ument sasi ts us pendsi n t hes pac ebet weent hes peak er sgi v est he l i s t enert hec or r ec tper s pec t i v eoft heper f or manc e.Awes ome!

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FEATURE

Atnopoi ntoft i meam Ic onf r ont edwi t hal eanor ov er t l ydr ys ound,t heWoodpec k er / Or t of onc ombi nat i ons eemsl i k eamat c hmadei nheav en–nei t her l eannorov er l ybl oat ed.Thes i l enc eoft hebac k gr oundi sanot herhal l mar kofawel l des i gnedt ur nt abl e.Thef i nel i nes t y l usandr ubyc ant i l ev eroft he Cadenz aBl uet houghonpaper ,s houl dv eert owar ds amor edet ai l eds ound,j us ti s n’ ts o.Her ei ts ounds i mpec c abl ybal anc edi nt hi ss y s t em,noex agger at i on andy etdet ai l ed.

TheWoodpec k eri sc er t ai nl yawor t hymember wi t hi nt her ank soft heHi ghEndTur nt abl ef r at er ni t y ,i r r es pec t i v eofpr i c e.I tper f or mswi t hdi s t i nc t i on,i swel lbui l tandy etas k i ngf orav er yaf f or dabl e pr i c e.Theengi neer i ngi sal s obey ondr epr oac h-t he l ami nat edc has s i sdes i gni swel ldoc ument edf ori t s i nher ents el fdampi ngqual i t i esandher ei twor k sa t r eat .Ic anonl yaddt hatt heWoodpec k eri sone t ur nt abl et hatnotonl ys oundss uper bbuti sal s oa beaut i f ulpi ec eofengi neer i ng–atapr i c eany one c anaf f or d!

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FEATURE

Cel ebr at i ng90Year sofmak i ngc ar t r i dges

TheOr t of onMCA90

Or t of onc el ebr at edi t s90y ear si nt hec ar t r i dgebus i nes swi tt her el eas eoft hel ow out putMCA90c ar t r i dge.Tak i ngt hedes i gnc uesf r om t hef l ags hi pMCWi nf i el d,t he A90doesev enbet t erwi t hs omenew t ec hnol ogy .Themos ts t r i k i ngv i s ualel ementi s t henudebodyoft heA90–i ti smadef r om ar ev ol ut i onar ypr oc es sc al l edSL Mf or Sel ec t i v eL as erMel t i ng.I ns t eadofc as t i ngt hebody s hel l ,t heSL M pr oc es sus esl as er t of us es ev er all ay er soft he‘ mi c r opar t i c l es ’t oget her .Ther es ul ti sas t r ongbody s hel l wi t hex c ept i onalhi ghl ev elofs el fdampi ng.Thebody s hel lwhendr oppedont ot he f l oorwi l lnotbounc e,aswoul dt y pi c almagnes i um oral umi num bodi es ,asi tc ani nt er nal l ydampt hes hoc k .SL M manuf ac t ur i ngal s oenabl est hec ons ol i dat i onofv ar i ous c omponent soft hec ar t r i dgei nt oas i mpl erpr oc es s-i nt hi si ns t anc e,al loft hees s ent i alc omponent sar ebui l tdi r ec t l yi nt ot heonepi ec ebody ,i nc l udi ngt hemagnet i c s y s t em ( i nc l udi ngt hemov i ngpar t s ) ,t het er mi nalbl oc k ,andt hes i l i c oner ubberwi r e guar d.

Asar es ul t ,t heA90al l owst hegener at oruni mpededi ni t sj obt or epr oduc et hemos t s ubt l eofnuanc esf r om t her ec or dgr oov e.Thr ought heOr t of onRepl i c ant100di amondt i p,bor onc ant i l ev er ,ex pens i v eAuc ur um c oi l sandas pec i aldes i gnar mat ur e, t heA90i ss ai dt opr oduc ea‘ l i f el i k e,opens oundwi t hex c eedi ngc l earmi dr ange.

L ov er sofmus i cwi l lt ak enot eofat r ul yor gani candenc aps ul at i ngex per i enc ewhi c h t r ans c endst hel i mi t sofr ec or di ngandundeni abl ybl ur st hedi s t i nc t i onbet weenwhat i sl i v eandwhati sr ec or ded. ’ TheA90i sal i mi t ededi t i onpi ec e–onl y400pi ec eswi l lbemade.Or dery our snow!

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Ac c es s or i es-Usefulaccessoriesforthevinylaudiophiles!

Headshel l s I nt heques tf orr i gi di t y ,manyar m manuf ac t ur er shav es i nc eabandonedt heus eoft he‘ uni v er s al ’r emov abl eheads hel lf oraf i x edheads hel l .St i l l ,t her eex i s tmanyt ur nt abl ess uc hast he popul arTec hni c sSL 1200MK2,t hats t i l lus er emov abl eheads hel l sf orc onv eni enc eandqui c k s ubs t i t ut i on.Her e,wehav eOr t of onwi t hs omei nt er es t i ngheads hel l st oof f ert oupgr ader s .

LH2000 TheL H2000i sahi ghqual i t yheads hel ldes i gneds pec i f i c al l yf orupgr adi ngt hes t andar d s uppl i edheads hel l s .Pr ov i di ngac l ean,mi ni mal i s taes t het i c ,t hes ol i dal umi num c ons t r uc t i onoft heL H2000i ss ui t abl ef orawi dev ar i et yofc ar t r i dges .Wei ght :12gr ams .Mount di s t anc e:mi n32.

5mm,max41.

9mm

LH6000 TheL H6000i sahi ghqual i t ymagnes i um heads hel ldes i gneds pec i f i c al l yf ort heKont r apunk t , J ubi l ee,andWi ndf el dc ar t r i dges .I t sr ounded f r ontpor t i onf ac i l i t at espr opermount i ngand c ompl i ment seac hoft hes ec ar t r i dges .Wei ght : 13.

5gr ams .Mountdi s t anc e:mi n37.

2mm,max 42.

5mm

LH8000 TheL H8000i sOr t of on’ spr emi um handmadewoodbas edheads hel lmadef r om J apanes eoakt r eeandl ac quer edwi t h Ur us hi .Thebr as sf i ngerl i f taddst oi t sat t r ac t i v enes sandt heL H8000i ss ui t abl ef or t hef i nes tc ar t r i dges .Wei ght :8.

5gr ams .

Mountdi s t anc e:mi n32.

5mm,max41.

9mm

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Ac c es s or i es Leadoutwi r es L eadoutwi r esf or mt hec r i t i c alc onnec t i onbet weent heheads hel loft het onear m andt hec ar t r i dge.Yourl eadoutwi r eswi l l c or r odeaf t ers ev er aly ear sofus e,muc hoft hes i gnalf r om y our c ar t r i dgewi l lbes ev er el ydegr adedev enbef or ei tev enl eav es t het ur nt abl e!Or t of onc ol l abor at edwi t hahi ghqual i t yaudi o c abl emak ert oof f eras er i esoful t r ahi ghper f or manc eheads hel ll eadoutwi r es .Thes ewer es pec i al l ys el ec t edaf t erc ount l es sl i s t eni ngs es s i onst omanydi f f er entt y pesofmus i c .Thes e c ar t r i dgel eadoutwi r esar et hebes tper f or mi ngamongnumer ousc onf i gur at i onsoft es tc abl esav ai l abl e.

LW800S L W800Si st hemos ts ophi s t i c at edl eadwi r esc ompos i ngofa c ombi nat i onofpur es i l v erands i l v erc oat edwi r e.Thec ombi nat i onofdi f f er entwi r est r ans mi tex t endedandc l earhi ghf r equenc i es ,whi c hbr i ngsoutt hebr i l l i antt onal i t yofanyc ar t r i dge.

Rhodi um pl at edt er mi nal sar eus edatbot hendsoft hewi r e.4N Pur eSi l v erwi r e:3xφ0.

26mm Si l v erpl at edOFCwi r e:16xφ 0.

10mm LW7N L W7Ni st hehy br i dl eadwi r emadeofUl t r ahi ghpur i t yc opper wi r eof7Nand6N.Thehi ghpur i t yofc opper7N( 99.

99999% pur i t y )i nt hewi r eenabl est hemus i cs i gnalt obet r ans mi t t ed wi t houtanynoi s e.Rhodi um pl at edt er mi nal sar eus edatbot h endsoft hewi r e.Hi ghpur i t yCuwi r e7NCu:3xφ0.

26mm Hi ghpur i t yCuwi r e6NCu:16xφ0.

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Ac c es s or i es Or t of on6NXTSW1010phonocabl es Thephonoc abl ec onnec t st het onear mt oy ourphonos t ageorpr eampl i f i er .J us tl i k ei nt er c onnec tc abl es ,t het onear m phonoc abl ec anhav eabi gef f ec tont heper f or manc eof y ourt ur nt abl e.Ther ei snodoubtmanyt onear msc omewi t hv er yi nex pens i v ephono c abl est ok eept hec os tdown.Howev er ,i fy ouar es er i ousaboutget t i ngt hebes tper f or manc ef r om y ourt ur nt abl eandc ar t r i dge,agoodt onear m phonoc abl ei sagoodi nv es t mentandbr i ngsabouts uper i ors oundqual i t y .Thank st ot heus eofauni v er s als t andar d ‘ DI N’c onnec t or ,c hangi ngt oabet t erc abl ei saseas yasunpl uggi ngt heol dar mc abl e andpl uggi ngt henew c abl ei n.Or t of onof f er sadi r ec tupgr ade–The6NXTSW1010i s madeofhi ghpur i t yc opper6N/ 5NHy br i dwi t har hodi um pl at eds i gnalpi nf oropt i mal c ont ac tf ort hel ow l ev els i gnal sf r om t hec ar t r i dge.

Tec hni c als pec i f i c at i ons : Conduc t ormat er i al :Hi pur i t yOFC L engt h:1x1.

2m Di amet er :Ø10mm RCATer mi nalGol dpl at ed,Rhodi um pl at edc ent erpi n.

Or t of onDS1El ect r oni cSt yl usPr essur eGauge TheDS1i sapi ec eofk i tf ort hes er i ousv i ny lc ol l ec t or .Es pec i al l yi fy ouhav ei nv es t ed i nas t at eoft hear tc ar t r i dge,t heDS1as s ur esanabs ol ut el y‘ s pot on’t r ac k i ngf or c eno mat t erwhats or tofar my ouar eus i ng–pi v ot edorpar al l elt r ac k i ng.Thi sl i ght wei ght dev i c ewei ghsonl y95gm,henc ewi l lnotaf f ec ts us pendedt ur nt abl es .Hi ghl yac c ur at e t r ac k i ngf or c ef r om 0.

1gm t o200gms .

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As ys t em f ora l lt i me A hi ghper f or ma nc ea udi os ys t em i ss i mpl yt hemea nst oa nend– t obe a bl et oenj oyt hepl a yba c kofmus i ci nt hec omf or tofyourhome. . .

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Toac hi ev eas at i s f ac t or yout c ome,y ouneedt owor kc l os el y wi t ht hes y s t em i ns t al l er–one t hati si nt i mat el yf ami l i arwi t h t heequi pmenthei ss el l i ngand how t obr i ngouti t sbes t .

Audi oNot eSi ngapor ehasbeen ar oundf orabout18y ear sand s er v edc ount l es sc us t omer snot j us ti nSi ngapor ebutal s oov er s easwhohav ec ount edont hei r ex per t i s ei ndes i gni ngt hes et up oft hei rmus i cs y s t ems .Thi s s et upi sagoodex ampl eofc at er i ngt ot hec us t omer ’ sneedsas wel lasmak i ngt hebes tofal es s t hani dealr oom ac ous t i c .

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Thes y s t em i ss etupi nt heat t i coft hi s t hr ees t or eyhous e,meani ngt her oofof t her oom i st al l ert hanus ualands l opedt o ones i de.Fors oundqual i t y ,t hi si sr eal l y f arf r om i deal .Rec ogni z i ngt hi sl i mi t at i on, Cec i lt ookat wopr ongedappr oac h–t he us eofr oom t r eat mentandc omponent t uni ngdev i c es .Ac c or di ngt ot heownerof t hes y s t em,hewasamaz edatt hedi f f er enc et heHar moni xt uni ngf eetc anaf f ec t t hewayt hes y s t em i nt er ac t swi t ht he r oom.

Thes y s t em empl oy st wos our c es–at ur nt abl es y s t em wi t hTW Ac us t i c ’ sRav enOne t ur nt abl eandanAMRCD77.

1c ompac t di s cpl ay er .At ubei nt egr at edampl i f i er– t heL ebenCS600r educ est hec omponent c ount( nott oment i ont headdi t i onalc os t s ofc abl i ng)andi sus edt odr i v eapai rof Har bet hSuperHL 5l ouds peak er s .

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St ar t i ngwi t ht het ur nt abl e f r ont end,t heRav enOnehas bec omet he‘ s t andar dbear er ’ f orTW Ac us t i c–y ouc anr ead aboutt heRav enOneandt he new 0.

5el s ewher ei nt hi si s s ue.

Toget herwi t ht he12i nc hOr t of onRS309Dt onear m andt he Or t of onJ ubi l eeMCc ar t r i dge, t hi sf or mst hebas i soft he r ec or dpl ay bac ks y s t em.

TheL ebenCS600bei ngal i ne onl yampl i f i ermandat esas epar at ephonos t age–t heL ehmann Bl ac kCubeDec ade.The Dec adec el ebr at est het ent h anni v er s ar yofL ehmann’ sBl ac k Cubeands t andsast heapexof t heBl ac kCubes er i esi nper f or manc e.TheDec adec omesi na t wopi ec epac k age–t hephono s t ageandpowers uppl yPWXI I , bot hhous edi ni dent i c alc has s i s .

ThePWXI Ic anpowert wodev i c es–L ehmann’ sheadphone ampl i f i ers eemsl i k eal i k el yc andi dat e!

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Someoft heac c es s or i esc r i t i c ali n br i ngi ngt hebes toutoft he s y s t em ar et heShuny at aHy dr a8 ACl i nec ondi t i onerandt heaf or ement i onedHar moni xt uni ngf eet .

TheShuny at as t abi l i z esandf i l t er sACpowerwhi l et heHar mo ni xt uni ngf eetus esr es onanc e f i l t er i ngt ot ak ec ar eoft hemec hani c aldi s s onanc et hatc anbe i nt r oduc edi nt ot hes y s t em dur i ng pl ay bac k .

Bef or et hes y s t em wasf i r edup,I hads omer es er v at i onswi t hr egar dst ot hes ui t abi l i t yoft he r oom f ors ound–Thes t eeps l ope oft her oofands omec or ner sc an t r aps oundwav es ,andampl i f y t hem bef or er ef l ec t i ngbac ki nt o t her oom.Howev er ,Cec i las s ur ed met hatas pec thasbeenl ook ed

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i nt oandwi t hj us ts omewal lt r eat ment–i n bet weent hes peak er sandi nt hec or ner s– t ot ak ec ar eoft hes t r ayr ef l ec t i ons .L es si s mor e-t heas pec tofmi ni mal i s tt r eat ment appeal edt omeasc ompar edt owhol es al e t r eat mentofev er ys quar ei nc hoft her oom ass omer oom t r eat mentdev i c esadv oc at e.

Wi t ht heampl i f i erwar medupbef or ewe ar r i v ed,t hes y s t em s t ar t edpl ay i nganL P atl ow l ev elwhi l eIgotabouts et t i ngup t hec amer af ort hephot os hoot .Hal f way t hr ought hes hoot ,Ii nadv er t ent l yc omment ed–‘ hmm… ni c es ound’ .Iwas n’ ts i t t i ngi nt hehot s potbutmov i ngar oundt he r oom t ogetdi f f er entv ant agepoi nt s .Thi s as pec ti si mpor t ant–t hes y s t em i sener gi z i ngt her oom pr et t yev enl y–t her ewer e nos i gni f i c antpeak sordi psar oundt he r oom,ev enwhenIam bac k edi nt oa c or ner .

Thes oundf r om t heanal oguef r ontendi s t r ul ymus i c alandengagi ng.Iwast hi nk i ng, t hi swoul dgi v eCDapr et t yt ought i me– y es ,i tdi dandi tdi dn’ t–t heCDs our c edi d agoodj obbutmus i c al l yIwoul dv ot ef or t heanal oguef r ontend.Ni c e!

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Syst em Conf i gur at i on TW Ac us t i cRav enOnet ur nt abl e Or t of onRS309Dt onear m Or t of onJ ubi l eeMCc ar t r i dge L ehmannBl ac kCubeDec ade phonos t age AMRCD77CDpl ay er L ebenCS600I nt egr at edAmpl i f i er ( KT88) Shuny at aHy dr a8ACl i ne c ondi t i oner Har moni xi s ol at i onf eet Har moni xr ec or dc l amp Har bet hSuperHL 5onFoundat i on s t ands

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Thal usTonear m

Wor l d’ sonl yt angent i al pi vot edt onear m