A few things on my mind here. Make that two things; digital and analog. Digital as in getting the bits from A to B (in this respect the Diamond Revision 30th Anniversary USB cable from Purist Audio Design - $2100 for the 1.5 meter I have here) and analog in getting the signal from A to B (the Fern & Roby Maverick Phono Preamplifier - $1950).
Where to start?
How about... here.
Okay, our non-Roon source is the AURALiC Aries G1. Love the piece (reviewed HERE way back when) and it is connected to the PS Audio Directstream DAC via whatever USB cable I happen to use at the moment. While I have a bunch to choose from, I tend to stick to a few favorites. These range from the WyWires Diamond (extremely fast and revealing), the Skogrand Beethoven USB Cable (reviewed HERE), to the Black Cat Matrix (reviewed HERE). Other USB cables in house that have received a review are those from JPlay, Dynamic Designs, Kubala-Sosna, Audience, Cardas, Sablon Audio, Purist Audio, and Furutech. Each cable has its strengths or character that will make it a perfect fit for one's system, preferences, and music. In the end, to each their own. The only reason I mention the three as being the few I tend to use the most, is that they tend to fit more things (overall) "better" in terms of our system and preferences… and music.
Well, that is til now. They have a new friend to share playing time with, and while I am not sure why it took so long to get around to putting the Purist Audio Diamond Revision 30th Anniversary USB cable into the system. Actually, maybe it is because they sent me one after talking about the cable at past audio show (oh, those were the days) and after a few months they sent a different one—the latest version. So, I had two here—one that has two black cables (the earlier version) and then the latest current version with the blue and black cables. With everything going on in our life, all I can offer is time slipped by while our life moved on. My apologies.
Swapping the Purist Audio in the system shows it to be wonderfully cohesive in terms of "balance." Or is that wonderfully balanced in terms of being cohesive? That is, it does not favor any one thing over another. Clarity, resolution, clear and concise… but not analytically forward or over the top as some cables can be. That is, too often we hear all the details and whatnot at the expense of being tipped up or leaned out. Yeah, the details and whatnot are there, but man is that thing bright?! Not with the Purist Audio. The details are there, but within a balanced presentation. Extended and balanced.
You get decay, dynamics, slam, warmth, bass extension (whomp), texture…. presence and space. The cable allows a wonderful sense of space and air to be felt as well as heard. The soundstage and separation are quite enticing too. Listening to certain tracks or artists is like a new experience. We should have tried this cable earlier; damn is it good.
We both find this USB cable to be very musically engaging, with no fatigue, no colorations or whatever to get in the way. Details and textures are readily apparent and quite captivating. Highly recommended.
And now analog.
We are big fans and supporters of what Chris Hildebrand does, not only at Fern & Roby (the audio side of thing), but with Tektonics Design Group (the design side of things). Cool audio gear as well as being able to make anything you need—from paper to realization. Artists. Everyone there. And nice people too.
While we own the F&R Montrose turntable (reviewed HERE), we also now own one of their racks (reviewed HERE). Chris does a lot of work for LTA (Linear Tube Audio) in terms of chassis and the whatnot, and so why not offer a F&R phono stage that is pretty much a collaboration between Chris and LTA. Something simple, something cool, something more affordable, and something that fits with the look and feel of other F&R products... hell, make that a system-like approach to analog.
So, what we have here is the Maverick Phono Pre at $1995. What you get is a rather small box that contains the phono circuit proper and a much larger external power supply that contains… the power supply.
The phono is fully adjustable via internal dip switches (magnets hold the top in place and very little effort is needed to slide it off, gaining access to the inside for adjustments).
Loading options are:
- Single Ended Moving Magnet: (high output cartridges), 47k loading
- Balanced Moving Coil: (low output cartridges)
- Two Gain settings on the SUT: 20:1 & 10:1
- Loading options: 10, 50, 100, 200, 400, 470 ohm values.
Ours came preset by Chris for our Soundsmith cartridge and was already burned in at the factory. Even so, we left it on for a week playing LPs here and there before making any judgements as to its "sound."
So, what did we hear with the Maverick in the system?
A clean and articulate presentation. Dead quiet with no hum or noise. Solid and deep bass with airy and extended highs. Very nice. Actually, after hearing F&R systems at shows, the Maverick, for us at least, has that F&R house sound… or character: A bit understated and formal, but not stuffy or withdrawn. Very polite and courteous; not one to BS you. Truth. The Maverick is not going to pummel you with whatever, nor is it going to add color or artifacts to your music. It is very honest in terms of not being overly this or that. But it is not boring or bleh... no, quite the opposite. It draws you in without being obvious about what it is doing... or not doing to your music. The Maverick is quite balanced and cohesive.
In many ways, our music from the Maverick reminds me of what we heard with phono stages from Sutherland. In reviews of Ron's products, I always felt that they presented the music much like Ron. That is, Ron's personality is carried over into his products. Sweet. Honest. Somewhat reserved. Not the least flashy or pompous. Humble. True. Transparent in that this is what it is. Ron is a great guy and he makes great products.
Yeah, that is what the Maverick is too… and so is Chris. A great guy that makes great products. The Maverick is a great product. We played a ton of LPs through the Maverick and enjoyed every one of them. Different than our Heed? For sure. Not dramatically so, and for sure the Heed is twice the price, but differences were more about overall tonality—each has its own character… or sound. The Heed was more dynamic and fuller sounding. Bass had more impact and the drive was more visceral. What we like and what fits better with our music and system. But is the Heed better? Not really… just different. Both are as musical as all get out. It is what the Heed does best—getting our music out into the room… why we love the Heed so much. The Maverick does that too, and for half the price. Highly recommended.
From Carol: I couldn't agree more with Dave about products reflecting the personality and charm of their creator. Chris is salt of the earth, a heckuva nice guy. With that in mind, that's what the Maverick, and more importantly, the Maverick conveys. I grew up listening to LPs. Sure, as time went on LPs were replaced with CDs, and then streaming. Part of me was sad about that as I always found the playing of LPs to be magical. When the Maverick came into our system, the magic returned. Paired with the Maverick Phono Pre, magic doubled. I agree with Dave that the Heed is our house sound, but also agree that the Maverick has its own charm, and I, too, highly recommend it.
