Distinctive Stereo
Genesis Samba speakers, $23K, Heed Helikon amplifier and preamplifier, $29.5K (sold as package), Genesis Premium Platinum phonostage, $24K, Design Build Listen Wand Master 14-4 turntable, $7500, Design Build Listen Wand Dark-Light 10.3 tone arm, $8500, HyperAnalogue HyperSonic X4 cartridge, $18K, Revox B77 Mk. III reel-to-reel tape machine, $15K, Genesis cabling
Friday night here was one of my show highlights! Here, I carried out a series of comparisons of 15-ips tapes to the most comparable and well-matched LPs for a group of enthusiastic audiophiles. The recordings selected included: 1) The 45-rpm LP vs the 15-ips tape release of Fink's Low Swing Sessions; 2) The 45-rpm, 1-step LP vs. the 15-ips tape of Jerome Sabbaugh's latest release Stand Up; 3) Last but not least, the 45-rpm Atlantic/Analogue Productions reissue vs. the Rhino 15-ips Rhino tape release of Yes' Yes. The system proved more than up to the task of revealing the differences between the two analog mediums. The 15-ips tape ruled the roost in the first two cases but something else was going on when it came to the Yes release. The sonic differences between the tape and the LP were more than just mastering/duping differences (as I've heard in my own reference system). The differences most likely result from the tape source used for the 15-ips release, which sounds distinct from any earlier Yes' Yes release.
Dr. Vinyl
Sound Labs G7-7C speakers, $49.5K, Linear Tube Audio Century monoblock amplifiers, $28K, LTA Balanced preamplifier (prototype) , $TBD, J. Sikora Initial Max turntable, $17,725, Integrity Tru-Glider carbon fiber tonearm, $7000, DS Audio Master 3 optical cartridge, $10.5K, DS Audio phono equalizer, $22K, Aero DAC, $3950, Innuous Zen NG server, $14K, Innuous PhoenixNet switch, $4800, Albedo cables
Several new products headlined Dr. Vinyl's room lead by Linear Tube Audio's latest top-of-the-line Century monoblock amplifiers. These transformerless, autobiasing designs develop 110 wpc/8 ohm output using 4 x 6JN6 NOS compactron beam power pentodes per channel. Evaluating the sound was a little difficult here as you really needed to sit dead center for a true soundstage. You also definitely needed to sit further away from these monsters to get a handle on what they can do. So an incomplete here.
Eastern Bay Sound
Southwind speakers, $2450, SKEG subwoofer, $800 each, Linear Tube Audio Velocity preamplifier, $2900, Belleson phono preamplifier, $3250, Pure Fidelity Harmony turntable plus Origin Live tonearm, Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC, $3950
The Eastern Bay Sound room featured the premiere of Belleson's "smaller" phonostage. Like the larger model, the Belleson phonostage allows for remote adjustment of loading and other settings via a smartphone or iPad app. I just love that feature!
20/20 Evolution Systems
Kharma Exqusite Midi Grand Signature speakers, $330K, conrad-johnson ART-300M monoblock amplifiers, $45K and conrad-Johnson Premier 350 (Truitt upgrade LE amplifier, $40k, conrad-johnson ART-88 preamplifier, $30K, conrad-johnson ART phonostage LE, $30K, TW-Acustic Raven anniversary with Black Night upgrades, TW-Acustic Raven 10.5 tonearm (no price), Kuzma CAR-50 cartridge, $11K, Taiko Olympus with Olympus I/O music server, $100K, SW1X Audio Design DAC V Classic, $68K, Siltech Double Crown and Kimber Select cables
Jay Truitt always assembles a good sounding room at CAF and this year was no exception. Starring and first time showing at CAF were Kharma's new Exqusite Midi Grand Signature speakers driven by a complete array of conrad-johnson tube electronics. The sound here was relaxed, sensual with ambience galore if a bit slightly reserved.
