Hegel H-120 Integrated Amp ($3000, 75×2) (4h, 17.25w, 11.75d, 28 lbs of DYNAMITE!) Hegel’s new integrated will flat out BLOW YOU AWAY for its price point! H-120 is soooo stinkin’ good that I don’t know exactly how to describe it. But try, I will. First of all, I want to make clear that I think the new H-120 achieves a new plateau for its price point. To my ears, H-120 is the least expensive integrated that sends you sailing into the BIG TIME of esoteric audio electronics performance. H-120 will make almost any speaker sound significantly more detailed and refined.
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Archives for Newsletters
01.2020
Solid Steel Audio Racks Solid Steel audio racks are solidly built in Italy. They have STEEL posts. They are conspicuously inexpensive for their SOLID heft and ability to resist acoustic feedback. Flimsy stands do NOT resist acoustic feedback. For that, your system sounds less precise and detailed than it could be. The S2 Series is black and utilitarian. The more massively built S3 series is available in black or walnut. S2-4 $400 Black 30.6h, 23w, 17d Vertical Spacing Between Shelves 8.25” Each Shelf .86” Thick Inner Shelf Width 19.7 S2-5 $500 Black 40.86 h, 23w, 17d Vertical Spacing Between Shelves
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12.2019
Peachtree Integrated Amplifiers & Power Amp Peachtree is back in Da House! Peachtree has made significant upgrades in its products over the years that float my boat- so I’m back on board. First and foremost is, PT offers tons more power than anybody else for a given buck. There are precious few speakers that won’t benefit from more power! The products are in a small form factor. It’s easy to find a place for them and they don’t run hot. And get this, they’re made in North America now, not the Far East! The warranty is 3 years new, so
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11.2019
Wharfedale Speakers Wharfedale is among the most venerable English speaker brands, founded in 1932. Wharfedale is known for making affordable speakers with uncommon technology. Wharfedale sweats the details to create a more refined mouse trap. Consider driver materials, cabinet construction and damping, unique porting techniques… We think they’re making the best inexpensive speakers out there now. For example, Wharfedale has unique venting techniques compared to everyone else. The speakers have an internal down firing, flared escape path. The opening is slot loaded for greater control with virtually no sludge. By the way, placement is a breeze. W uses dense absorbing
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10.2019
McIntosh MA-352 Integrated Amp $6500 (200×2) 12.9h, 22.7w, 21.9d, 66 lbs Just out is this gorgeous hybrid integrated. With 200×2 of solid state power, MA-352 will drive any speaker out there. Yep, it has gorgeous blue meters too! With a four tube preamp design MA-352 is a full analog piece. It features two XLR inputs along with MM phono and 3 sets of RCA high level inputs. It also offers RCA pre outs to drive a different power amp or subwoofer(s). Further, Ma-352 has a five band EQ to tailor the sound to your taste. Sweet! Hegel H-390
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09.2019
Marantz NR-1200 Stereo Receiver $600 (75×2) 4.1h, 17.3w, 14.9d Why should you be excited by a new STEREO receiver? You should consider NR-1200 because it’s MUCH more more than a garden variety receiver. Let’s start with, NR-1200 an honest 75×2 into 8 ohms. Yep, 75×2, 20-20k at .08% THD. We’re not saying this is state of the art. But most stereo receivers these days claim their power at 1K and at 1% distortion. That’s cheating- just like the surround guys. If you take 75×2 at THOSE standards, the actual honest power rating is only 70% of what is claimed, hence
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08.2019
JL Audio Subwoofers Now In! JL has become an ever larger player in the world of SERIOUS home audio subwoofers. I’ve decided to dive in! If you’re looking for an uber spectacular sub that’s built like a brick out house, get out of the way and let ‘er rip for JL. JL subs are all made in Miramar, Florida. When you read JL Audio specs, they’re real. They’re actually measured! Most sub specs are tossed out there by the ad department. We might remember, “trust but verify.” All drivers are cast and use discrete (as opposed to chip) power amps
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07.2019
Klipsch RF-7 III $3600 Per Pair (49h, 13 7/8w, 17 7/8d, 97lbs, 100dB SPL) Klipsch’s RF-7 is now here. Made in Hope, Arkansas, RF-7 is a big tower. SO WHAT?! If you want your music to hit big and hard, you need major league muscle. RF-7 doesn’t apologize for being a sizable tower. RF-7 uses a new 1.75” Titanium Horn Tweeter. It hands the ball off to two, 10” cast frame Cerametallic cone woofers. This very simple, highly efficient speaker system can deliver music to you in life sized doses, without owning Herculean power. Of course, if you HAVE big
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06.2019
Marantz AV-8805 Preamp Processor $4500 Every top flight surround system is “bottle necked” by the preamp/processor you choose. The task of a pre/pro is enormously complex. The truth is, you need a large Asian manufacturer that has the technology DOWN COLD to make a piece you want- both in terms of current features and high end sound quality. All of the N American specialty audio companies struggle mightily to create a pre/pro that’s remotely up to date. Further, they are glitchy. Fact is, for 3-4 times the money, they’re still a day late and a dollar short compared to AV-8805.
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05.2019
Obstacles! You readers don’t know how hard it is to sort through all the great hi-fi gear these days. There are numerous obstacles in my way. Glenn just came into my office and proclaimed- “You won’t believe what I just found!” I’m thinking, he found a Mac MR78 in mint condition, or a pair of Maggie Tympani 1-Ds that don’t need to be rebuilt. Nope. Glenn went on. “My house was built in 1977. One of the toilets is beige. I’ve never been able to find a matching seat. I went to Ace to buy the lights for the elevator
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