Magico to Replace Acoustic Research?

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Created: 07 February 2023 07 February 2023

Doug,

I enjoyed reading your Magico A1 review. Quick question: I want to upgrade my mid-1970s AR11s with smaller, better-performing speakers to fit my home office. I like the acoustic-suspension sound defined by the old AR, KLH, and Advent loudspeakers. I know I need to hear it for myself, but that’s not easy as I live in Charleston, South Carolina (great for antiques and restaurants, not good for audio equipment).

Given all of that, do the Magico A1 and A3 speakers have the potential to be AR11 replacements with their 45-year newer technology, etc.? If so, the four-hour drive to Greensboro will be pretty short.

Thanks very much,
AAinCHS
United States

Hello, thank you for your email. The words “have potential” jumped out at me because that makes your question easier to answer.

Magico’s A1 and A3 are both good loudspeakers. Furthermore, either model should surpass your nearly 50-year-old AR11 if for no other reason than loudspeaker technology has come a long way since then. That’s because designers know more, the technology has advanced, and the materials available for speaker parts today are more plentiful. That all adds up to the potential to make better speakers today.

But will the A1 or A3 speakers thrill you? That I can’t say because your listening preferences have to be satisfied. I can only say they have the potential to, which is what you asked. But I must also add that plenty of other speakers have the potential to do so as well. Nevertheless, I think a four-hour drive would be worth it for you so that you know. Heck, I’ve driven for four hours for less important things. I hope that helps.

Doug Schneider

On State-of-the-Art Measurements

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Created: 03 February 2023 03 February 2023

To Doug Schneider,

I enjoyed your piece on the NAD Masters M23 and the affordability of high resolution. I’ve had the NAD Masters M33 for about two years now and it’s left me scratching my head. It does a lot of things extremely well, but it always seems like something is missing. Maybe I don’t want ultimate transparency. My favorite amp ever was a McCormack DNA-500, a big, heavy, meaty-sounding amp. I’m sure it wasn’t the best-measuring amp. You could hear crackle coming through the tweeter. But the music sounded alive and real. The NAD sounds a little sterile to me. Some of the most disappointing equipment I’ve owned has been the best measuring.

Regards,
Rich Ramorino
United States

Turntable Advice: Dr. Feikert Analogue or MoFi?

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Created: 28 January 2023 28 January 2023

Hi Jason,

I just happened to read your comments on the MoFi MasterTracker cartridge from back in 2019 from your review of the Dr. Feikert Analogue Volare turntable. I have been considering the purchase of a new turntable, and the Volare and the MoFi UltraDeck are both on my short list. The MoFi seems to me the best bargain, as it comes with a factory-installed 10″ tonearm and either the UltraTracker or MasterTracker cart. My phono stage is a Gryphon PS2-S that came installed with the Diablo 300 integrated amp. This is obviously not close to the Constellation phono stage you were using, but it does get good marks in reviews and from the dealers.

I really had the Volare at the top of my list, but when I started looking into MoFi—and given the sizable price difference with the UltraDeck (about $1000)—it seemed like a very nice rig at the $3000 price. I also have ideas on a future cart upgrade to an MC from brands such as Koetso, Kiseki, or Hana, to name a few.

My hope is that you can comment on whether the UltraDeck and MasterTracker make for a good package, or whether you might have other thoughts I could consider at the $3000 price point.

Thanks for any advice, and best to you.

Paul,
MN, USA

Paul,

While the Dr. Feikert Analogue Volare is indeed a bunch more money than the MoFi, it’s also a bunch more turntable. If you’re looking for a midway point in your turntable life, then the MoFi would be great, but if it’s an endgame you’re working toward, the Volare is far and away a better unit.

I’m not sure if that’s what you want to hear, given that you’re leaning toward the MoFi, but I think it needs to be said. I’d rather skimp on the cartridge, which is a wear item anyway, and throw extra into the ’table.

That said, the MoFi ’table looks very good, and would undoubtedly be a great-sounding unit. Please let me know what you decide.

Thanks,
Jason

Amplifier for Estelon YBs

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Created: 27 January 2023 27 January 2023

Bonjour Jason,

I just received my Estelon YB speakers. I read very good things from you on the Simaudio 860A v2 amplifier. Have you tested this amp with the YBs? If yes, what is your opinion on this association? Thank you for your answer.

My best wishes for this new year.

Jean-Louis
Paris, France

Jean-Louis,

I still have my YBs—I think you’ll be very happy with them. I don’t think you could possibly go wrong with the Simaudio 860A v2, as it’s a fantastic amplifier. That said, I’m currently reviewing the Hegel H30A power amplifier, and I think it’s a wonderful match to the YBs. I don’t have the Simaudio here to compare, but either amplifier would work very well with your speakers.

Thanks,
Jason Thorpe

The iFi Zen Phono Measurements

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Created: 24 May 2022 24 May 2022

Hi Diego,

A ways back, you and I had a good chat about the NAD C 298 amplifier, miniDSP products, and the merits of sub-sat systems. Well, one thing I can tell you is that I’m definitely a sub-sat believer! I added a KEF KC62 to my KEF LS50 Metas, ran a low-pass filter to the sub and a high-pass filter to the mains, time-aligned the system using Room EQ Wizard, and otherwise straightened things out via Dirac Live room EQ. I know the KC62 is not a be-all, end-all sub, but wow! It lifts my setup to a whole different level and absolutely brings out the best of the LS50s. My listening volume and distance are about perfect for these speakers. Thanks for the encouragement to take sub-sat systems and room EQ more seriously.

I now have the miniDSP SHD preamp. I had one reliability problem (the unit bricked itself) and received poor customer service from both miniDSP and the dealer, but, over the course of several months, they got me a replacement unit. I would (and maybe should) have cut my losses, but the miniDSP does things that I cannot find in any other device: great DAC, amazing I/O flexibility, and full control over DSP with the available quick presets (I use one for loudspeakers with a digital source, one for loudspeakers with vinyl, one with heavy parametric EQ correction for my headphone amp, and one I leave completely untouched as my control).

At this point, I can’t imagine thinking through my signal chain and saying, “the DAC warms it up a little, but then my cables cool it down, and my amp makes everything just right for my speakers which are warm, and then my room . . . destroys everything I worked so hard to achieve.”

Once again, thank you, and sorry for the length of this preamble. I look forward to seeing more content on the SoundStage! Network.

Anyway, now for my question. For my phono preamp, I’m auditioning the iFi Audio Zen Phono and found your measurements, which are the only ones out there. I’ll cut to the chase (and I don’t expect a treatise at all): Focusing on the moving-magnet (MM) section, do you consider these measurements to be solid? I gather the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a decent amount short of spec and that the THD+N isn’t anything to write home about, but the latter is mostly due to noise floor and not distortion. RIAA accuracy and overload margin look great. I just don’t know how to rate the whole package in terms of competency and whether it belongs in a serious system, where all the other parts carry their weight and then some (NAD C 298, miniDSP SHD, and KEF LS50 Metas plus KC62 sub). One thing that clouds my judgment is the obvious noise floor and distortion of the vinyl medium itself, and whether that renders any hesitation about the Zen Phono itself moot.

One complication for me is that I’m using the one gain setting you didn’t chart—the MC High (48dB gain/47k ohm input impedance) setting for moving-coil cartridges, which I can only hope performs more like the MM setting than the MC Low and MC Very Low configurations. I’m using it with a MM cartridge and the 48dB gain matches the TAS gain formula, and what I’m seeing in my miniDSP SHD’s input meters show it’s kosher in terms of signal strength (any more gain would likely be a problem, but it’s not clipping and the signal is strong, with no discernable electrical noise—like ground hum—at all). I’m using the 4.4mm balanced output into dual XLRs into the miniDSP preamp.

Sorry for the long message. No worries if you’re too busy to respond, and even the briefest interpretation would be appreciated. In any case, thanks for doing these measurements.

Tony
United States

Hi Tony,

First, it’s great to hear you dove headfirst into the world of bass-managed, room-EQ’d sub-sat systems. Welcome!

Coincidentally, I currently have miniDSP’s SHD Power integrated amp on the SoundStage! test bench. I must say, I’m blown away by the level of customization it has. It took me a while to wrap my head around everything the SHD Power does so I could explain it properly in the introduction to my measurement report.

To answer your question, the Zen Phono measured great overall, and especially for MM. You’ve hit the main points—super-low THD, extraordinarily flat RIAA frequency response (FR), and plenty of headroom. For the MM setting (and I would presume MC High would be very close, with a slightly higher noise floor), everything is pretty much state-of-the-art in terms of performance, except the noise and intermodulation distortion (IMD). These measured results were OK, but not great—but for the price, still pretty darn good. I would stress how great the FR is on the Zen. I almost never see ruler-flat adherence to the RIAA curve from 5Hz to 50kHz. If you experiment with different cartridges, turntables, or other components and hear FR changes, you will always know that your phono preamp is dead neutral with the iFi Zen Phono.

As for noise, I’d just see if you can hear any hum/noise from your seat at a reasonable volume without music playing. If you can’t, then it’s all good. As for IMD, well, it is what it is, as they say. Here’s a point of comparison with an expensive phono preamp I measured recently, the Saturn Audio 401. For IMD at 3kHz/4kHz and 18kHz/19kHz, the Saturn measured -108dB/-104dB to the iFi Zen’s -96dB/-77dB. For SNR, the Saturn measured 100dB (A-weighted) to the iFi Zen’s 89dB. Would you hear these differences? Maybe. I do think that IMD numbers are often overlooked in favor of pure THD—or, even worse, THD+N—which is silly, because music is not a single tone, but multiple tones.

The bottom line is that I don’t think you can go wrong at the Zen’s price point.

Let me know what you decide.

Cheers,
Diego

Anthem and Moon

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Created: 22 April 2022 22 April 2022

Hi Diego,

I want to congratulate you for your professionalism and your dedication to audio. I am an audio enthusiast, but far from being an expert like you.

I saw your two reviews of preamps: the Anthem STR Preamplifier and the Simaudio Moon 390. I would like to ask you which of these two you would recommend for me. I only listen to music in a 2.1-channel system, using Tidal through a Bluesound Node. I have a pair of MartinLogan ElectroMotion ESL X speakers and a subwoofer from the same brand: the Dynamo 1600X.

I live in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and here there are very few audition rooms, and many brands are not available. It’s very difficult to carry out comparison tests between different brands or models; I imagine it’s a similar situation for a certain percentage of your readers.

In my case, my purchasing decision must be certain. I have to import the preamplifier, so there is no possibility to return it if I’m not happy with it. I thank you again for your advice—it’s very valuable to me.

I thank you in advance for your comment.

Sergio
Mexico

Hola Sergio,

The answer to your question is quite easy for me: Get the Anthem STR.

The main differences between the two preamps are a built-in network streamer on the 390, which the STR lacks, and full bass management and room correction (Anthem ARC) on the STR, which the 390 lacks. Since you have a sub and a capable network streamer (your Bluesound Node), you would gain no benefit from the 390’s built-in streamer, but would greatly benefit from the STR’s bass management and room EQ.

If you were to make an apples-to-apples comparison between the two preamps in terms of sound quality—that is to say, without room correction or bass management—in a blind, level-matched test, you would likely hear no difference. Both preamps are competently designed, low-noise, low-distortion audio devices. And even if you were to detect a very subtle audible difference in favor of the 390, this difference would be dwarfed by the sonic benefits of the Anthem’s bass management and ARC room correction.

In your situation, it’s a no brainer—buy the Anthem STR and enjoy.

Let me know what you end up with, and your impressions.

Diego

His Last System

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Created: 20 April 2022 20 April 2022

Hello Roger,

I’ve read a number of your reviews with interest and was wondering if you could help a 68-year-old figure out his “last” system?

You seem to have a system that is very, very similar to what I am considering (MartinLogan speakers and class-D amplification). I am starting over with a clean slate, and trying to go “all American” with as many of my purchases as possible. The biggest question for me, though, is which speakers to buy.

Since I have been a “flat panel” speaker guy almost my entire life, I have narrowed my choices to the MartinLogan Masterpiece Series, which is where I am stuck. I am trying to justify the price difference between the Classic ESL 9 and the ESL 11A, which has larger, active woofers and Anthem ARC room correction. Are those features that important, especially since I am planning to use a pair of subwoofers anyway, and the $4000 difference would go a long way towards a new amp or subs? As you stated in your MartinLogan Masterpiece Classic ESL 9 review, you were able to achieve good results by using Anthem ARC separately in your Anthem Statement D2 A/V processor. Also, I can get a pre-owned pair of 11As for the same price or less than the cost of the 9s.

I have previously owned the JL Audio Fathom f112 subwoofer and have an opportunity to get a pair of pre-owned f112v2s at a price I can afford. However, I have also been looking at a pair of the company’s E-Sub e112s, whose active crossovers should be beneficial.

I believe class-D amplification is the direction I want to go. You are using Anthem M1 monos and I figure that a professional reviewer would not be using class-D amps with electrostatic loudspeakers unless he was absolutely convinced they succeeded. I read Doug Schneider’s interview with Peter Lyngdorf and his Lyngdorf Audio TDAI-3400 integrated amp was my first choice. However, I have also been looking at the Orchard Audio Starkrimson as well, since the TDAI-3400 might be older technology.

Although I am mostly interested in streaming music, I am looking at the Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, mostly because I have a few Best Buy gift cards. I’m also really tempted by the Reavon UBR-X200 player, although it would be twice the price of the Panasonic.

So, Roger, if you have a moment to respond with any thoughts or recommendations, I would be very appreciative.

Thank you,
Larry Miller
United States

Hi Larry,

As you have been following my reviews and are considering a significant investment in your “last” system, it would be a pleasure to provide you with my thoughts.

You say that you are a “flat panel” speaker guy, so I will assume that the MartinLogan Masterpieces will be to your liking. As you point out, the difference in price between the ESL 9 and 11A is significant, but I am very happy with my 9s. I do in fact use them with powered subs—a pair of JL Audio E-Sub e112s—and the Anthem ARC Genesis room correction in my Anthem STR Preamplifier. That said, why wouldn’t you get a pair of pre-owned 11As for the same price if they are in good condition? You may find that you do not need additional subwoofers. And even if you do get subwoofers, ARC and the built-in powered woofers of the 11As will mean that your amp and subwoofers will have to do less work, which should improve the overall sound of your system.

You also mention that you want class-D amplification, but I am not married to that particular amplifier topology. I have heard some excellent class-AB amps, but I find that class-D amplifiers in my price range tend to offer a better price-to-performance ratio. And while I did love the sound of the TDAI-3400, I thought that the NAD Masters M33 was a better integrated amplifier overall. It’s also better value because it costs less than the Lyngdorf. As an aside, Peter Lyngdorf is one of the partners of Purifi, the company that produces the Eigentakt amplifier modules used in the NAD. I am not familiar with the Orchard products so cannot comment on them, but can heartily recommend both the TDAI-3400, despite being a few years old, and the M33. Both have excellent room-correction systems and are suitable for streaming. The M33 has the excellent BluOS multiroom streaming software, and is my favorite integrated amplifier in this price range.

Finally, you say that you are considering the Panasonic DP-UB9000 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player. While this is a fine player, it only plays BDs, DVDs, and CDs. It doesn’t support SACD or DVD-A. And if you will be using the M33 amp I recommend (or even the TDAI-3400), the audio signals have to be digitized to take advantage of the DSP and room correction. A player like the DP-UB9000, which has analog outputs, is not necessary, so I would recommend the Sony UBP-X800M2, which plays SACDs and DVD-As and is available at Best Buy for $329.99. The disadvantages of the Sony are that it does not automatically recognize Dolby Vision discs, which must be manually selected via the menu system, and it does not support HDR10+. Otherwise, it is an excellent digital transport for 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays and audio discs.

I hope this helps. Good luck in the quest for your “last” system!

Best regards,
Roger Kanno

Dutch & Dutch 8c Speaker Question

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Created: 27 March 2022 27 March 2022

Hi Diego,

I hope you’re doing well.

We spoke a while ago about a pair of Focal speakers I was going to get that you had reviewed. I changed my mind and bought a pair of Raidho Acoustics TD1.2s instead. A good friend of mine bought a pair at the same time.

We both loved them but within six weeks he sold his and bought a pair of Dutch & Dutch 8c active speakers. He felt they were the only standmounted speakers that outperformed the Raidhos.

After eight months I finally got a chance to hear my buddy’s D&Ds and I was mighty impressed.

Since you reviewed the D&D 8c speakers, I’m wondering how you think they would compare to my Raidhos (if you know anything about them)?

For your information, I also have an Innuos Zen Mk3 music server; the Innuos PhoenixUSB reclocker; an Esoteric K-05X SACD/CD player, which I use as a DAC for the Innuos server; and finally, a PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium preamp and McIntosh Laboratory MC302 amp.

I listen to a lot of acoustic jazz, and although the TD1.2s’ bass is the strongest of any previous Raidho speakers, sometimes I feel they are lacking somewhat in this area. I could just add a sub, of course, but the D&D’s twin subwoofers make it an attractive option.

Since you know these D&Ds well, I’d sure appreciate it if you could give me your thoughts on any of this.

Thank you.

Best,
Bob
United States

Hi Bob,

Okay, from the jump, let me be unequivocal. Of all the audio components I’ve ever reviewed, the D&D 8c has left me with the most lasting impression. It’s truly a one-box, turnkey solution (i.e., active speakers with DAC and room EQ) that offers sound quality beyond reproach. Well, two boxes, actually. The speaker measures exceptionally well, too! The listening-window frequency response—and the off-axis response—is textbook perfect. The speaker does have a bit more distortion than some other high-quality speakers, but I didn’t hear it when I had them in my room—just buttery-smooth mids and an airy top end, with bass punch and extension that was hard to believe!

If you wanted to equal what the D&Ds can give you in terms of full-range sound with a conventional, non-active system, you would need a high-quality system built around full-range tower speakers in a large, professionally acoustically treated room, backed up with lots of acoustic measurements to optimize speaker positioning. Or (since most of us don’t have such a room), you’d need something like this:

• Top-of-the-range two-way speakers (I believe this is what you have, but I’ve never heard Raidho speakers, and we’ve never measured them)
• A high-quality sub (or preferably two)
• A quality amp
• A line-level high-pass filter (HPF) for bass management
• A quality preamp
• A top-notch room EQ processor (e.g., Dirac Live or Anthem ARC)
• A quality DAC

In my opinion, if you were to omit just one item from this list, you would not quite achieve what a pair of 8c’s can deliver; and with the entire list, it would take some tweaking and experimentation with Dirac Live (or equivalent) to get there. There are preamps available that include a DAC, room EQ functionality, and bass management, so you could save on components that way: for example, the Anthem STR, the miniDSP SHD, and the NAD C 658.

In your case, if you wanted to keep what you have, but compete with the D&Ds, you’d need an HPF between your amp and preamp, and something like a miniDSP DDRC-22D (which is what I use) between your music server and DAC to implement Dirac Live. Plus, of course, the most important ingredient—a good sub (or preferably two). This is what I do in my system.

What are the drawbacks of a pair of D&Ds? There are only two I can think of, and they are unrelated to sound quality. If (like most of us) you’re in a typical, compromised listening environment, in terms of size and/or acoustic treatment, you simply can’t get much better sound quality, at any price, than the Dutch & Dutch 8c standmounts. The only drawbacks I can find are their looks (they’re not the prettiest), and arguably, their anti-audiophile ethos. What do I mean by that? Many of us actually prefer to have multiple boxes in our systems, each with its own dedicated audio purpose in the chain—it’s a fun part of the hobby. With the D&Ds, you add a music streamer with an AES/EBU digital output and you’re all set. It all comes down to what you’re looking for in your listening space.

Hope that helps a bit,
Diego

Bass Response of the Stenheim Alumine Two

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Created: 24 March 2022 24 March 2022

Dear Diego Estan,

I read your review of the Stenheim Alumine Two loudspeakers and the follow-up review on positioning the speakers with much interest. I recognize how much effort you put into experimenting to find the right positions for the speakers. I have a lot of experience with a similarly sized speaker: the Linn Majik 109. The Linns need to be close to the wall, and the manufacturer advises a minimum distance of 23cm (9″), measured from the wall to the back of the speaker.

The best position I found for the right timbre and bass was 24cm (9.5″), or 48cm (19″) from the wall to the front of the speakers, with minimal toe-in.

In your review I noticed that you experimented mainly with placing the Stenheims wider apart and closer to the corners of your room. My suggestion is generally to try placing small speakers closer together. In my case, after much trial and error, I settled on 175.5cm (5′ 9″) apart. This position gives me a satisfying full midrange and surprisingly low bass, which is especially noticeable with acoustic bass.

I agree that Stenheim should provide suggestions for the best positioning of their speakers. Small speakers are often as difficult to position as larger ones.

I enjoy reading your reviews and those of others on the SoundStage! Network. They are very helpful in making an assessment of the reviewed audio equipment.

Kind regards,

August
France

Bonjour August,

Thanks for reading my initial and follow-up reviews of the Alumine Twos, and sending me your comments.

Since my room is relatively small, I rarely have issues with bass boost from two-way standmounts. Most speakers yield +4 to +8dB of boost (50Hz relative to 2kHz) in my reference position. The Stenheims were an exception.

Since I only found that corner loading yielded acceptable bass results from the Alumine Twos in my room, I was stuck with too wide a distance between the speakers—because I use the long wall for speaker placement. The best solution for the Alumines in my room would have been to rotate my system 90 degrees, using the short wall for the speakers, and leveraging the bass boost by corner loading once again. But, I had to draw the line somewhere—I wasn’t going to rearrange the entire room for the sake of this experiment.

I’m a big proponent of bass-managed 2.2 systems for two-channel audio. Given the price tag of the Alumine Twos, I’d still urge anyone not listening in a very small room to consider quality subs. If you’re spending this much money for state-of-the-art standmount speakers, what’s another two to three thousand more to get full-range sound!

Merci encore,
Diego

The Volume Control in the Bryston B135 Cubed

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Created: 16 March 2022 16 March 2022

Dear Diego Estan,

I have a question about your measurements report on the Bryston B135³, where you wrote: “Based on the accuracy of the left/right channel matching (see table below), and 0.5dB volume-step resolution throughout its range, the B135³ volume knob is not a potentiometer in the signal path, but, rather, provides digital control (analog domain) over a proprietary or integrated volume circuit.” To understand it correctly, is the potentiometer only used to trigger a digital volume control, like the solution Yamaha is using in its A-S3200 and A-S2200 models? Or like Denon is doing recently in its PMA-A110 model?

This point is very important for me, because I listen to music mostly at a lower level. Most amplifiers with normal potentiometers are not very easy to adjust with the remote control at a lower level.

It would be great if you can answer my question.

Best regards,
Matthias
Germany

Hi Matthias,

Thank you for your question, and for reading my measurement report. While I don’t know exactly what components Bryston uses for the volume control in the B135³ (aka B135 Cubed), I can assure you that the volume knob is not a potentiometer in the signal path—but first, let me explain a little bit about volume controls.

There are two main types of volume controls: ones that operate in the digital domain, and those that operate in the analog domain. A purely digital volume control consists of an analog-to-digital-converter to digitize the signal (if the signal is not in the digital domain already), and a bit-depth truncation circuit to reduce volume. Most home-theater receivers operate this way, and so do some high-end two-channel integrated amps. The Technics SU-R1000 that I measured in January is a case in point, mostly because it processes all signals in the digital domain.

Within analog-domain volume controls, we have two main types: old-fashioned potentiometers, which can suffer from noise over time and have poor channel tracking at low volumes, and the more popular digitally controlled analog volume controls. The latter typically uses an integrated circuit (IC), such as the Muses 72320 or Crystal CS3310, or a discrete solution using relays. These ICs or discrete solutions change the volume—or rather, the amplitude of the signal—using digital control to toggle switches (transistors or relays) within a resistor-attenuation ladder.

The measurements show that the Bryston has very low channel-to-channel deviation—but not the exact same deviation across the entire volume range like you’d see with a purely digital volume control, so that means it’s operating in the analog domain. But it’s also clear from the measurements that the Bryston B135³ offers consistent 0.5dB volume increments throughout the range—something that’s not possible with a potentiometer in the signal path—so that’s how I know it’s using a digitally controlled solution.

In summary: like the Yamaha A-S3200, the Bryston B135³ has a digitally controlled analog volume control—it’s not an in-signal potentiometer, but neither is it a purely digital volume control.

I hope that clears things up.

Diego