Analog sources: Garrard 301 turntable in a Box Furniture Co. plinth; TW-Acustic Raven GT2 turntable and Raven 12" tonearm; Thomas Schick 12" tonearm and headshell; Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua, Miyajima Shilabe, Hana Umami Red, Ortofon Cadenza Bronze, Ortofon SPU Classic G, and Zu/Denon 103 cartridges.
Digital sources: Sonnet Pasithea and Morpheus DACs; Lejonklou Källa streamer/DAC; Sonore ultraRendu streamer; Denafrips Iris digital-to-digital converter; Small Green Computer sonicTransporter i5 server running Roon Core.
Preamplification: Prima Luna EVO 400 preamplifier; Shindo Aurieges preamplifier; Manley Steelhead SE phono preamplifier; Sutherland Little Loco phono preamplifier; Parasound Halo JC 3+ phono preamplifier.
Amplification: Manley Mahi monoblocks; Manley Neo-Classic SE/PP 300B monoblocks; Decware Zen Torii Mk 5; Line Magnetic LM-845IA; Pass Labs INT-60; Ayre AX-5 Twenty; SET amplifier with triode-wired 307A output tubes built by Oliver Sayes.
Loudspeakers: Klipsch La Scala AL5; Altec Lansing Valencia 846A.
Cables: Interconnect: Auditorium 23; Linn Silver; AudioQuest Firebird and Thunderbird; Speaker: AudioQuest Thunderbird Zero; AC: AudioQuest Thunder and Hurricane; Triode Wire Labs Digital American. USB: AudioQuest Diamond; Ethernet: AudioQuest Diamond.
Accessories: Box Furniture Co. Heritage stand; Box Furniture Co. amplifier stand; AudioQuest Niagara 3000 power conditioner; Vinnie Rossi MINI PURE-DC-4EVR 9V DC Power Supply; IsoAcoustics OREA Bordeaux isolation footers; Ayre/Cardas Myrtlewood blocks; Feickert Next Generation Universal Protractor, AudioQuest Anti-Static Record Brush; Last Stylus Cleaner; VPI Industries HW-16.5 record cleaning machine.—Alex Halberstadt
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COMMENTS
... $2,995 or $3,495?
At least one dealer has the price shown as $3,495.
https://almaaudio.com/products/fezz-audio-silver-luna-prestige
At $3,495, how does it compare to the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III?
https://www.hifichoice.com/content/rogue-audio-cronus-magnum-iii
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/rogue-audio-cronus-magnum-iii-integrated-amplifier/
the Rogue is a diff tube, more power different sonic sensibility. More appropriate would be an EL34 comparison with a PrimaLuna or a Unison Triode 25. An EL34 designed amp is a specific thing.
The unit on the site is the "Evo" models, which have substantially better good looks than the standard unit that was reviewed.
Is that distinction coming back into the common audiophile vernacular?
Are there really audiophiles who listen along the lines of those constraints?
... whether or not the amplifier will be "capable at extracting meaning and emotion" from my collection of Bert Kaempfert LPs.
JA1 seems too busy finding either component failures in tested gear, or poor performance (why he tests). I know this is not all the time, but too frequent IMHO.
Should happen before the review to catch broken gear. Won't catch shipping damage to the reviewer, though. If this thing was malfunctioning like this during the review....
I remember my first NAD system of a 1020A preamp and a 2155 amp and there was about a 2db imbalance in the channels, but it could have been the amp or preamp as all there was is a balance control on the preamp that I need to leave at 1-2 O'clock. The amp had no controls. I should have taken the pair back to the dealer for a check over.
I would think a reviewer would easily hear a channel imbalance but if one is a fan to tube gear, the colorations might seem "normal" to many.
I know now that at nearly 76, I would have a hard time hearing the effects of low, moderate, or high jitter from a DAC or CD player.
Thank you for mentioning George Jones in an audio review. I think Merle Haggard was the greatest singer but George Jones was definitely up there and his instrument was untouchable. The Grand Tour make a stone cry!
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