Revox B77 MKIII

Revox and Pro Sound Ltd. showed the Revox B77 MKIII tape deck in its standard configuration ($17,950) and in a visually tricked out Alice Cooper special limited-edition model. The B77 MKIII features an all-new internal electronics package featuring fully balanced circuits, XLR input and output terminations, electrolytic-free signal-path capacitors, new tape heads, NAB/IEC eq selection, 7.5ips/15ips speed selection, output level selection of -10dB consumer or +4dB pro settings, and a Class A headphone amplifier. I’ll be evaluating the B77 MKIII for TAS in an upcoming edition of the magazine, stay tuned.

Zesto Athena DAC

Zesto Audio showed its new and nearly finalized Athena DAC. The Athena has an all-tube output section with no additional filtering because the tube section has a natural high-frequency limit that Zesto feels is right without the addition of extra electronic components. The Athena will play up to 24-bit/384kHz PCM formats and 3 DSD formats (1x, 2x, and 4x). It has inputs that accept USB, coax, optical, AES/EBU, and I²S. The Athena is equipped with both XLR balanced and RCA single-ended outputs for system connections. Using 12DW input tubes and 12AU7 output tubes, the Athena, in an all Zesto-based system sitting on Stillpoints racks driving YG Hailey 3 speakers using all Cardas cabling, sounded smooth and inviting playing a Cannonball Adderly tune as well as producing Christian McBride’s double bass with finesse and authority on the opening of the Krall cut “Temptation.”

Air Tight ATE-5

Air Tight showed its new ATE-5 phonostage ($13,575) in a system with Air Tight’s reference components (ATC-7 preamp and ATM-3211 211-based push-pull tube monoblock amps). The ATE-5 is a stripped-down version of the flagship ATE-3011 phonostage but without any switching in the circuit path. The ATE-5 is as pure as it gets for an RIAA-based unit. Even the step-up transformer needed for mc cartridges requires an external unit. In this system, Air Tight used the ATH-3S step-up transformer to connect its Opus1 cartridge mounted to a special Panzerholtz edition Reed 3P arm on a Reed 3C Friction Drive table. The entire system was connected with TARA Labs cabling, flanked with Nihon Onkyo Engineering room treatments, with Franco Serblin Ktema loudspeakers producing the music. The sound with the ATE-5 was remarkably coherent, delicate, and had plenty of speedy get-up-and-go when called for. The ATE-5 was impressive in this system. A TAS review is highly likely.

Clearaudio Diamond Jubilee Cartridge

Clearaudio introduced the new Diamond Jubilee MC cartridge ($29,000). At that price it is clear this is a model in the lineup that is a step above the Goldfinger variants. The new cartridge sports a Zirconium Oxide body and uses Clearaudio’s knowledge of cartridge parts and assembly techniques to produce the Diamond Jubilee’s patented signal generator assembly. The cartridge sounded fast, dynamic, and steady while playing my music in one of the Quintessence Audio rooms during the show.

DS Audio TB-100 Tube Equalizer

DS Audio’s TB-100 Tube Equalizer ($20,000) was wedded to a DS Audio Grand Master EX cartridge mounted to a Clearaudio Universal 9” arm on the Master Jubilee turntable. The TB-100 uses only transformers and the four matched-quad set of 12AU7 tubes for equalizer functions in a pure single-ended circuit design. The TB-100 played back through a suite of ARC top-tier electronics driving Sonus Faber Stradivari speakers; the sound was fast with plenty of upper-midrange energy to open up the recordings and soundspace.

Auspicious Debuts:

Clearaudio Smart Double Matrix

The Smart Double Matrix ($3500) is a lower-cost version of the Double Matrix Professional Sonic with fewer features in a smaller footprint. The new unit still cleans (wash, rinse, and vacuum) both sides of the record at once using the same non-contact design. The functionality drops the one-button auto features of the Pro Sonic but retains the user button selections to control each cleaning step, while using a manual static brush rather than the auto static wand of the Pro. Overall, it seems like a fair tradeoff of auto features for the price break of the new model.

Aida Tru-Stone Violet Limited Edition Cartridge

Aida showed another limited-edition cartridge made from the same generator used in its Mammoth Gold cartridge but in a new body called the Tru-Stone Violet Limited Edition priced amd priced at a more affordable $6500. The Tru-Stone Violet was mounted to the KV 12 MAX tonearm on a J.Sikora Reference SE turntable ($49,250) feeding a Doshi Audio Evolution phonostage, preamp, and monoblocks powering Joseph Audio’s new Pearl Graphene Ultra loudspeakers in a system wired with Cardas cables. A wonderfully recorded 45rpm LP from AC Records called Art in Wroclaw, the sound was excellent. Save for a room-induced bass boom that refused to go away, one could hear the control over the speakers that system had, and the resolution produced by the cartridge through the system was impressive, as was the speed and dynamic contrasts heard on a tune like “My Shining Hour.”

Connected Fidelity TT-Hub Turntable

Sierra Sound showed the new Connected Fidelity TT-Hub turntable with a Sorane TA-1 arm ($6000 for TT & arm) and Benz SLR Gullwing cartridge. The TT-Hub’s base, plinth, and sub-chassis are made from sustainable bamboo plywood. The base is rigidly connected through spikes to the plinth but mechanically isolated to reduce vibrations. The thrust bearing is a PEAK Plus Sapphire sphere, with precision machined spindle in a sintered bronze bearing sleeve. The platter uses a flat belt and separate AC synchronous motor with a dedicated outboard quartz-controlled power supply that regenerates the AC voltages for precise speed. The platter is acrylic with a built-in foamed special material record surface said to absorb and limit LP-based vibrations during record playback. In a system with Aesthetix phonostage, preamp, and amplifier, Cardas-based cables, HRS racks/bases, and Vandersteen Quatro CT loudspeakers the TT-Hud produced very good sound on guitar and vocals and provided depth of stage during Janne Petersson’s background string instrumental additions on Eric Bibb’s “Painting Signs.”

Alieno Phono Extremo Phonostage

High Water Sound displayed the very new Alieno Phono Extremo ($60000) phonostage in an all-Alieno (preamp and amp) equipped system. The Phono Extremo is all tube, but we were unsure if it uses internal step-up transformers due to its newness (it was the first unit made). The Phono Extreme has three user-selectable inputs for arms and three selectable EQ curves (RIAA, Decca, Columbia) for those who dabble in curve rolling beyond the standard RIAA setting. A stereo and mono selector switch, five loading options, and a mute switch round out the controls. In system, driving Cessaro Mendelssohn loudspeakers connected with Stein cables and a TW-Acustic Raven LS-Copper table and DAVA Soul cartridge, Eric Bibb’s vocals were clean and full sounding with complete guitar follow-through and ample upper midrange energy to bring the recording to life.

In Other News:

Koetsu is back! Arturo Manzano has purchased the name and assets of the company. He started out repairing and retipping models already out in the audio world but has now started producing new models (with stone body cartridge production to start in the future). Manzano says he has assembled the Koetsu artisans and craftsmen who were building and repairing the cartridges. As a result, the sound of Koetsu and their quality will not change. In the USA, the Koetsu cartridge models will be distributed through AXISS Audio USA to dealers in North America. Listening to the new Koetsu Vermillion ($8300) played back in an all Accuphase-based system driving Gauder’s New Elargo 200 speakers using the Yukiseimitsu Audio AP-01EM table and a Glanz tonearm, the cartridge produced good, fast, dynamic, full-bodied sound.

On the DAC/streamer front Innuos debuted two new music streamer/server products: the Stream 1 ($2800) with LPS1 external power supply ($TBD) and Stream3 ($7215). Stream1 offers the ability to upgrade to the LPS1 external power supply, use the internal USB output, or upgrade to a dedicated output module (standard DAC, Performance DAC, PhoenixUSB, or SPDIF). The Stream3 contains an upgraded power supply designed in collaboration with Dr. Sean Jacobs and supports the addition of a higher performance dual-mono PhoenixDAC module with OCXO and Femto clocks. Other additional modules beyond those mentioned for Stream1/Stream3 also include PhoenixI²S option. Berkeley Audio Design showed a new Alpha DAC Reference Series 3P ($34,000)with the Alpha USB Reference ($6500). Rockna displayed its Wavedream Reference Signature DAC ($26,900). PS Audio introduced a new series of components, including the PMG Signature PureStream DAC, PMG Signature SACD transport, PMG Signature preamplifier, and PMG Signature phono preamplifier. All items have a monthly staggered shipping schedule for customers starting in June and going through September for the last product. I believe PS Audio mentioned the price target to be $8500 for each item. Using digital in service of analog, MIBS Distribution displayed the Seismion Reactio 2 (<$20k estimated) isolation platform under its SAT table, which yielded better instrument separation and a slightly expanded soundstage. We also spied a new DST CD transport for Metronome’s more affordable Digital Sharing line of products.

On the analog front we encountered the new MC 90X ($5500) cartridge from Ortofon, TechDAS’s AirForce 10 air-bearing arm ($45,000), the new Constellation Revelation 2 phonostage ($29,000), a Clearaudio Al Di Meola Celebrity turntable ($4900), the AFI FLAT.DUO LP Flattener & Relaxer ($2500), and the first show sighting of the Grand Prix Audio Monaco 3.0 table ($56,250) with Fuel Station battery power supply ($15,250) hosting a Lyra Etna cartridge feeding a full suite of VTL electronics connected with a gaggle of Nordost’s finest cables driving Stenheim Reference Ultime Two SX speakers.

AJ’s Best of Show:

Best Sound (cost no object): Gauder Akustik DARC 250 Mk II/Soulution 7 Series/Transrotor in the Axiss Audio room produced resolute, quick, and three-dimensional sound and Stenheim Ultime Two SX/VTL/Nordost in the Nordost room produced big dynamic sound in a large space.

Best Sound (for the money): Air Tight ATE-5 supported by AT’s statement pre/amp siblings and Franco Serblin speakers. Devore Gibbon Super Nine driven by a Leben integrated fed with my vinyl on a Well Tempered TT and Kauri MK II cartridge.

Most Significant Product Introduction: Koetsu is back! and the DS Audio TB-100 Tube Equalizer for the tube user who now has an all-tube equalizer option with the DS Audio Optical cartridges.

Most Significant Trend: The increased interest from non-traditional audiophiles attending and enjoying the show. As a result, we are expanding the hobby’s reach.

Most Coveted Product(s): Revox B77 MKIII, the Air Tight ATE-5 phonostage, and possibly a reference speaker from Devore Fidelity.