Audiophilepure

Read Here

“The Ref Phono 3 flexed its muscles once again when I played Richter’s performance of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 & 2 on Philips (PHS 900-000) If you do not yet own this album please do yourself a favour and pick up an original FR-1 on ebay rather than the Speaker’s Corner version. Even though it says Philips on the label, it is actually a Mercury production of Richter’s first ever recording at the Walthamstow Town Hall in the UK, using 35mm film for the recording instead of magnetic tape. Richter’s breathtaking performance delivered through the Mercury “Living Presence” sound poses great challenges for lesser equipment To reproduce the sound of a full size concert piano with all its dynamic spectrum is difficult enough, but to render the thunderous lower notes with clarity and distinction,”

READ HERE

“The issue boils down to the fact that the DAC chip is normally muted until it receives non-silence data. But, this non-silence data can’t be just any non-silence data, it must be at a minimum volume level for the DAC to unmute. When the track reaches a certain volume level, the DAC unmutes and quickly fades-in to the music. In other words, the fade-in is triggered by a minimum amplitude, not by the start of a stream of USB data. Many DACs use a similar mute technique to reduce or eliminate pops on sample rate switches, but this is the only DAC I’ve seen that requires a minimum amplitude to unmute the volume.”

READ HERE

“As a McIntosh lover, I have waited long enough for their statement phono preamplifier but the wait has been worthwhile. At $8,000 USD, the MP1100 is not cheap, but hardly expensive in the world of high-end phono stages. Certainly cheaper than the last three phono stages I reviewed (CH Precision P1/X1 – $90,000 USD, Tenor Phono 1 – $50,000 USD, and the AR Ref Phono 3 $14,000 USD). Like all McIntosh equipment, the MP1100 is a safe purchase. The long list of user-friendly features combined with the naturally conservative McIntosh house sound makes it an easy decision for the McIntosh owner. For those new to McIntosh, the MP1100 is a serious contender in its price range. The MP1100 will not be my last phono preamplifier, but it is one which I intend to keep and treasure for a very long time”

MP1100 Angle Right LP (hi res)

Read Here

“I guess it comes down to the “simplified” recording techniques and stand out performers. Anyhow, I’m uberly enjoying such records and this particular Nathan Milstein record partnered with Gold Note PH-10 exhibited surprisingly sparkling and vivacious sonic composition. It instantly introduced a grand connection with midcingulate cortex and the anterior insula instead of pursuing Lateralization of left brain functional behavior.”

READ HERE

The 099 is a refined performer, capable of being sat in front of for hours on end without fatigue. This is not code for ‘dull’; it’s detailed and dynamic, and – coupled to the right power amplifier – can handle the loud end of the volume control without introducing any kind of compression or distortion. In fact, were it not for the refinement, the effortless ability for this preamp to push any amplifier to its limits could make it a brute force design. As it is, the 099 is the archetypal ‘mail’d fist in a velvet glove’ design, with that combination of beefy grip over the rest of the system coupled with a sense of grace and charm as it stays in complete control.”