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This Month's Featured Equipment Reviews |
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Preamplifier Forum Topics: |
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Classic Preamplifier Reviews |
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Home Theater Preamplifiers
Categories in section: Home Theater Preamplifiers
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Friday, 01 August 2003
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Written by
Brian Kahn
Introduction
It
was only a short while ago that specialty audio retailers were filled
with high-performance two-channel stereo gear and very little (if any)
space was devoted to multi-channel surround products. Today is just the
opposite, with the overwhelming amount of available new gear
encompassing the multi-channel music and movie arena. Even though these
new multi-channel setups can play everything from movies to the newest
digital music formats, and even your older CD collection, there are
still consumers who are disinterested in surround media, looking for a
traditionally simple stereo sound system. Anthem Electronics is a
company that has long prided itself in delivering value and performance
to cost conscience consumers and may have just the ticket for
multi-channel holdouts. The TLP 1 Preamplifier is a full-featured,
solid state, remote-controlled stereo preamplifier with a host of
features, including an AM/FM tuner and tone controls, attributes that
are rarely found in stereo preamps. The Anthem TLP 1 ...
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Sunday, 01 June 2003
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Written by
Thomas Garcia
Introduction
As
a music and home theater enthusiast, I frequently find myself upgrading
or modifying my system, either through improvements to the acoustics of
the listening environment, or the replacement and/or augmentation of
various pieces of equipment. Most of the time, these changes result in
small to moderate levels of improvement that are not always monumental,
generally more evolutionary rather than revolutionary. But every now
and then, a rare piece of equipment crosses my path, making me
reevaluate my overall approach to my system configuration and setup.
One such recent addition has been the Lexicon MC-12B Music and Cinema
Controller. Lexicon, a member of the Harman International conglomerate,
has been a highly respected producer of both professional and consumer
electronics over the past few decades. The MC-12B represents the
current pinnacle achievement in music and cinema controllers offered by
Lexicon. The MC-12B’s pedigree can be traced back to the original CP-1,
which was in introduced in ...
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Sunday, 01 June 2003
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Written by
Ed Masterson
Introduction
The
Klimax Kontrol preamplifier is the newest in Linn’s series of
no-compromise audio products. Included in this series, you will find
the Linn CD12 CD player, a product that transcends previously known
levels of perfection, as well as the ultra-slick Klimax Twin stereo
amplifier, both previously reviewed in Audio Revolution.
The
Linn Klimax Kontrol is a remote-controlled line-level stereo
preamplifier that sells for the major league price of $10,000. The
Kontrol measures 2.36 inches in height, 13.78 inches wide, 13.98 inches
deep, and weighs 24 pounds. For such a diminutive package, the Kontrol
packs a wallop when it comes to features. For I/O, the Kontrol accepts
up to five inputs. Input One accepts balanced or single-ended
connectors. Inputs Two through Four accept single-ended connections
only. The fifth input is available via Linn’s proprietary Knekt
connection. Output is available though either single-ended or balanced
connections. The Kontrol features a unity gain function that is
available on any input ...
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Sunday, 01 June 2003
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Written by
Jerry Del Colliano
Introduction
Since
the glory days of high-end audio in the late 1970s, the Mark Levinson
brand has been associated with the world’s finest and most expensive
preamps. Back in the day, the Mark Levinson brand was established on
stereo preamps like the Mark Levinson JC1, which cost easily three
times more than its closest competitor and yet sold like hotcakes. In
today’s market, Harman International’s Madrigal, the parent company of
the Mark Levinson brand, resisted releasing a high-end AV preamp to the
market until years after other competitors had launched their products.
Until now, Madrigal AV preamps were pretty much limited to the Proceed
AVP, which was a very effective component but didn’t have the all-out
high-end approach of a Mark Levinson product.
Today there is the Mark Levinson No. 40, which is a $30,000,
dual-chassis AV preamp with a no-compromises design approach that takes
the best Madrigal knows about stereo preamps, DACs, video switching ...
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Thursday, 01 May 2003
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Written by
Ed Masterson
Introduction
Over
the last 25 years, Conrad-Johnson has earned a reputation for its
mastery of the art of tube-based amplifier design. Many of their
amplifiers and preamplifiers have received considerable praise from
music lovers and AV industry professionals alike. As a statement piece,
Conrad-Johnson’s ultra-expensive ART preamplifier has earned its way
into some of the world’s absolute finest music playback systems.
Until now, if you wanted a reference quality preamplifier from CJ, you
had no choice but to deal with the maintenance and cost associated with
tubes. Conrad-Johnson has released a new solid-state preamplifier, the
Premier 18LS, in an attempt to satisfy those in love with CJ’s sound
who simply are not willing and/or able to deal with the unavoidable
hassles associated with owning a high-performance tube component.
At $3,495, the Premier 18LS is the least expensive preamplifier in the
Premier series. Even so, CJ spared no expense. As with all of the
Premier preamplifiers, CJ ...
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