Stopping in the Rogue Audio room
my eyes caught the Atlas EL34-based stereo amplifier ($1,395). Does it have
lots of tubes including 12x-series? Yep. Pair of EL34 per channel? Yep. Hefty
transformers? Yep yep, and yep. Really cool bias meter? Yessir-roonie. Could i
buy it and still have fundage in my bank account to buy more music? Yup. Ok,
'nuff said.
Look, i think i found another audio dee-lite! This time it is for the big beefy
solid-state crowd this time as DK Design Group's VS1 Reference MKIII ($3,000)
stereo 150 watt integrated amplifier includes basic wireless remote, has true
balanced input via XLR, four inputs total, MM phono stage, and build/parts
quality seems very impressive. A combination of Mosfet and bipolar output
devices btw.
Von Schweikert's new VR-4 SR ($7,995) is the next generation of their
critically acclaimed 4 series with two-piece stacked
design. The company's "reference grade" 8.75-inch aluminum cone
subwoofers, 7-inch areogel midrange, and DST tweeter round out the driver
configuration. Like other VS units, there
is a rear tweeter as well and within the crossover are Hovland resistors. This unit is
American built according to the company's designer Albert Von Schweikert.
Driving the Von Schweikert loudspeakers is the VAC Phi Beta ($19,000) integrated
amplifier. End-all be-all with 2 phono, a tape loop, and 7 line level inputs.
Yes, both MM and MC stages are included. And yes, each input can be assigned
for fixed volume or adjustable. Did i mention it is the end-all be-all? See my
review of the VAC Avatar integrated amplifier by clicking
here.
Vinyl... CD... DVD-Audio... Here's a real front-end if you have access to
master tapes. Problem is, there are not too many of them as compared to mass
production formats.
Look kids! It is ultra cool dude Art Dudley!
Does Art's car have a Hemi? Sah-weet! :)
Click here for
Saturday's coverage.
