USB DONE RIGHT: Two magic boxes that let computer audio ...

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Much, much more to read… This is our original book, which has been read by thousands of audiophiles, both beginners and advanced. It’s still relevant to much of what you want to accomplish. It’s a practical manual for the discovery and exploration of high fidelity, which will make reading other books easier. Includes in-depth coverage of how the hardware works, including tubes, “alternative” loudspeakers, subwoofers, crossover networks, biamplification. It explains why, not just how. It has full instructions for aligning a tone arm, and a gauge is included. A complete audio lexicon makes this book indispensable. And it can cost as little as $9.95 in the US and Canada (see the coupon). This long-running best seller includes these topics: the basics of amplifiers, preamplifiers, CD players, turntables and loudspeakers. How they work, how to choose, what to expect. The history of hi-fi. How to compare equipment that’s not in the same store. What accessories work, and which ones are scams. How to tell a good connector from a rotten one. How to set up a home theatre system that will also play music (hint: don’t do any of the things the other magazines advise). How to plan for your dream system even if your accountant says you can’t afford it. A precious volume with 224 pages of essential information for the beginning or advanced audiophile! At last, all of Gerard Rejskind’s State of the Art columns from the first 60 issues of UHF. With a new introduction to each column, 258 pages in all. Check below to get your copy! Five dollars off any or each of these three books if you subscribe or renew at the same time The UHF Guide costs $14.95 (in Canada plus 5% GST, or 13% in ON, NB, NS, NL, 12% in BC), US$19.95 (USA) C$25 (elsewhere). The World of High Fidelity costs $21.95 (in Canada plus 5% GST, or 13% in ON, NB, NS, NL, 12% in BC), US$21.95 (USA) or C$30 (elsewhere). State of the Art costs just $18.95 (in Canada, plus 5% GST, or 13% in ON, NB, NS, NL, 12% in BC), US$18.95 (USA) C$32 (elsewhere). Just check off the books you want, then fill in the ordering information on the other side of this page. You can also order on line at www.uhfmag.com/Books.html Take $5 off any or each of those prices if you subscribe or extend a subscription at the same time
A note of thanks for your valuable, feature coverage of our new Stravinsky LP. Oddly, Harry Pearson agrees with me that The Song of the Nightingale is the better side, musically and sonically, whereas you prefer the Firebird. Different strokes! FYI, The Rite of Spring is much too long to fit on an LP side. It’ll be along in due course on its own LP, at 45 rpm, if it’ll fit. Minor details: The Forward Look is RR-8, not RR-7, and Paul Stubblebine’s lathe is a Scully, with a Neumann SX-74 cutter head (custom electronics by Nelson Pass). Tam Henderson Reference Recordings SAN FRANCISCO, CA Thanks for the corrections, Tam. It’s true that The Rite of Spring is not to everyone’s liking, and it sounds resolutely “modern” even today, more so than the Firebird, but it remains a significant work that broke with the past, and still, we think, deserves being considered a masterpiece. We’ve received the Rachmaninoff LP, which is reviewed in this issue. I just purchased your latest edition (at a newsstand) as I was interested about your take on Pure Music and Amarra (Better Listening Through Software, UHF No. 91). I noticed an ad from Blue Circle, and I wonder why I haven’t seen any reviews on their amps preamps etc. I know at one time you were selling the “Thingee” (if memory serves me correctly). I do own Blue Circle gear and would highly recommend any it. Joey O’Donohue PIERREFONDS, QC We did indeed review (and sell) the Thingee, and we also reviewed the phono preamps in UHF No. 88. We’ve talked to Blue Circle about review- Feedback 270 rue Victoria Longueuil, Québec, Canada J4H 2J6 uhfmail@uhfmag.com ing some other products, and we still may, but some products are built in very small numbers, and Blue Circle sometimes hasn’t considered a review useful. That may change, of course. I have just read the last issue of your magazine (UHF No. 91). Although I always enjoy reading it, there is something I disagree with. I own a dCS Puccini and U-Clock (upgraded to be able to decode 24/192 music). The link between the U-Clock and the Puccini is an Atlas Opus cable (1.5 m). As a source, I use a Mac mini with a USB cable and the Pure Music software. I must say that this is much better musically than a direct connection to the player. Maybe it is due to the master clock, I do not know, but I think your recommendation not to use the USB output may not be valid as a rule. Philippe Martiat BRUSSELS, Belgium Indeed, Philippe. See the next letter. I read the Pure Music and Amarra reviews with great interest, but I was intrigued by your comments that current computers have limitations that don’t allow resolution beyond 24/96. Perhaps if using the TOSLINK output of your Mac computer, but have you, or will you be trying some of the USB-to-S/PDIF adapters that will allow up to 24/192 resolution, including 24/88.2 and 24/176.4? I’m using an M2Tech adapter from Italy, and in my Mac’s Audio/Midi panel, I am seeing all the resolutions supported by the YBA Design WD202 DAC. Attached is a screen shot of the panel showing the resolutions — forgive the iPhone snapshot, as I couldn’t figure out how to capture a screen grab with the drop-down menu intact to show the resolutions. Edwin Leong VANCOUVER, BC The M2Tech is reviewed in this issue, Edwin, and we were impressed enough to pick it up for our Audiophile Store. We also picked up the Stello U3, which is now in our reference systems. These devices yield much better quality than one can get from the off-the-shelf USB chips that are used in most (but not quite all) present-day DACs. Did you happen to notice Charisma Audio at the Toronto show? I bought a set of his Silent Plugs after chatting with Glen, who reviewed the plugs for 6 Moons. I do find Glenn a good reviewer. He seems to actually enjoy listening to music…rather like UHF does. Bernard at Charisma Audio confessed he doesn’t understand quite how they do it. It is treating a problem we never knew existed. But the effect is immediate. I don’t understand it all but if you try them you’ll hear the analog ease that takes over and propels the music. One of those head-shaking no-brainers. Give them a listen. You have to hear them to believe how more involving the music suddenly becomes. And oh yes, I do believe your readers will want to hear your take on them. And the best part is they are $199 for a set of four. If you give them a listen let me know what you think. Lloyd Smith MALAGASH, NS The Silent Plugs are for placing into four unused phono jacks in a preamplifier. They are non-metallic, and so they don’t shortcircuit anything. Toby bought a set, and we tried them on our Moon P-8. Toby hears a considerable difference on his gear, just as you do, but with the P-8 it really wasn’t obvious. It may depend on the build quality of the equipment. ULTRA HIGH FIDELITY Magazine 7
Page 1 and 2: No. 92 CAN $6.49 / US $7.69 USB DON
Page 3 and 4: Issue No. 92 Cover story: It’s be
Page 5: THE ONLY GOOD DOG EARS ARE… …no
Page 9 and 10: 1) Mac Mini ---> Optical TOSLINK ca
Page 11 and 12: about 147 ohms. I was expecting rou
Page 13 and 14: ucts. And finally if the binding po
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Page 17 and 18: attend press events, some with free
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Page 25 and 26: Q. What is a home theatre system? A
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Page 29 and 30: have to be careful with it. I regul
Page 31 and 32: Kandy K2 “A neat balancing act, c
Page 33 and 34: Reflex speakers, the most common ki
Page 35 and 36: augait iriliquisim velesse quatet a
Page 37 and 38: tat, suscips ustrud tie vel dolore
Page 39 and 40: equipment stands are wider than mos
Page 41 and 42: THE ACOUSTIC COLLECTION: This is th
Page 43 and 44: The optical connection Up until now
Page 45 and 46: Get UHF from Maggie on your desktop
Page 47 and 48: using the Atlas Opus (now discontin
Page 49 and 50: Conclusions That we would recommend
Page 51 and 52: as the Mavros, but it’s stuck on
Page 53 and 54: tant, but then they are usually pos
Page 55 and 56: INTERCONNECTS ATLAS HYPER SYMMETRIC
Page 57 and 58:
UHF14 POWER BAR Most power bars kno
Page 59 and 60:
ed pepper to its music. Felix Hell
Page 61 and 62:
We Get Requests (CD) An amazing 196
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So you have, or plan to have, a cla
Page 65 and 66:
van Swieten. The discovery marked h
Page 67 and 68:
in which a multipart popular song w
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mentor Gustav Mahler, and others, s
Page 71 and 72:
etween the ordinary and the spiritu
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songs. Except for the frothy Septem
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old friend, and is thus in a positi
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Do your friends have bassier speake
Page 79 and 80:
eing formed with Hong Kong’s TPV
Page 81 and 82:
Working Tools Most of the tools we
Page 83 and 84:
Why do UHF readers start reading th
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