GOLDEN EAR AWARDS 2009 Wayne Garcia Transfiguration Orpheus L Cartridge $6000 I’m going to stick my neck out just a wee bit with this one, because as of this writing I’ve only had the latest version of Transfiguration’s top-ofthe-line coil in my system for a month. I don’t even think the thing is fully broken-in—no, I know it isn’t—and yet, even at this early stage it’s obvious that something special is at work here. While Transfiguration designs are known for being quite neutral, they don’t razzle-dazzle listeners the way most moving coils do. Instead they seduce over the long term with their purity of tone, lack of artificial top-end embellishment, and inherent musicality. The new low-output version of the Orpheus does these things, too, but to degrees that take the breath away. Even as it continues to blossom, I’m repeatedly floored by the Orpheus’ ability to be ultra-revealing while remaining at all times musical, making me feel as if I’m “looking in” on the recording process as never before. (Not yet reviewed) Robert E. Greene Well Tempered Amadeus Turntable and Tonearm $2850 William Firebaugh set the world of turntables and tonearms on its ear twenty-five years ago with his first Well Tempered turntable/arm combination, which achieved remarkable performance through a variety of wildly ingenious ideas that were relatively inexpensive to execute: a bearing design that all but eliminated noise, and a tonearm restrained by damping alone so that bearing chatter was nonexistent. The master has not lost his touch. His new Amadeus design again reaches stratospheric heights of performance at a moderate price. In a world of turntables that cost as much as luxury automobiles, the Amadeus seems simultaneously a bargain and something of a miracle. Some additional acoustic isolation may be needed (easily arranged as an add-on from Brightstar, Townshend, etc.). Outside of that, it is hard to fault the smooth, silent, dynamically linear, undistorted, speed-stable, vinyl-damped sound of this turntable/arm combination, with outstanding bass performance in particular. (Reviewed in Issue 191) 46 June/July 2009 The Absolute Sound Totem Acoustic The One Loudspeaker $3595 For more than two decades Vince Bruzzese and his team at Totem Acoustic have been building some of the most musically satisfying, handsome, and fairly priced speakers on the market. Last year’s release of The One mini-monitor surely stands as one of the company’s crowning glories. A limitededition, 20 th Anniversary release, The One packs all that Totem has learned about speaker design over two decades into a supremely elegant and sonically magical little package. While it’s not for those who prize deep bass and power above all else, The (exceptionally well made) One is for those seeking a remarkably open, seamless, and natural-sounding loudspeaker— and, above all else, one that is so emotionally and intellectually satisfying that you’ll never want to shut off your stereo. (Reviewed in Issue 184) Benchmark DAC1Pre Digitalto-Analog Converter and Preamplifier $1595 The Benchmark DAC1 D-to-A converter was one of my Golden Ear Award winners for 2007. However, there is really no option but to honor this related device. The Benchmark DAC1Pre adds to the unexcelled D-to-A conversion of its predecessor both computer compatibility (via a USB input that will accept high-bitrate PCM inputs) and a linestage preamp circuit with line-level analog input. What’s so impressive is that this linestage attains the state of the art, belying the modest size of the box that houses both it and the D-to-A (and the modest price, as well). Measured performance shows all artifacts, digital or analog, to be miles down from signal level, and the sound lives up to corresponding expectations. Completely quiet, absolutely clean, and uncluttered by any electronic detritus, the DAC1Pre gives the sensation of listening directly to whatever is coming in, be it digital or analog. (Reviewed in Issue 183)
The Absolute Sound June/July 2009 47