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IN THIS ISSUE ISSUE 161 ■ APRIL/MAY 2006 122 COVER STORY Mark Levinson N o. 326S Preamplifier and N o. 432 Power Amplifier Listening to Levinson’s latest, Robert Harley finds the company’s tradition of excellence not just upheld but improved upon. 85 Basic Repertoire: South African and West African Pop Derk Richardson dips into a richly varied musical culture, and recommends essential recordings. 22 22 A Higher High End—The 2006 Consumer Electronics Show Join us on a trip to Las Vegas, where our staff shows you a bounty of fascinating new gear and reports on the state of the high end. EQUIPMENT REPORTS 14 Absolute Analog: Lamm Industries LP2 Deluxe Phonostage and Clearaudio Titanium Cartridge Spin a few LPs with Jonathan Valin, who is savoring some tasty analog goods. 97 Sonus Faber Concerto Domus Loudspeaker Neil Gader on an Italian speaker that makes you feel right at home. 101 Thule Audio Spirit IA350B Integrated Amplifier and Space DVA250B DVD/CD Player Sallie Reynolds on two sweet performers from Denmark. 106 Esoteric X-03 CD/SACD Player Jacob Heilbrunn listens to the latest from TEAC’s high-end division. 97 112 Channel Islands Audio D-200 Monoblock Amplifier Class D amps are all the rage. Chris Martens listens to another offering in this rapidly growing field. 118 Krell SACD Standard CD/SACD Player Fred Kaplan explains how one player changed a critic’s mind about the SACD format. 130 HP’s Workshop Memoirs of the CES: What happened in Las Vegas doesn’t stay in Las Vegas—this time around. 85 2 THE ABSOLUTE SOUND ■ APRIL/MAY 2006
VIEWPOINTS 6 Letters 134 Manufacturer Comments COLUMNS 12 From The Editor MUSIC 136 Recording of the Issue: Mogwai’s Mr. Beast 136 Rock Etc. Reviews of 11 new CDs, including the latest from the Flaming Lips, Drive-By Truckers, Cat Power, Loose Fur, Rosanne Cash, Sarah Harmer, Tom Zé, and Swearing at Motorists. Plus, a round-up of recent Pure Pleasure and Analogue Productions audiophile blues LPs. 151 Classical Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1with Han-Na Chang, Shostakovich’s Piano Trios Nos. 1 and 2 with Beaux Arts Trio, Handel’s Delirio with Natalie Desay, and five more new CDs critiqued. Also, four Mozart SACDs with which to celebrate the composer’s 250 th birthday. 161 Jazz The scoop on the latest from Manu Katche, Ken Hatfield, Paul Motian, and Quinsin Nachoff, plus four Nina Simone reissues and Monster Cable’s Vince Guaraldi set. 168 TAS Retrospective: Harman Kardon Citation 16 Power Amplifier Sue Kraft goes shopping on eBay. founder; chairman, editorial advisory board Harry Pearson editor-in-chief Robert Harley editor Wayne Garcia executive editor Jonathan Valin managing and Bob Gendron music editor acquisitions manager Neil Gader and associate editor news editor Barry Willis equipment setup Danny Gonzalez editorial advisory board Sallie Reynolds advisor, cutting edge Atul Kanagat senior writers John W. Cooledge, Anthony H. Cordesman, Gary Giddins, Robert E. Greene, Fred Kaplan, Andrew Quint, Paul Seydor, Alan Taffel reviewers and contributing writers Soren Baker, Greg Cahill, Dan Davis, Andy Downing, Jim Hannon, Stephan Harrell, Jacob Heilbrunn, John Higgins, Sue Kraft, Mark Lehman, Ted Libbey, David McGee, Derk Richardson, Don Saltzman, Dan Schwartz, Aaron M. Shatzman, Arnie Williams design/production Design Farm, Inc. publisher/editor, AVGuide Chris Martens web producer Ari Koinuma Absolute Multimedia, Inc. chairman and ceo Thomas B. Martin, Jr. vice president/publisher Mark Fisher advertising reps Cheryl Smith (512) 891-7775 Marvin Lewis, MTM Sales (718) 225-8803 subscriptions, renewals, changes of address Phone (888) 732-1625 (US) or (815) 734-5833 (outside US), or write The Absolute Sound, Subscription Services, PO Box 629, Mt Morris, IL 61054. Ten issues: in the US, $42; Canada $57 (GST included); outside North America, $67 (includes air mail). Payments must be by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express) or US funds drawn on a US bank, with checks payable to Absolute Multimedia, Inc. editorial matters Address letters to: The Editor, The Absolute Sound, PO Box 1768, Tijeras, New Mexico 87059, or e-mail rharley@absolutemultimedia.com. classified advertising Please use form in back of issue. newsstand distribution and local dealers Contact: IPD, 27500 Riverview Center Blvd., Suite 400, Bonita Springs, Florida 34134, (239) 949-4450 publishing matters Contact Mark Fisher at the address below or e-mail mfisher@absolutemultimedia.com. Publications Mail Agreement 40600599 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to Station A / P.O. Box 54 / Windsor, ON N9A 6J5 E-mail: info@theabsolutesound.com Absolute Multimedia, Inc. 4544 S. Lamar, Bldg. G-300 Austin, Texas 78745 phone (512) 892-8682 · fax (512) 891-0375 e-mail tas@absolutemultimedia.com www.theabsolutesound.com 136 112 © 2006 Absolute Multimedia, Inc., Issue 161, April/May 2006. The Absolute Sound (ISSN #0097-1138) is published ten times per year, $42 per year for US residents, Absolute Multimedia, Inc., 4544 S. Lamar, Bldg G300, Austin, Texas 78745. Periodical Postage paid at Austin, Texas, and additional mailing offices. Canadian publication mail account #1551566. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Absolute Sound, Subscription Services, PO Box 629, Mt Morris, IL 61054. Printed in the USA. 4 THE ABSOLUTE SOUND ■ APRIL/MAY 2006
Page 4 and 5: L E T T E R S Best Article Ever As
Page 6 and 7: L E T T E R S mend enough the posit
Page 8 and 9: L E T T E R S the initial imprint o
Page 10 and 11: a b s o l u t e a n a l o g Lamm In
Page 12 and 13: ut the resolution, tone color, tran
Page 14 and 15: a bit, but it doesn’t. Indeed, yo
Page 16 and 17: A HIGHER HIGH END 2006 CONSUMER ELE
Page 18 and 19: CES2006 REPORT LOUDSPEAKERS $4000-$
Page 20 and 21: CES2006 REPORT the current 988 and
Page 22 and 23: CES2006 REPORT Final Sound’s Virt
Page 24 and 25: CES2006 REPORT dimensionality, grea
Page 26 and 27: CES2006 REPORT expensive SG2 (about
Page 28 and 29: CES2006 REPORT Bardone’s Music Se
Page 30 and 31: CES2006 REPORT Still, a novice visi
Page 32 and 33: CES2006 REPORT user not only to do
Page 34 and 35: CES2006 REPORT phono preamp ($7300)
Page 36 and 37: CES2006 REPORT Time to get off the
Page 38 and 39: CES2006 REPORT trol, and coherence
Page 40 and 41: CES2006 REPORT E.A.R. Martin Miles
Page 42 and 43: CES2006 REPORT Sound Lab Sound Lab
Page 44 and 45: CES2006 REPORT Avantgarde Acoustic
Page 46 and 47: CES2006 REPORT MBL’s 116 Elegance
Page 48 and 49: T A S J O U R N A L Basic Repertoir
Page 50 and 51: Marks Mankwane and rock-solid bassi
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their inspiration in the pop music
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the centuries, and the griot (or je
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arrivals on the global scene—incl
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equipment report Like its forbears,
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equipment report Thule Audio Spirit
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equipment report An old-time engine
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equipment report any nasty vibratio
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equipment report and single-ended o
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equipment report Respighi’s Pina
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equipment report Thomas’ series o
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The Cutting Edge Unlike those two o
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The Cutting Edge familiar Mark Levi
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The Cutting Edge with the N o. 326S
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HP’S WORKSHOP And there are disas
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m u s i c POPULAR Rock, Etc. RECORD
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m u s i c popular Loose Fur (even i
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m u s i c popular agenda heavy, hot
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m u s i c popular Marty Stuart and
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m u s i c popular cally thinking ab
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m u s i c classical Handel: Delirio
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 250 th
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m u s i c JAZZ Jazz Caps Manu Katch
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m u s i c jazz album ranges from th
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TAS Retrospective Harman Kardon Cit
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