Carver Receiver - The MXR 2000

Here is the Carver MXR 2000 from 1988. An incredible 200watt powerhouse that really took the market by storm. It was my first Mid Fi unit purchased and have the greatest fondness for all it offers. 

Here is the specs...

Amplifier Section
8-ohm FTC rated power/ch	200W
4/8-ohm FTC rated THD	0.15%
Rated full power bandwidth	1Hz to 30kHz +-0.1dB
Slew Rate	>100
Dimensions (HxWxD inches)	5.5" H, 19" W, 17.9" D
Comments	Protection: Short Circuit DC Offset Low/High Frequency Trip
Tuner Section
IHF Sensitivity mono/stereo,dBf	1.8uV
Capture ratio,dB	1.5dB
Seperation at 1kHz,dB	45dB
THD at 1kHz,stereo	0.1%
Maximum S/N,stereo,dB	78dB
PreAmp Section
Frequency response	20Hz to 20kHz + 0.5dB
Total Harmonic Distortion	0.05%
Phono input capacitance pF	47K ohm
MM S/N A-weighted 0.5v ref.	85dB
MC S/N A-weighted 0.5v ref.	76dB

This Magnetic field amplifier boasts massive amounts of power in reserve... essentially available for your performances peaks. This is the magnetic field capabilities. The Carver Receiver 2000 uses a better way. A method of delivering the power speakers need without heat, bulk and distortion. The solution is elegant and effective. Imagine a lightning-fast valve on your incoming power outlet. When power is needed, the valve senses the demand and opens, actually using the power of the actual power generator to deliver the needed current and voltage. Note that this approach provides VAST POWER WHEN NEEDED during peak demands … without keeping excess around during lulls. The 'valve' we've described in the Magnetic Field Coil inside the Carver Receiver 2000. By delivering power only when needed, it can satisfy your speakers need for power while generating less heat and virtually no distortion. The finest receiver FM section ever offered. The Carver Receiver 2000 employs Asymmetrical Charge-Coupled Detector technology which makes FM sound as good as other stereo sound sources. Free of background hiss and annoying radio interference. All of these great circuits set this baby apart from anything produced in the era of

 "bigger is better" 

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The BALA stand-mount speakers Deliver! Viitums Sound Labs

 

 

  The Bala Stand-Mount Speakers from Vitums Sound Labs represent all that is analog. Hand built Drivers and Cabinets ensure that these engineered beauties stand among the greats of the Golden Era of audio.  Handmade in Muskoka Canada. 

Meticulously designed crossovers with only high end components from France. Exceptionally crafted cabinet suspension ensures that any inter modulation effect from the bass cabinet is isolated. Dampening is balanced with authentic pulled Sheep's wool. 

A hand coated paper cone 8" bass driver along with a 3/4" soft dome tweeter with huge magnet deliver it's accuracy. 

So how do they sound? In demonstrations the clarity and balance is mentioned each and every time. A great balance which is highly musical, is what defines a great analog design. As if the speaker is not there. No signature on the source signal, just delivery. Although floor shuddering bass is not what you acquire when you review bookshelf sized systems, the Bala deliver a precise musical bass tone that is truly music to your ears. Again, a balance in a two-way that we haven't heard in years. You will hear signals in recordings that you inherently know that were not present in your previous delivery. 

For a Canadian company that prides itself in Vintage design and Pioneers of yesterday, this certainly is a committed start to their line of Analog gems. the Bala stand-mounts deliver precision and Craftsmanship old school. They truly make you love music all over again. 

For more information visit www.vitumssoundlabs.com

 

The Distortion of Sound

The Distortion of Sound is the music industries look at the degradation of our audio signals evolution. A must see for the audio enthusiasts. We are truly in the valley of sound quality. Let's champion high fidelity back to the mainstream! 

JA Mitchell Turntable

Newly arrived is the Technodec British made Turntable from the 30 year company, J.A. Michell.
Bulit in the late 1980's Michell tables earned the respect of reviewers worldwide. The attention to details in the manufacturing of this table really attests to the sound you will be enjoying for years to come. For one the DC motor (silent) is mounted alone and isolated for the plinth as to not transfer any vibration to the tonearm and thus into your signal. The massive acrylic high pampening platter is impeadance matched to the records and the most innovative component has to be the inverted self oiling  (pumping) bearing build. All of which should put your price into the Hi end of the Hi Fi charts yet this falls into the mid-Fi price points. An overall exceptional buy! The sound is incredibly transparent and "real" through the RG250 tonearm. A Rega arm that has brilliant on-line reviews. I have paired it with an early Sumiko Blue Point Cartridge. An excellent match up.

Although there arent a great deal of vintage Michell tables on this side of the pond I recommend this TechnoDec over any mid priced point table built here. Sonically one of the purest analog non-fatiguing signals I've reviewed in a long time. Brilliant!!!! VintageSound at its best!

Electrostatic Speakers - Janzsen ER139

Arrivals like this are truly what keeps me thrilled about Vintage Sound gear. I have been very interested in Electrostatic Speaker technology for as long as I can remember but had not had the opportunity to test them on my array of music. Acquired in a trade deal I came to own these Arthur A. Janszen designed ER139 Hybrid Speakers. Designed by this innovative ( i would dare to say revolutionary) sound engineer. In 1974 Electrostatic Research Corporation formed in Massachusetts and acquired Janszen for the sole purpose of developing an unprecedented omnidirectional Hybrid Electrostatic Speaker. As with most Estat speakers there is a somewhat small "sweet spot" for the listening plane due to the charge (notes+-) dropping of at the edges of the membranes of the speakers. The innovation here would be to offer the high end tweeter signals in a circular array thus eliminating the smaller listening plane then those of the traditional cone drivers. Well, these achieved that and more! The inverted cone you see mounted on the woofer magnet has an intricate array of ribbon wound tweeters. A true Janszen patent stroke of genius!
The cone extending from the woofer magnet was also designed to grab and project through a top port resonant mid-range signals although these were modified with the additional mid driver listener facing.
Here is a Popular Mechanics short review... The ERC139's
The Vintage Sound....
Come on! That's what I said when I heard them for the first run of Paul Desmond's "Take Ten" LP. (hugely recommended on vinyl - PL42045)

Said in the most excited way - not the disappointed verb age, These kicked my butt! Cymbals sooo pure I thought they moved into my listening room. Bass true and Musical. I mean these really hit an audiophile stratosphere I did not anticipate. Really up there with some recent Totem Storm's I demoed.
Really! That good. They are very thirsty and I would guess that they are 4 Ohm as it really took a lot of power to get them opened up and fully breathing!

With all electrostatics the membranes need a charge applied to them thus each speaker has an outlet plug to supply that charge. I noticed that it took a few minutes before they really opened up. Once they did it was a joy to hear. The reduced levels of (audible) distortion that electrostatics bring is really ear candy. Less distortion - less fatigue.

Here is the man himself with his electrostatic tweeter. One of 8 that would be fitted to the ER139's.
Although this design really was revolutionary A A. Janszen had to move on from ERC as they folded the company from under-capitalization. It is my understanding that only 50 sets were made and he had not even optimized a real production for them prior to closing. Timing is everything and had these been marketed as they should have they might well have taken on many large Estat companies of the day.
In the end the proof is always in the listener's hands (ears) and these are absolutely Dope!!!