John E. Johnson, Jr.

Velodyne vPulse In-Ear Headphones (Earbuds)

John E. Johnson, Jr.

With the prevalence of portable music players to the point that you must be from Mars if you don't own one, there is a huge aftermarket for high quality earphones (headphones is the category, with over-the-ear headphones, on-ear-headphones, in-ear headphones, in-ear-earphones, and in-ear earbuds being the specific type of headphone one is referring to). Velodyne, renown manufacturer of subwoofers, not to be left out of this trend, has released a set of in-ear headphones called the vPulse....and best of all, they sound like Velodyne all the way . . . a.k.a. very, very good.

Headphone and Earphone Reviews

Anthem P2 Two-Channel Power Amplifier

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Anthem's statement multi-channel power amplifiers are called the P series. They come in two versions, a five-channel (P5) and a two-channel (P2). My home theater test lab has a 200 watt x 5 amplifier which works great for the majority of applications, but it is driving electrostatic speakers (ESLs), and for a handful of Blu-ray movies, the amplifier will go into protect mode when at high volume, because ESLs typically have a very low impedance (1 ohm) in the high frequency range.

Power Amplifiers

Rein Audio X-DAC with USB Input

John E. Johnson, Jr.

USB DACs are hot items now because you can play music from your computer through them and into a set of headphones or to your main hi-fi rig. Some of these DACs only have a USB input, (no S/PDIF inputs) because their main purpose is for use with a computer. Of course, all computers come with audio ciruitry on the motherboard, and if you have a sound card installed in one of the PC card slots, it may very well have an S/PDIF output. However, their quality is often questionable due to the typically low cost of the sound card. Rein Audio, a German manufacturer, makes the X-DAC, which is a 24/192 DAC with both coaxial and Toslink optical S/PDIF inputs, but also, it has a USB input (24/96) to be used with your computer, giving you better sound quality than you would get from your computer's audio circuit.

DACs

Classe CP-800 Stereo Preamplifier

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Classé's new CP-800 is a high performance ("High-End") stereo preamplifier, but it is not just yet another preamp with minor changes from previous models. This one has the option of switching in some DSP that adds several EQ bands and dedicated stereo subwoofer outputs. If you don't use the DSP, it's not in the signal path, and you can still call yourself a "purist" audiophile. Have no doubts; this is a very unique product, and the performance is stellar.

Preamplifiers

Pass Labs X1000.5 Monoblock Power Amplifier

John E. Johnson, Jr.

We have reviewed several Pass Labs products in the past, and I finally decided to get a pair of what they call "Room Heaters", i.e., the X1000.5. These monoblock power amplifiers are rated at 1,000 watts rms into 8 ohms. They are similar in physical design to the XA200.5, but the XA200.5's are biased into Pure Class A, while the X1000.5's are biased about 80 watts into Class A, with the rest as AB.

Power Amplifiers

Home Theater Movie Renter’s Guide – February, 2012

The SECRETS Movie Review Team

To Kill a Mockingbird (Blu-ray), Dream House (Blu-ray), Dead Poets Society (Blu-ray), Manhattan (Blu-ray), Good Morning Vietnam (Blu-ray), Shakespeare in Love (Blu-ray), The Double (Blu-ray), Drive (Blu-ray), Rebecca (Blu-ray), Spellbound (Blu-ray), Lady and the Tramp (Blu-ray), Texas Killing Fields (Blu-ray), I Don't Know How She Does It (DVD), Tower Heist (Blu-ray)

Movie Reviews

Home Theater Movie Renter’s Guide – January, 2012

The SECRETS Movie Review Team

The Hangover - Part II (Blu-ray), Dolphin Tale (Blu-ray), Final Destination 5 (Blu-ray), 1911 Revolution (Blu-ray), The Rocketeer (Blu-ray), Contagion (Blu-ray), Colombiana (Blu-ray), Fright Night 3D (Blu-ray 3D), Killer Elite (Blu-ray), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Blu-ray), The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption (Blu-ray), Midnight in Paris (Blu-ray), Real Steel (Blu-ray), Blackthorn (Blu-ray)

Movie Reviews

Marc Audio Premium Line RCA Interconnects

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Marc Audio started its business of marketing quality audio cables in its on-line store only two years ago. They did not have all of their products available at the time of launch, so we reviewed what they had, as they became available. These included the Reference Line and the Signature Line. The Reference Line is their most expensive cable, but at $870/meter-pair for the RCA interconnects, they are not all that pricey compared to many other cables out there. The Signatures are their mid-priced cables ($549/meter-pair for RCA interconnects). Now, Marc Audio has introduced the Premium Line, which is their least expensive line of cables, at $158/meter-pair. Their construction quality - and more importantly - their performance, belie their very reasonable price, and I think they are one of the best values in cables out there.

Audio Cables

Ming Da MD-75 Integrated Stereo Tube Amplifier

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Ming Da is company based in China that exports tube preamplifiers, power amplifiers, and integrated amplifiers in various price ranges, including some very high end models. They sell direct, through Pacific Valve, rather than through dealers, so you really get a good bang for the buck. In this review, my first of a Pacific Valve product, is on the MD-75, which is a stereo integrated amplifier. It has a detached power supply for low noise and interference, a remote for the motorized volume control, and you can switch between triode mode (40 watts/channel output) and ultra-linear mode (75 watts/channel output). You can "tube roll" if you wish, and the review unit came with optional Black Treasure CV-181 driver tubes and Black Treasure KT88 output tubes.

One very nice feature of this product is that, when you turn it on, the volume control rotates to the lowest volume setting, so you don't accidentally start playing music at a volume that might startle you.

Integrated Amplifiers

Paiste 24″ Giant Beat Multi-Functional (Ride) Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Paiste's Giant Beat series consists of a 24", 18", and 20" "Multi-functional", and 14" and 15" Hi-Hats. They have a very distinctive sound that one might call "Retro Rock", as the ping is crisp. The 18", 20", and 24" are labeled as "Multi-functional" because they can be used as rides or crashes. Here, we review the 24" version, which is essentially a ride cymbal.

Cymbals

Zildjian 22″ K. Zildjian Constantinople Medium Thin Low Ride Cymbal

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Zildjian has re-introduced the K. Zildjian Constantinople series of rides and crashes, described as being mellow, dry, dark, and warm. The 22" ride comes in two versions, the medium thin high and the medium thin low. We have already reviewed the high version, and now we cover the low version. The words high and low refer to the tonal balance, not the shape of the bell or curvature. They both have a nostalgia "K" sound that so many drummers, particularly jazz drummers, are looking for.

Cymbals

Home Theater Movie Renter’s Guide – November, 2011

The SECRETS Movie Review Team

Captain America: The First Avenger (Blu-ray), Horrible Bosses (Blu-ray), Toy Story 3D (Blu-ray), Toy Story 2 3D (Blu-ray), Toy Story 3 3D (Blu-ray), Cars 2 3D (Blu-ray), The Change-Up (Blu-ray), Crazy, Stupid, Love (Blu-ray), The Nutcracker: The Untold Story (Blu-ray), Chicken Little 3D (Blu-ray), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Blu-ray), Conan the Barbarian (Blu-ray)

Movie Reviews