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Plixir Elite BAC 1500

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Recently, Mr Takeo Morita in Tokyo, Japan, installed a private power utility pole to achieve the cleanest power possible to feed his audio setup. “Electricity is like blood. If it is tainted, the whole body will get sick,” says Mr. Morita. “No matter how expensive the audio equipment is, it will be no good if the blood is bad.” Well, he is right. Power is everything before anything and i mean electricity power.

There is another way to achieve similar power nirvana that is wife, girlfriend friendly : Sound Affairs balanced AC power conditioner.  Thanks to William & James, i am reviewing the Elite BAC 1500. This incognito looking black box weighs a ton at 28kg. The obvious benefits is the ground loop current and noise are reduced to negligible level (i.e lower noise floor).  The BAC 1500 can support plug in of power amp (Class A/B 250W) , pre amp, CD & phono stage. The significant changes i can feel is in the low end of the music playback.  There is more assertive slam and far reaching. The music is now in full spectrum “Uni-Range” !!!  Don’t say bojio and that my friend is audio for the win.

 

Thixar Silence Plus Platform

Thixar

Enjoying the peace. The playback benefits from this dedicated platform from Thixar. Solidify the presentation by packing the musical core and then releasing the naturalness into the air.

SACD WITH PLATFORM

With the Thixar Silence Plus, this humble Marantz SA8005 SACD player is transformed into high res player. Vocal reverb that are inherent in the mix are now apparent effortlessly. Cheers!

Giussani Research Delta Butterfly One

Butterfly ONEGuissani Research’s Delta Butterfly One. An ultra full range speakers in a large book shelf format. With the bass drivers firing from the sides and easy to drive, it’s effortless power protection of utmost musical coherence

I would liken it to a very intricate speakers where it can pick up the secondary and third layer of mix easily.  With ample bass representation and unique design of the Butterfly, coupled with firing power of the Jeff Rowland Model 10 and Mark Levinson Pre 320s, it makes very comfortable listening experience. This is a big book shelf speakers that does not have a bookshelf sound! Immediately, i was drawn into the music.

Available in Singapore and the region via Audiosound.biz !!!

Cheer Chen

 

Changing Phono Cartridge

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The mere thought of changing phono cartridge brings shudder to my mind. It’s like changing guitar strings and possibly more delicate. You need to be in the mood to change cartridge, the stars and the moon must align as well as in an air-conditioned room. You might be sweating over the entire process.

One thing i do not like about Rega is the fragile soldering and clipwire of the leads. It is literally like preparing for a critical operations. You need the right tools (i.e noose pliers, toothpicks, bright light and steady hand)

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Yes, you need to do the difficult while it is easy. And the reward is great sound with utmost concentration during the entire period.

 

Wilson Benesch Turntable

Wilson Benesch TT 5

Quite an underrated turntable and quite hard to find now. First and foremost I was drawn by its wooden photo frame design before understanding the “technology” behind it. In fact, it’s has  suspended carbon fibre sub-chassis but more maintenance friendly than LP12 (oops). Seven springs are involved in the suspension which is capable of being finely adjusted in order to control precisely each degree of movement.  The one that I own is made in 2003 (i.e 13 years old) and it is now my second table, along side the heavily modded Rega RP6.

Wilson Benesch TT 1

The Wilson Benesch Turntable was developed in 1990 at a time when other companies were abandoning the vinyl medium. In fact it’s the company first product. Carbon fibre was used ahead of its time  and it is a remarkable material that is ideal for audio structures as it can attain a modulus of stiffness five times that of steel, yet is half the weight of aluminium.

Wilson Benesch TT 2

Very little info of the table and below are some material from the archived site. The three main parameters that determine a structure’s acoustic behaviour; mass, stiffness and damping, can be specified as required even to the point of promoting energy flow in certain directions within the chassis and conversely inhibiting it in others. Although the sub chassis is a considerable component it weighs a mere 280g.

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The drive train, also of critical importance is treated with the same attention to detail. The quartz referenced power supply for instance features an electronic clutch mechanism which operates on switch on and during the speed change cycle to minimise loading on the suspension system and belt. The motor used is a high quality hysteresis type chosen for it’s performance rather than price and is fitted to the plinth via it’s own complex suspension system designed to minimise the transmission of spurious energy either from the motor or from the environment to the platter.

Wilson Benesch TT4

The plinths are crafted from a variety of solid hard woods which form an attractive contrast to the black anodised aluminium top plate, back plate and power supply. Arm boards and platters are similarly anodised to provide a scratch resistant life long product. It is for this reason that glass was chosen as the most suitable material for the lid which is of 5mm laminated construction.

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 Setup: Wilson Benesch Turntable x ACT ONE tonearm | Ortofon Quintet Blue MC| Lehmann Black Cube SE II Phono | Cerapuc footer | Mark Levinson 320s | Jeff Rowland Model 10 Power Amp