Wavelength Audio, Western Electric, AcousticPlan, Atma-Sphere

No discussion of single-ended amplification would be complete without Wavelength Audio. Gordon Rankin has juiced up the Signature Series Cardinal 12Wpc, 300B-based monoblocks ($7500), with optional silver-wired output transformers ($25,000). In addition, a 274B rectifier tube option is available instead of the standard 5AR4.

Speaking of the 274B, Western Electric tubes (300B and 274B) are now being distributed in the U.S. by AXISS Audio. AXISS, of course, has been the long-time distributor for Air Tight products. The designer, Mr. Muira, proudly showed off the ATM-2001 Reference monoblocks. My attention was also focused on the much more modest ATM-1S stereo amplifier, a version of the amp that kindled my passion for Air Tight many years ago.

Some of the best sound at the Show was to be had in the AcousticPlan room. One of the reasons is undoubtedly the systems approach used by founder and music devotee Claus Jäckle. His design philosophy is strongly based on a minimalist approach to amplification and selection of the best devices for a particular application. He has also shown a penchant for naming his products after Indian musical instruments.

Take, for example, the Sarod preamplifier ($11,000; $13,000 with relay-operated remote volume control, and an additional $4100 for optional moving-magnet phonostage). Its linestage uses a single triode for amplification and interstage transformers as coupling devices. The Santor ($11,000) is a hybrid power amplifier (50Wpc into 8 ohms; 100Wpc into 4 ohms) using triodes for the input and driver stages and power MOSFET devices at the output. With the new AcousticPlan Vadi CD player ($14,500) as the front end, and driving the open-baffle AcousticPlan Veena loudspeaker, which incorporates a Lowther full-range driver and four active bass woofers ($28,000), the sound was intensely musical with gorgeous midrange harmonic textures.

Atma-Sphere’s much-decorated OTL amplifier, the M-60 ($6350), has received a face-lift and is now designated as the M-60 Mark III. Designer, Ralph Karsten, who is always a pleasure to engage, was on hand for a lengthy technical discussion. With the M-60 driving the Classic Audio Reproductions T-1 ($27,500) loudspeaker, the sound quality was far superior to that I had noted from this speaker in past years. It turned out that this was no ordinary T-1: the horn-loaded compression driver was configured for field-coil operation and was energized with an external DC power supply. I can personally attest to the fact that this is a big deal. There was talk of also converting the woofer to field-coil operation… I wonder if this retrograde technology is a sign of things to come?

Next: Valve Amp Co, VTL, Profundo, Viva Audio, Pathos, Nightingale, Union Research
 

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