Stereophile
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<p><img class="story_image" src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/081313-YG-600.jpg" /></p> Time to settle into deeper listening. We'll spend a bit of time in Loggie Audio's second room, built around Ypsilon and (TEAC) Esoteric electronics and the equally excellent YG Acoustics Sonja 1.2 loudspeakers ($72,800/pair), not only because it sounded so good, but also because it presented the US debut of what may very well prove to be a major cable line.
<p>
The YG Sonja 1.2, which has one less woofer that the 1.3 that John Atkinson called "superb" in the <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/yg-acoustics-sonja-13-loudspeaker">July issue</a> of <i>Stereophile</i>, joined forces with the mighty <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/ypsilon-aelius-monoblock-power-amplifier">Ypsilon Aelius</a> monoblock amplifiers ($36,000/pair); Esoteric's P-02 transport ($23,500), D-02 DAC ($23,500), and G-01 master clock ($23,000); Audio Reference Technologies' (A.R.T.) cabling and room tuning devices (note that A.R.T. stands for Audio Reference Technologies, and is not related to Synergistic Research's Acoustic ART System); and Harmonic Resolution's SXR equipment rack ($4495), SXR amplifier stands ($1895/each), and S1 isolation platforms ($1895/each). Listening to violinist Rachel Podger and the Holland Baroque Society play Vivaldi Violin Concertos on Channel Classics' well-recorded SACD, <i>La Cetra</i>, I immediately took note of the beautiful, copious air that surrounded the instruments. The soundstage was set back and huge, the violin's timbre gorgeous.
</p><p>
Singing Schubert lieder, soprano Elly Ameling sounded equally beautiful, albeit a bit toned down on top. Her singing was easy on the ear, but her golden instrument wanted to glow with greater luminosity at the top of her range. Changing gears, Fink's "Trouble's What You're In" again arrived in an absolutely wonderful, airy and spacious presentation, but I began to notice a slightly burnished, brushed gun metal finish to the midrange whose source puzzled me.
</p><p>
Not having any reference for the sound of previously unheard cabling, we tried changing power conditioners from the unidentified prototype conditioner I had just heard to another unnamed baby. With the switch, the tonal balance completely changed, but the spaciousness remained. Rachmaninoff's <i>Symphonic Dances</i>, on Eiji Oue's justly praised Reference Recordings' performance, now sounded as I would expect it to sound on a superb system, with instrumental colors neutral and highs beautifully open and extended. Hopefully these differences will be taken into account as the prototype cable design is further refined.
</p><p>
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/081313-ARTCabling-600.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></p><p>
Audio Reference Technologies' senior engineer, David Huang, and US rep, James Liu, displayed their Italian-made cabling. A.R.T., whose products are reportedly "big" in Asia, is just launching in the US after 20 years in the business.
</p><p>
Used in the system were the Super SE Classic Mains power distributor/cable ($4250/1.5m), Analysts SE Classic speaker cable on the bass ($19,440/3m pair) of the bi-wired YGs, and top-of-the-line, aptly named SENSOR Haute Couture cabling for the rest. Try $57,300/3m pair for the SENSOR Haute Couture speaker cable on the 1.2's treble, and $17,300 for a 2m AC power cable.
</p><p>
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/081313-ARTcabletuning-600.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></p><p>
Also making their debut, all over the room, were ART's little metal and wood precision tuning accessories. (A set of metal cones runs $2050). Given how many were scattered about, I had to leave a with/without demo for another time.
</p><p>
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/081313-AudioVision3-600.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></p><p>
This time around, my only chance to listen to the oft-blogged KEF Blade Reference loudspeakers ($30,000/pair) took place in the context of Michael Marko's Nordost cable comparison in the third Audio Vision room. As Michael changed a single power cable from Valhalla to Valhalla 2, it was easy to discern the richer and fuller midrange conveyed by the excellent system. Marko explained that one factor responsible for the change in sound is Nordost's use of its own new proprietary connectors, which even include the new spade terminations on Valhalla 2 speaker cable.
</p><p>
Without listening to the Clearaudio analog front end
[Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/cas-2013-day-one-lots-more-lobby]
<p>
The YG Sonja 1.2, which has one less woofer that the 1.3 that John Atkinson called "superb" in the <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/yg-acoustics-sonja-13-loudspeaker">July issue</a> of <i>Stereophile</i>, joined forces with the mighty <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/ypsilon-aelius-monoblock-power-amplifier">Ypsilon Aelius</a> monoblock amplifiers ($36,000/pair); Esoteric's P-02 transport ($23,500), D-02 DAC ($23,500), and G-01 master clock ($23,000); Audio Reference Technologies' (A.R.T.) cabling and room tuning devices (note that A.R.T. stands for Audio Reference Technologies, and is not related to Synergistic Research's Acoustic ART System); and Harmonic Resolution's SXR equipment rack ($4495), SXR amplifier stands ($1895/each), and S1 isolation platforms ($1895/each). Listening to violinist Rachel Podger and the Holland Baroque Society play Vivaldi Violin Concertos on Channel Classics' well-recorded SACD, <i>La Cetra</i>, I immediately took note of the beautiful, copious air that surrounded the instruments. The soundstage was set back and huge, the violin's timbre gorgeous.
</p><p>
Singing Schubert lieder, soprano Elly Ameling sounded equally beautiful, albeit a bit toned down on top. Her singing was easy on the ear, but her golden instrument wanted to glow with greater luminosity at the top of her range. Changing gears, Fink's "Trouble's What You're In" again arrived in an absolutely wonderful, airy and spacious presentation, but I began to notice a slightly burnished, brushed gun metal finish to the midrange whose source puzzled me.
</p><p>
Not having any reference for the sound of previously unheard cabling, we tried changing power conditioners from the unidentified prototype conditioner I had just heard to another unnamed baby. With the switch, the tonal balance completely changed, but the spaciousness remained. Rachmaninoff's <i>Symphonic Dances</i>, on Eiji Oue's justly praised Reference Recordings' performance, now sounded as I would expect it to sound on a superb system, with instrumental colors neutral and highs beautifully open and extended. Hopefully these differences will be taken into account as the prototype cable design is further refined.
</p><p>
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/081313-ARTCabling-600.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></p><p>
Audio Reference Technologies' senior engineer, David Huang, and US rep, James Liu, displayed their Italian-made cabling. A.R.T., whose products are reportedly "big" in Asia, is just launching in the US after 20 years in the business.
</p><p>
Used in the system were the Super SE Classic Mains power distributor/cable ($4250/1.5m), Analysts SE Classic speaker cable on the bass ($19,440/3m pair) of the bi-wired YGs, and top-of-the-line, aptly named SENSOR Haute Couture cabling for the rest. Try $57,300/3m pair for the SENSOR Haute Couture speaker cable on the 1.2's treble, and $17,300 for a 2m AC power cable.
</p><p>
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/081313-ARTcabletuning-600.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></p><p>
Also making their debut, all over the room, were ART's little metal and wood precision tuning accessories. (A set of metal cones runs $2050). Given how many were scattered about, I had to leave a with/without demo for another time.
</p><p>
<img src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/081313-AudioVision3-600.jpg" width="600" border="0" /></p><p>
This time around, my only chance to listen to the oft-blogged KEF Blade Reference loudspeakers ($30,000/pair) took place in the context of Michael Marko's Nordost cable comparison in the third Audio Vision room. As Michael changed a single power cable from Valhalla to Valhalla 2, it was easy to discern the richer and fuller midrange conveyed by the excellent system. Marko explained that one factor responsible for the change in sound is Nordost's use of its own new proprietary connectors, which even include the new spade terminations on Valhalla 2 speaker cable.
</p><p>
Without listening to the Clearaudio analog front end
[Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/cas-2013-day-one-lots-more-lobby]