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Reviews & Press Comments Neodio NR 22 Integrated CD Player (w/mini-version of State-Of-The-Art NR22 DAC) 5-Star "Reference" award from Haute Fidélité
Haute Fidélité August, 2010 By: Laurent Thorin
Nonconformist
A philosophy to the test of clichés ... NEODIO opted for the drive mechanism to be a DVD-ROM, first to ensure sustainability of supply of spare parts, and the reliability of his machine. But also because according to him, providers of mechanical dedicated exclusively to reading CDs have long ceased to be interested in a technology considered "obsolete".
However DVD-ROM as standard in computer are well established and are still in production by several manufacturers fully identified. In addition, Stephane Even states that DVD-ROM’s sonic performance is superior to standard CD mechanics on several criteria.
Thus CD reading is asynchronous with the digital stream, using a memory buffer, which provides electronic decoupling. In addition, the DVD is able to read about 8 times more information than a CD and the DVD’s red laser is inherently more accurate than the infrared laser of the CD. Finally, this platform offers the freedom to create and incorporate the control software and interface for improved ergonomics. The proof is that the remote is a creation of NR22 100% home that can also drive the amplifiers of the mark.
Secondly, Stephane Even gave much importance to the mechanical aspect. The level of vibration generated by the "engines" (disc rotation, and translation of the carriage servo optical block) is significant and it disrupts the entire machine through effects can be complex. Thus the quartz clock is, by nature, very sensitive to vibrations, such as ceramic decoupling capacitors for integrated circuits.
First, the DVD mechanism is completely isolated between two sheets of transparent acrylic, in this case polymethyl methacrylate (often abbreviated as PMMA, Polymethyl Methacrylate). Between each slice of PMMA and CD mechanical NEODIO placed a damping material. The bottom of the chassis is aluminium, light metal in good vibration behaviour and in addition, non-magnetic.
The beautiful cover (available in multiple colours) is a sandwich of three layers with a total thickness of 8 mm. NR22 and three feet semi-floating. In short, a total of five different materials are used in the mechanical composition of this player. This creates a sort of mechanical fragmentation, conducive to an efficient dissipation of vibrational energy.
Moreover, contrary to a strongly held belief in hi-fi, a massive piece does not guarantee ideal performance. According to Stéphane Even, "is the choice of materials and quantity used that makes the difference. For when mass is added to a structure, it generally moves to other vibrational modes frequencies without making them disappear. Electronics advanced The digital / analog conversion has been optimised through the adoption of three-chip Crystal: a reception circuit, an up-sample asynchronous converter 24-bit, 192 kHz. Thus, the flow 16/44 from mechanics is transformed into 24/192. The advantage of this technique is that the rate of over-sampling of 192kHz allows the use of an output stage simplified whose frequency is located well beyond 20 kHz. Therefore it does not note any phase rotation in the highest range.
Listening session
First with this tonal balance that shows a beautiful fullness. The tones are both natural, and absolutely never titillating. With NR22, it remains in the description (certainly the most scrupulous), but it never falls into the interpretation by adding coloration.
Secondly, we will lease the tasty subject matter of these tones. Here the listening rhymes sensitivity with density. The notes of the weight, thickness, they are embodied. A violin has a very particular tone as does an electric bass. Obviously this is absolutely not the same but every instrument is reproduced in all its specificity, so that successive drives, while offering a distinct sound lighting for each disk. The listener will be fascinated by a severe soundstage that is wide and deep. And it is a very serious "analog" with its propensity to unfold with ease, but mostly to shine in the room while retaining excellent detail definition.
Dynamic
They grow with a beautiful clarity.
Moreover, the NR22 is fully capable to offer a signal of such a temporal
coherence, even at very high listening levels, the trained ear will not
detect the slightest breach in the pace of registration. Ditto for the
highest octaves in the high frequencies pass clearly. Still remarkably
dynamic, this player is playing all styles and training.
But beyond that, he knows to be precise.
For if the image is assessed for its depth, it tastes as to its accuracy and thoroughness with which it is deployed. The background sound is very clear and, as is the specific place of musicians depending on the azimuth. The NR22 faithfully recreates the structure of the soundstage.
Transparency
On the one hand it is well defined, but it is also neutral, because his sense of precision is evident in all records with the same measure.
Whether in the lowest octaves where it clearly shows the subtle interplay of
bass, or treble, which he knows safely dissects the specificities of small
low level information pronunciation of the sibilants in particular, it
retains a clear and
balanced sound.
● Manufacturing Quality: 5
● Image/Soundstage: 5
Delta Sigma - ALEF ALEF Duet-SE - Haute Fidelite 2/2010
"Reference" award - 5 stars on all sonic attributes!
BOW Technologies
(1) NEW stock ZZ-8 stock available at $7995 latest version w/HiFi-Tuning silver fuse upgrade
Munich 2008 High End Show Bow ZZ-8 digital source (Holfi/Amphion room) "Listening to the late Michael Brecker’s sensuous song Nascente from his CD “Nearness of You: Ballard Book” blew me away. The system was astonishingly brilliant and transparent, yet smooth and effortless at the same time. To hear the richness and subtleties of this very well-recorded song which also includes jazz legends in Jack DeJonnette, Pat Matheny, Charlie Hayden and Herbie Hancock, proved to be among the standout rooms at the entire show." - Carlos Sanchez
"One of the most pleasant surprises, sonic-wise…The quality of this sound was sweet and organic while dynamic and incredibly quiet… Needless to say, these are companies that I'll be keeping a closer eye on. Most surprising demo I heard at the show!” - Clement Perry TAS (April,2008) - Jonathan Valin
"The Manger 109-AG ($12.5k) is a handsome stand mounted two-way equipped with the Manger bending-wave transducer (which is rather like a spherical planar) operating from 140hz-35Khz and a ScanSpeak 8: bass driver below 140Hz." "Marc Cohn's touching "Perfect Love" sound nearly perfect, with superb imaging size and height, very fine detail, and lovely timbre. The sound was liquid, without much power in the bass but with decent balance none the less." Please note the comments below of the chest pressurizing dynamics when our "flamenco" CD was played and the uncanny accuracy of a piano playing in our suite.
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"Delta Sigma "North Pole-SE" Integrated (v2) & ALEF Duet-SE simply surpass all 833-SET amplifiers in sound & technology."
» Based on DC-3Mhz circuit
» 150w/ch @ 8Ω
» 2,000w/ch Peak Impulse Power
» Stable into low impedances
» A unique liquid, transparent midrange purity reminiscent of a state-of-the-art OTL amplifier
- Revue du Son (Robert Lacrampe, Editor) Dec,2009 “At my feet, the Italian integrated amplifier "North Pole-SE" from Delta Sigma. The listening session I could share with Romain on B&W Diamond Signature and ProAC D28, all linked with cable 47 Lab, have demonstrated the extraordinary capability in current of this integrated amplifier.” “These two loudspeakers have been literally transformed by the energy perfectly controlled, with a strong sense of detail and subtlety…” “These systems represent two approaches very close to the unachievable sound perfection: the B&W Diamond Signature fed by the Delta Sigma "North Pole-SE" integrated amplifier are the perfection of actual highest technology.”
BOW ZZ-8 Owner comments “I have owned many "top" CD players over the years. I have found the latest version of the BOW ZZ-8 to retain the best attributes of all the others and take a step or two beyond them, resulting in the best CD reproduction I have heard to date.
The slam of the Krell, the body of the ARC, added to a vibrancy and overall organic musicality result in the closest to analog sound I have listened to in my system. The physical appearance is also a pleasure to behold.”
“The ZZ-8 by contrast with the others (see list below) proved itself in short order (of surpassing these designs).”
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