Happy New Year! 2008 is here!

Wishing everyone Happy 2008!

http://technabob.com/blog/2006/10/21/the-800-compact-disc/

http://www.tech2.com/india/news/hifi-audio-systems/glass-cds-are-forever/2407/0

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Great CD - The Royal BalletGala Performances

The Royal Ballet has historically been the most highly sought after of the RCA Living Stereo releases. Recorded in Kingsway Hall by the legendary Kenneth Wilkinson, this title features selections from The Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty among others. The performances are conducted by Ernest Ansermet directing the Royal Opera House Orchestra and the sonics are incomparable.

Georges Bizet Carmen

Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Meilhac and Halévy, based on the story of the same title by Prosper Mérimée.

The story is set in Seville, Spain, circa 1830, and concerns the eponymous Carmen, a beautiful Gypsy with a fiery temper. Free with her love, she woos the corporal Don José, an inexperienced soldier. Their relationship leads to his rejection of his former love, mutiny against his superior, turn to a criminal life, and ultimately, out of jealousy, murder of Carmen. Although he is briefly happy with Carmen, he falls into madness when she turns from him to the bullfighter Escamillo.

Please see details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen

Of all the version of Carmen, my favorite is the 24kGold CD by Classic record where the recording is the best!

Great CD - Famous sound of 3 blind mice

专辑简介：

由三盲鼠自已精挑细选出10首爵士经典名曲，网罗多位国宝级的日本知名乐手及唱将，其中包括有爵士天后细川绫 子的“Bridge Over Troubld Water”(选自TBM-XR-3008)和中本麻里的“Tuxedo Junction”(选自TBM-XR-3005)。低频效果和临场感憾人歌曲“Aqua marine”(选自TBM-XR-0015)以及山本刚的钢琴名曲“Misty”(选自TBM-XR-0030)。。。等各唱片的首选名曲，以TMB- XRCD重新制作发行。值得一提的是母带以20BitK2所发展出高解析音质发烧技术，效果逼真`音质甜美`空间感十足，可听性极高。成为当时许多爵士乐 迷手中的梦幻极品。

三盲鼠于1970年创立,开山鼻祖藤井武当初致力于提携被大唱片公司所忽略而默默无闻的音乐人,如今这些人都以充沛的 精力跃升为乐坛的“千里马”。细川绫子`铃木勋`山本刚`今井英人等都是其中的佼佼者。六十年代末美国咆哮和硬咆哮爵士乐的光彩逐渐转弱之后，在日本出现 了日式咆哮复兴与运动，众多三盲鼠的著名录音都是那个时期留下的唱片。三盲鼠当时就用最顶极的录音器材和技术来录制这些唱片。不论是近年才发烧的乐迷，还 是资深的乐评人和音响评论家，大家都很认同日本三盲鼠（TBM）的录音水平和专业程度。

三盲鼠标榜他们的音乐具有摇摆性、流畅性、创意 性，以及独特的个性。藤井武为制作人，神成芳彥负责录音，西择勉担任艺术指导，这个铁三角组合也一直被人怀念。很可惜三盲鼠受大环境的影响而经营不佳，先 后由日本Phonogram、Trio、德国ATR、美国Cisco与香港金弦代为发行，但八十年代以后就几乎沒有新录音了。长久以来音乐迷对三盲鼠的优 异录音则是念念难忘，他们是最早把录音器材与录音配置图标示出來的爵士唱片之一，近场录音的真实感少有匹敌。说到三盲鼠唱片的录音效果，它们具有超一流的 分离度和透明感，录音效果之好就象演奏者站在你面前演奏一样的逼真，再加上唱片旋律大都优美动人，往往使人顿生轻松洒脱之感，强烈的现场感`丝丝入扣`默 契传神的演绎每每使聆乐者喜出望外。

http://lib.verycd.com/2005/07/28/0000058494.html

Tschaikowski (1840-1893) Nutcrackers

Great CD Jennifer Warnes

http://avmagazine.com/09/the_well.htm

Great CD : Mozart Requiem in D minor (K626)

The Requiem Mass in D minor (K. 626) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composed in 1791. The requiem was Mozart's last composition, and is one of his most powerful and recognized works, not only for its music, but also for the debate over how much of the music Mozart managed to complete before his death, and how much was later composed by his colleague Franz Xaver Süssmayr.

Despite debate about how much of the music was Mozart's, the Requiem has taken a prominent place as one of Mozart's most important works

Western Electric 124b - One year with me

124b3
Originally uploaded by maxbliss888

Time flies very quickly! The Western Electric 124b has been with me for one year! During the year, many equipments come and go...except this pair of 1950s WE124b.

The WE 124b sound is one of the best as its natural muiscal charateristics will enable one to enjoy hours of music without feeling tired!

It is truly one of the best vintage power amplifiers on Earth!

Great Vocal Cds

Great CDs

Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird/Petrushka/FireworksComposer: Igor Stravinsky
Conductor: David Zinman, Orchestra: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Audio CD (June 14, 1991) , SPARS Code: DDD

Great CD

Great Cd

• CD: Purcell: Welcome to All the Pleasures
  Henry Purcell (Composer), Alfred Deller (Conductor), Robert Elliott (Performer)
• CD Tomita: Tomita Kosmos, The Tomita Planets ( This 1976 release by Japanese electronic composer Isao Tomita presents his all-electronic adaptation of The Planets Op. 32, which was written during 1914-1916 by British composer Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)

Hifi 2007 - A year in retrospective

2007 is slowly coming to an end. Looking back, my hifi journey in 2007 has been an exciting one with continuous exploration and learning.

I am glad that in2007, I have managed to pair my WE 124b with the Nagra PLL preamplifier (after pairing with Fisher 50C, Fisher 400CX, WE120a, passive amplifiers). In addition, I have also managed to upgrade my CD player to Linn Genki (the important of source), and found the rare Rogers LS3/5a Gold Badge and the WE274b rectifier tubes. This year has also been a year of re-discovery of classical musics..

One of my achievement is the streamlining of my spare vintage gears. In 2007, I have managed to follow the "one in one out policy. The summary activities are as follows:

• For the LS3/5a I have sold off my Chartwell LS3/5a & Ram LS3/5a and other Rogers LS3/5a in return for the rare LS3/5a Gold Badge.
• For the Pre-amplifiers, I have moved from Fisher 50C to Fisher 400CX to WE120a to passive amplifier and finally to Nagra PLL. I was disappointed that friendship came to a test after the Fisher 50C incidents but I am glad that I have managed to move on with the Nagra PLL : )
  
• Tannoy Mini replaced with another Altec 755a (yes...another pair)
• No more DIY: I am not a good DIYer...
  

Great CDs - Movies sound tracks

I have very few moves sound tracks. My favourite movie soundtracks CDs are: Sleepless in Seattle (many great classics), Out of Africa, Gone ith The Wind, Evita, Casablanaca and the Producers, Somewhere in Time, Cry freedom, Havana, Alien, Midnight Express..

Geat Violin CD - David Oistrakh & Michael Rabin & Heifetz

Heifetz, David Oistrakh & Michael Rabin are three of my favourite Violinists. The Oistrackh Cd consists of the 1950s recording, while the Michael Rabin's CD set are one of the few excellent Michael's recording. Heifetz Jascha 海菲兹 - 小提琴, Reiner 莱纳 - 指挥, Chicago Symphony Orchestra 芝加哥交响乐团

David Fyodorovich Oistrakh (Russian: Давид Фёдорович Ойстрах, David Fiodorovič Ojstrah; September 30 [O.S. September 17] 1908 – October 24, 1974) was a Russian violinist who made many recordings and was the dedicatee of numerous violin works.
His recordings and performances of Shostakovich's concerti are particularly well known, but he was also a performer of classical concerti. He worked with orchestras in Russia, and also with musicians in Europe and the United States. Oistrakh's recording of Beethoven's Triple Concerto with Sviatoslav Richter and Mstislav Rostropovich is also well known, and the violin concerto of Aram Khachaturian is dedicated to him, as are the two violin concerti by Dmitri Shostakovich.

Heifetz was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, then part of the Russian Empire. There is controversy over his birth year, which is sometimes placed a year or two earlier to 1899 or 1900. It is sometimes claimed that his mother had made him two years younger, but there is no reason given for this. His father Ruvn Heifetz was a local violin teacher and served as the concertmaster of the Vilna Theatre Orchestra for one season before the theatre closed down. Jascha took up the violin when he was three years old and his father was his first teacher. At five he started lessons with Ilya D. Malkin, a former pupil of Leopold Auer. He was a child prodigy, making his public debut at seven, in Kovno, now Kaunas, Lithuania playing the Violin Concerto in E minor by Felix Mendelssohn. In 1910 he entered the St Petersburg conservatory to study under Leopold Auer.

He played in Germany and Scandinavia, and met Fritz Kreisler for the first time in a Berlin private house together with other noted violinists in attendance. Kreisler, after accompanying the 12-year-old Heifetz at the piano in a performance of the Mendelssohn Concerto, said to all present, "We may as well break our fiddles across our knees." Heifetz visited much of Europe while still in his teens. In April 1911, Heifetz performed in an outdoor concert in St Petersburg before 25,000 spectators; there was such a sensational reaction that police officers needed to protect the young violinist after the concert. In 1914, Heifetz performed with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Arthur Nikisch. The conductor was very impressed, saying he had never heard such an excellent violinist.

Michael Rabin (May 2, 1936 - January 19, 1972) was an American violinist of Romanian descent.He began to learn the violin when he was seven. His father George, a violinist in the New York Philharmonic, noticed his talent. A lesson with Jascha Heifetz was arranged and the master advised him to study with Ivan Galamian, who said he had: "no weaknesses, never." His mother Jeanne was a Juilliard-trained and successful pianist. He began studies with Galamian in New York and at Meadowmount and The Juilliard School, and went on to appear with a number of American orchestras before his 29 November 1951 Carnegie Hall debut in the Paganini D major Concerto, with Dimitri Mitropoulos conducting the New York Philharmonic. He first appeared in London on 13 December 1954, playing the Tchaikovsky Concerto at the Royal Albert Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sir Malcolm Sargent.

Michael Rabin recorded concertos by Mendelssohn, Bruch (Scottish Fantasy), Glazunov, Paganini (no. 1 in D major-2 recordings), Wieniawski (No.1 in f-sharp minor, No. 2 in d-minor), and Tchaikovsky, as well as the Paganini Caprices. He recorded the Bach Sonata in C major for solo violin and the Ysaÿe Third and Fourth Sonatas for solo violin, as well as virtuoso pieces, including an album with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Rabin played in a Bel Canto style. During a recital in Carnegie Hall, he suddenly fell forward and momentarily lost his balance, and this was the beginning of a neurological conditon which was to affect his career adversely. He died prematurely at the age of 35 from a head injury sustained in a fall at his New York apartment.

He performed for many years on the "Kubelik" Guarnerius del Gesu of 1735

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Great CDs

These are some of the Great recording classical CDs produced in the USA. There are a total 12 different CDs in 24K Gold CD.These CDs were not very popular during the 1990s when these were produced and the recording company went bust as a result. However, these CDs were later "discovered" by audiophiles. Owing to ahigh demand and lowin supply, many of the prices have increasedto as much as US$150-300 depending on which CDs..

With the finding of 5 CDs, there are7 more to go in the search list with the most difficult being the CarmenCD and David Oistrach violin Cds..

Vintage Leak TL12.1 - Original vs Clone

What make the Leak TL12.1 sounded great are the original power and out put transformers as well as the orginal TCC capacitors. Recently, there has been a great deal of change as there are now Sifu who advocates using of new capacitors and even new output/power transformers in repairing 12.1

At the end of the day, the fun in vintage amplifier is in its originality and its authenticity, i.e. original components. the prices of the amplifiers will much depened on how original are these components. With the complete change in the capacitors and resistors plus output and power transformer, is the Leak 12.1 still the Leak? or has it become a clone 12.1?

Beautiful Nagra

In hifi, most of the time we will focus our attention on the sound and the presentation of music. However, the Nagra preamplifier is a pierce of art by itself..solid finishing, well built and fully functional.

The Nagra PLL has no phono section. Initially, my plan is to get the Nagra PLP (with phono funtion: 8 tubes in total) However, since I am not playing with phono now, it seems like a waste to pay additional HK$33,000 for the PLP (PLL retail at HK$62,000 vs HK$95,000 for the PLP) Nevertheless, being Swiss, Nagra has provided the new phono stage VPS, for PLL user who wish to have a phono section but without necessary upgrading to a PLP. This clearly demonstrate the clear and quick thinking of the Swiss!

The Nagra PLL preamplifier seems to be able to provide the warm sound from the tube amplifier without having the "fat" sound. With a compact size, it also eliminates the need for big space and ease of transportation. I ahve yet to try the vintage Telefunken or Mullard 12AX7 and 12AT7 as even with the new tubes, the sound is fabulous! With only the use of 3 tubes (two 12AX7 and One 12AT7), it makes upgrading of tubes relatively cheap..In addition the 12AX7 tubes could also be used in my the other preamplifier, the Marantz 7..

Initial assessment of Nagra Preamplifier

After two nights of listening, I must say that the Nagra PLL preamplifier is one of the best match preamplifier for my WE124b. The Nagra PLL is exceptionally quiet, transparent, musical as well as details. Its strength lies in its ability to bring our the smoothness of the music from the WE124b.

With the Nagra PLL, I could say that my search for the hifi gear is over. The modern Nagra preamplifier matches very well with the vintage WE124b.

My current set up in HK are:

Preamplifier: Nagra PLL

Power amplifier: Westen Electric124b

CD : Linn Genki

Speakers: 755a

IMHO, these simple set up could bring out the very best in music! There is many other good vintage preamplifiers such as the Fisher 400CX, Fisher 50C, Pilot etc. However, not wanting to "collect" so many items, I will have to do some serious audition and keep only those that I like. Hifi is about matching. The Fisher 400CX is very dynamic and musical. However, owing to the high gain in Leak TL12.1, the Fisher 400Cx is not an ideal partner for Leak 12.1. The Marantz 7, on the other hand with its more neutral sound, will match well with the Leak TL12.1

The Fisher 50c stories have been a painful one where friendship has been brought to the test~~

Enjoy!

Review on Nagra PLL preamplifier by a Taiwanese magazine

以下文章取材於普洛文化音響論壇雜誌 185期

最好的真空管前級之一
Nagra PL-L
文／劉漢盛

聽它唱「Hope」時，才知道什麼叫做勁道，暫態反應與動態對比。
那種勁道紮實到會震到皮膚，那種暫態反應快到電光石火，那種動
態對比大得嚇人。聽第二首時，內中的小號真是漂亮，聲音細微的
飄動清楚，真實到無以復加。鼓聲敲鼓邊的質感真實有勁到讓人直
呼過癮。聽第五首您更可以完整的聽到所有「音響二十要」所描述
的東西。

規格：真空管前級，電源箱外接，採用12AX7二支，12AT7一支，
輸入阻抗大於110k歐姆，輸出阻抗60歐姆，S/N比（1V）大於88dB
A加權，動態範圍100dB，頻寬20Hz-100kHz，體積310x254x76mm，
重量3.2公斤。進口總代理：亞柏利（02-27765838）

圖說：PL-L的外觀與一般前級都不同，但是高雅的氣質卻透過那個
圓形錶頭不斷散發出來。其金屬加工的精緻程度也到了最高境界。
PL-L的輸入、輸出端分置左右二側，一邊進，一邊出，互不干擾，
這也是一般前級所未見過的。

軟體圖說：John Coltrane的「A Love Supreme」實在是一張精彩至極
的唱片，無論是演奏本身或錄音，都是上上之選。假若您在聆聽時
還會想放下去做其他事情、或者沒有越聽越興奮的情形，那就表示
您的音響系統還沒有把它的真正演奏錄音魅力發揮出來。（SACD
編號：Impulse 589 596-2）
Nagra是非常有名的瑞士專業音響廠，它隸屬瑞士Kudelski電視廣播
媒體集團。音響迷印象比較深刻的應該是他家的袖珍攜帶型盤式錄
音座。從1951年創業，一直到1997年，他家才開始生產第一部 Hi-
End產品，那就是PL-P真空管前級（論壇在135期評過，也得到2000
年度風雲器材）。1998年又推出VPA 845真空管後級，2001年則推
出PL-L。一直到今天，Nagra的Hi End音響產品總共也只有PL-P前級
、PL-L前級、VPA後級、MPA晶體綜合擴大機、DAC/DAP數位類比
轉換器以及SNST-R類比盤式錄音座。

為什麼要跨入Hi End音響界？
到底PL-P前級與PL-L有什麼不同呢？二者外觀幾乎一樣（PL-P多一
個音量控制），只不過PL-P附有唱頭放大線路，PL-L則是高電平前
級，而且PL-P採電池供電。到今天為止，我還是想不通，為何這麼
一家歷史悠久的專業音響廠會去生產這麼幾部Hi-End音響器材？
為了增加營業額嗎？Kudelski是股票上市公司，多賣幾部音響器材
我想對整體營業額不會有太大的幫助。何況，如果真想要在Hi End
音響領域發展，也不會到現在才只有那幾部器材而已。更令人想不
通的是，這種專業音響廠怎麼會對真空管情有獨鍾？二部前級都是
真空管前級，唯一一部後級是845管機，只有綜合擴大機是晶體機。
按理說，專業音響廠運用的都是晶體技術才對啊！想來想去，只有
一個答案：做爽的！證明他們有技術，能夠做出高級的真空管音響
器材。
對瑞士產品有信心
對於這麼一家專業廠家，您有信心嗎？老實說我有信心，我的信心
來自瑞士，瑞士人所設計製造的產品通常都有很高的水準，而專業
音響廠的要求又高於一般音響廠，所以我對「瑞士專業」音響廠的
Hi End音響產品，在尚未入家門聽過之前就已經擁有先入為主的信
心。更何況，從以前我第一眼看到PL-L的造型與金屬作工時，就已
經被它的脫俗氣質所吸引，難怪我會對Nagra產生難以自拔的好感。
錶頭有學問
來讓我們先從PL-L的面板談起吧！PL-L面板上最引人注目的就是那
個傳承自Nagra Ⅳ錄音座的錶頭。請不要小看這個錶頭，它可不是
花瓶，而是貨真價值的精密計量器。從Volume旋鈕下方印著0dB=1
V、錶頭裡面也印著0dB=1V的字樣來看，Nagra是以很嚴肅的態度
告訴音響迷一個錄音室裡的精確觀念：在這部機器上，如果我的
指針指在0dB的刻度上，那就代表著輸出端可以量測到1V的輸出
。很炫吧！從來不會有Hi End音響製品會在面板上強調這件事，但
是Nagra卻這樣做了，這代表他們無論做什麼事都一絲不苟，講求
精確。像這樣的公司、這樣的製品，我怎麼會沒有信心呢？
在錶頭裡，您可以看到二根細細的指針，這二根指針一根代表左
聲道，另一根代表右聲道，當音樂訊號輸入PL-L時，您可以看到
這二根指針會隨著音樂「微微」晃動，只有在腳踩大鼓或持續強
勁的低頻洪流（例如「魔戒首部曲」）出現時，指針才會有稍大
的振幅，這代表一般樂器演奏時電壓輸出其實不大，會讓輸出電
壓增大的是低頻段樂器。如果您把面板上的Stereo/Mono小開關切
成Mono， 二支指針就會同步晃動，幅度也一樣。假若放在正常
Stereo狀態，二支指針會個別顯示左右聲道的不同輸出電平。這
個錶頭所顯示的最大範圍是+3dB，也就是1.4V，這就是PL-L輸出
電平的上限。
還可檢測電源供應 除了顯示輸出電壓之外，這個錶頭還有一個作
用，那就是檢測外接電源所送進來的直流是否正確。送進PL-L的
直流電壓應該是12V，不過只要在11.6V-13V之間都還算正常。到
底要如何檢測外接電源送進來的直流電壓呢？很簡單，您只要把
錶頭右下方的小扳手開關扳到12V位置，此時指針就會移到綠色
指示位置的中間，這就表示電壓供應是正常的。我試聽時，指針
是指在綠區中央，這表示12V，不過只要指針是在綠區範圍內都
算正常，不需要送修。
錶頭說過，面板上由左至右分別為電源開關與輸入開關切換、音
量旋鈕、平衡旋鈕、以及Line Output/Mute的切換，一目了然，簡
單大方。
面板最右方是一個紅外線遙控感應窗，PL-L有二種機型，一種附
帶遙控器，另一種則無，此間代理商所進口的是附帶遙控器以及
平衡端子的高級版。
輸入、輸出端分置左右二側 再來我們看左右二側板。奇怪，為何
不看背板呢？PL-L的設計與眾不同，它的輸入端子都安排在左側
板，輸出端子則安排在右側板上。為什麼要這樣安排呢？我的想
法很簡單，因為PL-L的機體太小，無法把輸入、輸出端子一起安
排在背板上，所以只好分開。當然，如果硬要把所有的端子都安
排在背板上，我想也容納得下，但是會很擁擠，更換訊號線時會
不方便。或許，除了以上考量之外，PL-L還有專業使用上的考量
，那就不是我所能瞭解的了。
在輸入端子方面，PL-L擁有1組XLR輸入與3組RCA輸入。而在輸
出側，PL-L則擁有1組XLR輸出端與2組RCA輸出端，此外還有外
部電源的Lemo連接端。
令人驚歎的金屬加工
外部看過，現在我們來看看PL-L的內部結構。打開頂蓋，把它拿
在手上時，我驚訝於CNC金屬車工的精細，那塊頂蓋是由整塊鋁
材車出來的，包括邊緣的溝槽以及三組散熱孔都是一體車薄鏤空
做出來的，真是精巧已極，我相信任何人觸摸到這麼高水準的頂
板之後，一定已經完全被征服了。在三組通氣孔底下就是三支小
管子，其中二支12AX7，一支12AT7。這三支真空管在出廠前先
經過400項測試以及12小時預熱，確定一切規格都符合要求才會
出廠。原廠建議如果使用大約5,000小時之後，必須更換原廠的
小管子，以確保品質一致。您知道嗎，在線路板上有一個類似
保險絲的裝置，但是這根「保險絲」上卻有類似溫度計的紅色
刻度，上面有1-10條刻度。這是做什麼用的呢？記錄真空管使
用時間。每當開機後，這個真空管計時器就開始記時，每個刻
度500小時。等到紅線移到10刻度時，就代表您必須更換管子了
。老實說，我從來不曾在其他真空管機上看到類似的裝置，可見
Nagra這批專業音響的工程師們想法的確與家用音響工程師不同。
能夠遙控
PL-L的純A類放大線路看起來簡單直接，線路板上微型表面黏著元
件與一般元件併陳。雖然使用元件不多，但線路板的規畫製造卻
非常精緻。比較特殊的是Balanced Output採用二個輸出變壓器耦合
，這二個輸出變壓器看起來很精緻，是Nagra自己生產的。我們都
知道，輸出變壓器的頻寬就限制了前級或後級的頻寬，因此只要使
用輸出變壓器，其頻寬就變成很重要的訴求。在此我並沒有這二個
輸出變壓器頻寬的規格，但是我有PL-L頻寬的規格，那是20Hz-100kHz
+0/-1dB，這代表PL-L這二個輸出變壓器的規格的確不凡。
除了放大線路之外，靠近面板內側還有許多線路板是做為遙控以及
錶頭控制用的。從上面佈滿微型表面黏著元件以及各類IC來看，這
個錶頭並非 「古董」，而是現代化的精密產品。由於我試聽的PL-L
附有遙控器，無論是輸入切換、音量大小與左右平衡都可遙控，所
以在向Alps訂製的音量控制器與平衡控制器上都附有馬達。此外，
PL-L內部還有二個裝置，可以調整輸出電平大小，好讓後級得到最
佳搭配。 假若您搭配別家後級，認為前級輸出太大，也可以藉此調
整裝置，讓PL-L的輸出減少20dB。
多套器材搭配使用
這次聽PL-L，我把家裡所有的喇叭都試過一遍，無論是AER Momentum
、Revel F50、Duevel Jupiter、Focal-JMlab Alto或Genesis G6.1 通通上
陣。而搭配的後級除了Linear Acoustic LA150.2之外，還搭配了Chapter
Two與Nagra的VPA 845管機（每聲道50瓦）。無論怎麼搭配，PL-L都能
夠得到非常好的表現，所不同的僅是「味道」而已。
大體說來，PL-L搭配LA150.2時的特點是暫態反應快、衝擊性強，音場
規模感最大，聲音的凝聚力與重量感最佳。搭配Chpater Two時，鬆軟的
程度最迷人，小提琴與鋼琴的木頭味最濃。搭配自家VPA時，透明感最
佳、細微的強弱變化最靈敏，聲音最直接。或許您會以為VPA才50瓦，
聽起來音場一定放不開來，虛軟無力。這次您錯了，Nagra的確厲害，
它的845竟然能夠把我家所有的喇叭都推得讓您感受不到有什麼力道、
控制力不足之處。當然，這些喇叭除了F50效率為86dB之外，Jupiter與
Momentum、Alto都有90dB以上，而G6.1除了效率有90dB之外，它的低
音還是主動式的，因此用845管機推起來更輕鬆。
選擇自家後級搭配
雖然後級與喇叭有那麼多套的搭配，但是我要強調，無論是哪種搭配，
我所聽到的PL-L聲音特色都是不變的，這在下文會述及。為了方便寫評
論，最後我以PL-L配VPA推Jupiter的組合為定稿。為什麼要選這套組合
呢？
選Jupiter的原因是它的聲音非常直接、細微的變化非常清楚，而且VPA
推起來很輕鬆。而選VPA的原因則是整套西裝的考量，我推測在Nagra
廠內，工程師們也會利用VPA來搭配PL-L使用，我如果也這樣搭配，有
可能聽到最接近Nagra工程師們所聽到的聲音表現。對了，數位訊源是
Lindemann D680 SACD/CD唱盤。最近我一直用這部訊源來寫評論，其
原因當然是它的表現會讓其他器材得到正確公平的評價。
一切好的特質都不缺
PL-L的聲音特質有哪些呢？老實說，如果我全寫了，您一定會以為我
在寫世界上最好的前級，事實上PL-L真的是世界上最好的前級之一。
為什麼我說「之一」呢？
因為我無法聽遍全世界所有的前級，而且最好的前級也不是僅有一部，
而是有好幾部都在這個表現範圍內，所以雖然PL-L讓我非常滿意，但是
我還是用「最好的前級之一」來形容。
言歸正傳，PL-L的聲音特質包括鬆軟適度、暫態反應快、控制力強、各
種樂器的音質音色美極、傳真，質感真實。音樂充滿了光澤與甜味，小
號的質感真實無比，聽起來就像真的，而不是只有聲音而已。鋼琴的規
模感龐大，音粒形體清晰紮實，重量感足。弦樂的擦弦質感與木頭味棒
極了。音場龐大，鼓與Bass的噗噗聲既紮實形體又大。Bass的音階非常
清楚，一顆顆低音粒圓滾滾有彈性、有控制力。
鬆軟特質最難得
先說鬆軟的特質，我常說鬆軟的特質是自然樂器本身具有的，也是音響
器材必須表現出來的聲音特質。可惜的是，除了少數器材之外，大部份
器材都無法表現出適當自然的鬆軟特質，這讓許多器材聽起來都難免過
於尖銳、生硬。有些器材聲音很軟，但是卻不鬆，而且軟過頭，變成動
作遲緩，渾濁不清。而PL-L呢？它具有非常適度的鬆軟特質，這種鬆軟
特質可以在任何樂器身上發現，例如小提琴與鋼琴就是很好的例子，聽
「媽媽教我的歌」或慕特那張「Tango Song and Dance」時，我很清楚的
感受到小提琴放鬆了，鋼琴也放鬆了，但是清晰真實的擦弦質感仍然是
那麼的明顯，鋼琴的低音鍵往下沈的鬆軟彈性也一點都沒有減少。您知
道嗎，音樂如果具有鬆軟的特質，聽起來會讓人感到輕鬆舒服。而音樂
中如果隱藏緊繃的氣氛，我們聽起來也會心浮氣躁，無法放鬆心情。聽
PL-L時，您會發現緊繃的神經與緊咬的牙齒都放鬆了，我所享受到的就
是小提琴與鋼琴的優美木頭味，而非緊繃的金屬味。
聽爵士樂讓人熱血沸騰
鬆軟特質提過，接下來我要說些綜合的表現。雖然PL-L具有鬆軟特質，
但是如果您以為它溫溫軟軟的那就錯了。聽它唱「Hope」時，才知道什
麼叫做勁道、暫態反應與動態對比。那種勁道紮實到會震到皮膚，那種
暫態反應快到電光石火，那種動態對比大得嚇人。聽第二首時，內中的
小號真是漂亮，聲音細微的飄動清楚，真實到無以復加。鼓聲敲鼓邊的
質感真實有勁到讓人直呼過癮。聽第五首您更可以完整的聽到所有「音
響二十要」所描述的東西。
假若您要溫柔的氣氛，可以聽第六首，銅管吹奏出溫柔又溫暖的聲音，
雖然溫柔，但是該有的勁道與暫態反應速度還是一點都不少。而第十二
首「The Corl Train」從小聲到大聲的動態範圍寬廣，勁道十足，同時又
充滿柔情，根本就不會剛硬難聽。您看，PL-L的鬆軟與強勁兼具，這正
是「傳真」的表現，也是專業音響器材廠所該有的水準。「Hope」聽完
還不過癮，我再舉一張很棒的爵士樂做例子，那就是John Coltrane的「A
Love Supreme」SACD版。我們只說第三軌與第四軌好了，我想，任誰聽
到那麼真實的爵士套鼓、銅管、鈸、鋼琴、Bass時，恐怕很難想像那是
真空管機的聲音，因為這些樂器的音像浮凸，形體凝聚又龐大，樂器質
感真實無比，演奏的力道又強，這那可能是真空管前級搭配845管機的聲
音呢？您聽那小鼓鼓棒與鼓皮接觸的聲音多麼有彈性，多麼激烈火熱！
鼓皮的彈跳質感連我坐在那麼遠的沙發上都可以感受到。您聽，那鼓棒
敲在銅鈸上時，打擊接觸剎那的質感那麼的真實，接觸之後鈸好像散成
千萬細塊的振動感也那麼的漂亮。您聽，鋼琴的觸鍵質感多真實，鋼琴
的顆粒一顆顆凝聚有形又晶瑩有致。您聽，當Bass在彈奏時，龐大琴身
與粗壯琴弦所散發出來的粗獷低音彈跳質感多麼迷人。您聽，John Coltrane
的Tenor Sax管壁中空的吹氣質感多麼過癮，銅管的溫暖味道與光澤混合
在一起，散發出銅管樂器的溫厚燦爛魅力。老實說，這張SACD的精彩
處不是我用幾行文字能夠形容的，如果您跟我一樣，也是用PL-L在聽這
張SACD，就可以瞭解我當時的興奮感受了。
鋼琴規模感龐大，泛音豐富
再來聽阿格麗姬演奏的蕭士塔高維契「鋼琴與小號、弦樂團協奏曲」
（DG 439 864-2），鋼琴的泛音真多，泛音營造出來的空間感真實已極
，而小號厚度夠，嘹亮而不尖銳。接著出現的弦樂群那麼的細緻，擦弦
質感清晰無比。繼續聽下去，您會發現小號的音色表現很美，銅管的特
性顯露無疑，總之那是具有銅管吹氣質感、溫暖、嘹亮、金屬振動質感
併陳的美妙聲音。而弦樂群經常表現出厚厚片狀的結構，蘊含著清晰的
擦弦質感，這種弦樂聽起來令人感動。鋼琴用力彈奏高音鍵時，即使接
觸剎那有如火花迸射，但木頭味與晶瑩的音色依然能夠表現出來。假若
您擁有這張CD，但卻從來沒有感動過，那一定是您的音響系統害了您。
接著聽柴可夫斯基「第一號鋼琴協奏曲」（First Music唱片，皇家愛樂版
本）。鋼琴低音鍵的重量感增加，泛音超多，讓鋼琴聽起來更權威。中
音鍵與高音鍵的形體也更大，更晶瑩，更有木頭味。管弦樂的規模感更
龐大，整體管弦樂更豐潤。在此我要強調，這張CD的鋼琴低音鍵表現，
我還沒有在別的擴大機上聽到這麼大的規模感與這麼多泛音者，那真是
有如帝王般的氣勢。
美妙的音質與音色
聽DMP那張SACD-02測試片時，我聽到那種美妙的音質音色表現，真是
令人感動。接下來感受到的是鬆軟的美感，無論哪種樂器都具有這種很
難得的鬆軟美感，包括敲打鈸時，都會有金屬的鬆軟感。其他像低音提
琴、鋼琴更不必說，鋼琴的低音鍵與低音提琴的鬆軟在層層泛音包圍下
可說發揮到極致。而爵士套鼓的控制力並不因為鬆軟的特質而變調，一
樣是充滿彈性、Q度與控制力。腳踩大鼓的噗噗聲更是迷人。
而「The Dark Side of the Moon」SACD版第三首「On The Run」，雖然是
電子合成，但是它所呈現的空間感、層次感、聲音移動感與定位感卻非
常精彩，而且各種聲音的厚度很夠，勁道飽滿，整體音場的三度空間感
顯得特別精彩。第四首「Time」更是精彩，一開始的各種鐘鳴聲就不必
說了，那簡直有如
火花燦爛的煙火般，在音場中迸射。而在強力又有柔勁的電子低音帶動
下，非常真實的三度空間立體感呈現了，音場中的各種演奏樂器彷彿就
在一個很大的音樂廳中演奏。
更多的例子
您還要更多的例子嗎？聽江蕙的「紅線」時，嗓音甜又嘹亮，弦樂甜美
濕潤。聽阿淘的「水路」，可以知道PL-L的中頻與中低頻飽滿而且帶有
鬆軟的味道，大提琴音域的部份溫柔軟質，鋼弦吉他甜脆又帶點軟質，
這種音質的特色很好聽。聽舒伯特那張「Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano」
（Decca版）時，大提琴的形體更大更鬆軟，擦弦質感更清楚，琴弓拉弦
之後引起的空氣顫動更清晰。聽杜普蕾與巴比羅里合作的那張艾爾加「
大提琴協奏曲」時，一開始的大提琴規模感顯然就比平常還大，而且擦
弦質感更清晰，還帶有一股適當的鬆軟特質。管弦樂加進來後，即使大
音量強奏都不會感覺緊繃，聽起來順耳。聽「孽子」時，首先感受到的
是整體的音質音色變得更好，一點都沒有粗礫的感覺。再來是感受到大
提琴的聲波特別有力，震波可以湧到聆聽位置上。第三是大提琴與鋼琴
的木頭味增加了。第四是整個音樂的規模感變大了，音場更深，更寬。
有膽請嘗試看看
夠了！我想不必再說下去了，PL-L無疑是近年來我所聽過、最好的前級
之一。它絕對是音響界的珠玉，形體雖不大，重量也很輕，但散發出來
的珠玉光澤卻令人難以忘懷，而且極想擁有。不信嗎？有膽請嘗試看看！
焦點：音質、音色很美，適度的鬆軟，又帶有凝聚的特質，不會緊繃。
活生感佳、動態範圍大，衝擊性與控制力很棒。
搭配建議：百無禁忌，您想怎麼搭配都可以。

Nagra PLL Preamplifier at last!

After months of searching, I have finally forund the Swiss made Nagra PLL to compliment my WE124b! The search process was long and painful as not many audiophiles are willing to let go. I went to visit the agent yesterday, but the service was bad as well as there is no stoc for the PLL.The retail prices for the Nagra PLL in HK is HK$64,000 while the PLP was more then HK$90,000...which are beyond my budget!

Originally, I was waiting for the DIY preamplifier using ballon 27 tubes but it seems that i could never organize an audition for it.In addition, I was also concern with the after sales service (based in HK) versus International company's product with worldwide guarantee.. and the re-sae values. So in the end, it was a choice between the Nagra PLL,Yamamoto and Leben Preamplifier.. Finally, the choice was the Nagra PLL as I like the Swiss technology and workmanship as wellas its compact size. I didn't choose the PLP as I have no phono set up at the moment.

So, I now have the modern preamplifier (Nagra PLL) for my vintage WE 124b, while a vintage Marantz 7 for my vintage Leak TL12.1 in Singapore....

Christmas is here! Enjoy!

For a short review, please see

http://www.gcaudio.com/newsletter/2001_winter.html

http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/716/

http://www.dagogo.com/NagraPL-L.html

We will Rock you - Rock Musical

I was very being able to attend the We will Rock you launch party - Queen & Ben Elton..

It was a great party at the Grand Hyatt and the Rock musical will be in Hong Kong in May 2008!

Great CD - Music conducted by Herbet Von Karajan

I used to play violin (only grade 2) when i was in my primary school. However, I have stopped after I have joined another secondary school which has no violin as extra curricular activity.

One of my favourite conductor is Karajan. These are my latest Karajan's CD. I must have more then 20 Karajan CD around. Will update them soon!

Listening to Bach Concerto for 2 violins is a joy with the 755a speakers!

Slow second hand hifi market in Hong Kong

The falling prices in stockes and shares must have affected the purchasing pattern of the Hong Kong second hand sales as sales has been very slow lately.

Prices of vintage hifi gears have dropped and the demand has also been slow : (

Great CD - Mozarts

Mozart has always been one of my favoutite as his music is always very positive in feel and rhythm. David's playing of violin is great and when listening to him playing, one can then really undertand what is violin!