Welcome! What's On Your Mind?

Last time out I enthused about adding a Silent Angel Bonn N8 network switch to my setup, and I am still marvelling at how much more engaging it is to listen to streamed content. I was then going to add the Forester F1 linear power supply and report back.

F1 is designed with a singular purpose: To supply extremely stable DC power with ultra-low voltage fluctuation to the connected devices. Upgrading to an enhanced power supply reduces voltage ripple and electrical noise. Purifying the power allows the master clock to lock in with zero phase noise, precisely regulating network data packets. This reduction in jitter directly translates to improved clarity (less digital hash) and soundstage dimensionality. The resultant sound seemed more relaxed, naturally layered, and remained nicely delineated.

Without question, the biggest improvement came with the introduction of the N8 switch. Like many things in this hobby, these kinds of upgrades are incremental and can be subtle. In my system, the F1 added meaningful improvements. Whether it represents value for money at $899.00 is something you will have to decide for yourself. For me, the Bonn N8 and F1 are integral to my streaming.

Lately, as some of you know, I have been skulking around the blind alleys of digital audio. More specifically, I have been rabbit holing the many ways and means to improve my music streaming experience. A month ago, I added the Wattson Emerson Digital network which proved to be a massive improvement. Subsequently, I added a Sbooster linear power supply resulting in further sonic inroads. Inevitably, the network switch would be next.

For context, I currently use a solid switch. It’s a Luxul AGS-1008M 8-port switch fed by an ifi SilentPower power supply. Based on the level on my previous setup, this $250.00 investment seemed sensible. What did make me question my sanity was the introduction of the $849.00 Silent Angel Bonn N8 network switch.

This audio grade switch elevated my streaming even further. Eschewing the bog-standard wall wart in favour of medical grade regulation and employing a precision clock module to reduce jitter and latency issues, the N8 floored me. Trust me, you can believe their website hype:

“The Bonn N8 enables an isolated “Network Ecosystem” to create an independent low-noise, low-interference HiFi audio zone that effectively separates your audio devices from household traffic and reduces the degradation of network broadcasting storms and latency caused by bandwidth-intensive activities from PCs and other devices. The result is greater signal purity with lower noise, distortion and greater resolution of fine detail.”

The best analogy I have is when I had a dedicated power line installed for my system. Having my audio system mostly isolated (still on main panel) and no longer undermined by appliances, dimmers and the like, was revelatory. I am in no way suggesting the addition of the Bonn N8 was in this league, but by showing the middle finger to deleterious network noise, the level of enjoyment from my streamed music has never been higher.

So, I’ve had the Technics SL-1300G in my system for roughly a year and I am more than content.

I contemplated the 1200/1210G but couldn’t make a case for needing the strobe or the pitch adjustment as I'm unlikely to start collecting 78 RPM shellacs. Besides, I get most of the performance of the 1200G (ΔΣ-Drive, Coreless direct drive motor, and three-layer platter) and I prefer the minimal good looks of the SL-1300G.

My Luna Cables Gris loom made the transition, as did the Ortofon Concorde Music Bronze cartridge and the Ortofon SM-101 cork/rubber hybrid mat. Being an inveterate analogue empiricist, I was determined to extract maximum performance from my new deck.

I first changed out the SM-101 in favour of the MITMAT Premium twin tier mat. This Canadian made mat employs PVC microcell technology to dissipate spurious energy that will negatively affect playback. Combined with an Ortofon record stabilizer, more music emerged LP after LP. Not quite a new record collection, but you get the idea. I think the fact that the stylus/LP interface floats on 6mm thick shock absorber is a big contributor.

Lance, our devoted Hegelian, shares his thoughts on what might be the most impressive Hegel yet.

So, I am sitting here, the night before this article is due, staring at my computer screen, struggling to put my thoughts about the Hegel H150 into cohesive, intelligible sentences. I have been a Hegel fan for some time, and I feel that this new offering from them is special and I want to do it justice. In the numerous prior attempts at this exercise, I kept going on about the technical features and specs which are anyone can simply look up on the web and, as impressive as they are, just read like a checklist. 

I even thought about sneaking them in by saying “I could tell you about this feature or I could tell you about that feature” But I won’t. I figure the best way to convey my feelings about this electronic marvel is to tell you about the day I brought it home. I knew it was arriving that day simply because I had the tracking information and was regularly checking it. A lot. Like multiple times a day. Check. Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. Just like the crosswalk button it doesn’t make it happen any faster. When it did arrive at the store I tried to play it cool and act like it wasn’t a big deal, but I think my hugging of the box betrayed that attempt. Now I had to wait for the workday to end so I could go home and set it up. What a long day! Finally, after the seemingly longer than usual drive, I was home and in my listening room with my new Hegel H150. It’s finally time! First thing that needed to be done…remove everything that was no longer necessary in my setup. First was the stand-alone streamer. Why? Because the H150 has one built in. Next was the phono pre-amp. Why? Because the H150 has one of those as well. (See what I did there). Then came the throng of power cables and interconnects associated with those components. Lastly the original heart of my system, the Hegel ROST integrated amplifier, was pulled from its longstanding post. I neatly packed all of the retiring gear back in their boxes, a little pensive as they have served me well in their service but also keen on the more minimalist space created. All that remained were my turntable and CD transport with a void in between. In goes the H150 completing a simple uniform stack that does everything the original setup did, just tidier. Functionally the same but sonically? That’s where things are quite different. I have lived with the Rost for a good number of years and had the same pair of speakers in play the entire time. With the H150 being a direct and not too distant relative of the Rost I did expect it to be somewhat better sounding, but that was not the case. It was substantially better sounding! The dynamics were bigger, the detail unclouded, and the music more engaging. This was all very apparent right away. I just sat there with a big smile and said “Holy s*#t.

Now being an industry insider, I had heard great things about this latest offering from a brand that has a proven track record of careful and calculated improvements in new products. I have already become familiar with their flagship products and spent a good amount of time in-store with the impressive H400 and 600 integrated amps and the recently introduced reference DAC the D50. It is evident that all of the behind the scenes work in creating those products directly trickled down into the H150. To me it is the most impressive piece in Hegel’s current, already impressive lineup. An entry level priced all-in-one solution that musically feels more like their reference products and offers versatility and performance way beyond its price.

Well, I can see now that this tale is starting to sound like a typical review and I’m drifting into specs and audio jargon so I am going to summarize this account by saying I couldn’t be happier with my decision to purchase the Hegel H150 and I’m glad I’m done writing so I can go and spend some quality time with it.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of our recent Simple Systems Event was the Naim NAP250 power amplifier. Lance and I were tasked with setting up the main demo room and, as such, spent quite a bit of time listening to this amp. Over a couple of days, we were continually surprised and impressed by its performance. Cosmetically understated it may be, but its sonic attributes were loud and clear. It presents music in an orderly fashion. The bass is taut, the midrange is open, and the treble extended, never sounding forced. Rhythms are propulsive and timing is spot on. I was so smitten by this amplifier that I decided to dig into its history.

The NAP250 was first introduced in 1975 to replace the NAP200. The 250 was born out of Julian Vereker’s dissatisfaction with the available amplifiers of the day. Firmly in the “if-it-ain't-broke ...” category, the amp remained virtually unchanged until 2002. In fact, until the introduction of the Statement series, the NAP250 was the blueprint for all Naim amplification.

The first major technical revision was in 2002. The NAP250-2 featured a new power supply and transistors. In 2013, the NAP250 received “Discrete Regulator” status. “Like the flagship NAP 500, ..., the NAP 250 uses a new circuit design with improved earthing arrangements, built on a very high quality, anti-resonance main audio circuit board. The NAP 250 uses the same NA009 transistors that were custom designed for the NAP 500. These outstanding components each provide up to 80 amps and 350 Watts, negating the need to use parallel pairs of transistors (which always have a negative effect on sound). Additional NA009 transistors are used in the fully regulated power supply, ensuring the very best performance.” Additionally, a new top-quality transformer is deployed providing the ability to deliver more than 15 Amps and swing a massive 400VA on transients. The NAP 250 is stable into any load and able to drive a 2-Ohm load for long periods of time.

Over time, the power rating of the NAP has increased from around 70 watts to 100 watts. The iconic chrome bumper styling and willfully obtuse use of DIN connectors are things of the past. What we have in this latest version is a truly wideband amplifier (1.4Hz - 100kHz) that can seamlessly pair with other brands and exploit the advances in high resolution digital audio technology.

The Naim Audio NAP250 power amplifier is a modern icon capable of rubbing shoulders with the very best.