Thursday, March 24, 2011

PMC Demo at AV Design


The message conveyed during the speaker demonstration!


Guests gathered at the main area of AV design

A big poster which depicts the PMC speaker system greets visitors at the entrance of AV design

Peter Thomas explained to the guests how the idea of a good speaker system started. The slide show presentation was very informative and explained very clearly how the idea developed about then the BBC days, till the making of the present PMC speakers on demonstration.


Andy Duffield explained a point during the speaker demo.



Andy Duffield and Peter Thomas addressed the guests in the demo room


Pic taken: Olympus 4/3 system, e300, zuiko digital 14-45mmf3.5-5.6
with available light sources.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

气势雷霆的PMC喇叭MB2-XBD-A

上个星期,接到AV Design的James Tan来电,告诉我PMC最新的主动式喇叭MB2-XBD-A已在他的陈列室二个多星期,并补充说让它 “Run in” 些才约我,问我是否有意聆赏。而我也答应他星期六赴约。

MB2-XBD-A与外置扩音器系统全貌

MB2-XBD-A是一对主动式喇叭, ‘A’ 是 ‘Active’ (主动)之意。它也有另一款 ‘P’ 的型号 ‘Passive’ (被动)的意思。原本主动式喇叭大多是提供予录音室专用,同时方便他们免去匹配器材上的的烦恼。现在PMC也提供给一般用户。

最上端是10B主动电子分音器,接下来是3BSST2,
下方为7BSST2,全部经PMC重新设计,修改


这一套MB2-XBD-A也和PMC其他款式一样,运用他家独特的先进传输线式设计(Active Transmission Line - ATL)。大家也许明白这种设计可增加低频,这些刻意增加的低频向来都和拖泥带水或慢等形容词划上等号,但PMC的传输线较特别,首先它没有那么长,其次他们也在传输线的每处转角都做了特别的吸音处理,让这些借由低音单体前后运动所制造出低频在前进中不断消失,最后在传输线出口出现的不是低频,而是极低频,因此PMC传输线式设计只是巧妙地增加喇叭极低频部分的能量。所以PMC的喇叭绝不拖泥带水,且这些增加的能量(超低音)没有指向性的问题,用者在有限的聆听距离内便可清楚感受到(这在AV Design的陈列室更明显,容我稍后解释),不但适合近场聆听的录音室,更适合聆听空间不大或未必理想的用家。

看官细睨高音单体加了一片金属罩,此举除了可增加高音的扩散外,
还可以保护单体,与KEF皇冠形高音罩有异曲同工之妙,3寸中音则为自制产品


MB2-XBD-A是一对体形高大的两件式喇叭,它包括两支MB2和两支XBD,MB2和XBD相叠起来构成一个声道高度足有174公分(5尺7寸),每个重达88公斤。
MB2-XBD-A使用的1寸软质高音是由挪威SEAS公司制造,一颗在自家工厂生产的3寸馒头中音,而两颗12寸低音则由英国Volt制造。由于上下各拥有3公尺的低频传输线,使MB2-XBD-A的低频可下潜至20Hz。

12”低音单体外设的八爪形边框形状独特,具备散热功能与防护作用

这套主动式喇叭同时包含了两对扩音器及1对3路电子分音器。一般的主动式喇叭会将分音器及扩音器装置在喇叭箱内(比如ATC英国喇叭),但PMC则是将它们外置。而这些产品都是PMC向Bryston订制的特殊产品,因此面板上印有PMC Active的字样。这些器材包括7BSST2单声道一部,每边600W来驱动低音,3BSST2双声道两部,每边150W,则是负责推380Hz以上的中及高音单体。还有两部10B主动电子分音器,用以调控左右3路频道。综观上述器材虽由Bryston订制,但却是经过PMC厂家亲手改良,并在零件筛选与配对上更严谨,而分音器也重新设计过。全部器材只提供予其主动版喇叭的用家,不另单独出售。此外整套系统也包括厂家自配的讯号线和喇叭线。用家只须购买CD唱盘及前级(Pre Amp)便可聆赏。

1寸丝质高音原形

如此庞大的扬声器,到底要用多大面积的音响室方为适合呢?据James的说法,由于MB2-XBD-A喇叭的低频传输线出口设在面板的前面,基本上对后墙的依存性不像低频反射式扬声器来得高,所以它一般上可在16尺宽X 25尺长的房间聆听(当然长度可延伸至40尺更佳)。

3寸突盆馒头中音

12寸Volt八爪低音

为了一举将此喇叭听到底,我准备了几张较常播的CD试听:Anne-Sophie Mutter的Carmen-Fantasie,The Greatest Work of John Williams,John Bolet: Tchaikovsky/Rachmaninov Piano Concertos,Manger,Johanne Blouin,Kari Bremnes,天地英雄原声带,中岛美雪-美雪集,邓丽君纪念版。
试音当日,我们用了TAD-D600 SACD/CD机(RM140千),和Bryston的BP26前级(RM18千),它包括MPS-2外置电源供应器。首曲我选美雪集的‘口红’(邝美云/容易受伤的女人原曲)试听,温热后的MB2-XBD-A,竟然让我感受到原唱者像在大型体育馆内演唱般的实在。原以为MB2-XBD-A才开声了两个礼拜,不会那么柔顺,没想到竟出人意表。(其实这张Yamaha的中岛专辑并非发烧CD)。虽然我坐在距离喇叭7至8尺,但尽管音量开大些也感觉它依然轻松自在,从容不迫。这就是我之前提到传输线式的特点,即使近场聆听亦无妨。
接着开始听Anne Sophie Mutter的Showpieces-Carmen Fantasie,选听第一首的‘吉普赛之歌’和6至10的‘卡门幻想曲’,可感受到穆特的琴声似摧枯拉朽,如骤雨暴风般激烈,而轻巧处又像琴弦浸过油脂般润滑,委婉曲折,仿似游丝飘渺…音质感与音色亦臻完美。小提琴的‘松香味’十足。
播Manger的第14首歌 - Marla Glen – Cost of Freedom,他的呐喊,像极香港肥妈(瑪丽亚)的声调,中气十足(其实他是骨瘦如材的男歌手)!再听Johanne Blouin的Jouviens Moi专辑的第2首De La Main Gauché(我的左手),她经验丰富的唱技与嗓音,在MB2-XBD-A喇叭的表现中一展无遗。
另一张Greatest Works of John Williams,所播放的‘Jurassic Park’,即让我见识了这喇叭的厉害:雄浑的气势,音像的壮观比例,令人如置身其中,场面的浩大,是它的特色!
虽然MB2-XBD-A作为PMC第2大主动式鑑听喇叭,它主要是免去了放大器和线材的搭配问题,虽然订价为280千,相信一些有能力的用家必然会考虑为自己的音响历程再添新一页。


用来测试MB2-XBD-A喇叭的CD

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Mr.W's DIY setup


Non oversampling dac



Hifi diyers are a interesting group of adventurous
hifi enthusiasts who like to build up equipments
sometimes all by themselves and at other times
collaborated with other diyers to design and build
hifi equipments for the love of putting together
electronics/electrical components/parts and
then powered them up to listen to the sound
reproduction from the equipments and then to
enjoy the music reproductions for hours at end
and be pleased with their handiworks.


At times it's the diy work that's the preoccupation
that leaves little time for the music enjoyments.
It could be to 'clone' a certain equipments, sometimes
it's to improve upon a already good working design
of a piece of equipment and the ultimate in diy
adventure will be to build something that has never
happen before! Some hifi diyers also collect music
albums be it in vinyl or CD version! Others may
just choose to keep all their previous creations,
and strictly not giving or selling off any of them!
And sometimes hifi diyers, have other passions too,
like being avid golfers and/or very passionate
photographers too! Talking about time management!!


Recently, I met up with 1 such hifi diyer, Mr.W who
divides his time between his family, work, passion for
music, meeting up with old friends and getting to know
new friends and the love of hifi diy work! Here in his
home we (Uncle K was with me during the visit) saw
several of his creations/ handiworks, which we had
expected to find. A non oversampling dac, valve
amplifiers based on the 300b and 1626 configuration,
speaker setup based on the single driver system of the
Audio Nirvana drivers. Thank you very much to Mr.W
for the listen session, and the learning experience.