REVIEWS:
The BLACK PLATINUM SERIES
Direct Coupling Systems
In his article, The Good Doctor Opines on Comings and Goings: Follow-up to the Critical Mass Black Platinum PXK System, Dr. Sardonicus makes several observations about the Black Platinum PXK Direct Coupling System and compares it to the Black Label Series:
".....If you crave Bugatti's, Chateau L'Tour, tartufo bianco, Renoirs and never seeing anyone's taillights except as you sweep past them …there is the PXK." - Dr. Sardonicus, Positive Feedback Online, http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue40/critical_mass.htm
_____________________
For
RMAF
2008 in Denver, Colorado Critical Mass Systems teamed with the Gershman Acoustics
Black Swan Loudspeakers, VAC electronics and Magnan cables using an Accuphase
transport in room 9010.
In room 538, we teamed with Lamm electronics, Tidal Piano loudspeakers, and Argento cables using a dCS Puccini transport.
We teamed with Soundings HiFi in room 505 featuring the all-new Vienna Acoustics " The Music", Jeff Rowland electronics and a Marantz and Pro-ject front end. Here are photos and comments:
"...........Just as a point of comparison, the $39k Tidal Piano two-and-half-way sounded superb in Room 538.........." -Jonathan Valin http://forums.avguide.com/viewtopic.php?t=4749
"............Critical Mass Systems' designer Joe Laverncik offers us a self-assured grin standing next to his newest series PXK Isolation rack ($9900) and amp platforms ($3300). Sitting atop this exquisite looking device is the dCS Puccini SACD/CD single-box player ($20k), accompanied by the mighty duo in the Lamm L2 Ref preamp ($15k) and M1.2 mono amplifiers ($22k). Loudspeakers, shown in beautiful African Pyramid Mahogany, are the Tidal Piano of Denmark ($40k). The room was being represented by The Voice that Is proprietor Doug White.............
The sound, as to be expected from previous events, was open, detailed and, yet harmoniously rich. Yeah, I thought to myself "I could easily live with this setup." Nicely done." - Clement Perry http://www.stereotimes.com/RMAF2008e.shtml (note from CMS: Picture of Joe not shown)
".............Gershman Acoustics Black Swan loudspeakers with VAC electronics, Magnan Cables, and Critical Mass stands. This room always sounds good... and nice folks too." -Dave Clark, Positive Feedback Online. http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue39/rmaf083.htm
"...Very Good." -Audio Federation http://www.audiofederation.com/hifiing/2008/RMAF2008/report/1500/floor_9/
"..........Black Swan was still in the top tier of elegant sound at the show." http://www.stereomojo.com/ROCKY%20MOUNTAIN%20AUDIO%20FEST%202008%20SHOW%20REPORT/RockyMountainAudioFest2008ShowReportPart2.htm
_____________________
In a
review of the Marantz Reference System SA-7S1 SACD player, SC-7S2 Control
Amplifier, MA-9S2 Monaural Power Amplifiers, the all-new Black Platinum PXK
Direct Coupling System gets a mention:
".............Delicacy
often comes at the cost of impact, slam and the "surprise" factors I love in the
BAT equipment. And to be frank, without the CMS (PXK) stands, this would be
somewhat true for the Marantz system. On the CMS stands, the
Marantz retains its
refinement and delicacy, but adds this additional level of bass extension and
slam, and additional musical detail, which extends the sound field significantly
in all directions …up, down, sideways, front-back. This is extraordinary, and is
equal parts Marantz and CMS. The CMS (PXK) system cannot fabricate what is not
there; it can only reveal. The two, together …my, oh my …what a revelation."
-Dr. Sardonicus,
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue38/marantz.htm
_____________________
The all new PXK direct coupling system is the subject of a preview in Positive Feedback Online where Dr. Sardonicus pens his views. Here are his comments:
.............."Essentially handmade, designer-quality driven anything has a limited market by definition…
first because of the cost of such things, and perhaps more importantly, the
level of sophistication and discernment required to appreciate them.
Ah, but for those few, those rare individuals willing to trust the chef who offers up something truly unique, those who can re-examine their assumptions without blowing an artery, who are truly and knowledgeably engaged in exploring the outer reaches of what can be done …or the true audio aficionado, this is something you must hear. Extraordinary." -Dr. Sardonicus http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue38/criticalmass.htm
_____________________
For FSI
2008 in Montreal, Canada Critical Mass Systems teamed with Lamm Industries
electronics, Verity Audio Lohengrin II loudspeakers, NeoDio transport and DAC
and Kubala-Sosna cables. Here are a few comments:
.............."Next in the line of larger salons was the Lamm Industries room in which I finally had an opportunity to hear the ML3 Signature single ended triode monoblocks. At the New York show last spring, one of them arrived in damaged condition, disappointing many. The ML3 has a separate power supply, hence the four units between the Verity Audio Lohengrin II loudspeakers. I heard a jazz LP on a Basis turntable that sounded outstanding. A digital front end, NeoDio NR Two transport and NR Two D/A DAC reportedly cost about $12,000. A Lamm L2 Reference preamplifier and LP2 phono stage handled the low-level signals and Critical Mass Systems racks and Kubala-Sosna Emotion cables completed the set-up....." http://www.enjoythemusic.com/fsi_expo_2008/becker/page7.htm
............."As Clark and I listened, we heard a little problem with the low end that we were sure was a room anomaly.................Still, this room was easily one of the better if not the best sound at the show for me." http://www.stereomojo.com/FSIReport2008/FSI2008Report.htm
The Magnificent Lamm Amp
Posted Mon Apr 7, 2008, 1:42 PM ET — By John Atkinson
The are small amps, there are large amps, there are stereo amps, there are mono amps, and then there are Vladimir Lamm's ML3 Signature two-chassis monoblocks, demmed at FSI with Verity Lohengrin speakers, a Lamm L2 Reference preamplifier, LP2 phono preamp, NeoDio CD transport and DAC, and Kubala-Sosna cables, and Critical Mass Systems racks.
The ML3 Signature runs a single Russian GM70 directly heated output tube (introduced in 1948, the year I was born) with 1200V on the plate to give 28 watts into 8 ohms. The GM70 is driven by four paralleled 6N30P "Super Tubes," with a single 12AX7 as the input stage. The choke-smoothed power supply in a separate chassis uses four 12AX3 diode tubes as a bridge rectifier to derive the high-voltage rail for the output tube, with another two 12AX3 tubes supplying DC to the front-end tubes.
Listening to Louis Armstrong singing "Blues in the Night" from LP, I auditioned the amps with no negative feedback and just 1.2dB of negative feedback. You wouldn't have thought it would make a difference, but darned if switching in even this minimal amount of feedback—which, in theory, should make the amplifier perform better—didn't diminish the enormous sense of space on the recording.
Oh, the price? Each pair of ML3 References costs upwards of $130,000 and takes two weeks to manufacture.
_____________________
For CES 2008, Critical Mass Systems teamed with Gershman Acoustics - the Black Swan, Lamm Industries electronics and amplification, NeoDio transport and DAC and Kubala-Sosna interconnects and cabling The transport, DAC and peamp power supply were seated in a 3-level PXK rack. Here are comments:
............."In contrast, the Gershman Black Swans ($25k) with Lamm amplification, while a bit darkish in balance, was one of the Best Sounds of the Show, with superb bass (superb everything, actually, from top to bottom). It isn’t news anymore, but this is one terrific loudspeaker." -Jonathan Valin, http://www.avguide.com/news/2008/01/23/ces-2008-jonathan-valin-explores-the-world-of-high-end-loudspeakers-at-ces/7/
................."This was my favorite room for listening to classical music. There's definitely a magical synergy with the Lamm electronics driving Gershman Acoustics speakers. Present were the power, the weight and the airy sounds of symphony hall being recreated in this room. This was room captivated my imagination as I sat for a good while, enjoying the music. Music was presented via the Gershman Acoustics Black Swan speakers ($36,000) being driven by the Lamm M1.2 Reference ($21,690), ML1.1 ($22,890) amplifiers, with Lamm L2 Reference preamplifier ($14,790) and Lamm LP2 phono preamplifier ($6,990). Digital source was provided by a NeoDio (from France) NR Two Transport (5,800 euros) and NR Two DAC (5,800 euros). Vinyl was played on a Clearaudio Anniversary turntable with a Graham 2.2 tonearm. Kubala-Sosna cables were used throughout. Equipment stand and isolation bases were provided by Critical Mass." -Mike Wright, http://stereotimes.com/CES08MWa.shtml
Jonathan Valin’s Best of Show
................"Best Sounds: No single speaker stood way above the pack this year in my price range, so I’m going to name several Best Sounds of Show: the Magico Mini II, the Magico V3, the Quad Reference ESL-2905, the Cessaro Alpha 1, the Nola Baby Grand Reference, the Von Schweikert R-5, the McIntosh XRT1k, the Gershman Black Swans, the Wilson MAXX 2s, the Avalon Indras, the TAD Reference One and TAD Compact Reference One, and the Kharma 3.2.2s." -Jonathan Valin, http://www.avguide.com/news/2008/01/23/ces-2008-jonathan-valin-explores-the-world-of-high-end-loudspeakers-at-ces/10/