My search for an SS integrated ended when I first heard E-650 in my system. The E-650 not only musically satisfying but transparent enough to let other components shine through in my system. Despite of its modest power, my Tannoy Canterbury’s have blossomed from its pure class A 30W. The bass is outstanding, with a wonderful combination of solidity in the lowermost octaves along with excellent control and definition in the mid and upper bass region. In addition to this solidity and weight, the Accuphase allows Canterbury’s 15” woofer to beautifully reproduce the texture of the bass along with its attacks and decays in a way that brings the instruments to life. I can’t stress this enough but getting the proper ‘bass’ is so important for the foundation of music.
The E-650 delivers just the right amount of sweetness and purity in the mids and highs that very few integrated possess. There’s something about the sound of a pure Class A watts that is particularly beguiling. Class A in general, doesn’t sound like Class AB solid-state nor does it sound like tubes. The virtues of E-650 Class A operation were readily apparent on a range of instruments. The E-650’s smooth yet suave midrange and treble beautifully renders a natural and unfatiguing tonality.
The E-650 liquidity with vocals is also unmistakable. I could easily pick out the dense texture and richness of vocal harmonies on one hand and its resolution and transparency on the other. The voices blends beautifully with arrangements without congealing; the rendering of space is exemplary not just in width and depth but more importantly in the precise placement of images within the soundstage. Notably, instruments are presented as individual objects spatially and texturally, making it easy to clearly hear individual parts within the whole. That’s one quality that a meticulously designed component does well; to hear it to this degree from an integrated amplifier is quite astonishing and rewarding. Once you hear the E-650 textural beauty, resolution and liquidity, it becomes very hard to walk away :-)
The Reed 3P tonearm is a standout design in the analog world, especially for vinyl enthusiasts who prioritize mechanical precision, sonic refinement, and ease of real-time adjustability.
Description:
Cocobolo - 10.5"
Finewire C37+Cryo tonearm/interconnect phono cable with KLEI RCA plugs
Garrard 301 Statement oil bearing design was a radical departure and subsequent drastic improvement from stock offerings, the inverted large bore bearing and modular Copper hybrid, internally damped platter design takes inner resolution, overall noise floor and L/R channel separation to a whole other level. Each set of inverted bearing and modular platters are precision cnc milled using solely state of the art equipment under strict AS9100d guidlines, designed in collaboration with tribology and hydrodynamics consultants from Purdue University Department of Engineering.
Specifications:
Aerospace Grade, aged, heat treated, stabilized & tempered Magnesium Aluminum based Alloy + Pure Copper + Multilayered polymer Internally damped high mass oversized platter design for improved flywheel affect and reduced noise floor.
Hydrodynamic oil bearing Inverted type, Austenitic Stainless steel and polished Hardened steel, certified Grade 5 Sapphire ball, micro contact point and custom made, ground sintered bronze sleeve bushings with low viscosity oil impregnated cavity.
Austenitic stainless steel thrust cap with advanced military grade Polymer featuring ultra low coefficient of friction and superior dimensional stability.
The hybrid platter’s blend of aerospace-grade alloys, pure copper, and internal damping layers, along with the AS9100D-level machining standards, really places this in a class of its own.
It’s exciting to be part of the evolution of a classic like the Garrard 301 while benefiting from such a sophisticated modern reinterpretation. I’m even more grateful now to have secured this bearing and platter set before the transition to the magnetically augmented line.
The Etsuro Bordeaux is one of the most refined and technologically advanced high-end stereo moving coil (MC) cartridges money can buy.
Given my setup (Reed 3P, focus on analog emotionality, sensitivity to sibilance or dryness), the Etsuro Bordeaux turned out to be a spectacular match. I’d describe the Bordeaux as a cartridge that balances hyper-resolution with emotional depth. It offers:
What stands out most is its ability to render fine detail without losing warmth or body. It’s not analytical — it’s revealing and musical. Think refinement without sterility.
A cartridge that tells the truth, but with poetry.
The Ramar Record Brush, designed and handcrafted by Rangel Vasev in Berlin, Germany is another fine example of what happens when an artisan focuses on making the best.
Having tried at least half, there isn’t anything else that comes to close to build and effectiveness of Ramar record brush. Yes, it is expensive but the investment pays off in spades once you start using the brush. I clean all my records before playing and Ramar does a fabulous job of picking up dust, pollen and fine airborne particles.
A premium accessory designed for vinyl enthusiasts who seek a secure and elegant solution for handling records during playback, cleaning or storage.
A slick tool designed to address the common issue of undersized center holes in vinyl.
Made with finely textured, open-cell silicone foam, this mat has unsurpassed vibration-absorbing characteristics and no resonant qualities to discolor the music. Records are thoroughly decoupled from unwanted platter micro-vibration. Available in a variety of thicknesses and diameters to fit almost any turntable.
A black elastomer "donut" on top of the white foam base reduces vinyl/stylus feedback and eliminates lateral slippage. Also provides for recessed label area and outer edge lead-in. Completely non-tacky, records lift right off the mat, while the underlying foam holds firmly to the platter (records can be lifted off while the platter is turning).
