For the No. 35, a 7.7-kilo (17-pound) toroidal transformer enables the amplifier circuits to deliver 900 watts of power through a 12-inch (305 mm) carbon-fiber cone with an inverted center cap, integrated into a die-cast alloy chassis.
Weighing 59 kilograms, this subwoofer can extend down to 17 Hz (at -6 dB) and features a dual parametric equalizer, as well as compatibility with line array systems should you wish to stack multiple units on top of one another for each channel. Numerous XLR and even RCA connections are located on the rear panel, and each subwoofer can be used individually or paired in stereo. The European price is 10 990 €.
Reference No. 36
Weighing 91.8 kilos, the No. 36 makes an even stronger impression with its 74.3 cm width, in an enclosure that, like that of the No. 35, retains a certain softness thanks to its rounded rear corners –whereas all the manufacturer’s other models are cubic or rectangular.
On this model, the carbon-fiber diaphragm measures 15 inches (38 cm) and the transformer weighs 8.8 kilograms (19.5 pounds). The lowest measured frequency drops another 2 Hz (to 15 Hz) and can be delivered with 1,000 watts of power. The feet are just as robust as the chassis, to which a wire grille can be added to cover the front panel.
The price is 12 990 € per unit—multiply that by two to install a pair… and by six to create a Line Array system.
Between the new X2—with its new Master Discrete DAC FPGA-based converter—and the T3X (see review in VU#59 FR), which uses Sabre ES9028PRO chips, there seemed to be an opportunity for an intermediate model.
Thus, the Hong Kong-based manufacturer is reviving its S Series with the S2 network player, featuring digital-to-analog conversion derived from the X1 and the Sabre ES9038PRO chip, used separately on each channel in a perfectly symmetrical configuration.
To keep the price reasonable, the linear power supply with dual toroidal transformers is fully shielded, but remains integrated into the main chassis, which is nearly identical in width (35 cm) and depth (38 cm) to that of the U2, though significantly taller (10.7 cm).
A new processor enables even more precise processing of digital data, while redesigned inputs now offer an SFP port in addition to the RJ45 (1000Base-T), USB-B ports, coaxial S/PDIF, and optical TOSLINK.
And to ensure the highest possible reliability of the analog signal derived from the Femto-clock-controlled digital stream, the output stage –which is also fully dual-mono– incorporates the same Lundahl LL7401 transformers as those found in the reference players.
Of course, all the most popular streaming platforms are supported, from Qobuz and Spotify Connect to Audirvāna, including Amazon Music, JPlay, KKBOX, and even Plex. As always, the finish is available in black or silver, with a price for Europe yet to be determined.
The new Mission series was unveiled a few months ago, but we waited until it arrived in Europe before writing about it –and then we almost forgot that it’s actually been available since this summer. With three products, the 778 series consists of an integrated amplifier and two sources: a streamer and a CD transport.
Mission 778X Amplifier Heavily inspired by the original from the 1980s, the 778X features a compact, shoebox-sized chassis and a neo-retro design that showcases LEDs and two knobs for input selection and volume control.
However, there’s no doubt about the product’s modernity, as it features not only three pairs of analogical RCA inputs (including an MM phono input) but also no fewer than five digital inputs. For these inputs (optical, coaxial, USB, and Bluetooth 5.0), a conversion circuit uses an ES9018K2M DAC chip, capable of decoding up to 384 kHz PCM and DSD256.
The Class AB output delivers 45 W into 8 ohms and 65 W into 4 ohms. This integrated amplifier is available in gray or black, both priced at 699 €.
778S Streamer If you would like to pair it with a higher-end DAC and a dedicated streamer, the 778S network player is for you. This player still uses a Sabre conversion chip, but from a higher-end series –precisely the ES9038Q2M. It can therefore play back PCM streams at sampling rates up to 768 kHz/32-bit and DSD512.
Housed in a half-size chassis, you can output audio streams either digitally (coaxial or optical) or analogical, with not only a pair of RCA terminals –perfect for connecting to the 778X– but also a pair of XLR terminals for connecting to high-end amplifiers.
In addition to being compatible with most platforms, including Tidal and Qobuz Connect, the 778S is also Roon Ready and supports AirPlay 2. It can also serve as a hub thanks to its USB-A ports. Developed in collaboration with Silent Angel, this streamer can connect to the network via either an RJ45 connection or directly via Wi-Fi. However, it does not offer Bluetooth. It is priced at 949 €.
778CDT Transport And if you still want to listen to your CDs, the 778CDT is designed to be just a transport, on the assumption that you’ll inevitably connect it to one of the other two devices described here, or to an amplifier from another brand with a built-in DAC.
Without a DAC to avoid duplication (or even triplication), the 778CDT focuses solely on mechanical processing and primarily aims to reduce jitter using an ultra-fast TCXO clock. Like the streamer, it features a small LED display on the front panel and boasts a striking neo-retro design. It comes with a remote control and is available in grey or black for 549 €.
The new cables in TiGLON’s top-of-the-line White Tiger and Golden Dragon series feature a new shielding made from pure magnesium.
White Tiger Modulation Extremely lightweight and highly resistant to vibrations, this material is successfully integrated into the jacket of the new TPL-GT3000R-WT RCA and TPL-GT3000X-WT XLR modulation cables thanks to a proprietary manufacturing process patented by the Japanese company. A D-REN jacket helps dampen resonances, while the patented “Photon Shield” shielding is maintained around it, in addition to the shielding surrounding the magnesium.
Note that these cables are intended exclusively for international markets and are therefore not available in Japan; they use Furutech CF-601M NCF(R) and CF-602F NCF(R) connectors and ultra-high-purity copper. Imported into France by Tecsart, they are priced at 2 212 € for 1 m and 2 580 € for 1.5 m, available in both XLR and RCA versions.
Golden Dragon Jumper & Ground Also featuring magnesium shielding, the TSL-J100-GD jumpers consist of a sheet of this material, as well as a D-Ren sheath to eliminate lateral and longitudinal vibrations. On this model, the DF-OFC copper is treated with the new H.S.E. Infinite Mode technology, which eliminates the cable’s directionality. Terminals can be spade or banana plugs.
Following the same design philosophy, the TSL-E100-GD ground cable incorporates the same processes and materials, starting with DF-OFC (Dip-Forming Oxygen-Free Copper) and magnesium. At the ends, the AET terminals are plated with rare metals. Prices in Europe have not yet been announced.
In the same category and with the same quest for the ideal analog sound as the recent Audio Technica AT-MCD1 and Ortofon MC Vertex, or the more established Koetsu Platinum and Etsuro Urushi Gold, Japan’s Dynavector adds its own contribution to the field with the XV Ultima.
Like the XV Prima, this new ultimate MC cartridge employs ultra-high-purity annealed iron and ALNICO magnets, arranged around an extremely fine copper coil positioned on either side of a cross-shaped armature. Housed in a machined aluminum and laminated bamboo chassis, the XV Ultima features a V-shaped configuration with four large ALNICO magnets at the top and four smaller ones at the bottom.
Thanks to this design, the signal from the four coils passes through a flux damper before being isolated to a separate magnet for each coil, then passes through an equalizer system coupled to four additional magnets. This method allows the left and right signals to be restructured with minimal interference, delivering the purest possible sine wave to the tonearm cables.
Despite the XV Ultima’s high-end positioning, a boron cantilever was chosen over a diamond one, primarily for its light weight. A Line Contact PF (PathFinder) diamond stylus with a radius of 7 µm is attached to it. With a weight of 12 g, an output voltage of 0.32 mV, an internal impedance of 24 ohms, and a recommended load impedance of around 75 Ω, the Dynavector XV Ultima requires a suitable setup—for the tonearm, turntable, and phono preamp alike.
This overall quality seems evident, given its price tag of 9 299 € in Europe. After getting a chance to try it out on a V.Y.G.E.R turntable at Audio Émotion near Paris, we hope to get our hands on it again soon to provide an in-depth review in a dedicated test report, to be published in the magazine in the coming months.
