steveinaz
07-24-2008, 11:02 AM
Review: Placette Audio RVC passive line stage, 7/24/2008
Website: http://www.placetteaudio.com/
Connections: 1 set unbalanced inputs; 1 set unbalanced outputs; DC power connector.
Controls: Remote supplied (Magnavox universal), toggle switch on face plate for manual volume adjustment. LED’s indicate volume output, but it is done in a binary fashion. The output LED’s are fairly dim (THANK YOU) so they don’t distract.
Build: Looks better than it photographs. Nice build quality, heavier than I though it would be, top notch RCA jacks on the rear, substantial DC power supply (not a wall wart, but a box style that sits on the floor). PS has a DIN style connector. Very simple/elegant (if not sparce) appearance.
Related equipment (in order of connection): CEC CD-3300 transport, Belden 1694A dig coaxial cable, Benchmark DAC1, Kimber Hero 1mtr IC, Placette, Kimber Hero .5mtr IC, Parasound HCA-1500A, Kimber 8TC, Energy C-9 speakers.
Note on passives: For compatibility, you want your source(s) to have enough output to drive your amp to full spec, and a low output impedance. Your amp needs a sensitive input voltage, and high input impedance. My Benchmark DAC1 has a 2v output, at 30 ohms; my Parasound amp has a 1.2v input sensitivity (for full output) and a 30k ohm input impedance. A good match for a passive. It’s also a good idea to keep IC’s from your passive to your amp as short as possible.
Observations:
Forget what you may have experienced in the past running your system passively; anemic dynamics, overly sterile presentation. This is a definite departure from the norm. Have you ever heard a component so satisfying, that you didn’t want or feel the need to share your discovery? That’s where I was this week. First, I felt like I couldn’t present a review, and/or articulate, with the kind of credibility this level of component deserves; Second, the Placette was so musically “right” I felt no desire to justify its existence. So, in that light, here’s some notes from my listening sessions, draw your own conclusions:
- Exceptionally clean, musical, neutral, and airy; tons of space around performers.
- Every instrument, sound, vocal brought together in a fashion that doesn’t mask anything. Details are right there, no need to listen for them.
- Realistic sound plane that creates accurate soundstage depth/width.
- Anchored center soundstage, perfect balance of channels, no moving or shifting of performers.
- Delineated vocals and instruments, regardless of output level.
- Excellent tonal accuracy, organic, textured, and 3 dimensional.
- Sweeping dynamics within a black background.
- Volume increases sweep across the entire spectrum of sound; the music just gets larger and larger. Everything moves up in level as a whole, very linear.
- Bass, midrange, treble, are simply reference level. Bass is deep, controlled, impactful; midrange has an organic texture and 3 dimensional character that is incredibly real; and treble is superbly defined and simply glorious.
- Low level listening loses nothing; impactful, satisfying, smooth, and articulate.
Some nitpicks to share: (1) a $1000 passive should have a dedicated (built specifically for the unit) remote. I think the inclusion of a pre-programmed universal remote is borderline cheesy. (2) Though it doesn’t matter to me personally, I’m sure many would prefer a numerical representation of the output level, rather than the hokey binary display. (3) The RVC does not have a “MUTE” function, but it does turn down very quickly by holding the volume button down. These are all minor quibbles, but I felt they should be pointed out.
I’ve done many upgrades, tweaks and changes, some of them bringing some nice (albeit subtle) changes to my system. There’s nothing subtle about the Placette. The RVC does tons of wonderful things, all by simply getting out of the way, in all the correct ways. I’m not an electrical engineer, but I suspect the Vishay arrays and their implementation in this line stage are creating the magic by controlling input impedance so carefully, the music’s neutrality/linearity is maintained to the n’th degree. Is it worth the $1000 admission fee? Absolutely.
There it is. Take it for what it’s worth.
P.S. FWIW, my wife has nicknamed the Placette “Mighty Mouse.”
Website: http://www.placetteaudio.com/
Connections: 1 set unbalanced inputs; 1 set unbalanced outputs; DC power connector.
Controls: Remote supplied (Magnavox universal), toggle switch on face plate for manual volume adjustment. LED’s indicate volume output, but it is done in a binary fashion. The output LED’s are fairly dim (THANK YOU) so they don’t distract.
Build: Looks better than it photographs. Nice build quality, heavier than I though it would be, top notch RCA jacks on the rear, substantial DC power supply (not a wall wart, but a box style that sits on the floor). PS has a DIN style connector. Very simple/elegant (if not sparce) appearance.
Related equipment (in order of connection): CEC CD-3300 transport, Belden 1694A dig coaxial cable, Benchmark DAC1, Kimber Hero 1mtr IC, Placette, Kimber Hero .5mtr IC, Parasound HCA-1500A, Kimber 8TC, Energy C-9 speakers.
Note on passives: For compatibility, you want your source(s) to have enough output to drive your amp to full spec, and a low output impedance. Your amp needs a sensitive input voltage, and high input impedance. My Benchmark DAC1 has a 2v output, at 30 ohms; my Parasound amp has a 1.2v input sensitivity (for full output) and a 30k ohm input impedance. A good match for a passive. It’s also a good idea to keep IC’s from your passive to your amp as short as possible.
Observations:
Forget what you may have experienced in the past running your system passively; anemic dynamics, overly sterile presentation. This is a definite departure from the norm. Have you ever heard a component so satisfying, that you didn’t want or feel the need to share your discovery? That’s where I was this week. First, I felt like I couldn’t present a review, and/or articulate, with the kind of credibility this level of component deserves; Second, the Placette was so musically “right” I felt no desire to justify its existence. So, in that light, here’s some notes from my listening sessions, draw your own conclusions:
- Exceptionally clean, musical, neutral, and airy; tons of space around performers.
- Every instrument, sound, vocal brought together in a fashion that doesn’t mask anything. Details are right there, no need to listen for them.
- Realistic sound plane that creates accurate soundstage depth/width.
- Anchored center soundstage, perfect balance of channels, no moving or shifting of performers.
- Delineated vocals and instruments, regardless of output level.
- Excellent tonal accuracy, organic, textured, and 3 dimensional.
- Sweeping dynamics within a black background.
- Volume increases sweep across the entire spectrum of sound; the music just gets larger and larger. Everything moves up in level as a whole, very linear.
- Bass, midrange, treble, are simply reference level. Bass is deep, controlled, impactful; midrange has an organic texture and 3 dimensional character that is incredibly real; and treble is superbly defined and simply glorious.
- Low level listening loses nothing; impactful, satisfying, smooth, and articulate.
Some nitpicks to share: (1) a $1000 passive should have a dedicated (built specifically for the unit) remote. I think the inclusion of a pre-programmed universal remote is borderline cheesy. (2) Though it doesn’t matter to me personally, I’m sure many would prefer a numerical representation of the output level, rather than the hokey binary display. (3) The RVC does not have a “MUTE” function, but it does turn down very quickly by holding the volume button down. These are all minor quibbles, but I felt they should be pointed out.
I’ve done many upgrades, tweaks and changes, some of them bringing some nice (albeit subtle) changes to my system. There’s nothing subtle about the Placette. The RVC does tons of wonderful things, all by simply getting out of the way, in all the correct ways. I’m not an electrical engineer, but I suspect the Vishay arrays and their implementation in this line stage are creating the magic by controlling input impedance so carefully, the music’s neutrality/linearity is maintained to the n’th degree. Is it worth the $1000 admission fee? Absolutely.
There it is. Take it for what it’s worth.
P.S. FWIW, my wife has nicknamed the Placette “Mighty Mouse.”