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Leak
2000
Clearly,
this has been developed from the earlier and highly successful Leak
Stereofetic tuner, and their Delta range of amplifiers. 30W per
channel is available, in two selectable
output loudspeaker pairs, which can also be connected in a pseudo
quad arrangement with a push button, allowing different channel
signals to be fed to the rear speakers. A stereo headphone jack
provides a reasonable level for high impedance headphones, but much
too high a level for 8 ohm ones (damage to the phones and your ears
is possible!). A three core mains lead is provided, and two AC
outlets (one switched) with European type round two pin sockets. All
the input and output connectors are the appropriate DIN type, no
phono sockets being mounted at all. Record output levels can be
switched optimally for DIN or phono recorders. Inputs include pick
up, auxiliary, cassette and mains recorder, the cassette input/
output not having monitoring facility. Balance, bass and treble
controls have helpful centre indents, but feel rather rough. A series
of flat push buttons incorporate a 12dB/octave treble filter (-3dB at
5.5kHz) FM mute (with variable mute pot) AFC, stereo width narrowing
(FM), mono/stereo, input selection, loudness, tape monitor and
speaker selection. A LW and MW AM section is also fitted, but no
ferrite rod is available. A 75 ohm AMA coax socket is complemented by
a 300 ohm balanced 2 pin one, and a separate AM terminal is fitted.
The unit is housed in a wooden case with a metal base.
Although
all normal laboratory measurements showed the amplifier section to
be very good the subjective quality was at times rather hard,
although bass frequencies seemed pretty good. The IM performance, for
example, measured exceptionally well. A rather high dc offset was
noted on one out put channel. The tracking of all the controls was at
least reasonable. The treble filter was excellent. The pick up input
performance measured extremely well, and had an excellent s/n ratio
with a good clipping margin (two pick-up sensitivities switchable).
All the general input and output impedances and levels were extremely
well compromised, and compatible with sensitivity switching
throughout. The tone controls had quite a wide range of adjustment
and were well liked. For special uses the two outputs can be combined
to give a very high power of 91W in to an 8 ohm load. A break point
is provided (five pole DIN) for insertion of external equaliser. The
loudness control affects only the bass, and was well liked. The
amplifier became rather warm in use.
The
tuner's RF sensitivities all measured extremely well, but the
adjacent and alternate channel measurements were only average. The
image response, RF, IM and local oscillator radiation were all poor.
The capture ratio and limiting threshold were really excellent, and
whilst the decoder gave amazing crosstalk figures at 1kHz, they
deteriorated to average at high frequencies. Whilst the receiver was
very good on weaker mono and stereo signals, strong stereo ones
reproduced with only a very average s/n ratio. The multiplex filter
was exceptionally good, as was response, although we detected slight
over brightness in the presence region. A centre zero tuning meter is
located behind the tuning dial, which was fairly accurate. The tuning
knob was disliked, and was rather stiff. Subjectively the tuner
sounded very good although the stereo distortion figures were just a
little higher than average.
In
general I liked this receiver, and it can be recommended, although I
would like to see a quieter and better decoder fitted. The marginally
below average amplifier sound quality showed up in some complex
charts, producing noticeable IM peaks in the presence and bass
region. If bought at a discount, reasonable value for money with
excellent electromagnetic compatibility.
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This article featured in the Hi-Fi Choice 'Consumer
Guide' 1976 and was written be Angus McKenzie. We thank Hi-Fi Choice
for their kind permission to display this review.
http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/ |
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