TU R NTAB LE S

@) Bauer Audio DPS 2

ermany is home to what istoday considered the world'sbest high-end audio show, inthe Bavarian city of Munich.But Munich is also the source

of a world-class turntable, designed andproduced by Bauer Audio.

The DPS (which is short for Der Plat-renspiefer, or The Record Player) is thebrainchild of Willi Baueri and has rackedup an enviable reputation in a high-endworld as fussy as it is fickle.

The DPS reflects a design approachthat addresses the basics with typicallyGermanic thoroughness, creating aplatform that allows the music itselfto come to the fore. Those basics

include resonance rejection and platterspeed stability.

The DPS consists of an aluminiumbase, which supports the AC synchronous

motor, as well as the multi-layeredplinth. The plinth itself is located onthree elastomer pucks. The platter isacrylic, supported on a tungsten shaftwith an inverted ruby bearing.

The bearing is immersed in a special,high-viscosity oil, and the tolerancesare so close that it is difficult turn the

platter without assistance from the ACmotor. Bauer's rationale is that you'drather have a powerful, high-torquemotor combating stylus drag-inducedspeed variations than relying on themomentum and inertia of a heavy platter.

A PVC screw-down puck ensures a goodmarriage between LP record and platter.

The DPS can accommodate almost anytonearm, although this may entail, at thevery least, a different acrylic top plateto accommodate the arm, and in moreextreme cases, might requf re modifications

to the main sandwiched plinth.The test unit was fitted with Bauer's

own tonearm, not surprisingly dubbedDer bonarm or (yes, you guessed it)The Tonearm, which combines a carbon

fibre wand and a fixed, extra-hard alloyheadshell with a unipivot bearing. Thetonearm is a totally original design, butIt follows the universally recognised Rebageometry, and you'll even spot the armlift as a Reba-sourced part.

The arm was equipped with Sumfko'stop-end Palo Santos Presentation, awood-bodied, low-output moving coilcartridge I'm not familiar wf th, butwhich comes with a reputation forsmooth refinement and fine detail.

With local DPS importer GuillaumeLemaire of Croak Audio having set up theturntable in the .4y Magazine listeningroom in less than 10 minutes, there was

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Imaging uis immaculate,uifh fhe 0PS accurafelq

little else for me to do but to sit downand listen.

Over the ensuing three or so weeks,partnered the DPS with Ayre's marvellousP5-xe phone stage, but tried various ampand speaker combinations, includingour stalwart Electrocompaniet Pl-2Dintegrated powering Dynaudio Focus 260floorstanders, and a sublime combinationof Primare 132 amp and B&W 805D MaseratiEditions (the latter featured in our coverreview this month).

Of the dozens of LPs that I spun duringthat period, my notes on some seemedto sum up the traits of the DPS moresuccinctly than others. So in an attemptto limit the length of this review to thepages allocated, I've stuck to those thatcut to the chase.

The Eagles sound taut, confident andfresh on One Of These Nights, whileserving up a combination of styles thatlinks R&B to rock, and country to pop.My vinyl copy, although not one ofthose audiophile specials, also soundspretty good.

The DPS treatment of this disc was

fast, articulate and immersive, withsurprising slam and impact. The deliverywas muscular and stnewy, with a punchy,succinctly delivered bass. The midrangeemanated with a smooth, almost coolassurance, and the trebles were cleanand lucid, with none of that so-calledanalogue warmth some might consider anessential frait of vinyl playback.

The performance was certainty revealing,with the DPS deck opening up the music,allowing the vocals of Mssrs. Frey andHenley to be projected with lyrical powerand presence. There was an essentialhonesty and musical believability tothe way the 'table read and presentedits wares.

Finer details such as the finger slideson the guitar frets and vocal inflectionson the whimsical 'l Wish You Peace ' wereaccurately revealed, but never to thedetriment of the overall integrity of theperformance -- it was simply a case ofthe DPS extracting more information, and

depicting ScRneillerhinscontextualisf ng that information better,resulting in a more engrossing, moreentertaining overall delivery.

For all its hackneyed abuse as ademonstration record, I'm still a fan ofDire Straits' Love Over (;ofd, and I'veheard it so many times, in both digitaland analogue domains, that there isn'tmuch that would surprise me about it.And yet, the DPS compelled me to listento it all over again, from start to finish.

Again, it was the deck's ability tocreate a wide-open view of the musicthat made me sit up and take notice:Mark Knopfler's guitar work was cleanand communicative, the vocals wellprojected on a broad, generously

physical Presence leffof centre ind in front offhe lirsrvioiins, while eachsection of [he orches]r acould be pin-pointedon that sountisfage.

VITAL sixesMotor

Speeds . . . . . . . - ' ' ' ' ' ' .Dr ve e e eP po q p tPPPe+QBB+.

Base Bn e p PP p B p BB aoo p

Plinth ........''''''.....Multi-Layered corkPlatter

Bearing......''-'''''--'''''..Suspenson.....pp+'--e. ees+ gq .ToiaebariTie! a pePnPPveeesee q 4 e eB++.

Dimensions(WxDxH)......'''''''''''......Weight . . . . . . . . ' ' ' ' ' ' .

High-torque AC synchronous33,3 and 45 rpm, adjustable

eeeqilPea&Plt eaP p en eeeaeeeBeltAluminium

foil and plywood sandwich, acrylic top plate.Acrylic

Inverted ruby, tungsten shaftThree-point, elastomer supports

Bauer.450 x 350 x 1 50 mm

13 kg

PRICEBauer Audio DPS 2......-'.....Bauer Audio DPS tonearm ...Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation cartridge

R69900R42900R39900

VERDICT

Really opens up the music with a delightful, engaging and accessible performance thatalways extracts more from the grooves than expected. Balanced, musically revealingdelivery that demands -- and gets -- rapt attention.

SUPPLIED BY Croak Audio Exploration083 565-1236

e-MAILWEBSITE

info@croak.co.zawww.croak.co.za

OUR RATING: 88 / 100

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@rendered soundstage, and the bassdelivered with almost percussive intensity.

One of the core reasons for the deck's

revealing nature was its very low noisefloor, which allowed the full scope of themusic to be brought to the fore. Microdetaf I,nuances and subtleties all contributed toa vivid sense of realism, and an almosttactile accessibility. There was a genuinesense of spot-on timing, and of spatialaccuracy, that added energy and dramato the delivery.

I have a soft spot for Beethoven'sb/folio Concerto No. 7, and specificallythe lyrically compelling performanceof this work by Wolfgang Schneiderhan,backed by the Berlin Philharmonic underthe watchful, never intrusive baton ofEugen Jochum.

The DPS revelled in the scale and

majesty of the music, creating a huge,

all-embracing soundscape, on which boththe bold strokes and the fine detailswere presented with unerring precisionand integrity.

The orchestra sounded authoritative

and regal: the tower registers presentedwith power an intent, but never to thedetriment of the finer hues and quieterpassages, while the ability of the deckto translate the dynamic sweeps andcrescendos made for riveting listening.

The violin solos sounded brilliantlyintense, allowing the full range andcharacter of the instrument to come tothe fore, while showcasing Schneiderhan'svirtuosity and insight. The interplaybetween soloist and orchestra was alwayssettled in favour of the former, but neverto the detriment of the Philharmonic'spowerful, even menacing presence.

Imaging was immaculate, with theDPS accurately depicting Schneiderhan 'sphysical presence left of centre and infront of the first violins, while each sectionof the orchestra could be pin-pointed onthat wide and deep soundstage. Theresult was an elevated sense of beingthere, of engaging with as much aslistening to the music.

The DPS 2 represents a fine piece ofaudio engineering, proving that meticulousdesign and construction are core aspectsof ultimate sonic performance andmusical integrity. Both the deck and f tsdelivery exude a purity of purpose anda clarity of execution that beneff t theauthenticity and the thrill of the listeningexperience.

In short, vinyl playback doesn't getmuch better than this.

Deon Schoeman

ssocialed EquipmenlAyre P5-xe phone stageEtectrocompaniet Pl-2D integrated amplifierPrimary 132 integrated amplifierB&W 805D Maserati Edition loudspeakersDynaudio Focus 260 loudspeakersKEF R500 loudspeakers

oftuareOne Of These NightsThe Eagles

18Eg BiaZBE Z.ove Over Go/dViolin Concerto No fin D Major E y!!!!!!lll?!!p!!yBeethoven

Jachum/Berlin Philharmonic

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