I purchased and received a Puffin this week and these are my first reactions....
Overall, I find the Puffin very impressive. Firstly, the Puffin does not fit neatly into a device category. Its purpose is (at least) threefold: It headlines as a MM and MC phono preamp, it is an audio sound processor and it serves as an efficient system analyzer. Yes, it is a tweaker's dream (or curse--you know who you are). The instructions list no less than 16 parameters to control. Parks calls it a Phono DSP or digital signal processor, however, it's designed to be put into the signal chain after ANY source, such as a CD player, tuner or other. A turntable may have been what it was primarily designed for, but as I quickly found out, it offers much more. While I do not own, it seems comparable to the Jolida Foz.
In today's world of, "shorter is better" signal paths, this piece of equipment stands apart. After all, digital to analog to digital to analog is a bit of a mouthful. Could this approach really work?
When I stopped scratching my head, I hooked it up to my CD player. The last time I had a DSP device was a 90's Yamaha DSP-A1. I quickly realized that sound delays and "hall" effects weren't my cup of tea. Ever since then, I've quickly turned off any such tricks to "better sound". So here I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to anything with the letters dsp on it. Well, I can attest this dsp isn't your father's dsp. None of the features are gimmicky. In the digital domain it seems you can find a sonic alchemy.
So what does it do? The short (non-technical) answer for me is that it takes shortcomings (some minor, some large) in your audio system and transparently corrects them. It improves the sonic character without adding annoying artifacts. It points out flaws you may not have noticed. Missing some bass? No problem. Two-dimensional soundstage? No problem. Too bright or too cold? No problem. Recording out of phase? No problem. Balance issue? Fixed. Need more, clean gain? With a 76db range, gain aplenty!
I use the words, "transparently corrects" to mean I sense no compromise in the audio signal integrity by introducing this device. It only seems to add good things. Moreover, you are in full control over adding more or less. If a feature does not apply, leave it "off." But my bet is that you'll listen and be surprised.
If you wanted, you could use this as a nicely implemented RIAA equalizer only. But why?
How does it preform as a phono preamp? For my system and with my cartridges, I couldn't be happier. Within 15 minutes I felt I was listening to the best my equipment has to offer. It biggest selling point may be the Puffin's ability to accept a wide range of equipment (low output MC to high output digital players) and many formats (from 78rpm records to SACDs) and works to optimize your system to your personal tastes.
My only big criticism is with the ability to have only one source connected at a time to the Puffin and the need to dig into the controls to find your "user" settings for each device.
This is my first Parks Audio product and I am happy to recommend.
What I listened with:
PrimaLuna tube integrated, McIntosh solid state, tube CD player, CD transport with multibit DAC. My speakers are Martin Logan electrostatics, Monitor Audio Gold ribbon and Dahlquist 20.
Overall, I find the Puffin very impressive. Firstly, the Puffin does not fit neatly into a device category. Its purpose is (at least) threefold: It headlines as a MM and MC phono preamp, it is an audio sound processor and it serves as an efficient system analyzer. Yes, it is a tweaker's dream (or curse--you know who you are). The instructions list no less than 16 parameters to control. Parks calls it a Phono DSP or digital signal processor, however, it's designed to be put into the signal chain after ANY source, such as a CD player, tuner or other. A turntable may have been what it was primarily designed for, but as I quickly found out, it offers much more. While I do not own, it seems comparable to the Jolida Foz.
In today's world of, "shorter is better" signal paths, this piece of equipment stands apart. After all, digital to analog to digital to analog is a bit of a mouthful. Could this approach really work?
When I stopped scratching my head, I hooked it up to my CD player. The last time I had a DSP device was a 90's Yamaha DSP-A1. I quickly realized that sound delays and "hall" effects weren't my cup of tea. Ever since then, I've quickly turned off any such tricks to "better sound". So here I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to anything with the letters dsp on it. Well, I can attest this dsp isn't your father's dsp. None of the features are gimmicky. In the digital domain it seems you can find a sonic alchemy.
So what does it do? The short (non-technical) answer for me is that it takes shortcomings (some minor, some large) in your audio system and transparently corrects them. It improves the sonic character without adding annoying artifacts. It points out flaws you may not have noticed. Missing some bass? No problem. Two-dimensional soundstage? No problem. Too bright or too cold? No problem. Recording out of phase? No problem. Balance issue? Fixed. Need more, clean gain? With a 76db range, gain aplenty!
I use the words, "transparently corrects" to mean I sense no compromise in the audio signal integrity by introducing this device. It only seems to add good things. Moreover, you are in full control over adding more or less. If a feature does not apply, leave it "off." But my bet is that you'll listen and be surprised.
If you wanted, you could use this as a nicely implemented RIAA equalizer only. But why?
How does it preform as a phono preamp? For my system and with my cartridges, I couldn't be happier. Within 15 minutes I felt I was listening to the best my equipment has to offer. It biggest selling point may be the Puffin's ability to accept a wide range of equipment (low output MC to high output digital players) and many formats (from 78rpm records to SACDs) and works to optimize your system to your personal tastes.
My only big criticism is with the ability to have only one source connected at a time to the Puffin and the need to dig into the controls to find your "user" settings for each device.
This is my first Parks Audio product and I am happy to recommend.
What I listened with:
PrimaLuna tube integrated, McIntosh solid state, tube CD player, CD transport with multibit DAC. My speakers are Martin Logan electrostatics, Monitor Audio Gold ribbon and Dahlquist 20.