Sonic DNA Series - Vol. 05: Bozak CMA10-2DLA
Electronic Audit & Measurement Evaluation Report: “Buzzy Beck Restored Bozak: Vintage Hi-Fi Edition”
| Metric | Measurement / Status |
|---|---|
| Measured Delay | 0.00 ms (Absolute Synchronization) |
| Coherence | ~100% (Proof of Perfect Restoration) |
| Impulse Response | Needle-sharp spike; Exceptional transient resolution. |
| Phase Response | Ultra-Stable; Smooth single-curve trajectory. |
| Magnitude Response | 27dB Spectral Delta (Steep Upward Gloss). |
1. Objective
To conduct a precise electronic audit of the Bozak CMA10-2DLA, a masterpiece of analog history, fully restored to peak performance by Buzzy Beck. This report visualizes how an authentic restoration bridges the gap between 1980s analog warmth and modern high-fidelity transparency, revealing the scientific secrets behind its "Golden" sound signature.
To ensure the highest level of audit integrity and to avoid the pitfalls of "superficial metrics" (as critiqued by GoldenSound), this measurement adheres to the following rigorous standards:
FFT Settings: MTW (Multi-Time Window) with 1/48 Oct smoothing for high-resolution analysis of the noise floor and harmonic structure across all frequency bands.
Averaging: Stable FIFO averaging (16x) to eliminate transient noise and reveal the true electronic behavior.
Host Noise Isolation: The use of the Prism Sound Lyra 2 as the measurement interface ensures complete galvanic isolation from the PC host noise, providing a "Pristine" measurement environment that eliminates jitter and electronic contamination.
Holistic Assessment: We reject the reliance on a single "SINAD" score. Instead, we analyze the relationship between Magnitude, Phase, and Impulse response to understand the "Sonic DNA" in a musical context.
2. Scientific Rigor & Measurement Standards (Audit Integrity)
3. Listening Impression
The Buzzy Beck restored Bozak presents itself as a Hi-Fi instrument with exceptional clarity. The mid-high frequencies are remarkably clean and transparent, providing a stunning "gloss" to the music, yet they remain pleasant and non-fatiguing. This unit defies the vintage stereotype of "thick and muddy" sound, instead delivering a tight, controlled low-end and an airy, crystalline soundstage.
4. Equipment & Environmental Conditions
Mixer Under Test: Bozak CMA10-2DLA (Buzzy Beck Restored)
Audio Interface: Prism Sound Lyra 2
Software: Smaart Suite (v9) / Sample Rate: 96 kHz
Test Signal: Pink Noise (-15 dB)
[ Smaart Suite (PC) ]
│ (USB, etc.)
▼
[ Lyra 2 (Audio Interface) ]
│
─ Analog Output AO 1 (Pink Noise / Preset 2)
│ │ < 1.5m Belden 88760 RCA cable (with TRS adapter at AO 1 side) >
│ └───> [Bozak CMA10-2DLA] Input (LINE IN)
│ │
│ ▼ (Passes through Buzzy Beck restored internal circuitry)
│ │
│ [Bozak CMA10-2DLA] Output (MASTER OUT)
│ │ < 5m Belden 88760 cable (XLR to TRS) >
│ └───> Lyra 2 Analog Input AI 1 (M: Measurement)
│
└─ Analog Output AO 2 (Pink Noise / Preset 2)
│
│< 5m Belden 88760 loopback > < with [XLR(F) -> RCA] & [RCA -> TRS] adapters at AI 2 side >
│
└───> Lyra 2 Analog Input AI 2 (R: Reference)
6. Cable Routing Diagram (Standard Test Configuration)
7. Analysis: Data Integrity (Coherence)
The Coherence (red trace) remains pinned at 100% across the audible spectrum. This is the scientific proof of a flawless restoration. Buzzy Beck’s work has eliminated the signal degradation and instability typically found in 40-year-old circuits, ensuring that the mixer's Sonic DNA is delivered with absolute reliability and a remarkably high Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio.
The synchronization test yielded a delay of exactly 0.00 ms. This perfect temporal alignment ensures that the rhythmic drive and "punch" of the music are preserved with absolute integrity.
8. Analysis: Temporal Synchronization
The Magnitude graph reveals an aggressive and deliberate spectral design. While the high-end reaches a +12dB gloss at 16kHz, the low-end (31.5Hz) exhibits a gentle roll-off down to -15dB. This creates a massive 27dB difference between the bass and the extreme highs. This steep upward-sloping curve is the scientific reason the low-end feels "Tight" and controlled, while the overall soundstage is infused with an overwhelming sense of "air" and "transparency."
9. Analysis: Magnitude Response - The 27dB Spectral Delta
11. Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Intentional Design
The Buzzy Beck restored Bozak CMA10-2DLA is a testament to the "Brutal Honesty" of the 1980s engineering met with modern restoration mastery. By maintaining 100% coherence and unbroken phase stability across a 27dB Magnitude delta, it achieves a "Sonic DNA" that is both technically improbable and musically divine. It is the ultimate Hi-Fi tool for those who seek the "Golden Gloss" of analog history without compromising on modern precision.
Prepared by Psycho Acoustic Lab - Electronic Audit Series Vol. 05
Impulse Response: Crystalline Transients
The impulse response shows a needle-sharp spike with a total absence of internal reflections or smearing. This transient precision is the reason for the mixer's "crystalline" character, allowing instruments to sit distinctly and vividly within the soundstage.
Phase Response: The Science of "Pleasant Clarity"
In analog circuit theory, a massive 27dB Magnitude shift usually triggers severe phase rotation (Phase Wraps) and group delay. However, the Bozak’s Phase graph remains extraordinarily stable. Despite the dramatic upward slope in Magnitude, the Phase stays within a single ±180° window, forming a smooth, continuous curve without a single wrap. This "unbroken phase" is the definitive scientific proof of why the Bozak remains pleasant and non-fatiguing even with such high-frequency energy. It delivers clarity without the "stinging" timing errors found in less refined circuits.
10. Analysis: Sonic DNA - Visualizing the Magic
