Zellaton Stage Loudspeakers
December 10, 2018 Comments Off on Zellaton Stage Loudspeakers
“More to my tastes, the Zells excel at reproducing classical music (including power orchestral), jazz, acoustic instruments, electric guitars, synths, and voices of all stripes. When I listened to MTT conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, the big tympani strikes almost jolted me out of my seat. The leading edges of transients were sudden and crisp, with no smearing. Both micro- and macro-dynamic swings were thrilling, with subtle details emerging across a broad and deep soundstage. As in a live concert, instruments had natural timbre and palpable presence.”
Apollo System Speakers Lamm Amplifiers
December 10, 2018 Comments Off on Apollo System Speakers Lamm Amplifiers
Bryston Middle T Active Loudspeaker System $8685Review
December 8, 2018 Comments Off on Bryston Middle T Active Loudspeaker System $8685Review
“The soundstage of “Thunderstruck,” from AC/DC’s The Razor’s Edge (16/44.1 FLAC, Sony/Tidal), shrank a bit in width and depth through the MLs, but the outlines of Brian Young’s abrasive, forceful voice were a bit more sharp. Both speakers were incredibly dynamic, but I give the slight edge to the MLs driven by the 1000Wpc Anthem monoblocks. It might have been a different outcome had the Bryston system included some of their more powerful amplifiers, but that would have substantially increased the system’s cost. The MLs’ bass was plenty deep and powerful, but the Brystons, with their woofers directly coupled to dedicated amplification of 300Wpc, simply hit harder and faster. When Angus Young’s frenetic guitar intro was joined by Chris Slade’s drums, the Brystons absolutely rocked it out with a punchier sound that better kept pace with the lightning-fast guitars — totally air-guitar inspiring. The highs of the Bryston system were exceedingly clear and detailed, but didn’t quite sparkle like those of the very best speakers — for example, the Paradigm Persona B ($7000/pair). Nor was the midrange as shockingly clear through the Brystons as through the Personas, though it was still arrestingly transparent. But the bookshelf Personas couldn’t touch the floorstanding Brystons in the bass, where the Middle Ts were nearly full range — in that area they not only bettered the Personas’ bass, they were as fast and dynamic as anything I’ve heard at anywhere near their price.”
Amphion Helium 510 Speakers $1,130 Review
December 7, 2018 Comments Off on Amphion Helium 510 Speakers $1,130 Review
“Even slightly beyond reasonable and prudent limits, the 510s give solid, defined, tuneful bass response, providing an excellent foundation to your selections. Tracking through a series of Kruder & Dorfmeister and Tosca tracks, the 510s prove that they can dig deep.
The 510s exceptionally clean midrange will keep vocal music lovers glued to their chair. The combination of smoothness and three-dimensional imaging lends an extra dose of realism. Listening to a major portion of Ella Fitzgerald performing the Cole Porter song book is wonderful, with Ms. Fitzgerald’s voice having the right combination of extension, smoothness, and clarity. Precious few budget speakers can deliver this level of tonal perfection.”
Elac Adante AF-61 loudspeaker $5000 Review
December 1, 2018 Comments Off on Elac Adante AF-61 loudspeaker $5000 Review
“The EQ, of course, affects only frequencies below the crossover frequency to the subwoofer (I chose 80Hz). And most audiophile preamps don’t offer the ability to deal with a subwoofer, which is best used when both high- and low-pass filters are available. You can drive the AF-61s full range and simply cross over the subwoofer itself at a low-pass frequency selectable in the app, but that could well make it more difficult to blend the outputs of the sub and AF-61s. This arrangement, in which both the main speakers and the subwoofer overlap across a wide range in the midbass, is one reason audiophiles often have problems incorporating a sub, abandon the effort, and become convinced that subwoofers have no place in audiophilia.”
Ultimate VAC, Von Schweikert Show System
November 28, 2018 Comments Off on Ultimate VAC, Von Schweikert Show System
Totem Acoustic Sky Tower Loudspeakers $2250 Review
November 28, 2018 Comments Off on Totem Acoustic Sky Tower Loudspeakers $2250 Review
“But they didn’t sound the same. Through the Monitors, the second, final, “hidden” version of “Possession” on Sarah McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (16-bit/44.1kHz AIFF, Nettwerk), sounded cooler than through the Totems. As the piano’s hammers struck the strings, they conveyed more detail than the Skys, which sounded fuller. Through the 200s, McLachlan’s voice sounded superb — I could more easily hear such nuances as the rhythm of her breathing and movements of her mouth. Through the Totems, McLachlan’s voice seemed to pop into the room, more upfront in the mix, surrounded by more space. As her voice rose into her upper register, it was as if the ceiling in my room disappeared — her voice seemed to soar above it. Its incredible presence through the Totem Skys helped convey a haunting character that lent itself well to this song’s dark subject matter.”
BOWERS & WILKINS 603 FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKERS
November 26, 2018 Comments Off on BOWERS & WILKINS 603 FLOOR STANDING LOUDSPEAKERS
“Bowers & Wilkins’ 603 is absolutely the floorstander of choice for under $3000. I seriously doubt that you will find a floor standing speaker with the same brand heritage, beautiful midrange tone, detail, soundstage and versatility, for less than five grand.
The addition of a subwoofer just adds to the experience, but unless you are using the 603 floor standing loudspeaker in a home cinema or you prefer a bit more bass, you’ll love them just as much without it.”
Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic
November 26, 2018 Comments Off on Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic
Focal Kanta No. 2 Loudspeaker $10,000 Review
November 24, 2018 Comments Off on Focal Kanta No. 2 Loudspeaker $10,000 Review
“The possibility of an impedance mismatch between amp and speaker occurred to me, of course, but I was slow to accept it: I’m very fond of the Bernings and have used them successfully with a wide variety of loudspeakers over the past two years. But as I wasn’t getting anywhere, I substituted the Pass XA 60.8s—60 watts of Class A power—and the situation was utterly transformed. In the final movement of the Saint-Saëns “Organ” Symphony—the Eschenbach/Philadelphia Orchestra live recording ripped from an Ondine SACD—the featured instrument was potently majestic, and the brass section, playing full out, matched the acoustic power of the organ without the sound disintegrating into an undifferentiated mess”
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