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"I wouldn't characterize my life as 'a search for bigger and better toys,' but I am intrigued by interesting things—like the Impact Airfoil 5.2 loudspeaker system," says Brian Damkroger as he steels himself for another review. BD goes in search of an answer to the Airfoil dilemma: "big toy, new toy, neat toy, better toy?"

Robert Harley finds himself in a small listening room and assesses the Aerial Acoustics Model 5 loudspeaker to see if it is able to complement his petite environs. Harley notes, "Any manufacturer of large loudspeakers who has set up such a system in a CES hotel room can attest to how difficult it is to avoid boominess in a tiny space."

The MartinLogan CLS loudspeaker has held its ground for many years as one of the electrostatic benchmarks along with the Quad ESL. John Atkinson, Martin Colloms, and Jack English each take turns with various CLS incarnations in an effort to establish its place in audio history.

John Marks follows the natural audiophile impulse to make his own recordings and in The Fifth Element #10 explains how he does it. "This month's column is about getting good-sounding recording equipment without breaking the bank."

Finally, the latest installment in our "Recording of the Month" series for the online archives, Recordings of August 1997, John Coltrane's Lush Life, Blue Train, and Black Pearls. Robert Baird attempts to wrap his ears around John Coltrane, "an insatiable hunter, who remains (along with Miles) one of the original moving targets."