Floor Loudspeaker Reviews

Hales System Two loudspeaker Review System

Sidebar 2: Review System

The dedicated listening room has optimum dimensional ratios for room-mode distribution. Amplification was my standard reference, the VTL 225W Deluxe monoblocks, but a new version employing KT90 output tubes instead of EL34s (footnote 1). The collective experience of some Stereophile reviewers—JA, DO, and me—has been that tube amplification seems to work best with the MB tweeter found in the System Two and other loudspeakers. JA found both the VTL 500s and the Audio Research Classic 60 to be a synergistic combination with the Avalon Eclipse, and DO liked the Air Tight ATM-2 with his DIY Black Dahlia design. I concur, finding the VTLs a good match with the System Two. Another amplifier that works well with both Hales models is the Krell KSA-250. Besides the VTLs, I auditioned the System Two with the excellent Threshold S/550e reviewed in December. A pair of Snell Type C/IV loudspeakers ($2190/pair), also reviewed in this issue, was used as a basis for comparison.

Speaker cable was 3' runs of bi-wired AudioQuest Clear Hyperlitz or 10' runs of bi-wired AudioQuest Green Hyperlitz. The preamp was an Audio Research SP-11 Mk.II, driving the VTLs through AudioQuest Lapis interconnect. Digital sources included, at one time or another, the VTL D/A converter, Meridian 203, MAS DCC-1, Melior Bitstream D/A, PS Audio Super Link, and a Proceed PDP 2, all driven by an Esoteric P-2 transport via 3' runs of Aural Symphonics Digital Standard.

The analog front end was a Well-Tempered Turntable with a WT Tonearm modified by LP Research and Development Lab fitted with a Signet AT-OC9 moving-coil. An Expressive Technologies SU-1 stepped up the moving-coil output before driving the SP-11's phono input. Expressive's IC-1 interconnect was used throughout the phono path, while AudioQuest Diamond connected the digital processors to the preamp. All power to the system, except the power amplifiers, was conditioned by the magazine-owned Tice Power Block and Titan.—Robert Harley


Footnote 1: See the interview with VTL's David Manley in Vol.14 No.5.
COMPANY INFO
Hales Audio
Company no longer in existence (2011)
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
vclements's picture
Submitted by vclements on February 8, 2011 - 7:10pm

When I see the front page of a site I would expect to see the new information....even more so when the page is titled "Latest Editions".
Why post a 20 year old review of a speaker made by a company that is no longer in existence on a page called "Latest Editions"?

Sure these old reviews are indeed both fun to look back at and informative, but they do not warrant mixing with brand new products and reviews.
If I am not familiar with the product of the manufacturer, I am forced to seek out the original date to make sure the information is relevant.

Why not occasionally post a link to older articles and keep the "Latest Editions" as...err...ummm...the latest editions and relegate 20yr old articles to "Old Editions" or something?

Jon Iverson's picture
Submitted by Jon Iverson on February 9, 2011 - 7:30am
That's why we call it "Latest Additions" and now include information on when the story was first published if not new. In other words, whenever we post content to the site it shows up on the homepage, with an additional publish date to indicate if it is from our old archives. Readers can quickly see what has just been added and determine it's age.
Denverdaniel's picture
Submitted by Denverdaniel on January 27, 2013 - 7:23am

Hello, I am trying to loacte the footnote you dropped in your review to David Manley upgradig the VTL225 monoblocks to KT90s. I have a pair and am researching out the specs.  Thanks.  PS great articles and information, I love your site.  Denverdaniel.

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