LATEST ADDITIONS

"Why no review of the Ayre V-3?" queried Stephen Slaughter in July's "Letters" column, echoing several urgent posts to my e-mail address. Word of mouth on this remarkable 100Wpc amplifier was reaching fever pitch. Show reports over the last several years had sounded a consistent note—rooms that demoed with V-3s kept getting mentioned in "Best of Show" overviews. Naturally, this also meant that the pendulum had started its backward swing. "It's not really as good as people are saying," one WCES attendee confided in me. "That's why they won't give it to critics."

<B>CYRUS CHESTNUT: <I>Earth Stories</I></B><BR> Cyrus Chestnut, piano; Steve Kirby, bass; Alvester Garnett, drums (on "Cooldaddy's Perspective," add: Eddie Allen, trumpet; Steven Carrington, tenor sax; Antonio Hart, alto sax)<BR> Atlantic Jazz 82876-2 (CD only). Yves Beauvais, Cyrus Chestnut, prods.; Joe Ferla, eng. AAD. TT: 48:54

The Vandersteen 3A is a higher-end variation on the theme established by the company's first loudspeaker, the 2C. The latter is still available, though much updated into the current, highly popular 2Ce. A four-way design, the 3A has separate sub-enclosures for each drive unit; the whole affair is covered with a knit grille-cloth "sock" with wood trim end pieces. A rear-mounted metal brace allows the user to vary the tiltback&mdash;an important consideration for best performance with this loudspeaker.

<B>EDUARDO PANIAGUA GROUP: <I>Danzas Medievales Espa&#241;olas</I></B><BR> Eudardo Paniagua, flautas de bisel, nay, fujara, psalterio, tromba marina, darbuga, tar, c&#237;mbalos, caraqueb, cascabeles; Cesar Carazo, canto, viola de brazo; Wafir Sheik, la&#250;d &#225;rabe, darbuga, pandero, sonajero; Jaime Mu&#241;oz, axabeba, kaval, chalumeau, dulcimer, sonajas; Enrique Almendros, flautas de tres agujeros, gaitas, gaita charra y tamboril, tar, c&#237;mbaols, campanas; Luis Delgado, zanfona, la&#250;d, dutar, vihuela de p&#233;&#241;ola, santur, fujara, c&#225;ntara, darbuga, zarb, bendir, pandera, tambor, tar<BR> M&bull;A M034A (CD only). Todd Garfinkle, prod., eng. DDD. TT: 72:05

Is Krell risking its reputation? With the KAV-300i, an integrated amplifier that was originally envisaged as an export model, but for which home demand is clearly increasing, the Connecticut-based amplifier manufacturer is dabbling in low-cost territory. Previous Krell amplifiers have been known for their prodigious drive capability. Time and time again, it is found that the true measure of the bass performance of a big speaker isn't realized until a Krell power amplifier is brought into service. But how could an amplifier with a meaty 150Wpc specification and full remote control be built to sell for just $2350.

While large, floorstanding speakers appear to offer the most material for the buck, I feel that small stand-mounted speakers both offer the best value in sound quality, as well as standing the best chance of sounding good in moderate-sized listening rooms. In recent months <I>Stereophile</I> has reviewed a varied group of such speakers. In order of descending price, these include the Acoustic Energy AE2 Signature ($5495/pair, November '95); Dzurko Acoustics Jaguar ($4500/pair, reviewed elsewhere in this issue); <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/462/">Totem Mani-2</A> ($3995/pair, February '96); Platinum Audio Solo ($2498/pair, November '95); Coincident Speaker Technology Troubador ($1495/pair, January and February '96); <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/615/">Joseph Audio RM7si</A> ($1299-$1499/pair, February '96); <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/445/">Acarian Al&#243;n Petite</A> ($995-$1195/pair, January '96); Phase Technology PC80 II ($699/pair, December '95); and Spectrum 108cd ($399/pair, December '95).

While large, floorstanding speakers appear to offer the most material for the buck, I feel that small stand-mounted speakers both offer the best value in sound quality, as well as standing the best chance of sounding good in moderate-sized listening rooms. In recent months <I>Stereophile</I> has reviewed a varied group of such speakers. In order of descending price, these include the Acoustic Energy AE2 Signature ($5495/pair, November '95); Dzurko Acoustics Jaguar ($4500/pair, reviewed elsewhere in this issue); <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/462/">Totem Mani-2</A> ($3995/pair, February '96); Platinum Audio Solo ($2498/pair, November '95); Coincident Speaker Technology Troubador ($1495/pair, January and February '96); <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/615/">Joseph Audio RM7si</A> ($1299-$1499/pair, February '96); <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com//loudspeakerreviews/445/">Acarian Al&#243;n Petite</A> ($995-$1195/pair, January '96); Phase Technology PC80 II ($699/pair, December '95); and Spectrum 108cd ($399/pair, December '95).