There are two kinds of audiophiles: those who own original Quad ESL speakers and those who don't (footnote 1). This review is for the former, although the latter may find it of some interest. The Gradient SW-57 subwoofer attempts to do for the original Quad (footnote 2) what Gradient's SW-63 (footnote 3) does for the Quad ESL-63: supply the bottom octave while relieving the ESLs of the strain of reproducing low bass.
<B>Grinderman: <I>Grinderman 2</I></B><BR>
Anti- 87125 (CD). 2010. Grinderman, Nick Launay, prods; Launay, eng. AAD. TT: 41:19<BR>
Performance ****½<BR>
Sonics ****
<I>"Stanley, see this? This is this. This ain't something else. This is this."—Michael, in</i>The Deer Hunter
Good selection, deep knowledge, or simply cheap prices—what is the most important quality for a dealer to have, in your opinion?
<i>Photos courtesy Peter McGrath.</i>
Next weekend's <A HREF="http://audiofest.net/2010/index.php?Sid=860cc0cc7b60fd7f9bd2725ff657784… Mountain Audio Fest</A> (RMAF) is bigger than ever. Scheduled to be held October 15–17 in the Denver Marriott Tech Center, the seventh annual show has expanded from last year's 145 display rooms to a record 174. Add in silent displays in hallways, and there were products in every price range from a good 400 companies (up from 350 in 2009). Now occupying six floors in the Marriott Tower (including the mezzanine) and two in the Atrium, the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest has well earned its reputation as the largest consumer-audio and home-entertainment show in the US since the demise of the <I>Stereophile</I> Shows.
<i>Me, listening to old MPS songs with the V-MODA Crossfade LP headphones and the <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/the_hifiman_hm-801_portable_m…; portable music player. Photo by intrepid Ariel Bitran.</i>
Belle and Sebastian’s new album, <i>Write About Love</i>, is due in stores on October 12. I spied an advance copy in the office of our music editor, Robert Baird. He’s hogging it up for himself, though. Something about having to “write a review.” Whatever. Fortunately, from now until the 12th, NPR will be <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130212728">streami… the entire album</a>, so we can get a cheap fix until we buy the real thing.
It's no surprise that high-end audio dealers are getting thinner on the ground. Even so, how often do you visit a high-end audio dealer?