Star Treatment
The Wilson MAXX 3 loudspeaker gets the star treatment. Our cover photographer, Eric Swanson, tells me she was sort of a demanding diva.
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Under the Red Light
The Wilson MAXX 3, showered under the red light for the feature shot on page 67 of our September 2009 issue.
Into the Utah Mountains
The Wilson Audio Specialties' warehouse, tucked into the Utah mountains.
The Ecstasy and Agony
Marantz America is supporting the launch of their attractive <a href="http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/marantz_ki_pearls/">KI Pearl components</a> with a decidedly august hardcover book and matching dual-layer SACD. Like the KI Pearls themselves, both the book and SACD celebrate audio designer Ken Ishiwata's 30-year relationship with Marantz and offer insights into his life and work.
American Hybrid Technology phono preamplifier
Just as the Trappist Monks of Digital Audio are once again grabbing at the bellpulls to ring the death knell of analog, another fine piece of gear pops up dedicated exclusively to LP playback: the American Hybrid Technology Phono Stage. To one of the Analog Committed, this is good news. That the unit sounds as wonderful as it does is even better news. Anything else? Pull up a pew, Brother.
Sheffield Steel? Doug Sax
Doug Sax is undoubtedly one of the most controversial and outspoken figures in audio. As co-founder, with Lincoln Mayorga, of Sheffield Lab, Doug pioneered the first modern direct-to-disc recording. His perfectionist methods may be controversial, but the results certainly are not: Sheffield Lab recordings are nearly universally praised by the audiophile community, while the <I>Billboard</I> Hot 100 always features at least one Sax-cut disc.
Electron Kinetics Eagle 2 power amplifier
When I first heard the Eagle 2 at the 1985 Winter CES I knew this amplifier was a winner. I was eager for a chance to get my hands on it, but I also knew that J. Gordon Holt was champing at the bit to do the same. So it came as both a surprise and a delight when ye Gracious Editor gave me first crack at the Eagle 2. I wasn't disappointed; the little Eagle more than lived up to expectations. It's not the best power amplifier I've ever heard, but it's damn good. It is, in fact, better than its big brother, the Eagle 7A, in significant ways; in view of the 2's reasonable price, that's saying a lot.
Nine Years
<i>Me, in the old cubicle at 110 Fifth Avenue, just eight months into the new job. I was thinner then, and had more hair.</i>
What is the best name you've ever seen for an audio company and why?
Reader Jeff Nobe is wondering what our readers consider the best name ever used for an audio company and why?
VTL Reference D/A processor
I find it more than a little ironic that in 1990 the only two digital-to-analog converters to employ a new state-of-the-art DAC also use vacuum tubes. Many in the audio community consider tubes an anachronism, and find it surprising and humorous that they are still used in newly designed audio products. The fact remains, however, that these two tubed digital processors achieve the best digital playback currently available—and by a wide margin. Moreover, their respective designers' technical savvy and passion for building leading-edge products is reflected in their choice of these superlative and <I>very</I> expensive new DACs. Is it mere coincidence that both designers also chose vacuum tubes to realize their vision of no-compromise digital playback?