News

John Atkinson gets his hands on "the very strange-looking" MBL 111B loudspeaker to determine how "upper-frequency drive-units resembling an array of orange segments" could possibly sound. As JA discovers, thinking different can sometimes be a plus.

"There's nothing particularly unusual or innovative about the Antares' design," comments Michael Fremer in his review of the Rockport Technologies Antares loudspeaker. But, with the speakers costing $41,500/pair, MF finds that the value is indeed in the detials.

Robert J. Reina takes the Athena Technologies AS-F2 loudspeaker out for a spin admitting that "I have always had an affection for speakers designed and manufactured by the Canadian conglomerate Audio Products International." Reina checks to see if the API reputation is still intact at $599/pair.

For his review of the Jeff Rowland Design Group Synergy line preamplifier, Robert Deutsch begins by explaining "model longevity." The Rowland apparently has it in spades, and RD explains why. Paul Bolin adds his thoughts on the current version of the Synergy.

Finally, the next installment in our "Recording of the Month" series for the online archives: Recording of August 2002: Schoenberg: Gurrelieder. Robert Levine reports, "From the very first notes of this reading, a dreamlike intimacy is clear, and the story unfolds."