Added to the Archives This Week

Starting in 1984, Anthony H. Cordesman and Martin Colloms filed several reports on the Magnepan Magneplanar MGIIIA loudspeaker. Cordesman wrote, "In a world which seemed doomed to finding out just how small and dull it could make acoustic-suspension boxes, the Magnepans reminded me that speakers could produce a large open soundstage, real dynamics, and musical life."

Next, from April 1993, Larry Greenhill reviews the B&W Matrix 805 loudspeaker. Greenhill notes, "Although the price is high for a two-way minimonitor, the 805 fits right into a growing high-end marketplace for such designs, one which emphasizes high quality in a small enclosure which will fit into most living-room environments without calling much attention to itself."

From the same issue, Greenhill then moves on to the Sonus Faber Minima FM2 loudspeaker. "These 13lb minimonitors are the [Italian] company's smallest model," writes Greenhill. With the right music, LG discovers, "they are among the most musically involving minimonitors I've heard."

Jonathan Scull turned to the Balanced Audio Technology VK-P10 phono preamplifier to see what it could do for his vast collection of vinyl. Quite a bit as it turns out. "The P10 was clearly a device that remained transparent to its purpose at all times," remarks Scull.

Finally, the newest installment in our "Recording of the Month" series for the online archives, Recording of October 1994: Officium, from saxophonist Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble. Les Berkley opines, "At its best, this recording is a fascinating approach to early music—a tonescape as well as a vocal performance."

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