Floor Loudspeaker Reviews

Sidebar 2: RH's Associated Equipment

I auditioned the Studio 20s in my dedicated listening room with the usual complement of associated components. Power amplifiers were (primarily) the VTL 225W Deluxe monoblocks or (briefly) the Jeff Rowland Design Group Model One, the preamp was an Audio Research LS2 line stage, and phono gain and RIAA equalization were provided by the extraordinary Vendetta Research phono stage.

The analog front end was the Well-Tempered Turntable with a modified arm (see "Follow-Up" next month) and AudioQuest 7000 cartridge. Digital sources were the Audio Research DAC1-20 driven by a Theta Data transport. The Studio 20s were also auditioned for a few days with...drum roll, please...the Linn CD player!

Loudspeaker cables were 8' bi-wired runs of AudioQuest Sterling/Midnight, and interconnects were AudioQuest Diamond, Lapis, and Straight Wire Maestro. AC power was conditioned by a Tice Power Block and Titan.—Robert Harley