Loudspeaker of 1997
EgglestonWorks Andra ($14,700/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.20 No.10, October 1997 Review)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Aerial Acoustics 5 ($1800/pair–$2000/pair; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
Audio Physic Caldera ($18,995/pair; reviewed by Martin Colloms, Vol.20 No.8, August 1997)
Epos ES12 ($1095/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
Gradient Revolution ($3995/pair; reviewed by Dick Olsher & John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995; & Vol.20 No.3, March 1997 Review)
MartinLogan Aerius i ($1995/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.20 No.7, July 1997)
MartinLogan SL3 ($3195/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.20 No.5, May 1997 Review)
mbl 111 ($13,900–$18,250/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
PSB Stratus Gold i ($2399–$2699/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.10, October 1997)
Waveform Mach 17 ($6995/pair; reviewed by Larry Greenhill, Vol.20 No.6, June 1997 Review) Competition was fierce in this category—bang-for-the-buck contenders such as the Epos ES12 and the PSB Stratus Gold i hung tough to the end of the balloting—but in the end, the Andra was the decisive winner, having amassed a third again as many ballots as the next two runners-up. The Andras are compact floorstanding loudspeakers built around a pair of 6" midrange drivers running full-range in a quasi–transmission-line enclosure. Designer Bill Eggleston claims that this is the key to the seamless, open sound that several of our respondents mentioned as having influenced their votes. Others cited the Andra's superbly controlled bass response, but all were impressed with the Andra's sensitivity to tonal shading and color, finely nuanced sense of swing, and lack of dynamic limitation. (Apparently the Andras caught the ears of HI-FI '97 attendees as well; the speakers were voted among the three best-sounding systems at the Show.)
Good looks, musicality, and open, dynamic sound: These qualities went a long way toward making the Andra the Best Loudspeaker of 1997—and a winner in any year.
Aerial Acoustics 5 ($1800/pair–$2000/pair; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
Audio Physic Caldera ($18,995/pair; reviewed by Martin Colloms, Vol.20 No.8, August 1997)
Epos ES12 ($1095/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
Gradient Revolution ($3995/pair; reviewed by Dick Olsher & John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995; & Vol.20 No.3, March 1997 Review)
MartinLogan Aerius i ($1995/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.20 No.7, July 1997)
MartinLogan SL3 ($3195/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.20 No.5, May 1997 Review)
mbl 111 ($13,900–$18,250/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
PSB Stratus Gold i ($2399–$2699/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.10, October 1997)
Waveform Mach 17 ($6995/pair; reviewed by Larry Greenhill, Vol.20 No.6, June 1997 Review) Competition was fierce in this category—bang-for-the-buck contenders such as the Epos ES12 and the PSB Stratus Gold i hung tough to the end of the balloting—but in the end, the Andra was the decisive winner, having amassed a third again as many ballots as the next two runners-up. The Andras are compact floorstanding loudspeakers built around a pair of 6" midrange drivers running full-range in a quasi–transmission-line enclosure. Designer Bill Eggleston claims that this is the key to the seamless, open sound that several of our respondents mentioned as having influenced their votes. Others cited the Andra's superbly controlled bass response, but all were impressed with the Andra's sensitivity to tonal shading and color, finely nuanced sense of swing, and lack of dynamic limitation. (Apparently the Andras caught the ears of HI-FI '97 attendees as well; the speakers were voted among the three best-sounding systems at the Show.)
