After a year spent exploring the best that can be obtained from minimonitor loudspeakers, I embarked on what will be an equally long examination of what floorstanding towers have to offer. I began with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1207sonus">Sonus Faber Cremona Elipsa</A> ($20,800/pair) in December 2007, followed in 2008 by: in February, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/208kef">KEF Reference 207/2</A> ($20,000/pair); in April, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/408psb">PSB Synchrony One</A> ($4500/pair); and in May, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/508mag">Magico V3</A> ($25,000/pair). For this review, I've been listening to a speaker aimed at those with shallower pockets than are required even for the PSB: the Avalon NP Evolution 2.0, which costs just $1995/pair.

After a year spent exploring the best that can be obtained from minimonitor loudspeakers, I embarked on what will be an equally long examination of what floorstanding towers have to offer. I began with the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/1207sonus">Sonus Faber Cremona Elipsa</A> ($20,800/pair) in December 2007, followed in 2008 by: in February, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/208kef">KEF Reference 207/2</A> ($20,000/pair); in April, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/408psb">PSB Synchrony One</A> ($4500/pair); and in May, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/508mag">Magico V3</A> ($25,000/pair). For this review, I've been listening to a speaker aimed at those with shallower pockets than are required even for the PSB: the Avalon NP Evolution 2.0, which costs just $1995/pair.

In the waning days of 2007, I delivered some small audio doohickey to John Atkinson one weekend afternoon. "Come down to the listening room," he said. "I want you to hear something."

In the waning days of 2007, I delivered some small audio doohickey to John Atkinson one weekend afternoon. "Come down to the listening room," he said. "I want you to hear something."

In the waning days of 2007, I delivered some small audio doohickey to John Atkinson one weekend afternoon. "Come down to the listening room," he said. "I want you to hear something."

In the waning days of 2007, I delivered some small audio doohickey to John Atkinson one weekend afternoon. "Come down to the listening room," he said. "I want you to hear something."

In the waning days of 2007, I delivered some small audio doohickey to John Atkinson one weekend afternoon. "Come down to the listening room," he said. "I want you to hear something."