My first exposure to Burmester electronics was some years back at a New York Hi-Fi Show, where they were powering a pair of <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/207">B&W 801</A>s and impressed the hell out of me. But Burmester's distribution seemed sporadic and the prices beyond my consideration, so I put them out of my mind.

My first exposure to Burmester electronics was some years back at a New York Hi-Fi Show, where they were powering a pair of <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/207">B&W 801</A>s and impressed the hell out of me. But Burmester's distribution seemed sporadic and the prices beyond my consideration, so I put them out of my mind.

"Sam, HELP!!!! Wife wants stereo out of the living room, converting spare bedroom for my stuff."

"Sam, HELP!!!! Wife wants stereo out of the living room, converting spare bedroom for my stuff."

"Sam, HELP!!!! Wife wants stereo out of the living room, converting spare bedroom for my stuff."

"Sam, HELP!!!! Wife wants stereo out of the living room, converting spare bedroom for my stuff."

"Sam, HELP!!!! Wife wants stereo out of the living room, converting spare bedroom for my stuff."

"Sam, HELP!!!! Wife wants stereo out of the living room, converting spare bedroom for my stuff."

In some ways, building an inexpensive yet musical two-way loudspeaker is a greater design challenge than creating a cost-no-object reference product. Although the latter is a much more complex endeavor, the venerable two-way box seems to bring out the creativity and resources of the designer. Rather than throw money at the product in the form of more expensive drivers, enclosures, or components, the designer of a low-cost two-way is forced to go back to the basics, rethink closely-held tenets, and rely on ingenuity and sheer talent to squeeze the most music from a given cost. Consequently, the inexpensive two-way is the perfect vehicle for designers to develop their skills. If one has mastered this art form, one is much more likely to achieve success when more ambitious designs are attempted.

In some ways, building an inexpensive yet musical two-way loudspeaker is a greater design challenge than creating a cost-no-object reference product. Although the latter is a much more complex endeavor, the venerable two-way box seems to bring out the creativity and resources of the designer. Rather than throw money at the product in the form of more expensive drivers, enclosures, or components, the designer of a low-cost two-way is forced to go back to the basics, rethink closely-held tenets, and rely on ingenuity and sheer talent to squeeze the most music from a given cost. Consequently, the inexpensive two-way is the perfect vehicle for designers to develop their skills. If one has mastered this art form, one is much more likely to achieve success when more ambitious designs are attempted.