Analog playback: Graham 2.0, Immedia RPM2, and Simon Yorke tonearms; Simon Yorke turntable.
Preamplification: Ayre K-1 and Jadis JP 80 Mk.2 remote-control preamps, Audio Research PH-3SE and Pass Aleph Ono phono sections.
Power amplifiers: Conrad-Johnson Premier Twelve, VTL MB 450 monoblocks (both tubed).
Loudspeakers: Audio Physic Virgo, Audio Physic Rhea subwoofer.
Cables: Yamamura Millennium 6000, Cardas Golden Cross, Electra-Glide interconnects; Yamamura speaker cables; Yamamura Quantum, Electra-Glide AC cords.
Accessories: Ringmat,…
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
GRAM PARSONS: The Complete Reprise Sessions
Rhino/Reprise RS 74669 (3 CDs). 1972–73/2006. Emmylou Harris, James Austin, reissue prods.; Hugh Davies, Ed Barton, orig. engs.; Dan Hersch, Bill Inglot, remastering engs. AAD? TT: 2:01:26
Performance *****
Sonics **1/2 to ****1/2
Rhino/Reprise RS 74669 (3 CDs). 1972–73/2006. Emmylou Harris, James Austin, reissue prods.; Hugh Davies, Ed Barton, orig. engs.; Dan Hersch, Bill Inglot, remastering engs. AAD? TT: 2:01:26
Performance *****
Sonics **1/2 to ****1/2
In the past five years, the Gram-Is-God train has gained an extraordinary amount of momentum. In 2004, Gram's daughter, Polly, and her Sin City production company (named for the Burrito Brothers' best-known tune), staged two all-star Gram tribute concerts, in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, which have been…
It seemed a bit like the game of Telephone: Someone at the head of a long line of people whispers a sentence or two into the ear of the next in line, who in turn passes it along. By the time the last person in line repeats aloud what they think they've heard, the message is often barely recognizable to the first person.
In this case, however, the 30 audiophiles trying to figure out what they'd just heard were seated in four three-person rows, the overflow scattered about the space. The location was a major high-end emporium that sells many products that have deservedly graced the covers…
John Ötvös, the father of Waveform Research Inc. and The Waveform Loudspeaker, hesitates not at inviting ultracritical examination: "The Waveform is the most accurate, the best, forward-firing loudspeaker in the world." Period. Reviewers, of course, welcome such statements, and I'll be examining that one, but I'll also try to answer the inherent reviewing question of whether the Waveform is a good place for you to park $9800 on your way to "the highest of high-end sound" (that was our slogan for the first Santa Monica High End Hi-Fi Show).
The company
Without a doubt, one of the…
A crossover problem of more long-lasting significance was that various interconnects kept losing contact with their respective sockets. This was not a problem with loose connections from socket to board, but rather a lack of size compatibility between interconnect and socket. Since there are no fixed standards in this area (see Markus Sauer's "Industry Update" in the September issue), it really isn't the crossover's fault, but I've had no such problems with the various preamps and amps I've used with the same interconnects.
As mentioned before, John Ötvös hired Paul Barton of PSB to…
And this is not a subtle lack. On the records (and a few CDs) I own which provide fabulous ambient information—where, sitting with a glass of wine and the latest Stereophile in hand late at night, you feel you're actually there—the Waveforms were able to only suggest a bit of hall, with moderately believable images. I must be the only audiophile on earth who isn't tired of Jazz at the Pawnshop, but I actually just listened to it for the first time in the last three weeks. Honest! On the IRS Betas, you can locate the patrons of the Pawnshop—you could go over and take their drink orders,…
Sidebar 1: Measurements
As Larry said earlier, we ran a couple of FFT response measurements on the Waveforms while John Ötvös was visiting, in order to check that the speakers were working okay, and found that the speaker had an excess of energy in the top audio octave. According to John, the reason for adding the ribbon supertweeter to a tweeter that is usually used alone (a version of Dynaudio's D28) is to fill in a suckout in the high treble on the intended listening axis. After Larry had completed his listening, I ran a more rigorous set of tests to investigate the Waveform's measured…
Sidebar 2: Manufacturer's Comment, from December 1989 (Vol.12 No.12):
Editor: The refrain from Don McLean's "Vincent" of some time ago—"They're not listening still"—interesting. I suppose if I had a low enough IQ I'd be able to appreciate your sense of humor. Frankly, I don't care for your acoustic taste in reverberant rooms, Larry; however, your taste in wine is excellent—thanks for lunch. Rather interesting the comments you and John shared openly with Robert and me about the Diva and the Beta not belonging in "Recommended Components" because of the deviation so far from flat response.…
Your room will be a source of serious consternation for years to come for other pioneers in the speaker field. Both of you are well aware that most consumers don't have reverberant rooms like yours. You work hard to find compatible components. Why not exercise the same diligence in finding a compatible room? Peter Mitchell's favorite loudspeaker over $5000, as listed in "Critic's Choice," is the Altec Bias 550. He is a senior, well-respected audio journalist. Where, oh where is truth?
On being transported or having an orchestra transplanted, that is mythology. A speaker's only function…
Thomas J. Norton's Follow-up, January 1990 (Vol.13 No.1):
Moving never seems to come at a convenient time. I was originally slated to write about the Waveform loudspeaker reviewed by Larry Archibald in November 1989 and had the review pair in my home for several weeks. My listening time with them was limited, however. After the Waveforms were delivered, and briefly auditioned during and after a visit by company honcho John Ötvös, they had to be wrestled out of the way to permit completion of follow-ups on the ZSE loudspeakers and Grado cartridges. (My auditions of the initial samples of…