While knowledge may provide a useful point of reference, it cannot become a force to guide the future
In my auditioning, I found the Vento Reference 1 DC responded best to a firm hand. It's specified at 88.5dB…
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I was ready to hear a big difference with the Krell Evolution gear, but as much as I'd hoped to get better sound with a dedicated line, I didn't anticipate it being so obviously better. Even when I thought I was getting top-of-the-heap sound, the Ref 1 was capable of revealing even better when it was fed even better. That's what a "reference" is supposed to do, innit?
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Five-driver, 3½-way, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) ADT-25 aluminum-manganese–dome tweeter, two 7" (180mm) aluminum-cone midrange units, two 12" (310mm) aluminum-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 180Hz, 400Hz, 3kHz. Frequency range: 18Hz–40kHz. Sensitivity: 88.5dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 4–8 ohms. Nominal music power handling: 500–900W.
Dimensions: 56.3" (1430mm) H by 15" (380mm) W by 22.2" (565mm) D. Weight: 193.5 lbs (88kg).
Finishes: Silver Lacquer, Cherry or Maple Veneer; black fabric grille.
Serial…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre C5-xe universal player, Krell Evolution 505 SACD/DVD player, Simaudio Moon SuperNova CD player.
Preamplifiers: Conrad-Johnson ACT2 & CT-5, Krell Evolution 202.
Power Amplifiers: NuForce Reference 8B, Portal Paladin, Krell Evolution 600 (all monoblocks).
Loudspeakers: Aerial Acoustics 20T, Dynaudio Evidence Temptation.
Cables: Interconnect: Audience Au24, Shunyata Research Aries, Stereovox Colibri. Speaker: Shunyata Research Lyra, Stereovox Firebird. AC: Shunyata Research Anaconda & Orion.
Accessories: Audience…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
My estimate of the Canton Vento Reference 1 DC's voltage sensitivity was 89.7dB(B)/2.83V/m, a little higher than the specified 88.5dB and a good 3dB higher than average. Its impedance, however, was generally on the low side, ranging mainly between 4 and 8 ohms, with a minimum value of 3.8 ohms at 29Hz (fig.1). The electrical phase angle is moderate except at infrasonic frequencies, suggesting that the speaker will be relatively easy to drive despite its lowish magnitude (and daunting appearance).
Fig.1 Canton Vento Reference 1 DC, electrical…
Some six or so years ago, the Linn Asak cartridge set new standards for imaging and soundstage reproduction. I can remember the first time I heard an Asak in a system using Quad ESL-63s—I had never experienced such depth of soundstage and solidity of imaging from any system, and that with Quad amplification! The Asak was relatively quickly overshadowed in this area, however, and in any case, soundstaging precision by itself didn't seem to be a high priority for the Linn design team, who were apparently more concerned with dynamics and a musical integration of the sound across the frequency…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Specifications: Low-output moving-coil cartridge with unique three-point fixing arrangement. Recommended tracking force: 1.5–1.7gm. Stylus type: Nude Vital superelliptical.
Price: $1250 (1987); no longer available (2006). Approximate number of dealers: 100.
Manufacturer: Linn Products Ltd., Floors Road, Waterfoot, Eaglesham, Glasgow G76 0EP, Scotland. Tel: (44) (0)141-307-7777. Fax: (44) (0)141-644-4262. Web: www.linn.co.uk. US Distributor: Audiophile Systems, Indianapolis, IN (1987); Linn Products Inc., 8787 Perimeter Park Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL…
Sidebar 2: Measurements
Output is about normal for a low-output 'coil (around 0.2mV at 5cm/s), and the tubed SP-10 had no noise problems. With the downforce set at 1.7gm, the Troika just failed the 70µm lateral modulation cut on the Ortofon Test Record at 78°F (it was a hot day); with the downforce increased to 1.8gm, it managed to clear the 70µm cut, but 2.1gm was needed for the maximum 80µm cut. It cleared the 50µm vertical cut at 1.7gm downforce. While not quite as surefooted as the Shure V15 V MR (others report that the Troika is less secure at lower temperatures), this is pretty…
I've been tweaking my weekend multichannel system for years, but with my city system I've kinda faked it. I now realize that I listen more actively to the weekend system, and not only because that's when I have the time for it—the sound of that system is simply more engaging and psychologically immersive. So, with the growth of my library of SACD and DVD-Audio recordings to almost half the size of my CD collection, I told my wife that it was time to transform of "our" city stereo rig into a full-blown multichannel system.
I added a third B&W 802D loudspeaker for the center channel…
Since then, from the home-built Altec A-7s of grad-school days, through homemade transmission lines, and on to the B&W 802Ds I now enjoy, almost all of my speakers have been full-size floorstanders. Somewhere in there I had a lingering affair with a pair of Stax ELS-F81s; they were beguiling, but drove me in desperation toward the bottom end, and to one ill-mated subwoofer after another. Nothing worked right—not until the rise of home theater and multichannel sound did the science of subwoofing flower.
Here's why. Multichannel sound means multiple speakers, and few domestic living…
Sidebar: Recordings In The Round
PENDERECKI: Credo
Harasimowicz-Haas, Pasiecznik, sopranos; Rehlis, alto; Zdunikowski, tenor; Tesarowicz, bass; Polish Radio & National Philharmonic Choirs, Cracow Philharmonic Boys Choir, National Polish Radio Symphony; Krzysztof Penderecki, conductor
Polskie Radio PR SACD 1 (SACD). Available from www.lipinskirecords.com.
This is a major recent work composed and conducted by a living master. Krzysztof Penderecki's music is dramatic, engaging, and accomplished with a mix of tonalities and melody that is both modern yet immediately…