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Description: Three-way, floorstanding, reflex-loaded loudspeaker: Drive-units: 2" long (approximately) ribbon tweeter, 5" polypropylene-cone midrange unit with phase plug, 7" carbon-fiber–impregnated paper-cone woofer. Crossover frequencies: 290Hz, 3.5kHz. Frequency response: Not stated. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal. Sensitivity: 87dB/W/m.
Dimensions: 48" H by 19½" W (base) and 13" W (top) by 9" D. Net weight: 75 lbs.
Finishes: Nine wood veneers.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 141, 142.
Price: $10,000/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 35.
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Analog source: Simon Yorke turntable, Immedia RPM2 and Graham 2.0 tonearms, Lyra Helikon cartridge.
Digital source: Musical Fidelity X-Ray CD player, Marantz DR17 CD-R recorder, Ayre D-1 DVD/CD player.
Preamplification: Audio Research Reference and Zanden phono stages, Lyra Arion step-up transformer, Ayre K-1x preamplifier (with phono stage).
Power amplifier: Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Loudspeakers: Sonus Faber Amati.
Cables: Phono: Hovland Music Groove. Interconnect: Yamamura Millennium 6000, Silver Audio, Wireworld Gold Eclipse and…

The ProAc Future One was measured using my standard combination of a DRA Labs MLSSA PC card with a calibrated B&K 4006 microphone for the acoustic measurements, and an Audio Precision System One for the impedance. The ProAc's impedance curves (fig.1) revealed the speaker to be a relatively benign load over much of the audioband, its resistance dropping below 5 ohms for only brief periods in the upper bass and midrange. However, a potentially demanding combination of 5.5 ohms magnitude and a 45º capacitive phase angle at 79Hz means tube amplifiers would best…

In analog, it's the little things that count—hardly news to toilers and tweakers in the vinyl underground—and Rega's upgrade of the basic Planar 3 design to the Planar 25 can only be described as visibly "small." But the sonic improvements I heard during my first…

The 9 uses a drive hub of extremely hard, exquisitely machined and polished vanadium with dual O-rings, and a high-density, ultrarigid ceramic-oxide platter that takes three weeks to make. The 25 is fitted with the 3's plastic drive hub, single O-ring, and…

I tried the Clavis D.C., the Transfiguration Temper, the Grado Reference, and the $595 Rega Exact. I also substituted the Ringmat for Rega's…

You certainly won't have to accept surround sound if you purchase a Rega Planar 25 turntable, recommended in the March issue by Michael Fremer, who got the jump on me. (He visited the Rega factory last fall.)

As I said earlier, Rega made its mark with turntables. For its first few years, the company made only turntables—not even tonearms.

For their 25th anniversary, they've introduced the Rega Planar 25, which sells for $1275 complete with RB600 arm. Since the arm sells separately for $695, you get quite a bargain with the…

Rega Research Ltd., 119 Park Street, Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex SSO 7PD, England, UK. US distributor: Lauerman Audio Imports, 519 Noelton Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. Tel: (423) 521-6464. Fax: (423) 521-9494.

Sidebar 2: Joint Analog Source of 1999

Rega Planar 25 turntable ($1275 with tonearm; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Sam Tellig, Vol.22 Nos.3 & 5, March & May 1999)

The two turntables sharing the award this year [the other was the VPI TNT Mk.IV] speak volumes about the state of the art of analog playback in this…