Description: Three-way, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 4.1" by 0.375" aluminum ribbon tweeter, 7.1" carbon-fiber/pulp-cone midrange, two 9" carbon-fiber/Rohacell/glass-fiber–cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 300Hz, 3.5kHz. Frequency response: 27Hz–30kHz, ±2dB (–8dB at 23Hz and 40kHz). Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 2.8 ohms minimum. Sensitivity: 90dB/2.83V/m.
Dimensions: Overall: 47.0" (1194mm) H by 12.6" (320mm) W by 22.5" (572mm) D. Head cabinet: 15.4" (390mm) H by 10.7" (272mm) W by 22.5" (572mm) D. Bass cabinet: 29.1" (740mm) H by…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xeMP universal player; Meridian 808i.2 CD player; dCS Puccini SACD player; Benchmark DAC1, Ayre QB-9 D/A converters; dCS 972 D/D converter; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter WiFi music player with Apple Mac mini for media storage.
Preamplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 2, Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8.
Power Amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblocks, Simaudio Moon Evolution W-7.
Loudspeakers: Aerial Acoustics 5B, PSB Synchrony One, Totem Acoustic Mani-2.
Cables: Digital: Kimber Illuminations Orchid AES/EBU, Stereovox CV2…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The quasi-anechoic measurements were all performed using DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone. The Aerial Acoustics 20T V2 is specified as having a voltage sensitivity of 90dB/2.83V/m; my estimate was somewhat lower, at 88dB(B)/2.83V/m on the tweeter axis, which is slightly lower than my measurement of the original 20T. The electrical impedance (fig.1), however, is very similar, with minimum values of 3.25 ohms at 24Hz and 3 ohms at 228Hz. Fortunately, the electrical phase angle at those frequencies is low, but with an impedance that stays…
In October 2005's "The Fifth Element." I said of the Harbeth HL-3P-ES2, a descendant of the BBC LS3/5A, "Gloriosky, these little speakers are just great to listen to!" Later, in April 2007, John Atkinson endorsed that remark.
I feel exactly the same way about Aerial Acoustics' 5B: It's just great to listen to. Indeed, A-list New York City classical recording engineer Jerry Bruck used a pair of Aerial Model 5s to monitor Nathaniel Rosen's award-winning release of Bach's Cello Suites (2 CDs, John Marks JMR 6/7), and larger floorstanding Aerial speakers (the 7s, if I recall correctly), to…
On the basis of only the above, and admittedly relying on recent memory of the HL-3P-ES2 rather than a side-by-side comparison, I think Aerial's 5B is a very valid alternative to the Harbeth descendant of BBC's original shoebox. The Aerial has incrementally but noticeably more bass—and wonderfully controlled bass at that—and, arguably, a more neutral midrange and treble, in comparison to the Harbeth's slight romantic sweetness and/or warmth. But the Aerial is by no stretch of the imagination cold—at all.
The one criticism I can imagine some listeners might make of the Aerial is that its…
John Atkinson on the Sound
When Robert Harley reviewed Aerial Acoustics' original Model 5 for Stereophile in April 1997, he concluded that this moderately sized, stand-mounted, two-way, sealed-box speaker sounded "super-smooth, uncolored, and had a top-to-bottom coherence rivaling those of much more expensive loudspeakers." However, he did note what he felt to be the speaker's shortfalls in soundstaging and bass extension, as well as an unassuming character that gave the music "a certain reticence that made me want to turn up the volume."
The original Model 5 combined a 1"…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, sealed box-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" titanium-dome tweeter, 7.1" damped laminated-fiber–cone woofer. Crossover frequency: 3kHz. Frequency response: 70Hz-20kHz, ±3dB. Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum. Sensitivity: 85dB/2.83V/m on-axis. Power requirements: 50W minimum..
Dimensions: 8.125" W by 13" H by 10.25" D. Weight: 48 lbs/pair net.
Finishes: Matt black.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 052741 & '2.
Price: $2200/pair. (Dedicated stands cost $700/pair.) Approximate number of dealers: 65.…
Sidebar 2: JA's Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xeMP universal player; Meridian 808i.2 CD player; dCS Puccini SACD player; Benchmark DAC1, Ayre QB-9 D/A converters; dCS 972 D/D converter; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter WiFi music player with Apple Mac mini for media storage.
Preamplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 2, Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8.
Power Amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblocks, Simaudio Moon Evolution W-7.
Loudspeakers: Acoustic Energy AE1 Mk.III Special Edition, Totem Acoustic Mani-2.
Cables: Digital: Kimber Illuminations Orchid AES/EBU,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
My estimate of the Model 5B's voltage sensitivity was 85.8dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the specification. Though this is a couple of dB lower than average, as I commented in my auditioning notes, the speaker did sound less sensitive than I would have expected. The speaker's impedance (fig.1) is almost identical to that of the original, with an average level of 10 ohms in the midrange and above, but a drop to 4 ohms in the upper bass and a demanding combination of 6 ohms and a –40° electrical phase angle at 100Hz. A 4 ohm–rated amplifier…
"Think before you speak is criticism's motto; speak before you think is creation's."—E.M. Forster, "The Raison d'Être of Criticism in the Arts," 1947 (footnote 1)
1. Just as there are many different genres of films, comprising a list that grows longer with each passing season—Brit-indy horror, gal-pal western, art-house horror—there are many different genres of audio components.
Somewhere, a circuit designer tries loading the plate of a driver tube somewhat differently than he used to. He likes what he hears, builds a new amp around his new idea, and sells about two dozen of them…