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In the September 2001 Stereophile (Vol.24 No.9), I wrote very favorably about Polk's RT25i loudspeaker ($319.90/pair). That bookshelf model impressed me with its open, neutral midrange; its pristine, extended high-frequency response; and its low-level dynamics. On the minus side, the RT25i was fairly limited in low-bass extension and high-level dynamic slam. At the time, I was seeking a new speaker for my home computer music-composition system, and I bought the review samples—the only time I've done that since I began to write for Stereophile some 20 speaker reviews ago.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way biwirable bookshelf loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" doped silk-dome tweeter, 5¼" plastic-cone woofer. Crossover: 1.9kHz, 12dB/octave high- and low-pass slopes. Frequency range: 50Hz-27kHz. Frequency response: 60Hz-26kHz -3dB. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Voltage sensitivity: 89dB/W/m. Recommended amplification: 20-125W.
Dimensions: 12" H by 7" W by 11½" D. Weight: 29 lbs.
Finish: Black or cherry wood veneer.
Serial numbers of units: AM 029505333.
Price: $319.95/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 500.
Manufacturer: Polk Audio,…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia RPM tonearm, Koetsu Urushi cartridge; Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital sources: California Audio Labs Icon Mk.II Power Boss, Creek CD53 Mk.II CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated amplifier: Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Polk RT25i, Epos ELS-3, Infinity Primus 150.
Cables:…
Sidebar 3: Measuring
Given its diminutive size, the Polk RTi4 was surprisingly sensitive: an estimated 89.3dB(B)/2.83V/m. Its impedance magnitude (fig.1) remains above 4 ohms for almost all of the audioband, and although there is a somewhat problematic combination of 5 ohms magnitude and a -42 degrees capacitive phase angle at 150Hz, overall it will not be a difficult speaker for an amplifier to drive. The saddle at 54Hz in the magnitude trace in fig.2 suggests that this is the tuning frequency of the RTi4's two ports.
Fig.1 Polk RTi4, electrical impedance (solid) and…
Ten years ago, I'd probably have got pretty good odds from industry insiders on a bet that Stereophile would still be reviewing phono cartridges into the new millennium. Linn's Arkiv B may not be a brand-new design—I heard my first sample in mid-1997—but phono-cartridge technology is about as stable as anything in hi-fi today. This Stereophile review is long overdue.
Furthermore, this review addresses a complaint often directed against reviews and reviewers: that we rarely spend enough time with a component to gain a properly balanced, long-term perspective. While a couple of…
Getting the bottom end right
I suspect I've remained loyal to Linn cartridges over the years because I've always found them superior to the competition through the bass region. For me, at least, music builds from the foundation of the bass, and getting the bottom end as tight and coherent as possible is more important than worrying about the midband and top end. Linn's three-point headshell mount undoubtedly helps, and is one advantage that Linn holds over other high-end rivals. (To my knowledge, only Rega has emulated this, in a moving-magnet design.)
I suspect I've remained loyal to Linn cartridges over the years because I've always found them superior to the competition through the bass region. For me, at least, music builds from the foundation of the bass, and getting the bottom end as tight and coherent as possible is more important than worrying about the midband and top end. Linn's three-point headshell mount undoubtedly helps, and is one advantage that Linn holds over other high-end rivals. (To my knowledge, only Rega has emulated this, in a moving-magnet design.)
When I changed from the Arkiv…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Low-output moving-coil cartridge. Stylus: line contact. Recommended tracking force: 1.8-2.0gm. Pin connection type: flying wire. Recommended load: >50 ohms. Separation at 1kHz: >30dB. Channel balance at 1kHz: ±0.5dB. Output at 1kHz (3.45cm/s): 400µV. Recommended tonearm: rigid, medium mass.
Weight: 7.4gm.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 5166, 5675.
Price: $2200. Approximate number of dealers: 100.
Manufacturer: Linn Products Ltd., Floors Road, Waterfoot, Glasgow G76 0EP, Scotland, UK. Tel: (44) 141-307-7777. Fax: (44) 141-644-4262…
Sidebar2 : Associated Equipment
Analog source: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable, Ekos tonearm, Lingo power supply, Linto phono preamp; Linn Sondek LP12 turntable, Naim ARO tonearm, Armageddon power supply, Naim Prefix phono preamp; Rega Planar 9 turntable.
Preamplification: Naim NAC52 preamplifier; Lavardin IT integrated amplifier.
Power amplifiers: Naim NAP135 monoblocks, Mana Stealth MA-1.
Loudspeakers: Rehdeko RK175, JMlab Mezzo Utopia, Wilson Benesch A.C.T. One, Spendor BC1, and a hundred or so others.
Accessories: Support furniture by Mana, Townsend, Sound Organisation.—Paul…
Thanks to all the "Fine Tuners" out there who filled the room early on Sunday morning at the Home Entertainment 2001 Show in May for my "Fine Tunes Clinic." And thanks to Victor Tiscareno of Audio Prism/Red Rose Music for the "technical stiffening." I applaud all your intelligent curiosity, questions, and tales of woe and success. Let's do it again.
My e-mail bag has been fairly stuffed recently with all kinds of interesting and slightly bizarre tweaks, all which I'll eventually discuss. This month, it's lasers.
Lasers can be very useful in lining up speakers to best effect in…
"When it comes to video, most audiophiles are insufferable snobs."—J. Gordon Holt, 1984
"If your magazine doesn't give coverage to video products, it's finished." If I heard one high-end audio personality at the recent Las Vegas Winter CES tell me that Stereophile should start devoting more space to video and home theater, I heard fifty.
And with good reason: Although the "marriage of audio and video" has been a much-touted factoid in the past, the last two years have breathed life into it. The statistics may show that audio separates purchases are falling (footnote 1), but audio…