The Cinema Sound
When I first connected the full Vandersteen surround system in my audio/video room, I was not particularly happy with the result. The sound was lean, the top end rather bright (surprisingly, considering the sound of the 3A in my listening room). Since the new additions (center, surrounds, subs) had not had any obvious break-in (though I suspect the subs had seen use prior to my receiving them), I removed the subs and center to another room where I could "burn them in"—four days straight with "pink noise" and other material. The surrounds stayed in place (they were…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Vandersteen Model 3A four-way loudspeaker
Driver complement: 10" and 8" woofers, 4.5" midrange, and 1" metal-alloy tweeter.
Amplifier requirements: 100-200Wpc into 8 ohms.
Nominal impedance: 6 ohms (4 ohms minimum).
Sensitivity: 88dB/W/m.
Dimensions: 6" W by 11.25" D by 48" H.
Weight: 89 lbs.
Ser. #5458A, 5459A.
Price: $2595/pair, $2795/pair with Sound Anchor braces.
Model VCC-1 two-way center-channel loudspeaker
Driver complement: 6.5" woofer, 1" fabric-dome tweeter. Sealed enclosure.
Nominal impedance: 5 ohms.
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Sidebar 2: Measurements
Logistical problems prevented measurement of the Vandersteen VCC-1 two-way center-channel loudspeaker. The Vandersteen 3A's sensitivity is a little lower than average at an estimated 85dB/W/m (B-weighted). A minimum amplifier power of 50Wpc would be a good idea. Its impedance remains below 6 ohms for much of the range, and dips under 3 ohms at 35Hz. The 3A is a moderately demanding load, though the phase angle is usefully low.
Logistical problems prevented measurement of the Vandersteen VCC-1 two-way center-channel loudspeaker. The Vandersteen 3A's sensitivity is a little lower than average at an estimated 85dB/W/m (B-weighted). A minimum amplifier power of 50Wpc would be a good idea. Its impedance remains below 6 ohms for much of the range, and dips under 3 ohms at 35Hz. The 3A is a moderately demanding load, though the phase angle is usefully low.
Other than a small suckout at just below 1kHz and some response ripples in the low treble, which would appear to be due to reflections…
It's easy for us audiophiles to feel neglected. Consider that this year witnesses the debuts of not one, but two new audio formats that should answer the prayers of just about every frustrated audiophile out there: SACD and DVD-Audio. Both approaches represent the state of the art of recording and reproducing music, and finally fulfill for serious listeners the promise that CD teased us with more than 15 years ago.
But this, the biggest news for music-lovers in years, has hit the mainstream press with a resounding 24-bit thud. In fact, the recent brouhaha of Napster vs Big Music and the…
J.S. BACH: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
Till Fellner, piano
ECM 1853/54 (2 CDs). 2004. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Markus Heiland, eng. DDD. TT: 116:58
Performance *****
Sonics *****
Till Fellner, piano
ECM 1853/54 (2 CDs). 2004. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Markus Heiland, eng. DDD. TT: 116:58
Performance *****
Sonics *****
To those who listen to Bach casually, this new recording of the Well-Tempered Clavier, by Till Fellner, is sheer pleasure—its legato line clean, graceful, and intelligently colored, its sound picture warm, clear, and inviting. But to those who follow Bach performance, the recording also signifies larger things—such as a triumphant culmination of the past 20 years of Bach on piano.
In…
Paul Barton is a legend in the speaker business. For 25 years this musician and engineer has dedicated his life to providing speaker purchasers with higher levels of sonic realism at lower prices. Barton is a frugal perfectionist, and his obsession with psychoacoustics is evident in all his designs. I was mightily impressed with his midpriced Image 4T (Stereophile, February 2001), which was, like all Barton designs, designed with the assistance of the facilities of Canada's National Research Council.
Although PSB makes more than two dozen speakers ranging from $199 to $2699/pair, it is…
In the upper-middle frequency range, the only instruments that at times lacked naturalness were the brass, particularly the trumpet. In a mellow jazz recording such as Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (LP, Columbia/Classic CS 8163, Quiex pressing), Davis' trumpet was not harsh, but seemed highlighted, as if the engineer had added another spot mike. On recordings with more energetic and highly modulated trumpet passages, such as Buena Vista Social Club (LP, Nonesuch/Classic RTH 79478), trumpet passages sounded, well, too brassy, detracting from the realism of this excellent recording.
Strangely…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way bass-reflex bookshelf loudspeaker. Drive-units: ¾" aluminum-dome tweeter, 5¼" polypropylene-cone woofer. Frequency response: 65Hz-21kHz on-axis, 65Hz-10kHz off-axis (±3dB limits for both). Sensitivity: 89dB/W/m anechoic, 91dB in typical listening room. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum. Recommended power: 10-90W.
Dimensions: 11¼" H by 6½" W by 9¼" D.
Finishes: Black or light cherry wood-grain.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 103742 & 103743 (auditioning and measuring), 103740 & 103741 (measuring).
Price: $249/…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia tonearm, Koetsu Urushi cartridge; Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Aurum Beta S cartridge.
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, Audible Illusions Modulus L1 line stage.
Power amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated amplifiers: Creek 5350SE, JoLida JD-101A.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MIT MI-330SG, MIT…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Despite its modest price, the PSB Alpha B offers slightly greater than average sensitivity, at an estimated 88.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. In addition, its plot of impedance magnitude and phase (fig.1) suggests it is a fairly easy load for an amplifier to drive. Although the minimum magnitude is 3.9 ohms at 250Hz, the electrical phase angle at that frequency is very low.
Fig.1 PSB Alpha B, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed). (2 ohms/vertical div.)
Other than a small glitch just below 30kHz, associated with the tweeter's ultrasonic dome…