Along with the Totem Skylights, the Arias were the easiest speakers I've ever set up in my listening room, owing, likely, to two factors: I'm getting better at it, and their sound was less…
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The Arias come with cloth grilles, of which I am not a fan, but with their sturdy plastic honeycomb exoskeleton, easy magnetic stick-on placement, and handsome looks, these cloth grilles are a notch above other cloth grilles I've come across. Still, I took Bob Deutsch's word when he wrote in his review of the original 936 that they sound better with no grilles, so the grilles went back in their boxes.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, five-driver, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) aluminum-magnesium TNF inverted-dome tweeter, 6.5" (165mm) K2 sandwich-cone midrange unit, three 6.5" (165mm) K2 sandwich-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 260Hz, 3.1kHz. Frequency response: 39Hz–28kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 92dB/2.83V/m. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 2.8 ohms minimum. Recommended amplification: 50–300W.
Dimensions: 45" (1150mm) H × 11.5" (294mm) W × 14.5" (371mm) D. Weight: 64lb (29kg).
Finishes: Ash Grey premium finish (from the Utopia line).
Serial…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Rega P5 turntable with RB700 tonearm and Audio MusiKraft Denon DL-103 cartridge.
Digital sources: Simaudio Moon 260D transport, Bryston BDP-1 USB Digital Player running Tidal, Bryston BDA-2 DAC.
Preamplification: Sonic Frontiers SFP-1 Signature phono preamp, Audible Illusions L3A preamp.
Amplifier: Grandinote Shinai integrated amplifier.
Loudspeakers: KEF LS50, Totem Skylight.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Diamond (USB), BIS Audio Maestro (RCA S/PDIF). Interconnect: Moon Audio Silver Dragon (RCA). Speaker: Nordost Heimdall…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Focal AriaK2936's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield responses. (The Earthworks microphone's capsule has a diameter of just ¼", so it doesn't present a significant obstacle to each radiator's output.) The loudspeaker's manual recommends that the listener's ears should be the same height as the tweeter, so I used the tweeter axis for the farfield measurements.
Focal specifies the Aria 936's sensitivity as a high 92dB/2.83V/m. My…
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LIVE: Friday, May 21, 2021 - 12:00PM ET
Join Bill Voss, Technics Business Development Manager in the US and Frank Balzuweit, Business Development Manager for Technics in Europe in celebration of Technics 55th anniversary introduction of the new Reference Class SU-R1000 Digital Integrated Amplifier as they present a live webinar discussion with demos of the key features and technology in this incredible new model.
Topics to be covered:
Technics Digital amplifier technology JENO Engine Jitter Elimination and Noise-shaping Optimization…
We have inherited an infinitely vast library of recorded musical art, the majority of which is well-recorded but has yet to be fully and completely reproduced. Countless times, I've played an album and thought, am I the first person ever to hear this recording sound this clear and microscopically detailed? Audiophiles understand that in order to be fully enjoyed, great recordings need the finest possible audio reproduction. Reciprocally, the finest audio systems are best enjoyed when playing great recordings. It's a horse and carriage thing.
One of my favorite great recordings is 1994's…
With the KC62's EQ set for Room, the low-pass turnover point set at 60Hz, and the output level set just below 9 o'clock, the Falcon's 6dB, 160Hz dip pulled up to almost flat (–2dB). Response at 40Hz came up a full 6dB, enough to match the 100Hz, 1kHz, and 10kHz baseline. Below 40Hz, response dropped off at 12dB/octave. Now, the entire 40–200Hz range was +0/–3dB, which I thought nicely balanced the Falcon's mid- and high-frequency character. The Falcon's new geometric center made musical instruments sound more like themselves.
This was the flattest 40Hz–200Hz response I have ever…
2020 may not have been a year to celebrate, but there were some housebound highlights. For example, after I had finished with the measurements to accompany Michael Fremer's review of the Marten Oscar Duo in the November 2020 issue, I set up these Swedish two-way standmounts in my own listening room. Yes, the measured performance was excellent, but I was not expecting how much I would enjoy the sound of the Oscar Duos.
At $6995/pair, this is not an inexpensive speaker, but it rivaled the stereo imaging produced by my reference KEF LS50, played louder than the diminutive KEF without…
Belatedly watching that wonderful movie Yesterday had me hankering for some Fab Four. I cued up The Beatles' Love (24/96 ALAC, ripped from DVD-A, Apple/Capitol 3 79810 2 5). It's been many years since I listened to this album, and the transparency of the Parker Trio Diamonds drew me deep into George and Giles Martin's remixes. The opener, "Because," features the vocal track sans backing other than assorted ambient sounds at the very rear of the soundstage. As should be the case when a pair of high-end speakers are optimally set up, the Trio Diamonds disappeared, replaced by the images of…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: 2.5-way, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25.4mm) diamond-dome tweeter, two 7.5" (190.5mm) ceramic-cone woofers, two 9" (229mm) aluminum-diaphragm passive radiators. Crossover frequency: 2.2kHz. Frequency response: 26Hz–40kHz ±2dB. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms. Minimum impedance: 3.1 ohms. Sensitivity: 91dB/2.83V/m. Power handling: 300W. Terminals: single-wired WBT. Internal wiring: Jorma Statement. Supplied accessories: outrigger supports, Marten IsoPuck isolators, and a burn-in CD.
Dimensions: 46" (1170mm) H × 11" (280mm) W × 14.2" (…