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Focal Aria K2 936 loudspeaker Measurements

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…

Technics Presents a Discussion of Their Reference Class SU-R1000 Digital Integrated Amplifier!

Replay Technics Webinar 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…

Gramophone Dreams #49: KEF KC62 subwoofer

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…

Gramophone Dreams #49: KEF KC62 subwoofer Page 2

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…

Marten Parker Trio Diamond Edition loudspeaker

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…

Marten Parker Trio Diamond Edition loudspeaker Page 2

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…

Marten Parker Trio Diamond Edition loudspeaker Specifications

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" (…

Marten Parker Trio Diamond Edition loudspeaker Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog source: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ekos tonearm, Linn Arkiv B cartridge, Channel D Seta L phono preamplifier.
Digital Sources: Roon Nucleus+ file server with HDPlex 200 linear power supply; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream D/A processor and MBL N31 CD player/DAC, Ayre Acoustics QA-9 A/D converter.
Preamplifier: Pass Labs XP-32.
Power amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1+ monoblocks.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Vodka (Ethernet), AudioQuest Coffee (USB), DH Labs (1m,…

Marten Parker Trio Diamond Edition loudspeaker Measurements

Sidebar 3: Measurements

I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Marten Parker Trio Diamond Edition's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield and in-room responses. I measured the speaker's impedance with Dayton Audio's DATS v2 system.

Usually, I measure loudspeakers in our backyard, weather permitting, or in our living room with the furniture pushed to the sides. This eliminates or moves back in time the reflections of the speaker's output. However, as this loudspeaker was too heavy for me to…

Re-Tales #9: Mind the Gap

To borrow Lyric Hi-Fi owner Leonard Bellezza's words from last month's Re-Tales, the traditional audiophile customer base "is graying."

That doesn't mean the future is bleak—not necessarily. Many in the industry have hope for hi-fi's future. For that potential future to be realized, however, audio dealers must adapt. Interest in better sound seems to be rising. Consider vinyl's resurgence; regardless of your views on vinyl's ultimate fidelity, it's a big step up from the earlier fashion for MP3s and cheap earbuds. (There's good news on that front, too: Those earbuds morphed into Beats…