Munich is to audiophiles—to this one at least—what New York's 5th Avenue is to Black Friday shoppers. It's the audiophile version of flying through a canyon with a wing suit on. It's a giant rush, audio cocaine.
In early May, over four days, 21,180 people visited 551 high-end exhibitors from 42 countries. According to the…
Even though Henry Brant's mind-boggling Ice Field for orchestra and organ won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2002—the year after its premiere—and years later was revisited by the San Francisco Symphony, for which it…
That reader was responding to my AXPONA report about Magnepan's new $650/pair Little Ribbon Speaker (LRS)—which I presume he also heard at the show.
Naturally, as a prattler who has long served at the altar of hyperbole, I was jealous of billmilosz's simile. So I'll try now to verify his observation—while fashioning a more thorough and maybe even philosophical description of Magnepan's newest entry-level…
I left my home in…
Description: Two-way floorstanding quasi-ribbon panel loudspeaker. Frequency response: 50Hz–20kHz, ±3dB. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms (3 ohms minimum). Sensitivity: 86dB/500Hz/1m/2.83V.
Dimensions: 48" (including feet) by 14.5" by 1.2" (H by W by D). Shipping weight: 46 lb.
Finishes: Natural oak, black oak, or cherry trim; off-white, gray, or black fabric.
Serial numbers of units tested: 011110-1 & 2.
Price: $650/pair Approximate number of dealers: 76. Also sold factory-direct. Warranty: 3 years to original purchaser.
Manufacturer: Magnepan…
Analog Sources: Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable with Jelco KT-850L tonearm, AMG Giro G9 turntable & 9W Turbo tonearm; AMG Teatro, EMT TSD 75 SFL, Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue, Zu/DL-103 Mk.II, Hana SL & ML, Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum, My Sonic Lab Ultra Eminent Ex cartridges.
Digital Sources: Mac mini computer running Audirvana Plus 3.2; JVC X-Z1010 CD player (transport only); Chord Qutest, Schiit Yggdrasil Analogue 2, Mytek Manhattan II, HoloAudio Spring "Kitsune Tuned Edition" Level 3 DACs.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23,…
When a loudspeaker is measured, the underlying assumption is that the distance from the speaker to the microphone is significantly greater than the largest dimension of the speaker's drive-unit array. With conventional moving-coil loudspeakers, this assumption is almost always correct: The microphone is in the speaker's farfield, where any differences in the path lengths from all the drive-units are negligible. However, with a panel loudspeaker such as the Magnepan LRS, this becomes difficult to arrange. The LRS's Magneplanar panel is 38" tall by 10" wide, which…
And at just the right time: Not only is there an unprecedented amount of sanely priced, excellent-sounding audio gear on the market; there's this thing happening between us right here and now—the fact that you're reading a letter I wrote especially for you. It's a serendipitous concurrence, because when I think back to when I was a tenderfoot, I wish I'd had a mentor—or, better yet,…
In all cases, the spirit and care with which we approach new territory helps inform our conclusions.
So it was with eager anticipation that I approached the Mimas integrated amplifier, the…
One of the…