French composer Antoine de Févin (ca…
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There I was, driving through the streets of Port Townsend, dodging the dashing deer, when out of the blue, strains of Palestrina came floating by. Giving thanks to CBC Radio, which we can receive in the Pacific Northwest, I noticed immediately how my internal space had become far more peaceful after just a few bars of Palestrina's polyphonic writing for multiple voices. It was at that minute that I realized that I missed listening to sacred vocal music of the Renaissance, and that it was high time that more of it made its way on to the Stereophile.com.
If there's one thing audiophiles agree on, it's that snake oil is bad—even if they can't agree about what snake oil actually is.
In audio, snake oil means fake science or fake technology—anything that's claimed to improve the sound of a system but that looks like an obvious rip-off. For some people, expensive speaker cables and interconnects are snake oil. A few objectivists consider AC power treatments snake oil: most modern audio components, after all, can correct for AC line-voltage flaws and reject "ripple" in a power supply's output. A handful of hard-core objectivists maintain that…
With reviews of Wilson's Alexia 2 loudspeaker ($57,900/pair) in the July issue, Constellation's Centaur 500 amplifier ($55,000) in the October issue, and Tidal's Akira loudspeaker ($215,000/pair) in the November issue, my system's been inhaling some rarefied air the past few months. Accordingly, I felt I should live with some components priced within the reach of real-world audiophiles. As it happened, I was finishing up my review of the Constellation amplifier when MoFi Distribution's Lionel Goodfield e-mailed me, asking if I'd like to review the new Diamond 11.2 loudspeaker from the…
The 200Hz warble tone sounded more colored than the other bands, and when I played the half-step–spaced tonebursts on Editor's Choice there was audible coloration between 196 and 246Hz. When I listened to the cabinet walls with a stethoscope, this behavior was worse with the right-channel speaker than the left. This behavior, I suspect, was the cause of the Diamond 11.2 having a rather warm tonal balance, which was particularly noticeable with male speaking voices, as in the channel-identification and phasing tracks on Editor's Choice. But with well-recorded classic music, such as…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex (slot-loaded), stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) textile-dome tweeter, 6.5" (150mm) woofer with woven-Kevlar cone. Crossover frequency: 2.3kHz. Frequency response: 48Hz–20kHz, ±3dB. Bass extension: 40Hz, –6dB. Impedance: "8 ohms compatible." Sensitivity: 88dB/2.83V/m. Peak SPL: 96dB. Recommended amplifier power: 25–125W.
Dimensions: 14" (355mm) H by 8.7" (221mm) W by 12.7" (322mm) D with terminals. Enclosure volume: 0.47 cubic feet (13.3 liters). Weight: 19.8 lb (9kg).
Finishes: White, Blackwood, Walnut Pearl…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Source: Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with Lingo power supply, Linn Ekos tonearm, Linn Arkiv B cartridge.
Digital Sources: Roon Nucleus+ file server; Ayre Acoustics C-5xeMP universal player; AQ Technologies Aqua Formula xHD, PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream D/A converters; Ayre Acoustics QA-9 USB A/D converter.
Preamplification: Channel D Seta L phono preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Audio Research Reference 160M, Lamm Industries M1.2 Reference (both monoblocks), Mytek Brooklyn Amp.
Integrated Amplifier: Ayre Acoustics EX-8.
…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the right-hand sample of the Wharfedale Diamond 11.2's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield and spatially averaged room responses.
My estimate of the Diamond 11.2's voltage sensitivity was 89dB(B)/2.83V/m, or 1dB higher than the specified 88dB. The Diamond 11.2's impedance is specified as "8 ohms compatible." However, the magnitude drops below 6 ohms in the midrange and the high treble. The minimum magnitude is 3.7 ohms at 215Hz (fig.1,…
On Saturday, December 8, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Gryphon Audio Designs' new Zena preamplifier will be demonstrated at Kyomi Audio, 4454 West Berteau Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641. The demonstrations will be conducted by Philip O'Hanlon of Gryphon's US Distributor, On A Higher Note, and by Kyomi Audio's George Vatchnadze, a noted concert pianist and recording artist. Among the music featured will be selections from the upcoming release, on Decca, of Vatchnadze's recording of Kancheli's 33 Piano Miniatures and other selections.
As space is limited, those who wish to attend are encouraged to…
Thursday, December 6, 4–8 pm, Command Performance (115 Park Avenue, Ste 2, Falls Church, VA 22046) will be hosting a
Naim Audio "500 Event." Saturday, December 8, 12–5pmm, Audible Images (1610 Pineapple Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32935) are holding their annual "Music Appreciation Event."
At the Command Audio event, Naim will have its East Coast premiere of its all-out assault on music streaming and playback, the ND 555 Network Streamer. The ND 555 will be played-back through the NAC 552 preamplifier and NAP 500 DR power amplifier. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to (703) 532-7239 or by e-…
In the early 1990s, the Compact Disc was all the rage, and vinyl records were being executed en masse. Thirty years later, and oh, how our tables have turned. Mint first pressings of tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley's 1957 album Hank Mobley (Blue Note BLP 1568), which once could be had for $40, now bring upward of $8000. Each. Vinyl continues to enjoy a global resurgence of popularity, while CD sales have plummeted to all-time lows.
What happened? Apparently, yesterday's pops and ticks are today's "warmth," Record Store Day exclusives, and skyrocketing vinyl values. All things old . . .…