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Considered as a sequence of sounds over time, audio energizes a room with a complex jumble of fundamental tones and thousands of harmonics, augmented by room reflections and longer-term reverberation. This sounds like a recipe for aural confusion, but we learn instinctively from earliest childhood to distinguish direct sound from a source, person, or loudspeaker from the reverberant field. Without that skill, stereo perception in rooms would be impossible.

Audio listeners are accustomed to moderate amounts of distortion from a loudspeaker…

Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded standmount loudspeaker. Driver complement: custom ring-diaphragm compression tweeter loaded with a proprietary ultrashort horn with shaped directivity; ultralow-distortion Purifi midwoofer. Crossover: Sealed and potted, with wax-impregnated foil-wound inductors and capacitors with silver lead-out wires. Aeco binding posts. Frequency response: 36Hz–20kHz (–3dB). Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 87dB/2.83V/m, measured at 2W into 4 ohms. Power handling: 250W max, 25W min.
Dimensions: 13.4" H × 8.3" W × 13.4" D. Weight:…

Analog sources: Linn LP12 turntable with Keel chassis, Karousel main bearing, Radikal motor control, Naim ARO tonearm with Lyra Delos cartridge.
Digital sources: Naim UnitiCore network server and S/PDIF source. Roon Nucleus +. Naim ND555 Streamer-DAC with two 555PS(DR) power supplies.
Preamplification: Townsend Allegri Reference, Naim SuperLine-SuperCap DR phono preamplifier.
Power amplifier: Naim NAP250.
Loudspeakers: Finkteam KIM, BBC LS3/5a 15 ohm.
Accessories: Several 4- and 5-tier Naim FRAIM racks; Transparent XL MM2, Naim NAC A5…

As the schedule didn't allow sufficient time for Martin Colloms's pair of Thrax Sirens to be shipped to me for measurements, Thrax arranged for a different loudspeaker to be sent from their factory in Bulgaria. This sample had the serial number 211123. I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system with a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the speaker's behavior in the farfield and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield responses.

According to the manual, the Siren "is best heard with the tweeters at, or just below, ear height." I therefore started by examining…

Southwest Audio Fest v1.0 in Dallas, Texas, was the site of the North American debut of the YG Acoustics Sonja 3.2 loudspeaker.

The Sonja 3.2 is a reference-level modular speaker with a cabinet of solid aluminum; each speaker weighs 320lb. Constellation Audio provided the amplification for the system: Centaur II mono amplifiers and Virgo II preamplifier. An Audio Research Reference Phono 3 SE preamplifier worked with a Pure Fidelity turntable and cartridge for vinyl playback. Digital front-end duties were performed admirably by the MSB Premier DAC.

The listening…

Visually, these curved monolithic panels dominated the small room where they were demoed. They sounded great streaming tracks from Tidal using a Benchmark DAC3 B. The David Berning 845 ZOTL Gen 3 HiFi One Edition 60W, class-A monoblock tube amps ($75,000/pair) provided power. Cabling was by EnKlein Bespoke Wireworks.

"I'm back, back in the saddle again"—actually, I'm back at the Montreal Audiofest, held March 22–24 at its usual grand locale, the Bonaventure Hotel. For one weekend each year, this storied hotel with the heated rooftop swimming pool becomes the land of audio gear, audio purveyors, audiophiles, a record fare, live music, and music-and-booze tours, two of them this year: the show's sophomore wine-and-music tour, and, true to the spirit of Montreal's sordid role during US prohibition, its inaugural "Prohibition Night" consists of music paired with a variety of whiskeys.

But don't…

Digital tunes came from a Windows 11 mini PC ($1000) running Qobuz and playing files locally stored on SSD. The DAC was Infigo's Method 4 ($35,000). As an analog source, the system used a VPI Avenger Direct equipped with a Van den Hul Black…

Now, before we return to Montreal, here's more from the Southwest Audio Fest.

You won't mistake an MBL speaker for any other. No matter what size MBL speakers you buy, you will get the same unique 360-degree dispersion in the highs and mids.

MBL's smallest and most affordable loudspeaker offering is the Radialstrahler 120 ($26,500/pair), which was demoed in Dallas (footnote 1).

MBL also made the electronics running the speakers, specifically the new C41 network player/DAC ($11,100), which also served preamp duties, and two MBL N15 monoblock amplifiers ($20…

During the demo, Sade's "Cherish the Day" sounded seductive. A couple that had been sitting through previous demo tracks had gotten up to leave but turned around and sat back down to hear more.

I requested "Thief Rockers" by Thievery Corporation, a frequent request from me. The couple that came back to hear Sade stayed for the Thievery. I enjoyed the detailed yet smooth and…