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I realize I've spent an inordinate amount of space talking about what essentially was my failure to set up the speakers properly in the first place, but trust me when I say there's method to my madness. My experience in positioning them was the beginning of my awakening to the traits that define these speakers' character. Two of those traits combined make this speaker magical.

But first I want to talk about this speaker's resolution, which is impressive by any standard, and the first of this speaker's defining traits that was revealed to me by that positioning exercise. The BMRs…

Description: 3-way bass-reflex standmount with one flared port and one set of binding posts. Drive units: one RAAL Flatfoil 64-10X OEM ribbon tweeter, one 2.5" Balanced Mode Radiator, one SB Acoustics 6" ceramic-cone woofer. Frequency response: 36Hz–20kHz, ±2dB. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 86.5dB/2.83V/m.
Dimensions: 20" (508mm) H × 8" (203.2mm) W × 12.5" (317.5mm) D. Net weight: 32lb (14.5kg) each. Shipping weight: 39lb (17.7kg) each.
Finishes: Rectangle Piano Black ($1800/pair), Rectangle Satin Walnut ($1900/pair), Curved Piano Rosewood ($…

Analog sources: Rega P5 turntable with RB700 tonearm and Audio MusiKraft Denon DL-103 cartridge.
Digital sources: Simaudio Moon 260D CD transport, iFi iDSD Diablo DAC.
Integrated amplifier: Grandinote Shinai.
Loudspeakers: Focal Aria K2 936, Dynaudio Contour 30i.
Cables: Interconnects: Audience Studio ONE (RCA), Kimber Kable 1016 (RCA). Speaker: Kimber Kable Monocle-XL (w/banana plugs). Digital: Kimber Kable D60 (RCA S/PDIF). Power: Shunyata Research Black Mamba CX, LessLoss DFPC, DR Acoustics Red Fire Ultra.
Accessories: Shunyata…

When I unpacked the Philharmonic Audio BMR Monitor, there was a rectangular yellow mask protecting the RAAL ribbon tweeter. I followed the instructions printed on the mask to slide it away carefully, before starting the measurements. I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, and an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the loudspeaker's quasi-anechoic frequency- and time-domain behavior in the farfield. I used an Earthworks QTC-40 microphone, which has a small, ¼" diameter capsule, for the nearfield responses and Dayton Audio's DATS…

Immediately, the Hagen2's flaunted their transient prowess and ability to track complex, high-velocity signals. Powerful tempos and finely wrought textures came through from both digital formats, but the Voxativ's phase-correct paper cones showed the CD version to have deeper spaces, thicker bones, and more hue-saturated tones.

Accurate-as-possible tone and conspicuously corporal textures are what paper cones activated by powerful magnets specialize in. The strategy behind using paper cones is to impose some measure of forest-nurtured naturalness on instruments and voices. The…

Fisher's clear writing style and insightful listening notes built trust among his readers, especially within the Canadian hi-fi community. Ernie's passion for music and audio gear is always evident in his writing. He will be missed.

The shops at the Shoppes at Columbus Circle include Hugo Boss, Eileen Fisher, and Floga, which sells furs, among less-exclusive brands, though even the less-exclusive stores look fancy. Upstairs from the Shoppes is the Mandarin Oriental New York Hotel, where rooms cost…

Until now, Ryan Truesdell has been known for producing two of the most important jazz records of the second decade of the current millennium. Centennial, in 2012, and Lines of Color, in 2015, contained newly discovered works by the great composer/arranger Gil Evans. They were lavish productions with huge world-class New York orchestras. The many honors they received included a Grammy award and…