Description: Two-way standmount loudspeaker with passive radiator. Drive units: 2.5" planar-magnetic tweeter with Teonex diaphragm; 6.5" cast-frame polypropylene-cone woofer, 6×9" rear-firing passive radiator. Frequency response: 35Hz–20kHz (–6dB) in half space, down to 30Hz (–6dB) in room. Crossover frequency: 1750Hz, Linkwitz-Riley 6th-order acoustic. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms (5.6 ohms minimum). Sensitivity: 83.5dB/2.83V/m. Recommended amplifier power: 50–150W.
Dimensions: (each speaker) 14.5" (368mm) H × 8" (203mm) W × 13" (330mm) D. Net weight: 26.6lb (…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Custom Intel/Win11 music server running JRiver Media Center v32 and Roon 2, Merging Devices Hapi II DAC. QNAP TVS-873 NAS. Oppo Digital UDP-103 universal disc player.
Power amplifiers: Benchmark AHB2, NAD M23, Buckeye Purifi 1ET-9040BA monoblock, in for review.
Loudspeakers: KEF Blade Two Meta with IsoAcoustics Gaia II feet, KEF LS60 Wireless, KEF KC92 subwoofers (in for review).
Cables: Digital interconnects: Mogami Gold AES TD DB25-XLR snake. Analog interconnects: Mogami Gold AES TD DB25-XLR snake, Benchmark Studio&Stage…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, and an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the PS Audio Aspen FR5's quasi-anechoic frequency- and time-domain behavior in the farfield. I used an Earthworks QTC-40 microphone for the nearfield responses and Dayton Audio's DATS V2 system to measure the impedance magnitude and phase.
PS Audio specifies the Aspen FR5's voltage sensitivity as 83.5dB/2.83V/m; my estimate was…
What’s in a name? Joe Finn of Timonium, Maryland’s Gramophone clearly knows the answer. He brought a compact system to CAF, one stocked with overachieving gear and equally ambitious cables, courtesy of AudioQuest.
Source component was a HiFi Rose RS150B streamer ($5000) into a Chord Ultima Integrated amplifier ($11,250), driving either Totem Element Metal V2 speakers ($17,850/pair) or Totem Tribe Tower speakers ($6300/pair).
AudioQuest cables and conditioning included AQ Mackenzie XLR ($369/pair), and AQ Rocket 88 bi-wire ($1289.95/8 foot pair), as well as AQ NRG Y-3 power…
Harmonia Distribution brought a respectable system to CAF, including a Grimm Audio MU2 Media Player Streamer Preamplifier ($17,500), PrimaLuna EVO 400 Tube Preamplifier ($4995), and a product I raved about at Stereophile and continue to use, the PrimaLuna EVO 300 Hybrid Power Amplifier ($7195).
This setup was completed with the latest iteration of the renowned BBC mini-monitor, Harbeth P3ESR XD Bookshelf Loudspeakers ($2990/pair) in oak, and Sbooster power supplies.
This all-Infigo-meets-Alta room was bathed in Infigo Audio’s Hans Looman’s usual blue light glow, showering the room with the same mystical vibrations I heard from this room at some CAF long since past.
Loomans brought the whole Infigo megillah to the show, including his Infigo Audio Method DAC 4 ($35,000) and Infigo Audio IS-1 Cryo Streamer ($7000), with analog source duties relayed by a VPI Shyla MC Cartridge ($2000) mounted on a VPI Avenger Direct Statement turntable ($50,000).
Loomans’s amplification included his Infigo Audio Method 7 Preamplifier ($20,000) into Infigo Audio…
Angie Lisi of American Sound of Canada always presents desirable components—CAF2024 was no exception. This year, Lisi launched the North American debut of German-made Perpetuum Ebner turntables, the new Phasemation SA1500 integrated amp, new Avantgarde Colibri Series speakers and subwoofer, new Avantgarde Zero Itron speakers, and her exclusive line of Italian Synthesis Art in Music tube amplification.
In room 641, an Aurender N30 Streamer ($23,000) was paired with a tubed Synthesis Roma 117DC preamplifier ($5695) into Synthesis Roma 98DC SE tubed monoblocks ($9800/pair), driving…
Show attendees entered John Semrad and Dave Slagle’s room and let out an involuntary gasp. The components on display epitomized bespoke, handmade craftsmanship, of the highest quality, with purity and provenance their bywords.
The setup included a Garrard 301 turntable in a Semrad bocate wood plinth with a Sorane TA1L tonearm ($1875) mounted with a Mutech Hayabusa MC cartridge (4500€).
Slagle’s electronics included an EM/IA MC Trio SUT ($6000), and an EM/IA LR Phono Corrector phono stage ($33,750).
“The Trio SUT allows for up to three tonearms to be routed to…
When Stereophile's Product of the Year Awards were first published, in 1992 (footnote 1), we decided that unlike some other publications and their awards schemes, we would keep the number of categories to a minimum. That way, we would avoid what the late Art Dudley once described as the "every child in the class gets a prize" syndrome.
This decision led to some interesting contests. In Loudspeakers, for example, high-value minimonitors compete with cost-no-object floorstanders. In Analog Products, turntables compete with tonearms, phono cartridges, and phono preamplifiers. And in…
Amplification Component of the Year
Accuphase A-300 monoblock power amplifier
($49,950/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.46 No.12, December 2023 review)
FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
Balanced Audio Technology REX 500 power amplifier
($25,000; reviewed by Rogier van Bakel in Vol.47 No.6, June 2024 review)
Dan D'Agostino Relentless Master Audio Systems preamplifier
($149,500; reviewed by Jason Victor Serinus in Vol.47 No.9, September 2024 review)
Linn Klimax 800 monoblock power amplifier
($90,000/pair; reviewed by Jason Victor…