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Analog sources were my Linn/Ittok/Sumiko SHO (or the ELAC ESG 896 H) and the Well Tempered Reference Turntable and Arm, with the same cartridges. Digital sources included McCormack's Digital Drive SST/DAC-1, the Assemblage DAC-1, Audio Alchemy DDE v1.1, and Audio Research CD-1.

Preamplifiers employed included Conrad-Johnson's EV20SE, Audio Research's SP-9 Mk.III, Audio Alchemy's DLC, and McCormack's Micro Line Drive, with Creek's OBH-8 or McCormack's Micro Phono Drive phono preamps where needed. Conrad-Johnson Premier Eleven A, VAC PA-80/80, Audio…

Around September, I began to hear rumblings out of Chantilly, VA that changes were in the cards for the Metaphor 2 loudspeakers I reviewed last July. Accordingly, I had a new pair shipped to Santa Fe so we could find out what Metaphor had wrought. They'd been busy—totally revamping the design. Bill Peugh regaled me with a list of over ten changes/refinements, encompassing everything from the cabinet to the shipping cartons. Only the price, it seems, is unchanged at $5950/pair.

First off, while the enclosure is still…

The Metaphor 2 will go loud with only a few watts of input power, my B-weighted measurement confirming the specified 91dB/2.83V/m. It is a moderately demanding load for the partnering amplifier, however, as can be seen from its plot of electrical impedance magnitude and phase against frequency (fig.1). The impedance drops below 6 ohms through the midrange and reaches 3 ohms in the mid-treble. Tube amplifiers are best used from their 4 ohm output transformer taps. The reflex port tuning for the twin woofers is revealed by the impedance saddle at 39Hz. A couple of…

Wes Phillips: How did Metaphor come about?

Bill Peugh: I made a conscious decision, while I was in college, that this was the industry I wanted to work in. That's how I made my living for the next 17 years: first selling hi-fi for Peter McGrath, and later as Director of Marketing for IAT, which distributed Goldmund in this country.

Karl Shuster worked with me at IAT. When it ceased to exist, we were practically forced to start our own business. Being pragmatic, I looked at high-end audio and saw that there were three…

Description: Three-way ported dynamic loudspeaker. Driver complement: one 1" hemispherical-profile, titanium-dioxide–coated titanium-cone tweeter; one 6.5" multilayered composite-cone midrange unit with cast-alloy frame; two 7" semi-exponential profile, multilayered, composite-cone woofers. Crossover: three-way with varying slopes, using low-inductance parallelled metal-film or metal-oxide resistors, polypropylene-film or film-and-foil capacitors, OFC air-core inductors, one Feron;r–core inductor. Cabinet construction: layered MDF of differing shapes and…

Julian Lage: World's Fair
Julian Lage, acoustic guitar
Modern Lore 99767 (CD). 2015. Julian Lage, Matt Munisteri, prods.; Armand Hirsch, eng. DDD. TT: 37:56

At 26, Julian Lage sat down with his 1939 Martin 000-18 and mostly original compositions and delivered one of the great albums in the chronicles of solo guitar. From the speedy intricacy of "Peru," "Gardens," and "Missouri" to the contemplative beauty of "40's" and "Day and Age," Lage set the bar high for personal expression and unforced assimilation of influences. Echoes of folk,…

Pachelbel & Fasch: Orchestral Works
Pachelbel: Canon in D, Suites for Strings in B-flat and G. Fasch: Trumpet Concerto in D, Symphonies for Strings in G and A.
Maurice André, trumpet; Pierre Pierlot, Jacques Chambon, oboes; Jean-Franáois Paillard Chamber Orchestra, Jean-Franáois Paillard
Musical Heritage Society MHS 1060 (LP), Erato 98475 (CD). 1968/1995. Michel Garcin, prod.; Guy Laporte, eng.; Ysabelle Van Wersch-Cot, mastering. AAA/ADD. TT: 53:15

Like everyone else, I got this album for something like a dollar by joining the…

Cracker: The Golden Age
Virgin 8 41498 2 (CD). 1996. Dennis Herring, David Lowery prods.; Joe Chiccarelli, Wayne Cook, others, engs. ADD? TT: 48:17

This one was supposed to be the major-label breakthrough for Cracker, but alas, it whistled right past the target. Nonetheless, it has stood the test of time, for being both a demo-worthy recording (in spots) and full of great songs. "Big Dipper" and "Dixie Babylon" stand out as great-sounding, crunchy, hippie country blues numbers, nestled between more aggressive outings that cash in on the 1990s'…

Shirley Horn: Here's to Life
Shirley Horn, vocal, piano; Johnny Mandel, arr.
Verve 314 511 879-2 (CD). 1992. Johnny Mandel, prod.; Al Schmitt, eng. AAD? TT: 62:00

Here's to Life has been a continual part of mine since its release, in 1992. Shirley Horn was a mature artist when this long-planned collaboration with composer and arranger Johnny Mandel finally came to fruition. It was a match made in heaven. Horn's deep mezzo is surrounded by exquisite arrangements and world-class orchestrations. The sound is beautiful, thanks to Al Schmitt's…