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My system remains basically unchanged from that described in my review of the Ensemble B-50 Tiger in the May 1991 issue (Vol.14 No.5). The manifold in the ET2 arm has been replaced with one specially designed to complement the higher pressure of the Wisa air pump. A Monster Genesis 2000 cartridge has replaced the 1000. Navcom "pucks" have replaced the springs in the VPI HW19. These upgrades and changes to my analog front end have noticeably improved its ability to provide authoritative and captivating sound.

When I play CDs (and I must honestly say that…

The measured sensitivity (for an octave-wide band centered at 1kHz) was on the low side, being some 6dB below the Snell Type K dynamic speaker at 84dB/W/m. Impedance-wise (fig.1), the Spectra 1100 offers no surprises. The sealed-box woofer is tuned to a low 27Hz. The HF contour switch was set to Medium for this graph; switching it to "High" drops the top-octave impedance to an amplifier-punishing 1.1 ohms at 20kHz. The upper bass impedance minimum is a still-demanding 3.6 ohms at 200Hz. Coupled with the low sensitivity, this implies that Spectra 1100 owners should…

Description: Two-way loudspeaker with 8" dynamic woofer in a sealed cabinet, and 48" electrostatic midrange/tweeter. Crossover frequency: 250Hz. Frequency response: 30Hz–19kHz, ±3dB. Minimum recommended power: 75W. Impedance: 6 ohms nominal, 2 ohms minimum. Sensitivity: 88dB (400Hz, 1W into 8 ohms equivalent at 1m).
Dimensions: 67.5" H by 16" W by 16.75" D. Weight: unspecified, but estimated 65–75 lbs each.
Serial numbers tested: 36100061 Right, 36100062 Left.
Price: $1599/pair, $1699/pair in charcoal or light-grey sock & black oak base. (1991);…

It wasn't being played, there was no way to tell how it sounded, but it certainly looked the business. Delays due, among other things, to…

I get quite a number of excellent products to review, but I only want to steal a few of them. This list, naturally enough, includes those items where performance has been the design goal regardless of price, or which have superb performance but also some minor quirk that limit their value as references to a reviewer (footnote 1). It is, in many ways, an honor roll of the high-end, including such items as the Koetsu Signature Red, Audio Research SP-11, New York Audio Laboratories OTL-1, Apogee Scintilla, and so on.

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My auditioning of the Oracle Delphi Mk.IV turntable began with the Oracle SME 345 tonearm and the Dynavector XX-1L cartridge. The sound of this combination would not surprise anyone who's read my review of the Dynavector (Vol.14 No.5), though the arm in that case was the SME V. The presentation was tight, focused, open, and detailed, yet without unnatural roughness or brightness. On good recordings, that is. Mike Garson's The Oxnard Sessions, Vol.1 (Reference Recordings RR-37) definitely tended toward the sparkling…

Description: Pivoted, dynamic balance tonearm with fiber-damped, tapered, straight magnesium arm-tube with a fixed headshell, optional viscous pivot damping, spring sidethrust correction, sliding base overhang adjustment, ballrace bearings. Effective mass: 10–11gm. Length (pivot to stylus): 233.15mm. (Pivot-to-spindle distance, 215.35mm (8½"); offset overhang, 23 ° 38 minutes; overhang, 17.8mm ±9mm; tracking error, 0.012 °/mm maximum with 0 ° error at 66.04mm and 120.9mm from the record center.) Cartridge balance range: 0–14gm. Vertical tracking force: 0–3gm.,…

Description: Solid-state MM/MC phono preamplifier. Voltage gain: 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60dB. Input impedance: 100, 200, 1k, 10k, or 47k ohms. Power reqirements: 86–260V AC, 5W, universal, no adjustment required.
Dimensions: 17" W x 2½" H x 12" D. Weight: 11 lbs. Shipping weight: 19lbs.
Price: $1399.
Manufacturer: Sutherland Engineering, Kansas City, MO. Web: www.sutherlandengineering.com

Each listing—in alphabetical order within classes—is followed by a brief description of the product's sonic characteristics and a code indicating the Stereophile Volume and Issue in which that product's report appeared. Thus the May 2014 issue is indicated as "Vol.37 No.5."

Some products listed have not yet been reported on; these are…