The question arose this time in connection with some listening tests on a pair of FMI 80 speakers and a pair of IMF Monitor III speakers, using Audio Research Dual 75 and Crown DC-300A power amplifiers.
Both speakers, according to their manufacturers, had been designed to produce the flattest, most-…
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Through the growth years, Infinity became a major force in the High End. Cary Christie is the only one of the original players still associated with Infinity in 1995, now part of Harman International. His relationship, however, is now as an independent designer and consultant with Christie Designs, Inc. (footnote 1). I corralled him by phone on a clear fall day in Santa Fe, and a…
The impedance plot of the Paradigm Studio Monitor (fig.1) shows a rather high average impedance which should be no problem for any amplifier to drive; it only drops below 4 ohms for an octave or so centered at 100Hz, to a minimum of 3 ohms. The cabinet is tuned to a low frequency of approximately 25Hz—the dip in the saddle between the two typical reflex resonant peaks in the bass. The impulse response in fig.3 shows a small amount of high-frequency ringing typical of metal-dome tweeters, but it is well damped. The reflection just after the 4ms mark is probably…
Description: four-driver, three-way, floorstanding loudspeaker with quasi-3rd order, resistive port bass loading. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) metal-dome tweeter, 5" (130mm) polypropylene-cone midrange, two 8" (210mm) polypropylene-cone woofers. Crossover slopes and frequencies: 2nd-order at 275Hz, 3rd-order at 2.5kHz. Frequency response: 30Hz–20kHz, ±2dB (on axis). Sensitivity: 90dB/W/m (room). 87dB/W/m (anechoic). Nominal Impedance: 6 ohms (4 ohms min). Amplifier requirements: 15–300W.
Dimensions: 43.5" (1105mm) H by 12.25" (320mm) W by 16.5" (420mm) D. Internal…
Four power amplifiers were used in the course of this evaluation: the Threshold S/550e, the Mark Levinson No.23.5, the Audio Research Classic 120 monoblocks, and the PS Audio 100 Delta. The preamplifier was the Rowland Consummate, and the CD player was the Wadia WT-3200 driving the Audio Research DAC1-20 converter. (CD was the primary source in this audition.)
Interconnects were AudioQuest Lapis between CD and preamp and for the unbalanced link between preamp and power amp with the ARC and PS Audio amps. For balanced hookup to the Threshold and…
Audio Advice, July 22 & 23
Manufacturer representatives from Bowers & Wilkins, Classé, Control4, Devialet, Rotel, Sonance, Sonos…
When Michael Fremer reviewed this $30,000/pair power amplifier in the May 2015 issue, he admitted that he had difficulty getting it to sing with his Wilson Alexandria XLF speakers, especially before the review samples had broken in. "Out of the box and dead-of-winter-right-off-the-truck cold (but given a day to reach room temperature)," he wrote, "the M28s sounded more tube-like, more 'soft and loose' than 'fast and tight.' Though it was consistent in these and other regards from top to bottom, the M28s didn't exactly provide…