Description: Two-way, stand-mounted, infinite-baffle loudspeaker. Drive-units: 0.75" (19mm) Mylar-dome tweeter, 5" (127mm) Bextrene-cone mid/woofer. Frequency range: 70Hz–20kHz. Sensitivity: 83dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 15 ohms.
Dimensions: 11.9" (304mm) H by 7.4" (190mm) W by 6.4" (165mm) D. Weight: 11.8 lbs (5.35kg).
Finishes: Cherry, Walnut; additional charge for Elm, Rosewood, Yew.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 00124A & B.
Price: $2995/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 10.
Manufacturer: Falcon Acoustics, Mallories, Pound…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I performed a full set of measurements using my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It"). Before taking any measurements, I preconditioned the Ayre by running it for 60 minutes at one-third the specified power into 8 ohms, which is very much the worst case for an amplifier with a class-B or class-A/B output stage. Like the original MX-R, the MX-R Twenty got hot, the temperature of its heatsink fins reaching 140.3°F (60.2°C) and the top of its case 116.1°F (46.8°C). The THD+noise measured 0.03% with the amplifier cold, and…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Acoustic Signature WOW XL turntable & TA-1000 tonearm, Thorens TD-124 turntable; Abis SA 1.2 tonearm; Ortofon CG 25 DI II, Shure SC35C, Soundsmith Carmen, Zu Audio DL-103 cartridges.
Digital Sources: Onkyo Integra DPS-7.2 DVD-A player; Line Magnetics LM502 CA, Halide HD DACs; Mac mini computer.
Preamplification: Intact Audio step-up transformer; April Sound GB-1, LFD LE, Sentec EQ-11 phono stages.
Integrated Amplifiers: Hegel Music Systems H160, Line Magnetics LM518 IA, Simaudio Moon Neo 340i, Vinnie Rossi LIO.
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Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Falcon LS3/5a's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield response. The Falcon's voltage sensitivity was 0.7dB higher than that of my 1978 pair of Rogers LS3/5a's, at 83.2dB/2.83V/m. Its plot of impedance magnitude and phase (fig.1) was very similar to that of the original (footnote 1) with the magnitude remaining above 8 ohms from 10Hz to 7kHz. However, it was, on average, about 2 ohms lower in the region covered by the tweeter.
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The most refreshing music I encountered at the huge 2015 Munich High End Show was an excerpt from David Chesky's children's ballet, The Zephyrtine, which Paul McGowan played in the PS Audio room. Hence it comes as no surprise that another of Chesky's recordings, his Rap Symphony, has just won the Independent Music Award (IMA) for Best Contemporary Classical Album.
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