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For some time now I've wanted to upgrade my weekend system in Connecticut, and have been surveying three-way floorstanding speakers priced below about $2500/pair. I've focused on the stereo performance of each pair with music because, despite my interest in surround sound, the great majority of recordings are available only in two-channel stereo. Not wanting to look like a Bowers & Wilkins fanboy—my main system has long included their 800-series speakers—I put off auditioning B&W's 683 S2. But my goal was to get the best bang for my buck and with the 683 S2 costing $1650/pair, it…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, vented-box loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) aluminum-dome tweeter, 6" (150mm) woven-Kevlar-cone FST midrange, two 6.5" (165mm) aluminum-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 400Hz, 4kHz. Frequency response: 52Hz–22kHz, ±3dB on reference axis, –6dB at 30Hz and 50kHz. Dispersion: within 2dB of on-axis response over 60° arc (horizontal) and 10° arc (vertical). Sensitivity: 89dB/2.83V/m. Harmonic distortion (second and third harmonics, 90dB, 1m): <1.0%, 95Hz–22kHz; <0.5%, 120Hz–20kHz. Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Oppo BDP-103 universal Blu-ray player, Mac mini server running Windows 7 via Bootcamp, JRiver Music Center.
Preamplifiers: Emotiva XMC-1, Marantz AV8801.
Power Amplifier: Bryston 9BSST2.
Loudspeakers: Bowers & Wilkins 804 Diamond, Monitor Audio Silver 8, Paradigm Reference Studio/60 v.3, Sonus Faber Venere 2.5.
Cables: HDMI: AudioQuest Vodka. Interconnect: Kubala-Sosna Anticipation (RCA) & Fascination (XLR). Speaker: Kubala-Sosna Anticipation & Fascination. AC: Kubala-Sosna Emotion.
Accessories: Brick Wall…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Bowers & Wilkins 683 S2's frequency response in the farfield; and an Earthworks QTC-40, with its small, ¼"-diameter capsule, for the nearfield responses.
The 683 S2 is specified as having a sensitivity of 89dB/W/m; my estimate of its voltage sensitivity was slightly lower, at 87.7dB(B)/2.83V/m. The impedance, specified as 8 ohms, drops below 4 ohms in the lower midrange and in the top audio octave (fig.1), with a minimum magnitude of 2.92 ohms at 124Hz, very close to B…
Photo: Stephen Mejias
We were saddened to hear of the death of loudspeaker designer Bobby Palkovic, apparently by his own hand. We had published positive reviews of Bobby's Merlin speakers, including one of his VSM Millennium design and the VSM-MX at www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/439/index.html. Following is the news posted to Facebook by Bobby's friend, Rich Brkich of audio retailer Signature Sound:
"I am greatly saddened to report the loss of my long time friend Bobby Palkovich, President of Merlin Music Systems. Apparently more distraught than I had ever thought about…
For Grace Potter it's seemed inevitable for awhile now that the clock was about to strike Midnight. It started on 2010’s Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, when her personal look went glam, her hair turned permanently blonde and the album itself came in a reflective silver foil cover. Once a folky Vermont hippie girl, check the cover of her first record Original Soul, young Gracie has now become a rock star. And there’s nothing rock stars like more than reaching for hits, and here Potter’s naked attempt to pile up mainstream dance pop tunes will offend the purer souls among her ever-growing…
Photo: Paul Messenger
Dieter Burmester founded Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH in 1977 and ran it for 38 years. For me, he was the friendly face of an unusually friendly and outgoing German high-end hi-fi company. He died on August 15, and his company will badly miss him.
I first met Dieter years ago; he was playing bass guitar in a practice session with his band. Although he aspired only to play in a local band, the scene I witnessed pretty much summed up the man and his priorities. Burmester Audiosysteme, with its bright chrome-plated faceplates, is one of Germany's best-known hi-fi…
I've lived in New York City for 20 years, but until last weekend, I'd never visited the Louis Armstrong House and Museum in the borough of Queens. My lapse was inexcusable. The place, which has been opened to the public since 2003, isn't a difficult destination: a nice ride out on the No.7 subway line (to the 103rd Street–Corona station), followed by a five-minute walk. The place is a sheer delight. I plan to go again. You should, too.
Armstrong and his wife, Lucille, moved into the two-story dwelling, at 34-56 107th Street, in 1943, soon after they were married, and they stayed there…
These things always start in the parking garage; Chattering fellows unloading boxes from vans with out-of-state license plates. This evolves into dozens of impromptu mini-fetes taking place in elevators with old friends making excited small talk over the tops of hotel carts stacked with amps and turntable boxes. By the time I make it to the Hilton Rockville's lobby Thursday afternoon, I am already in it—I can feel the "Audiofest" excitement building. I have only been out of the car 10 minutes and I've already shook 5 hands and I am staring into the grinning goateed face of Gary Gill…
It didn't take long for me grasp that this 2015 edition of Capital Audiofest was a big moment for the universally admired (and loved) VPI clan. Everywhere I looked, clan patriarch Harry Weisfeld (center in photo) was smiling and telling great stories. Harry gets my Best In Show award for fascinating tales and amazing tutorials (we talked a lot about drag racing in the 1960s and turntable/arm-bearing lubes). His son Mat (peeking over shoulders in the background) and Mat's fiancée Jane win the Best Couple Ever award and I saw them hugging, kissing, and holding up the "Holy Shit!—That's My Son…