Description: Two-way, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 5" woofer, 1" soft-dome tweeter. Frequency response: 60Hz–22kHz, ±6dB. Sensitivity: 84dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Recommended amplifier power: 50–200Wpc.
Dimensions: 11.8" H by 7.9" W by 9" D. Weight 15.4 lbs.
Serial number of review samples: 1001/1002.
Price: $1499/pair in Cherry or Black Ash veneer.
Manufacturer: ATC Loudspeaker Technology Ltd., Gypsy Lane, Aston Down, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 8HR, England, UK. Tel: (44) (0)128-576-0561. Fax: (44) (0)128-576-0683. Web: www.…
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Sidebar: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
The associated equipment consisted of Parasound's Halo CD 1, used as both CD player and transport; Nordost's Silver Shadow digital cable; Bricasti's M1 DAC (since sent back); and Grace Design's full-size m905 studio Monitor Controller (the Grace m903's larger sibling, so to speak; report in thr April 2014 issue); and Cardas Clear Rev.2 interconnects and Clear speaker cables.
I did most of my listening with Lindell's AMPX class-A power amplifier. However, while the Lindell was going forth and back to John Atkinson for measuring (see January 2014, p.…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
John Marks sent me the review pair of this elegant British, sealed-box minimonitor to run through my loudspeaker test regime. I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the ATC's frequency response in the farfield (I measured serial no.1002), and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. All measurements were taken without the grille.
As expected from its diminutive size, the SCM7 v.3 is not very sensitive; my estimate of its voltage sensitivity came in at 82dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is 2dB below the specified 84dB. The…
Thumbing their collective nose at pundits who predict the imminent demise of physical media, Universal Music Group has begun reissuing select back catalog and new releases in Pure Audio (audio only) Blu-Ray 24/96 and/or 24/96 download formats. The first of the classical titles appeared in February, with more rolling out all the time.
To get the skinny on UMG's plans for Blu-ray and hi-res, I conducted two separate interviews with folks in the UK. The first, with Barry Holden, the extremely committed and highly articulate VP of Classical Catalogue at Universal Music, appears below. A…
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Such is the story of the Montreal Audio Show aka Salon Son et Image (SSI), which takes place this coming weekend, March 28–30. The Chester Group may be sponsoring the show for the first time, and longtime show organizer Michel Plante may have ceded the reins to his partner/wife, Sarah Tremblay, but both the location (the Hilton Bonaventure Hotel) and the show structure are pretty much the same.
Tremblay expects about 80 exhibitors—the same as last year—holding forth in 80–100 rooms. To please up to 7000 attendees, SSI will again join forces with…
Components listed here have been formally reviewed in Stereophile and have been found to be among the best available in each of four or five quality classes. Whether a component is listed in Class A or Class E, we highly recommend its purchase.
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 September 2013 issue is indicated as "Vol.36 No.9."
Some products listed have not yet been reported on; these…
Sidebar: How to Use the Listings
The classes each cover a wide range of performance. Carefully read our descriptions here, the original reviews, and (heaven forbid) reviews in other magazines to put together a short list of components to choose from. Evaluate your room, your source material and front-end(s), your speakers, and your tastes. With luck, you may come up with a selection to audition at your favorite dealer(s). "Recommended Components" will not tell you what to buy any more than Consumer Reports would presume to tell you whom to marry!
Class A: Best attainable sound…
Turntables
Editor's Note: We strongly recommend those interested in LP playback visit our sister website, www.AnalogPlanet.com, which is edited by Michael Fremer.
A+
Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn: $200,000 with tonearm and stand ✩
"Part New Jersey diner, part Wurlitzer jukebox," the 160-lb Caliburn is the brainchild of Mark Doehmann, whose clever, purposeful design is based on rigorous scientific methodology using finite-element analysis computer programs. While the only serious competition for the Caliburn is the Rockport System III Sirius, MF decided, "The…
SACD, DVD-A, & CD Players & Transports & Media Players
Editor's Note: SACD, DVD-A, and media player ratings are based on how they sound with their respective hi-rez media, not CD.
A+
Bryston BDP-2: $2995
Essentially a beefed-up BDP-1, the BDP-2 replaces the original's 0.5GHz processor with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N450 and upgrades its single-amp linear power supply with a larger toroidal transformer specced to provide 10 amps of peak current. In addition, the BDP-2 has two Ethernet connectors (instead of the BDP-1's one), six USB ports (instead of four), a new…
Digital Processors
Editor's Note: The sound of any particular CD transport/digital processor combination will be dependent on the datalink used-see "Bits is Bits?" by Christopher Dunn and Malcolm Omar Hawksford, Stereophile, March 1996, Vol.19 No.3 (WWW). Unless mentioned, processors are limited to 32/44.1/48kHz sample rates. To be included in Class A+, a digital processor must be capable of handling DSD or 24/96 LPCM data.
We strongly recommend those interested in using a computer as a true high-end digital audio source visit our sister website, www.AudioStream.com, which is…