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Other than impedance, all acoustic measurements were made with the DRA Labs MLSSA system and a calibrated B&K 4006 microphone. To minimize reflections from the test setup, the measuring microphone is flush-mounted inside the end of a long tube. Reflections of the speaker's sound from the mike-stand hardware will be sufficiently delayed not to affect the measurement.

The Thiel is moderately sensitive at a calculated 86.5dB/W/m (B-weighted). Its…

Description: Two-way, floorstanding loudspeaker with passive radiator. Drive-units: one 6.5" metal-cone woofer, one 1" metal-dome tweeter. Frequency response: 42Hz–22kHz, ±3dB. Phase response: minimum ±10°. Sensitivity: 86dB/2.8V/m. Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum. Maximum power handling: 150W.
Dimensions: 8.5" W by 11" D by 33" H. Weight: 42 lbs.
Finishes available: a variety of real-wood veneers with black fronts and black grillecloths.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: Not noted (ST); 0663 & 0664 (MK).
Price: $1990/pair (1995); no…

To have two Requiems by French composers on the same disc certainly invites comparisons. Superficially similar, the works are actually quite different: both are conceived for small-scale performance, both rely on the organ, and neither places any great demands on chorus or orchestra. The differences concern mood and even intent. Fauré's Requiem, composed between 1887 and 1890, has survived all kinds of performances, both amateur…

The Spendor BC-1 is about as unimpressive-looking as any other smallish three-way loudspeaker, of which there are countless hundreds of models being made in the US at present. In fact, we were so ho-hummed by the mundane appearance of this speaker that we found it hard to connect the pair up and give them…

Description: Three-way, stand-mounted, reflex-loaded, dynamic loudspeaker. Drive-units: 8" Bextrene-cone woofer, 1.25" soft-dome tweeter, 0.75" soft-dome supertweeter. Crossover frequencies: 3kHz, 13kHz. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Power handling: 55W program, maximum. Maximum sound pressure level: 101dBA.
Dimensions: 25" (635mm) H by 12" (305mm) W by 12" (305mm) D. Recommended stand height: 8" (203mm).
Price: $570/pair (1978); no longer available (2013).
Manufacturer: Spendor Audio Systems Ltd., G5 Ropemaker Park, South Road, Hailsham, East Sussex…

The Aida is a prime member of Bel Canto's "operatic" series, which includes the Tosca and the Fidelio. John told me that the Aida was developed to provide a digital audio source that could compare with and be enjoyed alongside a high-quality analog system. In…

Description: 64x-oversampling, fifth-order Delta-Sigma (single-bit) D/A converter, accommodating sampling rates of 32, 44.1, and 48kHz. Digital word length: 16- or 18-bit, automatically selected. Output connections: balanced XLR and single-ended RCA. Input connections: one RCA coaxial, 75 ohms, and one AT&T optical. Frequency response: 0Hz–20kHz ±0.1dB. Maximum output voltage: 1.4V RMS. Output impedance: 100 ohms. THD: <0.005%. Signal/Noise ratio: 120dB. Power dissipation: 12W.
Dimensions: 17.25" W by 11.4" D by 2.5" H. Weight: 11.6 lbs.
Serial…

Preamplifiers included the Jadis JP-80MC, the Air Tight ATC-2, and the Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 Signature. CD transports were the Micromega Trio CD2, California Audio Labs' Delta, and the Accuphase DP-90. After experimenting with several 75 ohm digital interconnects, I settled on Mapleshade Electronics' Omega Mikro-D and Acrotec's D5010 datalinks as offering the most synergistic sonic match. Reference D/A processors included the Sonic Frontiers SFD-2, Theta's DS Pro Gen.III, CAL's Alpha processor, the original PS Audio UltraLink, and the Accuphase DC-91.

The…

The Bel Canto Aida had one of the lowest output levels I've measured from any processor: just 1.4V when decoding a full-scale, 1kHz sinewave. Unusually, the output level was identical from the unbalanced and balanced outputs. Although the Aida had a low output impedance of 90 ohms, the 1.4V maximum output level may not be enough to drive some power-amplifier/loudspeaker combinations to adequate listening levels without an active preamplifier. The Aida doesn't invert absolute polarity; a positive-going impulse on a CD produces a positive-going output signal. The…