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All was not bliss in ThieLand, though. A dark cloud hung over the bucolic scene, casting an ominous shadow that warned of things to come. Using a metal-coned woofer is great in terms of transient speed, but that resonance at 7kHz could be a bit nasty. Throughout my listening I was aware of a small amount of unmusical hash in the upper treble. It was worse if they were pointed toward me at all, so I mostly listened with no toe-in. This roughness was very minimal and did not bother me unless I was intent upon being critical. It was there, however; I wonder if these speakers might sound even…
Sidebar 1: MK’s System
The CD player used for my debut Stereophile review was a Kinergetics KCD-20B that I've modified somewhat. (I promise not to modify anything while I'm reviewing it!) Recently, I've been using the best preamp in the world: no preamp at all. What? I don't listen to vinyl? I must not be a real audiophile. The power amplifiers currently in my system are Nelson Pass–designed 15W single-ended "Zen" monoblocks (footnote 1). They have just one large MOSFET in the signal path, and I have to tell you they sound wonderful because I built them. I pick flowers to give to them,…
Sidebar 2: Measurements
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.
Fig.1 Thiel CS1.5, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed) (2 ohms/vertical div.).
The Thiel is moderately sensitive at a calculated 86.5dB/W/m (B-weighted). Its…
Sidebar 3: Specifications
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…
Duruflé: Requiem; Fauré: Requiem
Blegen, Morris, Shaw, Atlanta SO and Chorus.
Telarc 80135 (CD). Robert Woods, prod.; Jack Renner, eng. DDD. TT: 74:23
Blegen, Morris, Shaw, Atlanta SO and Chorus.
Telarc 80135 (CD). Robert Woods, prod.; Jack Renner, eng. DDD. TT: 74:23
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…
This smallish loudspeaker system has been getting high ratings in the English audio magazines for some years but was not available to US consumers until recently, when the small firm (literally a Mom'n'Pop enterprise, footnote 1) arranged for US distribution through Audio International.
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…
Sidebar: Specifications
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…
John Stronczer, Bel Canto Design's technical spark plug, meets my definition of an electronics renaissance man, ranging as he does from designing single-ended amps that glow in the dark (the Orfeo) to digital processors (the Aida). Actually, digital circuitry is one of John's specialties, dating back to his days at Honeywell.
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…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
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…
Sidebar 2: Review System
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…