Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 0.875" silk-dome tweeter, 5.5" damped paper-cone woofer. Frequency range (in-room): 28Hz–42kHz. Crossover frequency: 2.3–11.4kHz (axis transitional). Sensitivity: 87dB/W/m. Impedance: 6 ohms nominal, 4.2 ohms minimum. Recommended amplification: 30–150W.
Dimensions: 13.9" (355.6mm) H by 7.9" (203.2mm) W by 10.9" (280mm) D. Weight: 16.5 lbs (7.5kg).
Finishes: Piano Black lacquer, Cherry or Maple wood veneers.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: None found.
Price: $999/pair…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, sealed-box bookshelf speaker. Drive-units: 1" aluminum-dome tweeter, 3" aluminum-pulp composite midrange cone, 7" Acufibre-cone woofer. Crossover frequencies: 350Hz, 2.8kHz. Frequency response: 45Hz–24kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 86dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms. Recommended amplification: 30–150W.
Dimensions: 16.9" (433mm) H by 9.6" (246mm) W by 15.6" (400mm) D. Weight: 26 lbs (11.8kg).
Finishes: Black Oak, Rosewood, Vintage Cherry; Piano Black, add $300/pair.
Serial number of units reviewed: WHO47129BBC0102 (both).
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Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI Traveler turntable & tonearm; Thorens TD-124 turntable, SME 3009 II tonearm; Miyabi Mono, Miyajima Spirit, Ortofon 2M Black, Zu Audio Zu & DL-103 Mk.II cartridges.
Digital Sources: Puresound A-8000 CD player, Line Magnetic LM 502CA DAC, Oppo DV-980H SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Soundsmith MMP3, Blue Horizon BN:09-11-009, Sentec EQ11 phono stages; Intact Audio, Audio Note S1 step-up transformers; NAD 1020 preamplifier.
Power Amplifier: B&K ST-140.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek 4330, Line Magnetic LM518 IA…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Rega Research Planar 3, VPI TNT IV turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Koetsu Urushi cartridges.
Digital Sources: Creek Destiny, Lector CDP-7T CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 75.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Excite X14, Epos Elan 10.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Accent Speaker Technology Blue Thunder.
Accessories…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Sjöfn Clue's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. My estimate of the Clue's B-weighted voltage sensitivity confirmed the specification of 87dB/2.83V/m. The minimum impedance is specified as 4.2 ohms; the solid trace in fig.1 shows that our samples went a little lower than that, reaching 3.7 ohms at 270Hz and 2.67 ohms at 4.7kHz. However, as the electrical phase angle is never high when the impedance is low, a good, 4 ohm–rated…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Wharfedale Jade 3's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield response of its woofer. My estimate of the Jade 3's voltage sensitivity was 83.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is significantly lower than the specified 86dB/W/m. The Wharfedale is specified as a 6 ohm design. Its impedance remains at or below 4 ohms for the entire midrange (fig.1, solid trace), with a minimum magnitude of 3.2 ohms at 700Hz. The magnitude does remain above 6 ohms in the bass and…
Manufacturer's Comment
Editor: We're confused!
Though Herb Reichert points out (the clue)'s transparency, dynamics, crisp transients, detail, "live" quality, gee-whiz low price, etc., he is disappointed in the "lean" bass, relative lack of warmth, and uneven tonal balance. We quote from his own blog comments from the Capital Audiofest, in July: "what I am now all about is finding that killer $5k system that out plays the $20k systems. And you know what? That is indeed possible and the sound in Sjöfn HiFi's room proved it. Typically, the first thing you give up in the lower end…
I was stationed in Germany in the Air Force for two years in the 1980s, and for one long weekend off had to decide whether to visit Berlin, or travel to Austria and see Vienna. I was told that Berlin, then still divided by the Wall, consisted of late-20th-century high-rises (West) and Concrete Collective Chic (East).
I went to Vienna. It was and is a beautiful city, with much of its late 19th- and early 20th-century character still intact. And while there will always be other claimants to the honor, it's arguably still the classical-music center of the planet. I managed to score standing…
Most of my listening was to CDs, but I also used the Marantz for SACDs (two-channel DSD tracks only), which were played only through the Consummate preamp and its two-channel analog link to the player.
Some manufacturers recommend breaking in their speakers for ungodly amounts of time. Others disdain the break-in concept, apart perhaps for a few minutes to allow the drivers' suspensions to loosen up. In my opinion, listening to music while speakers settle in is a questionable practice; it's just as likely that your ears are breaking in to the sound of the speakers than anything dramatic…
I remember reading about Monitor Audio speakers as I pored over British audio mags in the 1970s, before the economy was globalized. They were among the many worthy UK brands whose cachet was amplified by their unavailability in the US. This venerable brand has survived and flourished, while many others from the 1970s have disappeared, or become mere labels under the aegis of multinational corporations. The reasons for this success seem to be that Monitor has evolved their metal-cone driver technology, kept the focus on their core market, and continued to provide high-quality construction and…