Description: Three-way, floorstanding, bass-reflex loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1.1" hand-coated, silk-dome tweeter; 6" X3P midrange; two 6" X3P Spider-Cone woofers. Bass function: impulse-optimizing QB3 (Quasi-Butterworth). Crossover frequencies: 150Hz, 2.3kHz. Crossover: three-way, 6dB and 12dB Bessel. Frequency range: 30Hz–22kHz. Sensitivity: 91dB. Impedance: 4 ohms. Recommended amplification: 40–250W.
Dimensions: 39.6" (1016mm) H by 8.4" (216mm) W by 14.6" (375mm) D. Weight: 61 lbs (27.75kg) each.
Finishes: Piano Black, Cherry; for Piano White, Rosewood…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, reflex-loaded, floor-standing loudspeaker. Drive-units (all C-CAM diaphragms): 1" (25mm) dome tweeter, 4" midrange driver, two 6" woofers. Crossover frequencies: 500, 2700Hz. Frequency range: 32Hz–35kHz. Impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 90dB/W/m. Power handling: 200W. Maximum SPL: 116.8dBA/pair. Recommended amplification: 80–200W RMS.
Dimensions: (excluding grille, terminals, plinth): 39.8" (1021mm) H by 9.6" (245mm) W by 14" (360mm) D. Weight: 51.3 lbs (23.3kg).
Finishes: Black Oak, Rosenut, Walnut (all real wood), High Gloss…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Source: Marantz UD7007 universal Blu-ray player.
Preamplification: Jeff Rowland Design Group Consummate preamplifier, Integra DTC-9.8 preamplifier-processor.
Power Amplifier: Parasound Halo A 51.
Cables: Interconnects: Kimber Kable AGDL digital coaxial (sources to pre-pro), TARA Labs Rectangular Solid Core original (sources to preamp), Cardas Hexlink (preamps to power amp). Speaker: Monster Cable M1.5.
Accessories: Monster Cable HTS5000 Reference Power Center (preamps, source).—Thomas J. Norton
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Oppo BDP-103 universal BD player, Mac mini running JRiver Music Center, Audirvana Plus.
Preamplifiers: Marantz AV8801, NAD M17.
Power Amplifiers: Bryston 9BST, Rotel RMB-1585.
Loudspeakers: B&W 800 Diamond, Bryston Middle T, Paradigm Studio/60v3.
Cables: Interconnect: Kubala-Sosna Anticipation (RCA) & Fascination (XLR). Speaker: AudioQuest Vodka (HDMI), Kubala-Sosna Anticipation & Fascination. AC: Kubala-Sosna Emotion.
Accessories: APC S-15 power conditioner.—Kalman Rubinson
Sidebar 3: What's Up with Flat?
Some 30 years ago (yikes! has it been that long?), the late J. Gordon Holt, founder of Stereophile, wrote an "As We See It" column titled "Down With Flat!." It raised some hackles. Gordon, of course, didn't intend it to mean that smooth response (not necessarily the same thing as flat) wasn't desirable, and he was clearly speaking of a speaker's in-room response. In any case, I was reminded of the piece as I was evaluating the Vienna Acoustics speakers. Why? Because I've read many reviews of Vienna models (not necessarily this one) that included…
Sidebar 4: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grand SE's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. Vienna Acoustics specifies the Baby Grand's sensitivity as a very high 91dB. My estimate was significantly lower, at 86.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. The impedance is specified as 4 ohms, and while the average magnitude in the midrange and below is indeed 4 ohms, the impedance drops to 2.3 ohms at 90Hz (fig.1, solid trace), a frequency where music has high energy.…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the Monitor Audio Silver 8's farfield frequency response using DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone. I used an Earthworks QTC-40 microphone for the nearfield responses, its small, ¼"-diameter capsule offering no significant barrier to the free flow of air through the speaker's ports. The Silver 8 is specified as having a sensitivity of 90dB/W/m; my estimate of its voltage sensitivity was 88.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is slightly lower. Though the Silver 8's impedance is specified as 4 ohms, its measured impedance magnitude (fig.1, solid…
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As an audiophile, I've come to associate the size, weight, and price of a subwoofer as quick'n'dirty indicators of its quality. The subwoofers that have worked best in my large listening room—the Velodyne ULD-18 and DD-18+, Muse Model 18, REL Studio III, JL Audio Fathom f113, and Revel Sub30—each weigh more than 130 lbs and cost more than $2500. With some of my reference recordings, all of them have achieved what Robert Harley described in the April 1991 issue of Stereophile as the goals of a quality subwoofer: "seamless integration, quickness, no bloat, and unbelievable bass extension." Yet…