Description: Two-way transmission line loudspeaker. Drive-units: 0.75" (19mm) Sonomex soft-dome, ferrofluid-cooled tweeter, 2 × 5.5" (140mm) natural-fiber bass drivers with Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) loading. Crossover frequency: 1.7kHz. Crossover slopes: 24dB/octave. Frequency range: 28Hz–30kHz. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Sensitivity: 89dB/W/m.
Dimensions: 40.6" (1030mm) H × 6.1" (155mm) W × 15" (380mm) D. Net weight: 44lb (20kg).
Finishes: Metallic Graphite, White Silk.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 0055/0056.
Price: $12,000/pair.…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital sources: Oppo UDP-205 & BDP-103 universal players, Mac mini server running JRiver Music Center v26 and Roon, Mytek Brooklyn D/A processor, QNAP TS-831x NAS.
Power amplifiers: Bryston 9BST, Benchmark AHB2.
Loudspeakers: Monitor Audio Silver 8.
Cables: Kubala-Sosna Anticipation RCA and Fascination XLR interconnects, AudioQuest Coffee USB, AudioQuest Vodka HDMI, Kubala-Sosna Anticipation/Fascination speaker, Kubala-Sosna Emotion AC.
Accessories: Furman Elite 15 DM i Power line conditioner and surge protector, Emotiva CMX-2…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the PMC fact.8 signature's farfield behavior. I left the grille off for the measurements. PMC specifies the fact.8's sensitivity as 89dB/W/m; my estimated sensitivity was within experimental error of the specification, at 88.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. The fact.8's nominal impedance is specified as 8 ohms, which the solid trace in fig.1 indicates is appropriate, the impedance remaining above 8 ohms for much of the audioband. The minimum values are 5.47 ohms between 185Hz and 200Hz and 5.15 ohms at…
My writing desk looks out over a large garden with chickens, bees, and feral cats. My chair sits only six feet from loudspeakers, playing softly on my left. Between the speakers sits whatever painting I am working on. That painting hangs no more than 10 feet from the oscilloscope and drill press in my kitchen. Best of all, my desk is only six feet from squadrons of ravenous sparrows attacking the suet cage on the fence outside my window. These real-world attractions keep my right and left brain in balance. Similarly, reviewing both analog and digital sources, as well as tube and solid-state…
For those who've never experienced them, I should point out that, with every compatible amplifier I've tried, the Magnepan .7 loudspeakers produce notes, tones, massed strings, drum whacks, and ringing bells all with slightly rounded leading edges. They get the shimmer of tones extremely well, but not the initial bite. For decades, that slight, almost subliminal rounding has been the bête noir of the Magnepan sound. Let me explain.
On a dark, reverberant recording like Anouar Brahem's Blue Maqams (24/96 FLAC ECM/Tidal), the .7s round each note's front edge as described above, but then…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state stereo power amplifier with class-D amplifier module and AFPC power supply. Inputs: 1 pair single-ended (RCA), 1 pair balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 pairs of three-way binding posts. Power output: 200Wpc into 8 ohms (23dBW), 400Wpc into 4 ohms (23dBW). Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, –0.2dB. Voltage gain: 26dB. Input impedance: 15k ohms single-ended, 30k ohms balanced. Power consumption: <0.4W standby, 28W operating.
Dimensions: 5.7" (145mm) H × 16.9" (430mm) W × 15" (382mm) D. Weight: 26lb (11.7kg).
Finishes: Titanium, black.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable with Jelco TK-850L tonearm and Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum moving-coil cartridge.
Digital sources: Apple Mac mini computer running Audirvana+, Chord Qutest DAC; Integra DPS 7.2 CD player (as transport).
Preamplification: EMIA Phono step-up transformer, Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ phono preamplifier; Rogue Audio RP-7 line-level preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: Bel Canto REF600M, Mytek Hifi Brooklyn, Pass Labs XA25, Rogue Stereo 100, Schiit Audio Aegir, Line Magnetic LM-518 IA (…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I tested the Primare A35.2 with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"). As the A35.2 has a class-D output stage, I didn't perform my usual preconditioning by operating the amplifier at one-third the specified power into 8 ohms for an hour. With a class-AB output stage, one-third power results in the maximum dissipation in the output devices, but this is not relevant with a class-D design. However, because class-D amplifiers emit relatively high levels of ultrasonic noise that would drive my analyzer's input into slew-rate limiting…
[Updated April 27]
On Tuesday, April 21, 20 major high-end audio manufacturers sent an open letter to Joel Davis, founder and CEO of JD Events, urging him to immediately cancel AXPONA 2020 or offer "the option of withdrawal and an immediate refund." (footnote 1)The letter argues that the COVID-19 pandemic "has clearly altered [the audio] landscape out of all recognition" and disputes the viability of the show's rescheduled dates from April to August 9-11.
AXPONA's decision to postpone the show instead of canceling it outright makes it an outlier among hi-fi shows. Munich High End…
Open letter to Joel Davis of JD Events [producer of AXPONA]
[Editor's Note: The following letter was distributed April 21st to people in the industry.]
Dear Joel,
Hi-Fi Shows have long been an important and familiar part of the audio landscape, as important to manufacturers and magazines as they are to consumers. But the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic has clearly altered that landscape out of all recognition. Large segments of the US (and World) population are enduring limitations on travel and social interaction. Governments and city administrations are banning audiences…