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Isaiah J. Thompson is a new pianist of exceptional promise. He is 24 and has already acquired two degrees from Juilliard and released two impressive records. He is not your typical wunderkind. He has qualities that most young badasses acquire later in life if at all, like concision, control, taste, and humility.

The first…

Here's a superbly executed oddity that somehow manages to enthrall: Atmospherically recorded arrangements for string orchestra of works written between 1847 (Mendelssohn's final String Quartet No.6 in F minor, Op.80) and 2019 (Joanna Marsh's In Winter's House). That a string program that includes two pieces initially composed for choral voices works so superbly is due to the care and…

Unfortunately, that strategy hasn't…

The more records I played, the more I saw that the S12s were creating these enormous…

Description: Reflex-loaded, 2-way standmount speaker with one 4" (100mm) coated alloy-cone woofer, and one 1" (26mm) alloy dome tweeter enclosed in a two-layer cabinet made of RIMCast polyurethane. Frequency response: 45Hz–25kHz (–6dB). Crossover frequency: 3kHz. Sensitivity: 87dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms (minimum, 5.3 ohms). Power handling: 150W RMS, 300W peak. Recommended amplifier power: 25W–125W.
Dimensions: 15.7" (400mm) H × 9.3" (237mm) W × 10" (254mm) D. Weight: 17.5lb (8kg).
Finish: Piano Black, Pearl White, and Oyster Grey Matte, plus…

Analog sources: Linn Sondek LP12 Klimax turntable with Linn Ekos SE/2 tonearm, Linn Ekstatik moving coil cartridge, Linn Urika phono preamp, and Linn Radikal/2 power supply; Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable with Schick 10.5" tonearm, Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum moving coil, Koetsu SUT, EAR Phono Classic MM/MC phono preamplifier.
Digital sources: Roon Nucleus+ music server, dCS Bartók DAC/streamer.
Integrated amplifiers: Pass Labs INT-25, Line Magnetic LM-518 IA.
Power amplifier: Parasound Halo A 21+.
Loudspeakers: Falcon…

I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, an Earthworks microphone preamplifier, and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Vivid Audio Kaya S12's farfield behavior, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for its nearfield responses. I left the vestigial grilles that cover the two drive units in place for the measurements. I used Dayton Audio's DATS V2 system to measure the impedance magnitude and electrical phase angle.

Vivid specifies the Kaya S12's sensitivity as 87dB/2.83V/m. My B-weighted estimate was inconsequentially lower, at 86.3dB(B)/2.83V/m. The Kaya S12's…

Around the time I took over as Stereophile's editor, I bought a Peloton, the internet-enabled stationary exercise bike. It was a lifesaver during the pandemic, when gyms were closed; despite the poor audio quality and the awful music many of the instructors choose, it's good, diverting exercise.

I quickly learned I'd be wanting Bluetooth headphones, since dangling wires get in the way. The Peloton, though, can be finicky about…

Within each category, products are listed by class; within each class, they're in alphabetical order, followed by their price, a review synopsis, and a note indicating the issues in which the review, and any subsequent follow-up reports, appeared. "Vol.44 No.9" indicates our September 2021 issue, for example. "WWW" means the review is also posted online.

Stereophile's Recommended Components list is concerned mainly with products available in the US…

Class A
Best attainable sound for…