Description: Bass-reflex, floorstanding biwireable loudspeaker with "Dual Concentric" driver including one 1" (25mm) aluminum-alloy-dome compression tweeter with Tulip Waveguide and neodymium-magnet motor and one 10" (254mm) woofer with treated-paper-pulp cone with HE twin-roll fabric surround, 1 5/8" (42mm) edge-wound voice-coil, and dual front-firing port slats. Crossover frequency: 1.8kHz. Frequency response: 39Hz–46kHz, –6dB. Sensitivity: 91dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms (5 ohms minimum). Treble adjustment: ±3dB above 1.8kHz to 46kHz shelving.
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Thorens TD 124 turntable with Jelco TS 350 S 9" Tonearm and Ortofon SPU Classic moving coil cartridge; Kuzma Stabi R and 4Point tonearm with Luxman LMC-5 MC cartridge.
Digital sources: HoloAudio May DAC augmented with Sonore opticalRendu, Roon Nucleus+, Small Green Computer power supply, TRENDnet switch, streaming Roon/Tidal/Qobuz via Apple iPad Mini.
Preamplification: JE Sugden Masterclass LA-4, Shindo Allegro; Luxman EQ-500, Tavish Audio Design Adagio, Sutherland Little Loco phono preamplifiers.
Power amplifiers: Pass Labs XA-…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system, a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone, and an Earthworks microphone preamplifier to measure the Tannoy Stirling Prestige Gold Reference's frequency response in the farfield. I used an Earthworks QTC40 mike for the nearfield responses and Dayton Audio's DATS V2 system to measure the impedance magnitude and electrical phase angle.
The Stirling's anechoic sensitivity is specified as a high 91dB/2.83V/m. My B-weighted estimate was even higher, at 93.8dB(B)/2.83V/m. Tannoy specifies the Stirling's impedance as 8 ohms, with a minimum…
As an aspiring teenage illustrator, I was fascinated by the work of outlaw cartoonist Robert Crumb. His beautifully drawn images offered escape from the redneck southern city where I grew up. I was especially enchanted by Crumb's caricatures of blues and jazz musicians, which were assembled in his "Heroes of the Blues" and "Early Jazz Greats" trading-card collections.
Crumb is an avid record collector. I envision him as a purist and completist who would've jumped at the original releases of short-lived label Candid Records, which was founded in New York City in 1960 with Nat Hentoff in…
"A switch? Why do I need a switch?" That was my response to Meredith Gabor, head of marketing and PR for cable and accessories manufacturer Nordost, after she dropped the news. She had just arranged with Jim Austin for me to write a shorter, "ancillary" review of the new Nordost QNet Network Switch ($3199.99) with its optional QSource linear power supply ($2749.99) and premium QSource DC umbilical interface cables ($339.99 for 1m). Why did I need an expensive QNet switch when my router was functioning reliably? Good question.
Checking Nordost's website, I discovered that the QNet is "a…
Sidebar 1: Ethernet Protocols
Dennis Bonotto's characterization of how network switches work surprised me. I was under the impression that network switches merely directed packets from one MAC address to another—so what's all this de-encapsulating and transforming back into bits? If you're not interested in the technical stuff, you can skip this.
As previously mentioned, a network switch is a "layer-2" device, which means that it works in the first two layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. In Bonotto's preferred lingo, the two layers are called "MAC" and "PHY."…
Sidebar 2: Specifications
Description: QNet: Unmanaged Ethernet switch with five Ethernet ports with 8P8C (RJ45) connectors. Ports 1–3 are 1000BASE-T/100BASE-TX–capable with autonegotiation and auto-MIDI/MID-X support. Ports 4 and 5 are 100BASE-TX full duplex only. DC input: LEMO, 9V/1.2A.
Description: QSource: Linear power supply. Input: 15A IEC, switchable 110/220VAC 50/60Hz. Outputs: Two variable, four 5V fixed, Variable output "A" switches between 9, 12, and 19V, with 9V intended for the QNet. Variable output "B" switches between 12, 19, and 24V. Output power: 9V output: 10W; 12V…
Attracting new customers is essential for brick-and-mortar dealerships' long-term survival. Over the last several years, many b&m dealerships have continued to expand into home automation and custom installation. Home theater is also undergoing a resurgence. These services can support—and complement—two-channel audio-equipment sales.
Such was the case at Pittsburgh's new dealership, Stereo Stereo, which I wrote about in September's Re-Tales column. The recently opened CasaHiFi in Miami's affluent Coconut Grove area is another example. Both stores have diversified their offerings to…
Angel Olsen: Big Time
Jagjaguwar (16-bit/44.1kHz streaming on Qobuz). 2022. Jonathan Wilson, Angel Olsen, prods.; Grant Milliken, Mirza Sherrif, engs.
Performance ****
Sonics ****
Jagjaguwar (16-bit/44.1kHz streaming on Qobuz). 2022. Jonathan Wilson, Angel Olsen, prods.; Grant Milliken, Mirza Sherrif, engs.
Performance ****
Sonics ****
The first thing that hits you on "All the Good Times," the opening track of Angel Olsen's Big Time, is the pairing of synth organ sound with drums, like a weirdly wistful combination of country gospel song and high school marching band. Then there's a monster key change at the words "I'll be long gone thanks to these songs" and the horns and lush strings come in. That's this album in a nutshell:…
Enrico Rava, Fred Hersch: The Song Is You
ECM (WAV file; also CD). 2022. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Stefano Amerio, eng.
Performance *****
Sonics *****
ECM (WAV file; also CD). 2022. Manfred Eicher, prod.; Stefano Amerio, eng.
Performance *****
Sonics *****
Many inspired jazz recordings come out of combinations of instrumentalists—usually the more unexpected, the better. What's most fascinating are the ways players adapt to each other's emotions and inventiveness.
This pairing, which is exactly the kind of fusion that has made ECM such a distinct entity lo these many years, was likely inspired by ECM founder and inspirational presence Manfred Eicher. American pianist Hersch,…