The Atom was also well-suited to small jazz ensembles. On the Modern Jazz…
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But I didn't find the Atoms to be rock speakers only. Their superb articulation of low-level dynamics, their abilities to soundstage and retrieve ambience, made them excellent producers of intimate chamber works such as George Crumb's Quest (Bridge 0007-2), as well as of such orchestral blockbusters as Dorati's interpretation of Stravinsky's Firebird (LP, Mercury Living Presence 90226). Fans of intelligently miked classical works recorded in sonically superior concert halls will not be disappointed in the Atom.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 0.75" ceramic-metal dome tweeter, 5.5" polypropylene-cone bass/midrange driver with die-cast chassis. Frequency response: 70Hz-20kHz, ±2dB on axis, 70Hz-16kHz, ±2dB off axis. Impedance: "compatible with 8 ohms." Sensitivity: 89dB in room, 86dB anechoic. Recommended amplification: 15-80W.
Dimensions: 10.5" H by 6.5" W by 8.5" D. Weight: 13 lbs/pair.
Finish: Black vinyl.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 296193 & 4.
Price: $189/pair; magnetic shielding adds $20/pair.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia RPM tonearm, Koetsu Urushi cartridge; Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Aurum Beta S cartridge.
Digital sources: California Audio Labs Icon Mk.II Power Boss, Creek CD53 Mk.II CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audible Illusions Modulus L1 line stage.
Power amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated amplifiers: Creek 5350SE, JoLida JD-101A.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MIT MI-330SG, MITerminator 2. Speaker:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Paradigm specifies the Atom v.3's anechoic sensitivity as 86dB/2.83V/m, which is just below average. My estimate was 86.5dB(B), which is within experimental error of the specified figure. The Atom's electrical impedance (fig.1) changes considerably over the audioband, with a minimum value of 4.4 ohms at 220Hz. The small glitch just above 30kHz indicates the presence of the tweeter's main dome resonance, which is higher in frequency than we usually see. The saddle in the magnitude trace at 66Hz indicates the tuning frequency of the port.
The fig.1 traces…
U2: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Interscope B0003613-02 (CD). 2004. Steve Lillywhite, prod.; Carl Glanville, eng.; Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Chris Heaney, others, asst. engs. AAD? TT: 49:08
Performance ****½
Sonics ****
Interscope B0003613-02 (CD). 2004. Steve Lillywhite, prod.; Carl Glanville, eng.; Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Chris Heaney, others, asst. engs. AAD? TT: 49:08
Performance ****½
Sonics ****
Twenty years ago, in a grungy, badly lit club in Edinburgh, Scotland, I saw a show that changed my musical life forever. There, packed together on a stage the size of a postage stamp and looking every bit as young and green as I was, were The Edge, Bono, Larry, and Adam, bashing out their bombastic new single, "Pride (In the Name Of Love)." I was smitten.…
Audio Research's first 21st-century, audiophile-quality line-stage preamplifier combines retro-tech vacuum-tube amplification and power-supply circuitry with innovative, remote-controlled gain, balance, tape monitoring, and signal routing. The price is also 21st-century: $9995. As in ARC's Reference phono section, the Reference Two's pair of vertically mounted circuit boards results in a single, relatively tall chassis.
The fully balanced gain section, rated at 2V RMS balanced (maximum output is 30V RMS) and 1V single-ended, uses eight specially selected Sovtek dual-triode 6922 tubes,…
The Ref 2 definitely changed the sonic landscape, but in ways that were subtly euphonic and ultimately pleasurable, even after long-term listening—especially after long-term listening. Given that most recordings are too bright and too edgy and most mikes too tipped-up on top, this is not necessarily a bad thing. If you like tubes, you'll like the Ref 2. If you don't...you still might like it.
Like a plush, comfortable chair, the Ref 2 put a soft cushion around the music's bottom end—not so cushy that the deep bass sank in and disappeared into the foam, but enough to add a warm,…
Put It All Together and...
The Reference Two's sonic parts were impressive, if not perfectly neutral. It had character, but because of its superb overall balance, not what I would call noticeable flaws. A lean speaker would probably mate well with the Ref 2, a plummy one not so well, but to be a truly bad match a speaker would have to almost be off the richness scale, and its bass would have to be nearly out of control. Or, one's room would have to have a serious "bump" in its low-frequency acoustics.
The Reference Two's sonic parts were impressive, if not perfectly neutral. It had character, but because of its superb overall balance, not what I would call noticeable flaws. A lean speaker would probably mate well with the Ref 2, a plummy one not so well, but to be a truly bad match a speaker would have to almost be off the richness scale, and its bass would have to be nearly out of control. Or, one's room would have to have a serious "bump" in its low-frequency acoustics.
The Sonus Faber Amati leans toward rich and lush in the midrange, and is slightly…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Remote-controlled, fully balanced, vacuum-tube preamplifier. Tube complement: eight 6922 dual-triodes; in power supply, one each 5AR4, 6L6GC, and 6922. Voltage Gain: 18dB balanced, 12dB single-ended. Frequency response: 0.5Hz-60kHz, +0/-3dB at rated output. Hum and noise: 20µV RMS residual IHF-weighted noise output with gain control set to its minimum (100dB below 2V RMS balanced output, 97dB below 1V RMS SE output). Distortion: 0.015% at 2V RMS balanced output. Output impedance: 400 ohms balanced, 200 ohms single-ended. Recommended load: 20k ohms…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog sources: Simon Yorke turntable, Graham 2.0 and Immedia RPM2 tonearms; Rockport Technologies System III Sirius record player; Lyra Helikon, van del Hul Black Beauty Colibri cartridges.
Digital sources: Musical Fidelity X-Ray CD player, Marantz DR17 HDCD recorder, EAD DSP-9000 Mk.3 DAC.
Preamplification: Audio Research Reference and Zanden phono stages, Lyra Arion step-up transformer, Ayre K-1x preamplifier.
Power amplifiers: Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300.
Loudspeakers: Sonus Faber Amati Homage, ProAc Future 1.
Cables: Phono: XLO…