When I joined the English magazine Hi-Fi News, almost 26 years ago as you read these words, I was the junior member of an editorial and production staff of eight…
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I recently came across a 1998 report, "Explaining the Computer Productivity Paradox," by Kevin Stiroh and Robert H. McGuckin III, that discussed the apparent fact that the widespread use of computers has not resulted in any significant increase in worker productivity. This is indeed a paradox, as my experience in the magazine business has left me with the opposite impression. We all do more, with less, than at any earlier time.
Following in the footsteps of my August 2005 review of the B&W DM603 S3, the second stop of the Bob Reina British Invasion Tour is the latest revamping of Wharfedale's affordable Diamond series.
My experience with Wharfedale speakers is limited. In my college days, my old MIT fraternity house (think Animal House with differential equations) was fairly evenly split between the Advent (footnote 1) and JBL camps, save for one colleague's large Wharfedale bookshelf speakers, which played Emerson, Lake & Palmer quite nicely at earsplitting volumes at 2am.
The last time I…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, magnetically shielded, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) soft-dome tweeter, 5" (125mm) Kevlar-cone woofer. Crossover frequency: 2.3kHz. Nominal impedance: 6 ohms. Sensitivity: 86dB/2.83V/m. Frequency response: 50Hz–24kHz, –6dB. Recommended power: 20–100W.
Dimensions: 11.5" (296mm) H by 7.5" (194mm) W by 10.8" (278mm) D. Weight: 12 lbs (5.5kg).
Finishes: Cherry vinyl as reviewed; black and silver finishes also available.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 9100205C.
Price: $350/pair. Approximate…
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 Virtuoso Wood, Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, California Audio Labs Icon Mk.II Power Boss, Creek CD53 Mk.II CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek 5350SE.
Cables: Interconnect: MIT MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG,…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
As might be expected from its small size, the Diamond 9.1 is of below-average voltage sensitivity, at an estimated 85.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. However, its impedance plot (fig.1), other than a dip to 3.9 ohms in the lower midrange and a combination of 5.7 ohms impedance and –36° capacitive phase angle at 120Hz, indicates that the speaker should be fairly easy to drive.
Fig.1 Wharfedale Diamond 9.1, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed). (2 ohms/vertical div.)
Some very slight wrinkles in the impedance traces between 150Hz and 900Hz imply…
Introduction
It's that time again—time for Stereophile's annual "Records To Die For" extravaganza. This year, when it came time to write my intro for the 12th edition of this ever-popular feature, I found that several books I'd been reading had passages that applied to "R2D4."
First, from Sex for Dummies (1995, Running Press, miniature edition), a slight tome given to me by my co-workers in a sweet gesture the import of which I prefer not to contemplate, this section heading: "The G Spot: Myth or Fact?" For some reason, that started me thinking about music...which is probably why…
John Atkinson
BILLY JOEL: Fantasies & Delusions, Opp.1-10 for Solo Piano
Richard Joo, piano
Sony Classical CK 85397 (CD). 2001. Steven Epstein, prod., mastering; Don Devito, assoc. prod.; Richard King, eng., mastering. DDD. TT: 76:18 Recordist David Smith, who's been in charge of engineering for Sony Classical for many years, once told me that the key to a successful piano recording is to capture enough of the room ambience to allow the instrument to be placed within a facsimile of the space but not so much or of the wrong kind, that the overall sound becomes "cold" and…
BILLY JOEL: Fantasies & Delusions, Opp.1-10 for Solo Piano
Richard Joo, piano
Sony Classical CK 85397 (CD). 2001. Steven Epstein, prod., mastering; Don Devito, assoc. prod.; Richard King, eng., mastering. DDD. TT: 76:18 Recordist David Smith, who's been in charge of engineering for Sony Classical for many years, once told me that the key to a successful piano recording is to capture enough of the room ambience to allow the instrument to be placed within a facsimile of the space but not so much or of the wrong kind, that the overall sound becomes "cold" and…
Lonnie Brownell
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD: Buffalo Springfield
WEA/Rhino R2 74324 (4 HDCDs). 2001. Buffalo Springfield, prods. AAD? TT: 4:14:50 Unless you're a diehard Buffalo Springfield fan, this is overkill. Then again, for those who aren't, buying this may convert you, as it did me. I regularly listen to disc 4, which contains their first two albums, Buffalo Springfield and Buffalo Springfield Again—it's great in the car. The first three discs contain almost every studio recording they ever made in their short two-year history, in chronological order, which provides an historical and…
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD: Buffalo Springfield
WEA/Rhino R2 74324 (4 HDCDs). 2001. Buffalo Springfield, prods. AAD? TT: 4:14:50 Unless you're a diehard Buffalo Springfield fan, this is overkill. Then again, for those who aren't, buying this may convert you, as it did me. I regularly listen to disc 4, which contains their first two albums, Buffalo Springfield and Buffalo Springfield Again—it's great in the car. The first three discs contain almost every studio recording they ever made in their short two-year history, in chronological order, which provides an historical and…
Robert Deutsch
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies 1-9, Piano Concertos 1-5, Violin Concerto, Overtures
Wilhelm Backhaus, piano; Henryk Szeryng, violin; Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, Vienna Philharmonic
Decca 467 892-2 (8 CDs). 2001. No prods. or engs. listed. ADD. TT: 10:09:31 Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt's recording of Beethoven's "Choral" symphony has been a favorite of mine for many years now, but I hadn't thought of writing it up as an R2D4 until I happened to hear a more recent recording of the work, with Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. The mediocre quality of the…
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies 1-9, Piano Concertos 1-5, Violin Concerto, Overtures
Wilhelm Backhaus, piano; Henryk Szeryng, violin; Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, Vienna Philharmonic
Decca 467 892-2 (8 CDs). 2001. No prods. or engs. listed. ADD. TT: 10:09:31 Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt's recording of Beethoven's "Choral" symphony has been a favorite of mine for many years now, but I hadn't thought of writing it up as an R2D4 until I happened to hear a more recent recording of the work, with Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. The mediocre quality of the…
Larry Greenhill
EVA CASSIDY: Live at Blues Alley
Eva Cassidy, vocals, acoustic & electric guitar; Keith Grimes, electric guitar; Lenny Williams, piano; Chris Blonde, bass; Hilton Felton, Hammond organ; Raice McLeod, drums
Blix Street G2-10046 (CD). 1996. Eva Cassidy, Chris Biondo, prods.; Roy Battle, eng.; Uncle Punchies, mix; Robert Voslien, mastering. AAD. TT: 57:35 Eva Cassidy was a natural talent who learned vocals singing harmony with songs on the radio; she was never married and had no children; she won awards for multiple vocal categories; she was praised in Time, People…
EVA CASSIDY: Live at Blues Alley
Eva Cassidy, vocals, acoustic & electric guitar; Keith Grimes, electric guitar; Lenny Williams, piano; Chris Blonde, bass; Hilton Felton, Hammond organ; Raice McLeod, drums
Blix Street G2-10046 (CD). 1996. Eva Cassidy, Chris Biondo, prods.; Roy Battle, eng.; Uncle Punchies, mix; Robert Voslien, mastering. AAD. TT: 57:35 Eva Cassidy was a natural talent who learned vocals singing harmony with songs on the radio; she was never married and had no children; she won awards for multiple vocal categories; she was praised in Time, People…