Description: Three-way, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: ¾" (19mm) MMD tweeter, 4" (100mm) MMD-cone midrange unit, two 6½" (165mm) MMD-cone woofers. Crossover frequencies: 350Hz, 3.3kHz. Crossover slopes: 24dB/octave. Frequency response: 38Hz–20kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 93dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Recommended amplification: 10–200W.
Dimensions: 39" (990mm) H by 8 1/8" (208mm) W by 13 7/8" (330mm) D. Weight: 48.5 lbs (22kg).
Finish: Black wood-grain, black grillecloth.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: ME02681.07499…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
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: 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, Terminator.…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Infinity Primus 360 was significantly more sensitive than average, at an estimated 91.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. Though this is slightly lower than the specified 93dB, the 360 will still play very loudly with only a few watts of input power. However, with an impedance magnitude that drops below 4 ohms in the lower midrange and high treble and an electrical phase angle that is extreme in the upper bass (fig.1), the speaker needs to be partnered with an amplifier or receiver that can drive low impedances with aplomb. (The combination of 5.2 ohms and –45º phase angle at…
Loudspeaker design is an art and a science. Anyone who tells you it's only one or the other is probably building or listening to some awful-sounding speakers. Design a speaker in an anechoic chamber for the "theoretical" world, and there's no guarantee it will sound good in the real one. Even building a speaker that excels at "real-room" measurements doesn't guarantee that it will sound all that convincing when reproducing music. We can't measure everything, and what we can measure can't be reliably ranked in terms of what's important to most listeners.
Do we really want to listen to "…
The head unit sits on four downward-facing points that fit into lower-cabinet recesses fitted with metal inserts, which Aerial claims prevent energy transmission between the cabinets. The resulting speaker system—nearly full-range, relatively narrow-baffled, and approximately 4' tall—is elegantly sculpted and visually dramatic from all sides. Like the Wilson WATT/Puppy, Aerial's Model 20T aims to deliver big-speaker performance from a relatively small package.
Driver-driven
Michael Kelly is a driver man. During his time at a/d/s/ developing drive-units, he established invaluable…
One criticism of ribbons and electrostatic designs is that their transparency lacks weight and solidity. That was not the case with the 20T's tweeter. On good recordings, female voices had an ethereal clarity and transparency, but they also had weight and solidity. Patricia Barber's Companion (SACD, Mobile Fidelity UDSACD 2023) sounded positively spooky, so transparent was the presentation—Barber's voice floated pristinely in space, the sibilants resolving almost sweetly. Cymbals, which can sound more like hissing airbrakes when reproduced by ribbons, had plenty of brass, sizzle, and speed,…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, reflex-loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 4.1" aluminum ribbon tweeter, 7.1" bilaminate-cone midrange, two 9" bilaminate-cone woofers. Frequency response: 28Hz-30kHz, ±2dB (-8dB at 40kHz). Impedance: 4 ohms nominal, 2.8 ohms minimum. Sensitivity: 90dB/W/m.
Dimensions: Overall: 45.7" H by 12.6" W by 22" D. (Head cabinet: 15.4" H by 10.7" W by 22" D. Bass cabinet: 30.2" H by 12.6" W by 22" D.) Adjustable base adds 1" to total height. Weight: 270 lbs (head cabinet, 80 lbs; bass cabinet, 170 lbs; base, 20 lbs).
Finishes:…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog source: Simon Yorke S7, Clearaudio Emotion turntables; Immedia RPM-2, Graham 2.2 tonearms; Lyra Titan, Graham Nightingale, Clearaudio Aurum Classic cartridges.
Digital source: Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD/CD player, Alesis Masterlink.
Preamplification: Musical Fidelity kWP preamp, Manley Steelhead phono preamp.
Power amplifiers: & Theta Digital Enterprise monoblocks, Music Reference RM-200.
Loudspeakers: Wilson WATT/Puppy 7, Aerial Acoustics SW12 subwoofer.
Cables: Phono: Hovland Music Groove, Graham IC-70. Interconnect:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Aerial Model 20T is around 3dB more sensitive than the norm, at an estimated 89.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. (The difference between this figure and the specified 90dB is within the margin of error for this measurement.) The speaker still needs to be used with an amplifier capable of good current delivery, however, as its impedance magnitude stays below 6 ohms through the midrange down to the midbass, and drops to minimum values of 3.35 ohms at 22Hz and 65Hz and 2.9 ohms at 236Hz (fig.1). There is also an amplifier-punishing combination of 4.4 ohms and a -48 degrees…
At last, a SACD machine from someone other than Sony! This time, it's a Marantz—the Reference Series SA-1, described as a no-compromise "ultimate-quality" player.
Man, is this thing gorgeous! The SA-1 weighs in at a hefty 40 lbs, with a rich, satiny champagne finish. It's a front-loader, the drawer set to the left of a central circular display. The green tint of the display window perfectly sets off the bronze-tone feet and the golden luster of the machined aluminum-alloy top, side, and front panels. Makes a guy wanna stroke it! I swear I heard it purr...
The SA-1's display is…