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I measured the Aerial 10T using the DRA Labs MLSSA system (v.10.0A), an Italian Outline speaker turntable, and a B&K 4006 ½" microphone calibrated to be flat on-axis at my typical measuring distances. My estimate of the Aerial's B-weighted sensitivity was exactly to specification at 86dB/W/m. (My congratulations to the 10T's designers for not exaggerating this figure, a practice pandemic among the speaker industry, I've found.) This respectable figure implies that the speaker will play reasonably loud with an amplifier of around 100W.

Its plot of electrical…

Meantime, I have a shopping basket full of Naxos recordings to recommend for this "Records To Die For" issue. Two recommendations? Nah. How about twenty-four! Do your "R2D4" shopping here and save money.

True, the price has gone up. Naxos CDs used to list for $5.99 and retail for $4.99. Now the "suggested" list…

Tellig: The sound of many recent Naxos discs is of demonstration quality. What's behind the improvement?

Heymann: A number of things. We now have our own mastering and production studio in London: K&A Productions. We are co-owners, actually. K is for Klaus, and A is for Andrew Walton, my partner in the studio.

We are able to record in better venues. Venue…

The greatest influence on music-making was Toscanini. He said, 'This is the way the composer wrote it and this is how it should be played.' Whether or not Toscanini played it as the composer wrote it is open to question.

Tellig: But there were some conductors whose recordings people collected.

Heymann: Yes; von Karajan sold, and still does. He had a sound. But he wasn't the greatest…

Heymann: I think DVD-Audio will win the day. Super Audio CD is too expensive, and it's a one-format standard. In a little while, DVD players will play DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, and CDs. These multi-format players will not play Super Audio CDs.

We are prepared. We have been recording for the past three years in six-channel surround, which we can adapt to five-channel surround. I am very keen on the long playing times of DVD-Audio in 16-bit/44kHz, because then we could put the Haydn string quartets on 4 DVDs, saving dealers and customers a lot of…

But yes, I am thinking about it: How do we ensure the survival of what we've built? We've sort of revolutionized the industry. I would never sell to a major. I don't want investors who say I can't do what I want to do—can't record this or that because we have to make a profit every quarter.

I'm not an idealist, mind you. But I am…

Telemann: Born four years before J.S. Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) outlived him by 17 years. When Telemann died in 1767, age 86, Haydn was 35 and Mozart was 11. And Klaus Heymann is right: Telemann must have written day and night. Music de Table, Tafelmusik, Table Music—whatever. This is great music—the ultimate dining and baroque musical experience, in (so far) four volumes, performed by the Orchestra of the Golden Age. More than four hours of delicious light baroque dining music. If you have a changer, load all four CDs (8.…

Although Rotel is indeed best known for products like entry-level integrated amplifiers, CD players, and modest-output power amplifiers, building a high-power amplifier is not as much of a stretch for them as it might seem. Back in 1996, in Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, I reviewed their RB-985 home-theater amplifier, which…

Description: Solid-state stereo power amplifier. Power output: 380Wpc into 8 ohms (25.8dBW), 700Wpc into 4 ohms, (25.4dBW), both 20Hz–20kHz, <0.03%. THD: <0.03%. IM distortion (60Hz:7kHz, 4:1): <0.03%. Frequency response: 10Hz–100kHz, ±1dB. Damping factor (20Hz–20kHz, 8 ohms): 1000. Speaker impedance (combined): 4 ohms minimum. S/N ratio (IHF A network): 125dB. Input impedance/sensitivity: 33k ohms/1.8V. THX Ultra certified. Power consumption: 800W.
Dimensions: 17 3/8" W by 9½" H by 15¾" D. Weight: 83.6 lbs.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 9171058…

Analog source: Linn LP12 turntable (fully updated), Linn Ittok tonearm, AudioQuest AQ-7000nsx cartridge.
Digital source: PS Audio Lambda II transport, Muse Two Ninety-Six digital processor, Illuminati Orchid digital link.
Preamplifier: Convergent Audio Technology SL-1 Ultimate.
Loudspeakers: Dunlavy Audio Labs SC-IV/A.
Cables: Nordost Quatrofil and TARA Labs The Two interconnects, Nordost S.P.M. Reference and TARA Labs The Two speaker cables, TARA Labs Decade power cables.
Accessories: Argent RoomLenses (5) room treatments, PS Audio P300 AC…