That's what happened with Usher Audio…
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The last few years at our annual Home Entertainment Show, many readers have come up to me and asked: "How do you select which speakers to review?" In my case, most candidates are either new products that have impressed me when demonstrated at our HE Shows, or new products from manufacturers whose designs have impressed me in the past. Occasionally, editor John Atkinson gets wind of a speaker and asks if I'd like to review it. But once in a while, a manufacturer reads a rave review of a competing product that makes his or her blood boil.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way front-ported bookshelf loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" UA25-10 silk-dome tweeter, 5" KSW2-5029B polypropylene-cone mid-woofer. Sensitivity: 86dB/W/m. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Frequency response: 55Hz–20kHz, –3dB. Power handling: 50W. Crossover frequency: 2kHz.
Dimensions: 7.1" (180mm) W by 11.8" (300mm) H by 9.8" (250mm) D. Weight: 13.9 lbs (6.3kg).
Finishes: Birch veneer; add $25/pair for Matte Black, Gloss Black, Gloss White.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: 039515 & '516.
Price: $375/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 37…
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.
Loudspeakers: Epos ELS 3, Infinity Primus 150, Wharfedale Diamond 9.1.
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Sidebar 3: Measurements
I estimated the Usher S-520's voltage sensitivity to be 84.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is both a little lower than specified and on the low side. Its impedance, however, remains above 6 ohms for almost the entire audioband, with a minimum value of 5.3 ohms at 244Hz (fig.1), meaning that it will be a relatively easy load for an amplifier to drive. The traces in fig.1 have a couple of discontinuities evident between 400Hz and 600Hz. Investigating the cabinet walls' vibrational behavior with an accelerometer revealed a reasonably strong resonant mode at 460Hz on all the…
"Wanted: Linn Axis turntable or similar, 555-1234."
I'd poured my first cup of morning coffee and opened the paper to the classifieds. Though my eyes were hardly open, the word "Linn" set my groggy neurons a-sparkin'.
Here's my chance! I'll pick up an affordable used LP12 and spend the next few weeks comparing it to my aging VPI ET 'table. Maybe I'll upgrade it and become a devoted Linnie. Yes, it's time for a change!
The reverie dissolved with my first sip of coffee. Oh, it's an Axis. The Axis is the discontinued little brother of the LP12. I already had one.
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Stereophile's "Products of the Year," now in its 13th year, recognizes those rare components that prove capable of giving musical pleasure beyond the formal review period. These are the components that can be recommended with no ifs or buts, that will grace any system in which they are used.
There are six individual categories: Loudspeakers (including subwoofers), Amplification Components (preamplifiers, power amplifiers, etc.), Digital Sources (CD players, transports, processors), Analog Sources (phono cartridges, turntables, tonearms, FM tuners, etc.), Music Surround Components…
2004 Joint Loudspeakers
Aerial Acoustics Model 20T (review) ($23,500-$28,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Focal-JMlab Nova Utopia Be (review)($37,500/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Harbeth Compact 7ES-2 ($2495/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
mbl Radialstrahler 101E (review) ($44,900/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.10, October 2004)
Sonus Faber Cremona (review) ($7995/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.1 & Vol.27…
Aerial Acoustics Model 20T (review) ($23,500-$28,000/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Focal-JMlab Nova Utopia Be (review)($37,500/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.6, June 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Harbeth Compact 7ES-2 ($2495/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
mbl Radialstrahler 101E (review) ($44,900/pair; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 No.10, October 2004)
Sonus Faber Cremona (review) ($7995/pair; reviewed by Sam Tellig & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.1 & Vol.27…
2004 Amplification Component
McIntosh MC501 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($8200/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.8, August 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE preamplifier (review) ($8500; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.4, November 2003 & April 2004)
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier (review) ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
EAR 890 power amplifier (review) ($5495; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Halcro dm38 power amplifier (review…
McIntosh MC501 monoblock power amplifier (review) ($8200/pair; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.27 No.8, August 2004)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE preamplifier (review) ($8500; reviewed by Paul Bolin, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.4, November 2003 & April 2004)
Bel Canto Pre6 multichannel preamplifier (review) ($3990; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
EAR 890 power amplifier (review) ($5495; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.27 No.4, April 2004)
Halcro dm38 power amplifier (review…
2004 Digital Source Component
Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Arcam FMJ CD33 CD player (review) ($2499; reviewed by John Atkinson & Art Dudley, Vol.27 Nos.7 & 11, July & November 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
Burmester 001 CD player (review) ($14,995; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.26 No.12, December…
Linn Unidisk 1.1 multichannel universal player (review) ($10,995; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.26 No.12, December 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Arcam FMJ CD33 CD player (review) ($2499; reviewed by John Atkinson & Art Dudley, Vol.27 Nos.7 & 11, July & November 2004)
Benchmark DAC1 D/A headphone amplifier (review) ($975; reviewed by John Marks & John Atkinson, Vol.26 No.7 & Vol.27 No.5, July 2003 & May 2004)
Burmester 001 CD player (review) ($14,995; reviewed by Brian Damkroger, Vol.26 No.12, December…
2004 Analog Source Component
Linn Sondek LP12/Lingo turntable & Ekos tonearm (review) ($6295; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.11, November 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Reference turntable & Air Line tonearm (review) ($15,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 Nos.8 & 9, August & September 2004)
Linn Akiva MC phono cartridge (review) ($2995; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Art Dudley, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.10, November 2003 & October 2004)
Musical Fidelity M1 turntable & SME M2 tonearm ($5600; reviewed by Michael…
Linn Sondek LP12/Lingo turntable & Ekos tonearm (review) ($6295; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.26 No.11, November 2003)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order):
Kuzma Reference turntable & Air Line tonearm (review) ($15,000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.27 Nos.8 & 9, August & September 2004)
Linn Akiva MC phono cartridge (review) ($2995; reviewed by Michael Fremer & Art Dudley, Vol.26 No.11 & Vol.27 No.10, November 2003 & October 2004)
Musical Fidelity M1 turntable & SME M2 tonearm ($5600; reviewed by Michael…