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Lounging around the house on a recent weekend, sipping wine and listening to music, the total experience of grape-infused musical involvement got me a bit teary-eyed, and I counted up my blessings. I have a perfect wife, two fantastic kids, and a job I enjoy that pays me more money than I need. (And no, I'm not stupid; my boss doesn't read Stereophile.) I have my health, and have enough musical talent that I can create my own music (though I wish I had more time to do so).

I'm also grateful that I can relax and listen to original vinyl…

Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted speaker. Drive-units: 1" aluminum-dome tweeter; 5½" four-layer paper-cone woofer. Crossover frequency and slope: 2.3kHz, second-order. Frequency response: 42Hz–20kHz, ±3dB. Minimum impedance: 4 ohms. Sensitivity: 86.5dB/m.
Dimensions: 14" H by 6.8" W by 9" D. Weight: 12 lbs.
Finishes: Black ash, mahogany wood veneer; add $100/pair for cherry or maple.
Serial numbers of units reviewed: RMM 3582 & 3583.
Price: $950/pair. T4S stands, $475/pair; P2 stands, $199/pair. Approximate number of dealers:…

Analog sources: VPI TNT Mk.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: Alón Li'l Rascal Mk.II, Alón Petite, NHT SB-3.
Cables:…

Despite its diminutive size, the Totem Rainmaker was only just below average in its voltage sensitivity, at an estimated 86.5dB(B)/2.83V/m (though this will be due in part to its exaggerated treble; see later). Its impedance magnitude dropped below 4 ohms in the lower midrange, reaching a minimum value of 3.4 ohms at 170Hz (fig.1), which means a good 4 ohm–rated amplifier will work best with the speaker. The saddle at 39Hz in this graph's magnitude trace indicates the tuning of the rear-mounted port, while the fact that the height of the upper-frequency bass peak…

The Magneplanar Tympani I is unique both in appearance and principle. The system looks like a pair of folding room-divider…

When describing "subtle" differences between similar components, it is difficult to express in words the actual magnitude of those differences. Simply describing what you hear is difficult enough; the English language emphasizes the visual and the emotional rather than the audible. This is why reviewers so often resort to visual imagery to describe what they hear. As Anthony H. Cordesman has pointed out, this combination of an inadequate language and the need to describe subtle differences frequently results in…

It wasn't brought out in Steve's review, but one of the major technological steps embodied in the Tympani IVA is a reduction of the midrange diaphragm's thickness from ½ mil to ¼ mil. In my limited auditions of the product, this reduced diaphragm thickness (and mass), results in significantly lower midrange coloration than previous Magneplanar designs; the Tympani is markedly better than the MG-III in this respect. Combined with the superior bass available from the two separate panels, and Magnepan's provision…

Description: Flat-panel dipolar, magnetically driven panel speaker. Drive-units: 1254in2 planar woofer. 135in2 planar midrange unit, planar tweeter (I, IA), 15in2 ribbon tweeter (IVA). Crossover frequency: 3.2kHz. Frequency response: 32Hz–40kHz ±4dB (IVA). Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Maximum power handling: 500W.
Dimensions: Three panels, each 18" W by 72" H by 2" D. Weight: 70 lbs each (I, IA); 106 lbs (IVA).
Price: $795/per pair (I, 1973); $3800/pair (IVA, 1984); no longer manufactured (2005).
Manufacturer: Audio Research Corp., Minneapolis, MN (1973).…

What, you may ask, does this have to do with the…

Setup
The YBA 1 has been in production for…