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The Intimus 533-T was surprisingly sensitive, at an estimated 90dB(B)/2.83V/m on its tweeter axis, which is within experimental error of its specified 89dB. The 533-T's impedance was close to 6 ohms from 100Hz to 10kHz; it rose above that range, due to the tweeter's voice-coil inductance. Below 100Hz, the impedance curve (fig.1) shows the twin peaks typical of a reflex design, with the minimum value of 4.3 ohms at 44Hz indicating the port-tuning frequency.

Fig.1 Aperion Intimus 533-T, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed). (2 ohms/…

My first reaction was pity. Be there a man with soul so dead / Who never to himself hath said / Hubba-hubba, zing-zing-zing / I've got to plug into that thing?

My second thought was somewhat more rational: Right on, Natal—stereo components are just appliances. After all, nobody thinks toasters or vacuum cleaners are sexy, right…

Ayreborne
Dynaudio's Confidence C4 loudspeaker really likes to be bossed around by an amplifier, and the MX-Rs obliged, driving both of my C4s into submission with big orchestral crescendos, such as those presented…

Description: Solid-state monophonic power amplifier. Inputs: one balanced. Output power: 300Wpc into 8 ohms (24.8dBW), 600Wpc into 4 ohms (24.8dBW). Frequency range: 0Hz–250kHz. Voltage gain: 26dB. Input impedance: 2 megohms. Power consumption: 34W (standby), 120W (operating/no signal).
Dimensions: 11" (280mm) W by 3.75" (96mm) H by 18.75" (480mm) D. Weight: 52 lbs (23.6 kg).
Finishes: Silver, Black (add $500/pair).
Serial Numbers of Units Reviewed: 14A0197, 14A0198.
Price: $16,500/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 30. Warranty: 5 years,…

Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe universal player, Krell Evolution 505 SACD/CD player.
Preamplifiers: Ayre K-1xe, Krell Evolution 202.
Power Amplifiers: Krell Evolution 600 monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Confidence C4 & C1, Vandersteen Quatro Wood.
Cables: Interconnect: Shunyata Research Aries & Antares. Speaker: Shunyata Research Lyra.
Accessories: Ayre L-5xe AC filter; Furutech eTP-609 distribution box, FP-20A (R) duplex AC outlets, RDP acoustic panels; OSAR Selway/Magruder equipment racks; Ayre Myrtle Wood Blocks.— Wes Phillips

Before performing any measurements, I preconditioned the Ayre MX-R by running it for 60 minutes at one-third the specified power into 8 ohms, which is very much the worst case for an amplifier with a class-B output stage. The amplifier got almost too hot to touch at the end of that period, implying a temperature of around 60°C, but the curiously shaped heatsink is obviously efficient enough. It, however, was too hot to touch. Given that the MX-R's circuitry is completely enclosed by the metal chassis and heatsink, I was concerned that raising its temperature might…

Nothing in Kuzma's previous work, not even the pipe-bomb of the Stabi S, which had been introduced two years earlier, could have predicted the visually enticing, curvaceous design of the Stabi XL. Big and literally "…

When I'd conducted an earlier version of this…

Description: Mass-loaded turntable with two speeds (331/3rpm, 45rpm), two motors, height-adjustable tonearm tower, and air-bearing, tangential-tracking tonearm.
Dimensions: 17.5" (450mm) W by 11.7" (300mm) H by 15.6" (400mm) D. Weight: 169.4 lbs (77kg) total. Platter: 48.4 lbs (22kg). Base: 59.4 lbs (27kg). Motor towers: 15.4 lbs (7kg) each. Tonearm tower: 30.8 lbs (14kg).
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: Not noted.
Prices: Stabi XL turntable, $18,000. Air Line tonearm, $8000. Approximate number of dealers: 15.
Manufacturer: Kuzma Ltd., Hotemaze 17/…

Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable; Continuum Cobra, Graham Phantom tonearms; Lyra Titan i, Air Tight PC-1, Transfiguration Orpheus cartridges.
Digital Sources: Musical Fidelity kW DM25 DAC & transport, Alesis Masterlink BPT-modified hard-disk recorder.
Preamplification: Manley Steelhead, Blue Amp MC 42 phono preamplifiers; Musical Fidelity kWP, DartZeel NHB-18NS preamplifiers.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity kW monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties MAXX2, Peak Consult El Diablo.
Cables: Interconnect…