The ProAc Response D28 is both less sensitive than the norm and less sensitive than its own specification of 88.5dB/W/m. My estimate of the speaker's voltage sensitivity on its tweeter axis was just 84.6dB(B)/2.83V/m, though it fair to note that this is slightly higher than that of the older Response 2.5. To reach useful sound-pressure levels, it will need to be used with an amplifier capable of swinging plenty of volts. However, its impedance plot (fig.1) reveals it to be an extremely easy load for an amplifier to drive. The magnitude drops below 8 ohms only…
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A while back, out of the blue, I was contacted by audio distributor May Audio Marketing. They wanted to know if I was interested in reviewing any models from the Genius line of German manufacturer ASW Loudspeakers. I have a lot of time for distributors such as May Audio, whose primary role is to promote lesser-known European audio products on this side of the pond. All of May's principal clients—Castle, Enigma, and Gradient speakers; Sonneteer and Sphinx electronics; and Roksan turntable systems—are much better known in their home countries than in the US.
But while May Audio…
The Genius 100's superb bass performance revealed another dimension of jazz and classical recordings. For a bookshelf speaker, its midbass extension with all recordings was surprisingly forceful and uncolored. Ray Brown's solo on "I'm an Old Cowhand," from Sonny Rollins' Way Out West (CD, JVC VICJ-60088), was even throughout the double bass's entire range, as well as uncolored and well defined, if slightly warm in the instrument's lower register, as it should be. The organ pedals in the Rutter Requiem were clean, forceful, and extended. Although the Genius 100s didn't shake my room, I can't…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, magnetically shielded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) fabric-dome tweeter, 5.1" (130mm) carbon-fiber–cone woofer. Frequency range: 45Hz–30kHz. Sensitivity: 90dB/2.83V/m. Continuous power handling: 70W. Maximum power handling: 120W. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms.
Dimensions: 13.25" (340mm) H by 5.7" (145mm) W by 13.7" (350mm) D. Weight: 18.7 lbs (8.5kg) each.
Finishes: 12 real-wood veneers, 4 shades of eggshell paint.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 011281, 011283.
Price: $1395/pair. Approximate…
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: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110 II.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Nola Mini, Amphion Helium2, Monitor Audio Silver RS6.
Cables:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
My estimate of the ASW Genius 100's voltage sensitivity on its tweeter axis was 88dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is slightly above average but 2dB lower than the specification. The speaker's impedance did drop to 4 ohms around 200Hz, and there is a combination of 5.8 ohms and –40° electrical phase angle at 130Hz, but overall, the ASW is not as hard to drive as its 4 ohm specification would suggest.
The traces in fig.1 are free of the wrinkles that would imply the existence of cabinet resonances. While investigation of the panels' vibrational behavior with an…
Blame the Puritans! say I. The high end has always had an ostinato accompaniment of grumbles from those who appear to feel that it is immoral to want to listen to music with as high a quality as possible. In a recent letter, for example, Fanfare and Stereo Review contributor and author Howard Ferstler states that "the audio world has more products of bogus quality and shills promoting them than any other industry, bar none," and trots out the old saw that audiophiles "end up spending an excessive amount of money on equipment or tweaking techniques of surprisingly dubious quality."
Mr.…
The Oracle Delphi Mk.II ($1250) is both a turntable and work of art. It is a visually stunning product, retaining a level of styling that, in my view, has never been equalled by any other audio component. It also adds enough sonic improvements to the original Delphi that it ranks close to the VPI HW-19, and is superior, in naturalness of sound quality, to the SOTA Star Sapphire.
These improvements include much easier setup procedures (although far more fuss and bother than the SOTAs and VPI), and a better motor, suspension, and top plate. Earlier Delphi motors were noisy or had…
Thomas J. Norton wrote about the Delphi Mk.IV in August 1991 (Vol.14 No.8):
"What am I going to use for a lead?" I wondered, seated in the dentist's chair, a lead apron squashing my vitals. I was doing my best to forget where I was—and what that implied for the immediate future—by mulling over the review I was about to commit to floppy disc.
"Smile," I could swear I heard the dentist say. Easy for him—he wasn't biting down on a medieval oral torture device. The X-ray machine buzzed, the dentist emerged from behind his 3'-thick lead- and concrete-reinforced bunker to survey the…
Solution: contact Graham Engineering. Bob Graham modified Oracle's SME mounting plate (which uses the same cutout as his arm) by providing additional threaded holes in the bottom of the plate to accept the arm mounting bolts. He also furnished the longer arm bolts needed to reach these threaded holes. Now both halves of the plate could be fastened to the subchassis first, following which the arm could be mounted on the top plate. (Oracle is now able to provide mounting plates suitable for the Graham arm.) I should also make one other note concerning the Graham arm on the Oracle. Those who…