Descrption: 6-way floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units (each speaker): one 15" polypropylene-cone subwoofer with 15" passive radiator, one 12", polypropylene-cone low-bass, two 12", polypropylene-cone midbass, four 5" polypropylene-cone midrange drivers, four 1" inverted-dome tweeters, one ribbon supertweeter. Crossover frequencies: 80Hz, 200Hz, 600Hz, 5kHz, and 15kHz. Frequency range: 17Hz–30kHz. Sensitivity: 100dB. Maximum undistorted output: 130dB. THD at 1W in: 0.25%. Impedance: 6 ohms.
Dimensions: 76" H by 17" W by 21.5" D. Weight: 230 lbs each.
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Sidebar 2: Specifications
Times are hard. Our current economic landscape bears more than a passing resemblance to that darkest of American nightmares, the Great Depression. As I write this, the House of Representatives is set to vote on a $700 billion bailout plan to buy distressed mortgages and thereby offer a crutch to our ailing financial system. Times are hard, yet we persevere. Though we may lack some discretionary income, we find ways to maintain the essentials: food, clothing, shelter, and, for audiophiles, music. So for a short while at least, let's put aside our struggles and lighten up. After all, this great…
2008 Joint Loudspeakers of the Year
KEF Reference 207/2 ($20,000/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.31 No.2, February 2008 Review)
Revel Ultima Salon2 ($22,000/pair; reviewed by Larry Greenhill, Vol.31 No.6, June 2008 Review)
B>Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Avalon Acoustics Indra ($19,995/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.31 No.10, October 2008 Review)
Definitive Technology Mythos STS SuperTower ($2998/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.31 No.8, August 2008 Review)
DeVore Gibbon Nine ($6500/pair; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.30 No.12,…
2008 Digital Source Component of the Year
Sooloos music server system ($7900–$10,500; reviewed by Jon Iverson & Kalman Rubinson, Vol.31 No.9, September 2008 Review)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Ayre Acoustics CX-7e CD player ($3500; reviewed by Robert Deutsch, Vol.31 No.1, January 2008 Review)
Bel Canto DAC3 D/A processor ($2495; reviewed by John Atkinson & Wes Phillips, Vol.30 No.11 & Vol.31 No.2, November 2007 & February 2008 Review)
Benchmark DAC1 USB D/A headphone amplifier ($1275; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.31 Nos.1 & 4,…
2008 Joint Analog Source Components of the Year
Continuum Audio Labs Criterion turntable & Copperhead tonearm ($56,495; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.31 No.3, March 2008)
Rega Planar 3-24 turntable & RB-301 tonearm ($895–$1295; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.31 No.7, July 2008 Review)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Denon DL-103 phono cartridge ($229; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.30 Nos.10 & 12, October & December 2007 Review)
EMT 997 tonearm ($4895; reviewed by Art Dudley, Vol.31 Nos.7 & 9, July & September 2008 Review)
…
2008 Joint Amplification Components of the Year
Conrad-Johnson ACT2 Series 2 preamplifier ($16,500; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.30 No.11, November 2007 Review)
Parasound Halo JC 2 preamplifier ($4000; reviewed by Sam Tellig & John Atkinson, Vol.30 No.12 & Vol.31 No.3, December 2007 & March 2008 Review)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Anthem Statement D2 multichannel preamplifier-processor ($7499; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.31 Nos.9 & 11, September & November 2008 Review)
Ayre Acoustics AX-7e integrated amplifier ($3500;…
2008 Joint Accessories of the Year
Audyssey MultEQ Pro room equalization (Included with many A/V receivers and preamp-processors; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.31 No.5, May 2008 Review)
Shure SE530 in-ear headphones ($430; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.30 No.12, December 2007 Review)
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
AcousTech The Big Record Brush ($29.95; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.31 No.9, September 2008)
Bag End E-Trap active bass trap ($1500; reviewed by Kalman Rubinson, Vol.31 No.7, July 2008 Review)
Meridian F80 portable music system ($…
2008 Editors' Choice
Traditionally, as Stereophile's longtime Editor, I have reserved this section to myself. But it seemed more democratic in this election year to allow all of the magazine's review team the opportunity to be involved. I asked each to name the component that had provided him with the most musical pleasure this past year, and to sum up in a single sentence the reasons why.— John Atkinson
John Atkinson: Revel Ultima Salon2 loudspeaker ($22,000/pair; Vol.31 No.6, June 2008). "If it hadn't been for the Revel, the big KEF '207/2 would have got the nod this year. But…
2008 Joint Budget Products of the Year
Paradigm Atom v.5 loudspeaker ($298/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips & Robert J. Reina, Vol.30 No.9 & Vol.31 No.2, November 2007 & February 2008 Review)
Rega Planar 3-24 turntable & RB-301 tonearm
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Cayin A-50T integrated amplifier ($1395; reviewed by Robert J. Reina, Vol.31 No.3, March 2008 Review)
Denon DL-103 MC phono cartridge
Soundsmith SMCC1 phono cartridge
Wadia Digital 170iTransport iPod Dock
Zu DL-103 MC phono cartridge
This is very important:…
2008 Product of the Year
Sooloos music server system
Runners-Up (in alphabetical order)
Conrad-Johnson ACT2 Series 2 preamplifier
Continuum Audio Labs Criterion turntable & Copperhead tonearm
Hansen Prince V2 loudspeaker
KEF Reference 207/2 loudspeaker
Linn Klimax DS network D/A processor
Magico V3 loudspeaker
Parasound Halo JC 2 preamplifier
PSB Synchrony One loudspeaker
Revel Ultima Salon2 loudspeaker
VTL MB-450 Series II Signature monoblock power amplifier
With four first-place votes and 16 votes overall, the Sooloos…