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The Studio/20's ability to resolve detail had me finding new things in very familiar recordings. I thought I'd memorized every lick in Aimee Mann's "How Am I Different?," from her Bachelor No. 2 or The Last Remains of the Dodo (CD, Super Ego SE002), but for the first time I found myself following a low-level guitar line near the end of the tune, way back in the mix. And in the first movement of David Chesky's Violin Concerto, from his Area 31 (SACD/CD, Chesky SACD288, CD layer), I found myself focusing on a contrapuntal interplay between the bassoon and Tom Chiu's violin that I'd never…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) ferrofluid-cooled G-PAL–dome tweeter with die-cast chassis, 7" (178mm) S-PAL–cone woofer with 11/2" (38mm) voice-coil and die-cast chassis. Crossover: second-order electro-acoustic at 2.0kHz. Frequency response: 54Hz–22kHz, ±2dB (on axis), 54Hz–20kHz, ±2dB (30° off axis). Low-frequency extension: 36Hz (DIN). Sensitivity: 90dB room, 87dB anechoic. Impedance: compatible with 8 ohms. Recommended amplification: 15–150W. Maximum input power: 100W.
Dimensions: 15" (381mm) H by 8.…
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 Eclipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 110 II.
Integrated Amplifiers: Creek Destiny & 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: NHT Classic 3, Nola Mini, Epos M5.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT):…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Paradigm Reference Studio/20's voltage sensitivity on its tweeter axis was to specification at an estimated 87dB(B)/2.83V/m. Its impedance magnitude (fig.1, solid trace) remained above 6 ohms in the upper midrange and treble, but dropped to 3.5 ohms in the lower midrange. This, together with the combination of 5.1 ohms magnitude and –37° electrical phase angle at 110Hz (a frequency where music has a lot of energy), implies that the Paradigm will work best with good amplifiers rated at 4 ohms.
Fig.1 Paradigm Reference Studio/20, electrical…
The conventional wisdom in publishing is that magazines are dependent on scoops—that getting the news out to the readers first is of primary importance. Yes, being timely with what it has to say is important for any publication. But soon after I joined Stereophile in 1986, a series of negative experiences with review samples that were little better than prototypes led me to rethink the need for scoops. As a result, I decided to impose restrictions on what we chose to review; this would allow us to focus the magazine's review resources on products that were out of beta testing and were ready…
I have been playing a lot of late a CD-R that recording engineer Tony Faulkner had pressed into my hands at the 2004 Heathrow Show. It was a live recording he had just done of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes, performing Gustav Holst's The Planets (subsequently released on CD as Warner Classics 61991). The disc had gotten lost among the many piles in my listening room, and I uncovered it while tidying up in mid-December to get the room presentable for Alon Wolf, who was visiting to help set up the V3s. The Planets has long been a favorite of mine, but what…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Three-way, sealed-box, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (25mm) ring-radiator tweeter, 6" (152mm) Nano-Tec midrange cone, two 7" (178mm) Nano-Tec woofer cones. Frequency range: 32Hz–40kHz. Sensitivity: 89dB/2.83V/m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms. Recommended power: 50–300Wpc.
Dimensions: 42" (1050mm) H by 12" (300mm) W by 15" (380mm) D. Weight: 160 lbs (72kg) each.
Finish: Satin-varnished birch-ply, black-anodized aluminum.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 1000011 & 1000015.
Price: $25,000/pair. Approximate number of dealers:…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe, Pioneer DV-578A universal players; PrimaLuna ProLogue Eight CD player; Mark Levinson No.30.6, Benchmark DAC 1 USB, Bel Canto e.one DAC 3 D/A converters; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter WiFi music player with Apple Mac mini running OSX for media storage.
Preamplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 2, Mark Levinson No.380S.
Power Amplifiers: Parasound Halo JC 1, Musical Fidelity 550k Supercharger, Mark Levinson No.33H (all monoblocks); Boulder 860.
Loudspeakers: Sonus Faber Cremona Elipsa, KEF Reference 207/2, PSB Synchrony One…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
My estimate of the Magico V3's voltage sensitivity was 87dB(B)/2.83V/m, slightly lower than specified. The speaker's impedance (fig.1) remained below 4 ohms for much of the audioband, with minimum values of 3 ohms at 97Hz and 2.7 ohms at 7kHz. There is also a combination of 4 ohms and a –50° capacitive phase angle at 4kHz. Overall, the V3 is a demanding load that should be partnered with amplifiers that have no problem delivering high currents.
Fig.1 Magico V3, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed). (2 ohms/vertical div.)
The…
When I attended the 2006 GuangZhou Hi-Fi Show in China, it seemed as though most of the Asian-built loudspeakers I saw were huge, astonishingly efficient, and had horns. When I walked into Usher Audio Technology's room, however, Paul Chen was making music happen with the Usher S-520s ($500/pair).
"Ah, sweet music," I said, sitting in the sweet spot. "But what's an American stand-mounted monitor doing in a show so Asia-centric?"
Chen was politely amused. "Usher's more of a global collaboration," he said. "Dr. Joe [D'Appolito] designs the loudspeakers. Mr. Tsai Lien-Shui…