I resolved to heed my own advice about assumptions. No more…
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First Kate begins to sing, then Pat Donaldson's Fender bass peals down low, then Kate's piano begins, followed by multiply tracked harmony vocals by both sisters, which are pierced by Andrew Cowan's screaming lead guitar, which is reinforced by Anna's accordion—and that's not even including Chaim Tannenbaum's bar-walking tenor-sax solo. Far from being the quiet acoustic gem I remembered, "Midnight Flight" is an immense, sprawling studio masterpiece, and the Be-718s simply floored me by keeping up with it every step of the way.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way, reflex-loaded, stand-mounted loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1.25" beryllium-dome tweeter, 7" doped-paper–cone woofer. Crossover frequency: 2.06kHz. Frequency response: 42Hz–35kHz, ±3dB. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Sensitivity: 87dB/W/m. Power handling: 200W.
Dimensions: 15.2" (390mm) H by 10.2" (260mm) W by 16.9" (430mm) D. Weight: 37.9 lbs (17.2kg).
Finishes: Silver or Piano Black with Pioneer Birch side panels.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: B0770027 A/B.
Price: $2795/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 60. Warranty: 3 years…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xe and Muse Polyhymnia universal players, McIntosh MS750 digital music server.
Preamplifiers: Ayre K-1xe, Conrad-Johnson ACT2.
Power Amplifiers: Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 300; Portal Audio Paladin monoblocks.
Integrated Amplifier: Ayre AX-7e.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Confidence C1.
Cables: Interconnect: Shunyata Research Aries & Antares. Speaker: Shunyata Research Lyra.
Accessories: Ayre L-5xe line filter; Furutech eTP-609 distribution box; APC APCS15 AC line conditioner; Furutech RDP panels, RealTraps Mini…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
The Usher Be-718 was both less sensitive than average and less sensitive than specified, at an estimated 85dB(B)/2.83V/m. Offsetting the speaker's need for voltage, however, is an impedance modulus that remains above 6 ohms throughout the bass and midrange, and drops below 6 ohms only briefly in the treble (fig.1). Only a combination of 5.7 ohms magnitude and –41° electrical phase angle at 2.5kHz keeps the Usher from being rated an easy load for the partnering amplifier to drive.
The traces in fig.1 are free from the small wrinkles that would hint at the…
Meeting strangers at social events, I've learned not to say that I write about hi-fi for a living. It's generally a conversation killer—unless your idea of scintillating repartee is "People make a living doing that?" (Short answer: Not many, and not really.)
But when I was asked about good headphones at a Lunar New Year celebration held by the clan of my buddy Jeff Wong, the conversation actually got going. Two other discussions paused as people concurred that they were getting disgusted with the sound of the ubiquitous white iPod earbuds. For once, I wasn't the geekiest guy at…
The UE-11 Pro's input sensitivity is 119dB/W/m, its claimed frequency range is 10Hz–16.5kHz, and its impedance at 1kHz is 18 ohms. That last spec means it's a bit of a current hog, and is probably best used with a headphone amplifier. I forgot to check the battery in my Ray Samuels Emmeline The Tomahawk on one flight and ended up listening to the UE-11 Pros plugged straight into my iPod Hi-Fi—then wondered where the full-bodied sound I'd grown so used to had gone. If you're going to spend $1200 on headphones, assume that you'll need to spend a few hundred more to really hear them.
A…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Lightweight, sound-isolating, in-ear headphones with four balanced armatures, passive crossover, and 1/8" stereo minijack. Frequency range: 10Hz–16.5kHz. Sensitivity: 119dB/W/m. Impedance: 18 ohms. Noise isolation: –26dB. Optional accessories: spare cables, metal carrycase, wax-removal tool, earmold cleaner, disinfectant wipes.
Dimensions: Cable lengths: 46" (1.18m) or 64" (1.64m). Weight: 1 oz (28gm).
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: 9027-3.
Price: $1150, plus custom earmold fee; includes personalized carrying case. Approximate number of…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Source: Apple iPod.
Headphones: Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro, Shure ES530.
Headphone Amplifiers: HeadRoom Micro, Ray Samuels Emmeline The Hornet & Emmeline The Tomahawk.—Wes Phillips
Sidebar 3: Measurements
Keith Howard is writing an article for Stereophile about assessing the frequency response of headphones. Unfortunately, I lack the necessary hardware to follow his example. I did measure the electrical impedance of the Ultimate Ears UE-11 Pros, however. To ensure the correct acoustic loading, the review samples were inserted in Wes Phillips' ears. The results are shown in fig.1. I had understood that the UE-11s are easier to drive than the UE-10 Pros, which WP reviewed in October 2006; however, the '11's impedance at low frequencies averages 10.5 ohms compared…
So far, as part of my quest to find good affordable box loudspeakers, I have reviewed 16 models, in the August, October, and November 1987 issues of Stereophile (Vol.10 Nos.5, 7, & 8). This fourth group of loudspeakers expands the price range covered, down to $329/pair and up to $1349/pair, and includes one model from California (Nelson-Reed), one from Canada (Paradigm), and one, Monitor Audio's "flagship," the R952MD, from the UK.
As can be seen in "Letters" this month, some readers take exception to this series of reviews: "I know of no-one . . . who really gives a damn about $400…