High-Performance Loudspeakers.pdf

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S T E R E O • M U LT I C H A N N E L A U D I O • M U S I C
HIGH-pErformancE
LoUDSpEakErS
SponSorED by QUaD
GUIDE to
NEXT pAgE
Go to:
contents
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from the Editor
|
on the Horizon
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feature articles
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Loudspeakers up to $10k
|
Loudspeakers $10k-$40k
|
Loudspeakers over $40k
Contents
Features
• From The Editor
• On The Horizon
• Loudspeakers:
Why Spend More?
• What to Listen For
When Choosing
Loudspeakers
SponSorED by
Loudspeakers
up to $10k
Loudspeakers
up to $10k
Loudspeakers
$10k-$40k
Loudspeakers $10k-$50k
Loudspeakers
over $40k
Loudspeakers
over $40k
• B&W 684
• Coincident Super Victory
• DALI Mentor Menuet
• Esoteric MG-10
• Nola Boxer
• PSB Image T6
• PMC Fact
• Reference 3A Episode
• Rega RS5
• Sonus faber Liuto Tower
• Audio Physic Cardeas
• Focal Diablo Utopia
• KEF Reference 205/2
• Magico V2
• Martin Logan CLX
• Quad ESL-2905
• Raidho Eben C2
• Thiel CS3.7 Loudspeaker
• Vienna Acoustics “The Music”
• Von Schweikert Unifield Three
• Wilson Audio Sasha W/P
• YG Acoustics Kipod Studio
• Avalon Acoustics Time
• Focal Grande Utopia EM
• Magico M5
• Marten Coltrane Soprano
• MBL 101 X-Treme
• Verity Lohengrin II
• Wilson Audio MAXX 3
Clic k on one of the links above to jump to that secti on, featu re or revie w.
2
Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers
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Loudspeakers $10k-$40k
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Loudspeakers over $40k
S T E R E O • M U LT I C H A N N E L A U D I O • M U S I C
HIGH-pErformancE
LoUDSpEakErS
publisher.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Hannon
editors-in-chief
. . . . . . . . . . Robert Harley
Alan Sircom
executive editor
. . . . . . . . . Jonathan Valin
acquisitions manager
and associate editor
. . . . . Neil Gader
founder; chairman,
editorial advisory board
. Harry Pearson
music editor
. . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Lehman
creative director
. . . . . . . . Torquil Dewar
art director
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelley Lai
production coordinator
. . Aaron Chamberlain
designer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mikki Bullock
senior writers
. . . . . . . . . . . Anthony H. Cordesman
Wayne Garcia
Robert E. Greene
Chris Martens
Tom Martin
Dick Olsher
Andrew Quint
Paul Seydor
Alan Taffel
reviewers &
contributing writers
. . . . . Roy Gregory
Ian Harris
Jim Hannon
Jacob Heilbrunn
Jason Kennedy
Chris Thomas
NextScreen, LLC, Inc.
chairman and ceo
. . . . . . . Tom Martin
vp/group publisher
. . . . . . Jim Hannon
advertising reps
. . . . . . . . Cheryl Smith
(512) 891-7775
Marvin Lewis
MTM Sales
(718) 225-8803
To sign up for Buyer’s Guides
alerts, click here
Address letters to the Editor:
The Absolute Sound,
4544 S. Lamar #G-300, Austin, TX 78745 or
rharley@nextscreen.com or alan@hifiplus.com
©2010 NextScreen, LLC
3
Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers
www.theabsolutesound.com
GUIDE to
pREvIOUS pAgE
NEXT pAgE
Go to:
contents
|
from the Editor
|
on the Horizon
|
feature articles
|
Loudspeakers up to $10k
|
Loudspeakers $10k-$40k
|
Loudspeakers over $40k
FROM THE
Editor
elcome to the 2010 Stereo Loudspeaker Buyer’s Guide, brought to you by
The Absolute Sound
and
Hi-Fi+
magazines. Whether you are looking for a small bookshelf speaker for a second system, just starting out and buying
your first ‘real’ set of floorstanders or want a cost-no-object loudspeaker that makes a grand statement about
your listening, it’s all in here, a distillation of the finest loudspeakers we’ve heard in the last few years. We’ll also bring you
information on the latest developments in loudspeaker design from around the globe. Whatever the price, whatever the size
and no matter how new… we’ve got it covered!
We’ve divided this Buyers Guide into three distinct sections, based on
price; up to $10,000, $10,000-$40,000 and over $40,000 per pair. We
think these are fair price points, given the tastes and demands of you
the reader; there are many who think a loudspeaker costing over three
figures is too expensive, and there are some who think anything less
than six figures represents ‘lo-fi’. So, we decided to cater for all. We’ve
selected products that deliver excellent sound at their respective prices.
No, we’re sorry, but we haven’t yet stumbled upon the $300 standmount
speaker that can fill a large room, have the volume, dynamic range and
tonal balance of a $300,000 floorstander and we don’t think we’ll find
such a thing just yet.
What we have instead are speakers that deliver a stunning
performance in their class. And as you go from class to class, so that
performance becomes all the more stunning. It also often becomes
more demanding of room, electronics and even listener; sitting in front
of some of the best loudspeakers on the planet can focus your attention
on the music in a way that surprises listeners used to listening to
background sounds.
It’s a difficult thing to swallow in our new-found austerity, but
sometimes you get what you pay for. And that’s especially true in
loudspeakers. Aside from the physically bigger, generally more
exotically finished cabinet and the high-grade components, as you
move up the price categories, so you buy a loudspeaker that can deliver
a flatter frequency response across a wider range of frequencies, a
more dynamic, open and accurate sound, and one that can play louder
without distortion. Those used to more compromised loudspeaker
designs are often shocked at just how much improvement a good
loudspeaker can make.
And we’ve got plenty of good loudspeakers to choose from.
W
Alan Sircom
C li ck here to tu rn th e p ag e.
4
Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers
www.theabsolutesound.com
pREvIOUS pAgE
NEXT pAgE
Go to:
contents
|
from the Editor
|
on the Horizon
|
feature articles
|
Loudspeakers up to $10k
|
Loudspeakers $10k-$40k
|
Loudspeakers over $40k
A Sneak peak
at the Best
Loudspeakers
Coming Your Way
Jim Hannon
Hansen
has premiered its flagship Grand
Master loudspeaker—a ten-driver, ported,
three-way floorstander— and it has already
impressed our editors. RH thought it
sounded “absolutely magnificent” on a wide
range of material at CES, with a complete
sense of ease and composure during loud
and complex passages. JV thought that it
sounded “simply fabulous” on every track he
threw at it at CES, with wonderful balance,
bass, dynamics, resolution, and musicality.
price:
$250,000.
hansenaudio.com
on tHE HorIZon
Quad
has introduced Classique versions of its highly regarded electrostatic
loudspeakers: the ESL-2805 and ESL-2905. While the new versions have the same
electrostatic panels and design as the standard versions, they have upgraded
finishes and grill cloths. The visually striking Quad ESL-2805 Classique sounded
glorious at CES, driven by the new Quad integrated amplifier and the Merrill-
Williams turntable, producing one of the best sounds at the show.
price:
$11,499 ESL-2805 Classique; $14,499 ESL-2905 Classique.
quad-hifi.co.uk
www.theabsolutesound.com
all prices are per pair
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Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers
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