Today Stereophile republished two more reviews from the vaults:
The SOTA review is made up of several reviews done during the mid-80s, with Steven W. Watkinson, Anthony H. Cordesman, and J. Gordon Holt all taking a turn (or three).
Home Entertainment magazine reviewed the new flagship Klipsch Palladium P-39F speakers ($20,000/pair). In a departure from right angles of the past, the cabinet shape has curves (designers from BMW Designworks collaborated on the project). Reviewer Steve Guttenberg had this to say of the speaker’s sound:
… the P-39Fs sound even bigger than they are. Bass is meaty and solid, yet as clear and concise as the midrange and treble. Oh, and before you get the impression these bad boys have to be played at lease-breaking volume levels to sound their best, I found them to be exceedingly accomplished at hushed, late night volume as well.
Read the entire review, then check out the Palladium Gallery for more images.
6moons published a review of the NuForce Icon system. The Nuforce Icon system is designed primarily for desktop use. It consists of the S-1 speakers ($249/pair), NE-7 headphones ($99), and Icon integrated amp ($249).
Regarding the NuForce Icon system, Srajan Ebaen notes:
Actually, the S-1 is very Lowther-ish in speed and openness. That part of the equation is no marketing hooey. It’s sealed-box impulse-correct fact. Add the wall, don’t apply certain bass expectations or material and for the money asked, the midrange and lower treble are silly good indeed. I simply need more reach into the bass (forget low bass, that’s off the menu in this entire discussion) to consider the NuForce mini speaker viable as marketed – solo, without auxiliary woofer/s.
The web site also published a review of the Shanling PCD3000A CD player (CDN$599), which includes a headphone amp.
Check out 6moons for full reviews, and also check out an interview (16 MB, MP3) with 6moons founder Srajan Ebaen by Austin Jackson of Boston Audio Design.
Stereophile republished another set of reviews from their archive today. This time, it’s the Rega Planar 3 turntable that gets the time lapse treatment. The following are excerpts from reviews spanning over a decade:
Here is what had to say about the Rega Planar 3 turntable back in 1984:
The Rega is a good-sounding turntable and a good value—at the UK price. Someone once said that the Rega, which has no suspension, is a triumph of engineering over the laws of physics.
And in 1985:
The Rega certainly sounds different from most other tables, but different is not necessarily better. The Rega gives you a very dynamic sound with powerful, punchy bass… But there is too much emphasis of the mid- to upper-bass for my taste, and the table tends to sound a little muddy in bass detail, even when I exchange the felt mat for something like the excellent Audioquest sorbothane mat.
Here’s Michael Fremer on the Planar 3 in 1996:
My conclusion from all of this playing around is, if you’re on a limited budget, better to get a Rega 3 and an expensive cartridge than an expensive turntable with a cheap cartridge…
Read the entire review, and check out Stereophile blogger Stephen Mejias’s recent post about his love for this venerable turntable.
Enjoy the Music.com published part one of its coverage of the 2008 Hong Kong Hi-End Audio Visual Show, which took place August 8-10. The report includes dozens of photos from a multitude of exhibitors. Some of the brands on display included:
Alps Music, Audio Note, Avantgarde, Bel Canto, Brinkmann, Chord, Dali, Dynaudio, EDGE, Eggleston Works, Focal, Harbeth, JL Audio, Kharma, Kondo, Lyngdorf, McIntosh, Meridian, Mod Wright, MUDR Akustik, Nordost, Onix, Oracle, Piega, Quad, Rockport Technologies, Rogue Audio, Shanling, Sugden, Sunfire, Thiel, VPI, Wavestream, and YBA.
Read the entire article, and look out for more show coverage as the fall season gets underway.
Affordable$$Audio published a new issue today with a variety of new equipment reviews, including:
Download the entire issue (18 MB PDF), and be sure to check out the included article on residential power line noise.
P.S. If you’re wondering how $6,000 speakers and a $2,200 power outlet box are considered affordable, you’re not alone. In a shift away from strictly low cost components, the magazine has decided to cover high end items in “Harmony,” a new bi-monthly e-zine to be officially launched this fall.
Audio Ideas Guide published an article today endorsing the vintage Sony HA-T10 mini step-up transformer (approx. $200, used) as a good alternative to traditional MC transformers such as the Ortofon T-10. Here is a snippet of what writer Andrew Marshall had to say of the Sony’s sound quality:
Once again, the sonic surprise was a highly positive one, with a greater degree of neutrality, especially in the upper octaves, these little transformers having no effect on the native frequency response of the cartridges, including a NOS SAE model I picked up for a song.
Read the entire article, and learn more about the history of this device at The Vintage Knob.
Positive Feedback Online published a new issue today with three new equipment reviews:
In addition to equipment reviews, the issue contains new articles on modified SACD players by Karl Lozier, and computer-based audio by Dave Clark.
Read music reviews and more in the entire issue, and check out a new commercial videocast featuring Lloyd Walker of Walker Audio.
DAGOGO just published its September issue, which includes a review of the Coincident Total Victory IV speakers ($15,000). Here is a sample of what reviewer Ed Momkus had to say:
In my opinion, the Total Victory IVs are a great high-end value for those with tube electronics, rich-sounding solid-state electronics or those who seek a neutral sound with more typical solid-state electronics. At $15,000.00 you can get a terrific set of speakers, save money by avoiding high-power amps, and focus your efforts on great-sounding electronics.
The new issue also includes Ed’s take on the Plinius Tautoro preamp ($8,395) and Plinius SA-201 power amp ($6,545). Here is an excerpt:
I’m admiring the way that the Plinius pair is controlling the Coincident’s bass, allowing each articulated note to come through, while still giving the bass that touch of warmth and weight that you hear live, while the ribbons sound like they’re driven by a warm but not overly-lush tube amp. Add in that very natural midrange and I’ve got to give both the Tautoro preamp and the SA-201 power amp an enthusiastic endorsement.
Read the new issue, and check out DAGOGO’s new contest to win three months of access to the B&W Music Club.
SoundStage! published its September 1 update today. It includes a bunch of new component reviews, including:
Check out the entire update, which includes news, as well as columns on DIY and vinyl. Also see SoundStage! editor Doug Schneider’s latest opinion piece on active speakers on partner site, GoodSound!.