Home Entertainment 2003 Hi-Fi and Home Theater Event

Sunday Page 1
By Steven R. Rochlin
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  It is that Voodoo that you do so well... Voodoo platforms ($500) help to reduce the resonances from adversely affecting the music reproducing abilities of equipment.

 

Seen here in dark ash finish are the Meadowlark Kestrel 2 ($1,695) that is a first order, time coherent transmission line loudspeaker. Made in the USA using domestic hardwoods and real veneers, it was visually compelling and would great in virtually any decor. Cabling for the system was JPS Labs' Superconductor 2 interconnects and loudspeaker cables.

 

From left to right is the Audion Silver Night 300B PSE MK2 monoblock in burgundy ($7,395/pair) that are point to point wired, operate in parallel single-ended, has Black Gate capacitors, Tantalum resistors... to produce 18 watts. The lighter wood Cadance Arista ($5,495) is n electrostatic hybrid with a frequency response from 30Hz to 30kHz. The darker wood loudspeaker is Royal Device's Laura Studio ($10,895) that has a Miranda horn tweeter crossed over at 9kHz to a full range 8-inch driver. Overall sensitivity is 97dB/W/m at 6 ohms and frequency response is from 24Hz to 20kHz. On the floor is Audion's Golden Dreams 300B parallel single-ended amplifier that employs self-canceling circuitry to permit higher output with enhanced bass control.

 

The Amazon model Two turntable ($3,095) has an inverted ceramic bearing, DC regulated power supply, Sorbothane pucks to reduce resonances, and a precision machined acrylic platter.

 

Coming in kit or fully built form is the Edison Original EL34 integrated amplifier ($1,195 in kit form, $1,795 pre-assembled) produces 30 watts using two EL34 tubes per channel operating in push-pull, with an E88CC for both input and driver duties. Not photographed, though the Edison was driving the Aliante Stile SW monitor loudspeakers. These 88dB/W/m design uses a 1-inch SEAS silk soft-dome tweeter and custom 5-inch midrange/woofer. Frequency response is from 45Hz to 25kHz and the unit can handle upwards of 125 peak.

 

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