Langerton Loudspeaker Review

In his review of the Langerton speakers from Germany, Wojciech Pacula writes:

These are speakers that show the soundstage as it really is. Instead of creating it, they do their best to re-create it as faithfully as possible. The price for it is a smaller optimal listening field and smaller sound sources further down the soundstage. The advantages are truly amazing, however. I believe that you will hear many of the elements that create recording’s holographic dimension for the first time, no matter what kind of speakers you currently use.

Read the full review >>

Genesis G7c Loudspeaker Review

In his review of the Genesis G7c Loudspeakers, Andre Marc writes:

The Genesis G7c is the first product I have heard in my own system from the Seattle-based company, and it makes me want to hear more. At $6000 they are not entry level, and there are many speakers at this price range to choose from. But I would venture to guess few offer the wide-open, transparent, low distortion, effortless presentation the G7c does. The company’s legacy is second to none, and they service generations old Genesis products in the field.

Read the full review >>

NOLA Concert Grand Reference Gold Loudspeaker Review

"I'll say it here and now", writes Harry Pearson in his review of the NOLA Concert Grand Reference Gold speakers, "these are the most fluidly musical loudspeakers I have ever heard."  He goes on to write:

The NOLA Concert Grand Reference Gold loudspeakers give you everything you could possibly want from a large “super” speaker. They are dynamic as hell and have a massive soundstage. They push enough air on loud passages to convince your insides that an actual orchestra of humans set up shop in your listening room.  But where the CGRG stands alone is the ability to properly, and thoroughly, reproduce all variations of music, including the smaller, the softer, and more delicate moments.

Read the full review online at HPSoundings.

Review of Wilson Audio Alexia Loudspeakers

In writing about the Wilson Audio Alexia loudspeakers, John Atkinson writes in Stereophile:

Yes, $48,500/pair makes the Alexia still an expensive loudspeaker. But its clarity, its uncolored, full-range balance, its flexibility in setup and optimization, and most of all its sheer musicality, are, if not unrivaled, rare. If I were to retire tomorrow, the Wilson Alexia would be the speaker I would buy to provide the musical accompaniment to that retirement.

Read the full review of the Wilson Audio Alexia loudspeakers at Stereophile.

Review of Goldenear Triton Seven Loudspeaker

In writing about the Goldenear Triton Seven loudspeaker, reviewer Chris Martens writes:

If you want to find out just how much high-end goodness $1399 can buy in a pair of loudspeakers, then you absolutely must audition the Triton Sevens. I consider this speaker a masterpiece of value-oriented audio engineering—one that sets a performance standard that will not easily be matched or surpassed.

Read the full review here at The Absolute Sound.

Review of KEF X300A Digital Hi-Fi Speaker System

In his review of the KEF X300A Digital Speaker System, reviewer Neil Gader writes:

KEF’s versatile coincident driver, the Uni-Q, has been cast in a new role—a part, in my humble opinion, it has always been destined to play. It’s the X300A Digital Hi-Fi Speaker System. I’ve admired this unique transducer for some time but most recently when I evaluated the KEF LS50 (awarded a Golden Ear in Issue 235). I continue to feel it’s one of the most satisfying compact two-way speakers I’ve encountered in the last couple years. The speaker is not only visually arresting; it also boasts superb midrange sonics, full-bodied presence, and potent midbass punch. I always thought it could be the basis for an outstanding nearfield or portable monitor. And whaddya know—with the X300A KEF engineers have taken that next logical step and reimagined the LS50/Uni-Q for desktop duty and the world of computer media.

Read the full review at The Absolute Sound online.

Review of Bryston Mini T Loudspeakers

In his equipment report on the Bryston Mini T Loudspeakers, Ron Doering of The Absolute Sound writes:

Indeed, these are one of the few speakers I’ve experienced which do the trick of realistically putting a singer, guitarist, bassist, what have you, in the next room. Doing my laundry I could swear on a stack of TAS back issues that Ella Fitzgerald was right there next door in the listening room. Well of course “she” was, as that is where my stereo is, but my point is that it sounded as if a real person were singing in the other room. Try this and you’ll see what I mean (or not).

Read the full review of the Bryston Mini T Loudspeaker here.

SPECS & PRICING

Driver complement: One 8" ceramic-coated aluminum cone woofer, one 5.25" ceramic-coated aluminum cone midrange, one 1" titanium dome tweeter
Crossover frequencies: 160Hz and 2.3kHz
Loading: Bass-reflex
Frequency response: 37Hz–22kHz (+/-3dB)
Maximum SPL: 118dB
Min/Max recommended power: 10–250W
Sensitivity: 85dB (1 watt, 1 meter anechoic)
Impedance: 4 ohms nominal
Dimensions: 10.5" x 22.5" x 9.8"
Weight: 42 lbs. each
Price: $3195/pair in real wood veneer; $2695/pair in vinyl; $499/pair for custom stands although Bryston suggests any quality stand 18–24 inches in height

Top Tower Speakers For Under $3,000

Looking for a pair of tower speakers?  The Absolute Sound is promoting their "2013 Buyer's Guide: Floorstanding Loudspeakers Under $3,000".  From the $1298 PSB Image T6 that the TAS staff write:

"The PSB Image T6s offer a very high level of sonic performance for their price: bass to below 40Hz in-room, natural warmth a little further up (where floorstanders often dip), a largely neutral midrange, and a clean treble. The T6s play more loudly, with less of the distortion or compression expected from speakers of this size."

All the way up to the $2998 GoldenEar Triton Two where the TAS staff remark:

The Triton Two is a three-way, five-driver, dualpassive-radiator-equipped floorstander with a built-in powered subwoofer. Voiced from the top down, it handles high frequencies via a shockingly good ribbon, the all-important middle frequencies via dual ultra-wide-bandwidth midrange drivers, and the low end via a sophisticated subwoofer powered by a 1200-watt, DSP-controlled amplifier. The result is an elegant, full-range floorstander that sounds astonishingly refined, delivers spectacular 3-D imaging, and provides robust, full-bodied dynamics.

Click here to read the full buyer's guide.

Review of Polk Audio LSiM703 Monitor Speakers

Polk Audio has been making high-quality products since 1972.  Over the last few years, the company has been stepping up its game at the high end of its product line, beginning with the LSiM707 floor standing speakers...", writes Andre Marc in TONEAudio Magazine.  "The $1,500-per-pair LSiM703 bookshelf speakers reviewed here capitalize on the same technology and driver advances as the larger 707s, but do so in a smaller package.  And like the $4,000-per-pair 707s, the 703s perform well beyond what their modest price tag suggests."  Read the full review here.

"Opera claims on its website that 'every single aspect of the [Callas] design was subjected to intense musical listening tests at Opera.'", writes John Marks in Stereophile.  "I can believe it—the Callas sounds like that kind of a speaker. So if you regret having missed the ASA Pro Monitor, here's that rare thing in life: a second chance. And the price hasn't even gone up."  Read the full review of the Opera Callas loudspeaker at Stereophile.

Review of Raidho Acoustics D-3 Loudspeaker

"For the price, you can purchase larger speakers that have a better published bass response, that could probably play louder in a very large room",  writes Anthony Kershaw about the Raidho Acoustics D-3 Loudspeaker for Audiophilia, "Don’t let that deter you from hearing these stunning loudspeakers. They are artisan in quality and the drivers are designed and implemented at the very highest technical and musical standard. If you match them to a reasonable room size and hook them up with real quality ancillaries, you’ll never need another speaker."  Read the full review at Audiophilia.

Review of Paradigm Reference Signature S8s

The Paradigm Reference Signature S8s are amazing speakers that don’t cost a small fortune.  They offer performance way beyond what you’d expect for $8,998 a pair.  Many of us know the Canadian company for its smaller speakers and great home-theater systems, but the Signature S8s have major audiophile cred.  Read the full review at TONEAudio Magazine.

Magico Announces the S3 Floorstanding Loudspeaker

November 4, 2013 - Magico, the leader in high performance loudspeaker design and manufacture, is proud to announce the expansion of its award winning SSeries with the addition of the S3. The S3 is a full range, floorstanding loudspeaker that offers cutting edge technology and unparalleled performance at its price. According to Magico CEO and chief designer Alon Wolf, “By drawing from our technological well and in-house manufacturing capabilities, we are now able to deliver a remarkable value proposition in the S3, one which will become a new benchmark in its category.”  The US Retail Price of the Magico S3 starts at $22,600/pr. Delivery will begin in December 2013.  Read the full release here.

Review of the KEF R300 Bookshelf Speakers

The R300 is the larger of the two bookshelf models in the R Series.  And unlike its smaller sibling, the two-way R100, the R300 is a three-way bookshelf, which is not the most common of layouts for a stand-mounted speaker.  It is interesting to note that the smallest speaker in KEF’s Reference Series, the 201/2, is also a three-way stand-mounted model.  I’ve heard the Reference 201/2 on a number of occasions and have always been really impressed with its honest presentation of music.  I’m here to tell you that the R300 gets within a stone’s throw of the 201/2, doing so at a much more reasonable price; the R300s cost $1,800 per pair, compared to $6,000 for the 201/2s.  Read the full review at Tone Audio.

Audience ClairAudient 1+1 Speaker now Shipping

At T.H.E Show, Audience showed off the $1,800/pair bi-pole ClairAudience 1+1 speaker.  The 1+1 is now shipping.

San Marcos, CA, October 28, 2013 - Audience today announced that it is now shipping its ClairAudient 1+1 loudspeaker. The ClairAudient 1+1 is a bi-pole (front- and rear-radiating) design that is compact, yet provides surprisingly expansive sound.

Recipient of Greatest Bargain and Best Sound (highest value) accolades at T.H.E. Show: Newport 2012 from The Absolute Sound when presented as a pre-release prototype, the ClairAudient 1+1 utilizes two of Audience's proprietary A3-S full-range drivers, one in the front and one rear along with two side-firing passive radiators in a crossoverless design, a configuration that yields exceptionally coherent and musically natural performance. The 1+1 is striking in appearance, with a high gloss black multi-angled enclosure accented by rosewood sides.

The Audience proprietary A3-S driver, although just 3 inches in diameter, delivers extremely flat frequency response from 50Hz to 22kHz (depending on room placement), eliminating the need for a separate woofer, midrange driver, tweeter, and crossover network. As a result the inherent problems of integrating multiple sonically dissimilar drivers and the accompanying phase distortions, loss of resolution and transient response degradation of a crossover network are completely avoided. The dual side-mounted passive radiators augment the output of the A-3S drivers and enable the 1+1 to deliver outstanding presence and dynamic contrast.

"By employing our A-3S driver in a bi-pole design with dual passive radiators, the 1+1 is able to provide an expanded soundstage, extended low-frequency response and offer increased power handling," said John McDonald, president of Audience. "Most importantly, the 1+1 attains a level of sonic purity and musical accuracy that removes all obstacles between the loudspeaker, the listener and the performance."

The 1+1 also utilizes Audience's unique SSIT SweetSpace TM Imaging Technology that provides an expanded listening area rather than the usual single listener sweet spot.

The A3-S driver features a large patented neodymium-magnet motor structure and voice coil that moves with a highly linear excursion. It utilizes an exclusive rigid lightweight anodized aluminum-magnesium alloy cone material with a curvilinear shape. The driver's concave dust cap is made of a proprietary material that is specially designed to control high-frequency cone breakup and provide optimum dispersion.

The patent-pending A3-S surround has a unique "S" shape that allows the driver to provide large excursions without impacting the movement of the cone, enabling the driver to behave more like an ideal pistonic (back and forth) radiator. The driver's patent-pending basket (frame) provides rigid support and eliminates sonically degrading resonances. Other refinements include large pole-piece vents for efficient heat dissipation, a spider (the circular piece that holds the driver's voice coil in place) that allows unrestricted cone movement and many additional enhancements.

The loudspeaker is built using the highest-quality components including the company's custom-made mono crystal Auric internal wiring. Like all Audience audio components and loudspeakers the ClairAudient 1+1 is designed, engineered and handcrafted in the United States. 

The Audience ClairAudient 1+1 loudspeaker is currently available at a suggested retail price of $1,800 per pair.

About Audience

Audience was formed in November 1997 by John McDonald and the late Richard Smith, as a design and production company focused on building the best possible audio and video equipment. To pass the Audience test, each product must truly make a significant contribution to the reproduction of audio and/or video. Audience offers loudspeakers, electronics, cables, power conditioners, high-resolution capacitors and the Auric Illuminator optical disk resolution enhancement.

Audience's commitment is to develop the very best products possible, and the company is committed to unexcelled customer service and product support. All Audience cables have an unconditional lifetime warranty and power conditioners have a ten-year warranty. For more information visit www.audience-av.com.

Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 65 Speakers Review

The market for sub-$1,000 speakers continues to get hotter.  Combining modern design tools and talented engineers with manufacturing in Asia allows more great-sounding loudspeakers to occupy this price range.  Products from Definitive Technology always come up at the top of friends’ and reviewers’ lists.  The SM 65 speakers reviewed here retail for just $900 a pair.  Read the full review of the Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 65 Speakers at ToneAudio.

Leon Speakers and Salamander Designs Partner for cabinets with built-in speakers

For many audiophiles, Salamander and Leon are both well-known names.  Salamander for their audiophile and home theater cabinetry and Leon for their architectural speakers.  The two have now partnered to bring a unique offering: audiophile speakers pre-built into a cabinet. Salamander and Leon formally unveiled an integrated loudspeaker accessory engineered to fit any of the Synergy and Chameleon cabinets. Co-developed by Leon Speakers, Salamander's new integrated solution elegantly conceals a high performance loudspeaker behind attractive cloth grills within the A/V cabinet, eliminating the need for bulky in-room speakers and unsightly wiring. MSRP's start at $999 and product availability is September, 2013. 

In addition to being custom tailored for each cabinet, the Salamander integrated speaker solutions also come equipped with sturdy brackets that facilitate up-and-down rotation of the loudspeaker to optimize performance for any room or seating solution. Single-wide cabinet bays accommodate a center channel speaker, while double and triple-wide bays offer an LCR (left-center-right) speaker. "We wanted to deliver a solution that looks good and sounds good," explained Salamander president Sal Carrabba. "It seemed completely natural for us to work with Leon on this project-they are a market leader in customizable speakers and a highly respected innovative domestic brand like Salamander," Carrabba added. 

In addition to being custom tailored for each cabinet, the Salamander integrated speaker solutions also come equipped with sturdy brackets that facilitate up-and-down rotation of the loudspeaker to optimize performance for any room or seating solution. Single-wide cabinet bays accommodate a center channel speaker, while double and triple-wide bays offer an LCR (left-center-right) speaker. "We wanted to deliver a solution that looks good and sounds good," explained Salamander president Sal Carrabba. "It seemed completely natural for us to work with Leon on this project-they are a market leader in customizable speakers and a highly respected innovative domestic brand like Salamander," Carrabba added. 

Those attending CEDIA can see the new cabinets at CEDIA Booth 3620

MartinLogan, the world’s leader in electrostatic speaker technology, proudly announces the slender Motion SLM XL, a step-up larger version of the original Motion SLM. The newest from MartinLogan’s award-winning Motion Series line, the Motion SLM XL features dual four-inch, ultra-slim fiber cone woofers and quad four-inch high-velocity passive bass radiators, paired with a Folded Motion^™ tweeter – all in an ultra-slim profile designed expressly for super-thin TVs.

Read the full release on the Martin Logan Motion SLM.

Revel Performa 3 Review: F206 Full range and M106 Monitor Speakers

Reviews of Revel's new Performa 3 line of speakers are in and they are getting spectacular feedback.  In The Absolute Sound, Neil Gader writes:

The Performa3 F206 and M106 are segment- defining loudspeakers. And by emphasizing the sonic totality of the listening experience, they have more than exceeded my already lofty expectations. I’m often told that there are no bargains anymore in the high end. Well, naysayers haven’t met the F206 and M106. So seek them out. Revel has just given “value-level” a fresh kick in the pants.

Read the full review of the Revel Performa 3 F206 and M106 speakers.

Monitor Audio Updates Radius Series Speakers

Monitor Audio has announced an upgrade to its Radius Series line of speakers.  The new line up include everything from a wall-mountable cube to a DSP-controlled subs.  The new models are available in gloss black, white, and walnut and feature the following speakers:

• R45 wall-mountable cube speaker ($375/pr)
• R90 compact, two-way monitor (shown above, $500/pr)
• R225 compact LCR speaker ($400)
• R200 center speaker designed for mounting on a rack, cabinet, or shelf ($375)
• RadiusOne three-channel soundbar with three woofers and three tweeters; each channel has its own ported sub-enclosure ($825)
• R270 compact tower ($1,250/pr)
• R380 and R390 subwoofers featuring DSP control, an “ultracompact” enclosure, and a dual-driver system with side-firing active and passive drivers. The 200-watt R380 has 8-inch drivers and the 220-watt R390 has 10-inch drivers ($725 and $900, respectively); finish options are white with silver-cone drivers or black/dark wood with black driver cones.

HomeTheater.com has more coverage on the new Monitor Audio Radius Series speakers in their expanded news update.