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Reviews

Spectron Musician III Mk2 Class D Stereo Power Amplifier

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Spectron has been manufacturing Class D amplifiers since before most people even knew what they were. I remember meeting John Ulrick, Spectron's designing engineer, many years ago at a CES, and seeing his first model. I had no idea how it worked, but what impressed me was that it was extremely powerful, yet relatively small. Class D amplification technology has come a long way since then, but definitely, Spectron was a pioneer. In this review, we take a look at the Spectron Musician III Mk2, which will deliver 600 watts rms per channel into an 8 ohm load, and is rated into 2 ohm loads. The amplifier weighs 52 pounds.

Power Amplifiers

Naim Audio, SUPERNAIT Integrated Stereo Amplifier with DAC

Brian Alvarez

What's in a Naim? For those not overly familiar with the brand (myself included), that has usually meant DIN connectors, the ubiquitous black casework, green lit circlet buttons and a reputation for an emphasis to PRat. This reputation for Pace Rhythm and Timing and a focus on hand built craftsmanship put Naim in a unique place amongst audio components.

Integrated Amplifiers

Harman Kardon and Definitive Technology

Jim Clements

This is a complete 5.1surround sound system. The front end is the new Harman/Kardon BDP1 Blu-Ray player. The Harman/Kardon receiver is also a new model, the AVR 3600. The speaker package is the Definitive Technology ProCinema 800. These products are not typically discounted, so the anticipated system price comes in just under $2,700. This places the system just over the threshold we've established for "Mid Priced" systems which we have defined as systems with a street price between $2,500 and $5,000.

Bookshelf Speakers

Legacy Studio HD Monitor Speakers

Jim Milton

Legacy Audio has been making speakers amongst the cornfields in Springfield, IL for over 20 years. Bill Dudleston (president and founder) and Doug Brown (VP) gave me a tour of their facility last summer which allowed me to see first hand how their speakers are assembled, tested, tuned and shipped. Legacy has many models to choose from, including floor-standing speakers such as the Whisper, and the Studio HD Monitors, which are reviewed here.

Bookshelf Speakers

Manley Stingray iTube Stereo Integrated Amplifier

John E. Johnson, Jr.

Manley Labs designs and manufactures tube components. With the Stingray iTube, you can now plug your iPod directly into a dock on an integrated tube amplifier.The iTube can be switched between triode mode and ultralinear mode, giving you a choice in how much output the amplifier will deliver. It comes with a very unique remote control that you would only expect from Manley.

Integrated Amplifiers

Monster Turbine High Performance Ear Buds

Steven Hornbrook

Monster, long time suppliers of speaker cables, interconnects and power conditioning products, has recently entered into the portable audio market. They now offer a full range of products from the Dr. Dre branded Beats headphones all the way up to the professional Turbine Copper Pro ear buds. I had the pleasure of checking out their middle-of-the-line offering, the Monster Turbine High Performance ear buds. (Monster calls them "In-Ear Speaker".)

Headphone and Earphone Reviews

Earthquake Sound Cinenova Grande Multi-Channel Power Amplifier with Class A Bias

John E. Johnson, Jr.

We reviewed the Earthquake Sound Cinénova Grande multi-channel amplifier several years ago, but it has gone through some changes in the circuitry, including significantly higher output, so we thought it was time to revisit this legendary product. It is available with up to seven amplifier modules, each capable of delivering 360 watts RMS into 8 ohms. Our review unit came with five modules.

Power Amplifiers

Runco Q750i DLP Projector with LED Illumination

Chris Eberle

Since the first LCD units were pressed into service as home theater displays, digital projection has suffered from one limitation, the bulb. No matter the technology – DLP, LCoS or LCD – all digital front projectors use(d) either a UHP (Ultra High Pressure) mercury or xenon lamp as a light source. The use of LEDs as the light source in projectors is now emerging. Here, we review Runco's Q750i projector which has a single DLP 1920 x 1080 chip with an LED light source.

Projectors

PSB Synchrony One Floor-Standing Speakers

Jim Milton

Paul Barton has been in the loudspeaker game for over 35 years and his latest iteration of speakers shows that his experience has been put to good use. The Synchrony Ones are his top of the line 3-way (5 drivers) towers that use some interesting design twists. At nearly 61 pounds apiece, they make an elegant statement of curved wood and aluminum surfaces that blend together in a flawless fashion.

Floor Standing Speakers

Thiel MCS1 LCR Speakers

Jared Rachwalski

Thiel Audio has been designing and building loudspeakers for over 30 years. The 1978 Model 03 was one of the first multi-driver speakers to utilize a time and phase accurate design. This has been at the heart of all Thiel designs ever since, and is consistently found throughout their product line. This is a lofty and difficult design choice which, when done right, can provide an enveloping and realistic musical presentation. In this review, we take a look at the Thiel MCS1, which is a monitor speaker that could be used in an LCR configuration.

Floor Standing Speakers

Affordable Systems Reviews: Mordaunt-Short Aviano and Cambridge Audio Azur 650R

Andrew Yang

Looking at a system is intrinsically more involved than looking at a single component. Evaluation of a single component typically holds the balance of the system constant so the performance of the test item can be determined. How then is a system evaluated? The test of a system examines several variables, not the least of which is the reviewer's component selections. Here, we review the Mordaunt-Short Aviano and Cambridge Audio Azur 650R.

Surround Sound Speaker Systems