Speaker ReviewsSpeaker Reviews
Zu Audio Druid Mk 4/08 Speakers
- Written by Chris Groppi
- Published on 02 October 2008
High sensitivity speakers have had a following amongst the proponents of low power single ended tube amplifiers for a long time. Many of these speakers work well with these low power amps, but not necessarily with more typical amplification. Not so with these Zu audio Druids. While I am sure they still are wonderful with low power tube amps, they also deliver with more typical solid-state amplification. The Druid, made by cable and speaker manufacturer Zu Audio in Ogden, Utah, has had a cult following among many audiophiles. I was able to test the latest Mk. 4/08 version, released earlier this year.
Klipsch Palladium P-39F Floor-standing Speakers
- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr.
- Published on 25 August 2008
The new Klipsch Palladium P-39F floor-standing speakers are big, bold, beautiful, and best of all, they sound fantastic. They are very sensitive, so can be powered by small amplifiers, and as my wife told me, "These things make you want to pay attention and listen to the music rather than read the newspaper." They have an amazing ability to localize instruments and voices. Read Secrets' exclusive review of these find speakers.
Earthquake MiniMe P10 Subwoofer
- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr.
- Published on 26 June 2008
I keep thinking that subwoofer technology improvements have flattened out, but I keep getting proven wrong. The Earthquake MiniMe P10 is a good example of that. It is small, lightweight, easy to set up, and best of all, it delivers.
Fall Shopping Guide to Affordable Subwoofers - Chrysalis Photon-8, Starfire-10, and BassMatrix-12
- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr.
- Published on 18 August 2008
Chrysalis by Velodyne is a new line of affordable subwoofers that you will be able to find in electronics supermarkets, likely at discounted prices. They utilize the renown Velodyne technology, which means they deliver prodigious deep bass.
Jaton Lyra HD-661 DX Monitor Speakers
- Written by Rick Schmidt
- Published on 23 June 2008
The drivers in the HD 661 DX are where the expense lies. Costs are kept down by using plastic enclosures. Resonances are addressed with internal damping as well as the shape. I found that the overall effect is a success as long as the speakers are carefully placed – as it was in my home theater system where the left and right fronts are essentially contained on all sides except the front.
Revel Ultima2 - Studio2, Voice2, and Gem2 Speakers
- Written by Sumit Chawla
- Published on 17 July 2008
Several months have elapsed since I’ve had this system, and during that time this loudspeaker ensemble has provided me with a truly exceptional experience. In looking back at the review, I see that I have used nothing but superlatives to describe their sound. This system is very well-rounded across the frequency range. The timbre is both accurate and well-matched within the family.
Daedalus DA-2.1 Home Theater Speakers
- Written by Rick Schmidt
- Published on 29 May 2008
The Daedalus 2.1s seem to transcend the notion of fatigue, moving to the other side of the scale: listener rejuvenation? Call it what you will, I can’t seem to stop listening. My TiVo is full, and my Netflix is backed up because music has jumped to the top of my priorities.
JL Audio Fathom f113 Subwoofer
- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr.
- Published on 10 July 2008
With no reservation, and by every standard, this is a world class subwoofer. It has massive output, low distortion, and all from a mid-sized enclosure. The price might put some consumers off, but I never heard anyone complain about investing money in a good subwoofer. Save your pennies, and do it.
MartinLogan Spire Floor-standing Electrostatic Hybrid Speakers
- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr.
- Published on 19 May 2008
MartinLogan has just introduced their latest model of electrostatic hybrid speakers, called the Spire. They are something else! One of the best ESL's I have ever heard, at any price.
Canton Chrono 5.1 Home Theater Speaker System
- Written by Ross Jones
- Published on 01 July 2008
The Canton Chrono speaker system proves that you cannot judge a book solely by its cover (although I thought the front baffle lacquer finish was pretty slick looking anyway). It provides a realistic soundstage, with imaging that is particularly well-suited for film reproduction. If you’re looking for a 5.1 system in this price, you’ll definitely want to put the Canton Chrono series on your audition list.
Montana EPS2 Floor-standing Speakers
- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr.
- Published on 12 May 2008
Montana Loudspeakers, marketed by PBN Audio, is a company whose products I have been very interested in for a long, long time. I have seen them at numerous hi-fi shows, and since I have two massive 1,200 watt monoblock power amplifiers that I like to pair with massive speakers once in awhile, I have been attracted to the Montana's, partly because the line includes some really big models. But more importantly, they have always impressed me with the sound quality at shows - which is not easy to do because the rooms are less than ideal - and they are incredibly beautiful.
