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go to: Contents | Features | Bookshelf, Stand-Mount and Desktop | Floorstanding | Editors' Choice Awards<br />
B&W PM-1<br />
$2800<br />
bwspeakers.com<br />
As a small stand-mounted monitor,<br />
it embodies the coherence, image<br />
specificity, and soundstaging<br />
strengths of the breed. The PM-1<br />
also delivers surprisingly satisfying<br />
bass foundation and dynamic impact<br />
for its size. Beautifully balanced and<br />
beautiful to look at, too. KM, 222<br />
Dynaudio Excite X32<br />
$2800<br />
dynaudio.com<br />
Sounding surprisingly large for its<br />
relatively small dimensions and driver<br />
complement, the Excite X32 also<br />
delivers a fair amount of detail and<br />
dynamic impact at its price point.<br />
While it can’t keep up with more<br />
expensive Dynaudio Confidence<br />
C1 in soundstage size or the sense<br />
of a continuously layered musical<br />
event, the X32’s main attraction is its<br />
engaging musical verve. KM, 205<br />
Sonus faber Liuto Monitor<br />
$2998 ($798, stands)<br />
sumikoaudio.net<br />
Sonus has successfully incorporated<br />
the sonic virtues of the floorstanding<br />
Liuto into the smaller Monitor.<br />
Hewing to the Sf company line, the<br />
Monitor first focuses on capturing<br />
the natural richness and a bit of the<br />
romance of live music throughout<br />
the midrange. Part Renaissance<br />
lute, part rocker, the Liuto Monitor<br />
is one of the most elegant and<br />
versatile small speakers available. The<br />
purpose-built stands are optional but<br />
worth every penny. NG, 214<br />
$3000–$5000<br />
Audio Physic Step 25<br />
$3290-$3750<br />
goernercommunication.com<br />
Easily one of the most transparent<br />
small speakers available, the Step’s<br />
imaging and soundstaging are<br />
exceptionally specific, and tonal<br />
colors and micro-dynamics alive and<br />
focused with a forward presentation<br />
that captures every inflection<br />
and nuance of a performance.<br />
There’s just a hint of brightness in<br />
the treble that accents the Step’s<br />
transient speed and clarity. This<br />
sprite does have physical limits, so<br />
fully recreating the weight and scale<br />
of an orchestra is a challenge. The<br />
consummate “touch” speaker. NG,<br />
224<br />
Music Culture RL21<br />
$3495<br />
music-culture.us<br />
This beautiful two-way, vented minimonitor<br />
has curved, non-parallel<br />
panels to reduce cabinet resonances.<br />
It artfully balances dynamics,<br />
detail, and tonal richness to deliver<br />
a rewardingly musical listening<br />
experience—seemingly above its<br />
price level. KM, 215<br />
ProAc Response D2<br />
$3500<br />
proac-loudspeakers.com<br />
A return to form for ProAc’s<br />
founder and chief designer Stewart<br />
Tyler. The compact<br />
two-way D2 channels the ghost<br />
of the legendary Response 2 and<br />
ups the ante with higher output<br />
and improved extension at both<br />
frequency extremes, along with the<br />
stunning imaging and soundstaging<br />
that have been hallmarks of ProAc.<br />
Only a hint of the port and some<br />
upper-treble brightness temper<br />
what is otherwise a richly satisfying<br />
listening experience. NG, 186<br />
PSB Imagine T2<br />
$3500<br />
psbspeakers.com<br />
These elegant moderately-sized<br />
floorstanders offer a surprisingly<br />
“big” sound, with dynamics<br />
sufficient to present large-scaled<br />
music convincingly and enough bass<br />
to cover orchestral and rock music.<br />
The T2s vanish into the soundfield<br />
and present a suitably expansive<br />
sonic picture when the recording<br />
justifies it. They sound very low in<br />
distortion with a pure midrange and<br />
a very clean treble. And they have<br />
a truth to timbre that is top-notch.<br />
A masterpiece at a most reasonable<br />
price. REG, 226<br />
Vienna Acoustics Mozart Concert<br />
Grand SE<br />
$3500<br />
vienna-acoustics.com<br />
The SE or Symphony Edition of<br />
the Mozart Grand offers a wideband<br />
responsiveness and transparency that<br />
create satiny string sections, clean<br />
winds, and distinct placement cues<br />
from deep within the symphony<br />
orchestra. Finely boned in texture<br />
with superb micro-detail, the SE<br />
has the lightness and delicacy of a<br />
monitor—only with genuine mid-<br />
30Hz bass. A beautifully constructed<br />
and appointed floorstander with the<br />
soul and fast moves of a compact.<br />
NG, 213<br />
Harbeth C7ES-3<br />
$3690–$4090<br />
(depending on finish)<br />
fidelisav.com<br />
Arguably the ne plus ultra of BBC<br />
two-way designs, with bass down<br />
to 46Hz, an essentially perfect<br />
midrange, and a top end that<br />
reproduces ambience fantastically,<br />
the 7ES-3 will play loud enough for<br />
serious music listeners (though not<br />
for head-bangers). With respect to<br />
accuracy, neutrality, and natural tonal<br />
balance the<br />
7 establishes for PS a new<br />
benchmark for compact two-ways.<br />
PS, 171<br />
Gallo Reference 3.5<br />
$3999<br />
roundsound.com<br />
A smart revision of the well-received<br />
Reference 3.1, the Ref 3.5 remains a<br />
four-driver, three-way floorstander<br />
that’s virtually baffle-less. Sonically<br />
improved, its tonal balance is relaxed<br />
and full-bodied with tuneful bass.<br />
Its ease with micro-dynamics and its<br />
dispersion are revelatory. If deepcrafted<br />
soundscapes really stir your<br />
imagination, then experiencing the<br />
Gallo is an absolute must. NG, 209<br />
Stirling Broadcast LS3/6<br />
$4095<br />
stirlingbroadcast.net<br />
This modernized version of the<br />
BBC-licensed LS3/6 (the BBC<br />
version of the legendary Spendor<br />
BC1) maintains the nearly perfect<br />
midrange neutrality and startling<br />
stereo imaging of its ancestor but<br />
adds much greater dynamic capacity<br />
and more extension at the frequency<br />
extremes. REG, 228<br />
Vandersteen 3A Signature<br />
$4495<br />
vandersteen.com<br />
Like all Vandersteens, the 3A<br />
Signature is time-and-phase accurate.<br />
Its driver complement features the<br />
patented midrange and tweeter<br />
used in the vaunted Vandersteen<br />
5. The 3A Signature has a relaxed<br />
presentation, is musically seductive,<br />
and will appeal to those who want<br />
to forget about the sound and enjoy<br />
the music, though it does trade off<br />
some dynamic contrast and midrange<br />
resolution for its overall ability to<br />
involve the listener. RH, 122<br />
Coincident Partial Eclipse II<br />
$4499<br />
coincidentspeaker.com<br />
A three-way floorstander, the<br />
Partial shares many of the same<br />
sonic virtues that earned its big<br />
brother, the Total Eclipse, a 2001<br />
Golden Ear Award. The midband<br />
is slightly warm, with highs that are<br />
gloriously open, tight, and extended,<br />
and bass that is well controlled.<br />
Mirror-image side-firing 8" woofers<br />
can be positioned facing in or out,<br />
necessitating some experimentation<br />
for proper room setup. Sue Kraft,<br />
146<br />
Acoustic Zen Technologies Adagio<br />
$4500<br />
acousticzen.com<br />
The Adagio’s strength is a clarity that<br />
spans its entire range. Elements of its<br />
106 Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers www.theabsolutesound.com<br />
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