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FEATURE
JOURNEYMAN AUDIOPHILE
Another Classic, Updated
The SB-88 accomplishes the same thing as
Stirling’s version of the LS3/5A—this time
as a revamped LS/AA speaker. A two-way
design with an 8-inch woofer, the SB-88 is
a British monitor through and through, from
the thin-walled cabinets to the basic black
grille that’s nearly impossible to remove. Just
like the Compact 7, this speaker performs
best on a pair of 19-inch-tall speaker stands,
to get the right tweeter-to-listener height.
As with the Compact 7, I suggest a very
dense stand, like the Sound Anchors I currently
use, to best ground the speakers,
resulting in a smoother and more extended
low-frequency response. In my reference
system, the Devialet 110 proves a perfect
match for these speakers, offering grip and
control that gives them a more modern
sound. When paired with a low-powered
tube or solid-state amplifier, the SB-88s lean
more towards the warm, wooly sound often
associated with British monitors. So, choose
the amplifier you want to give you the mood
you seek with these—they can go either way.
While the SB-88s provide a wide frequency
response, they live up to their heritage,
providing a lush yet natural midrange
that helps most recordings sound better
than they have a right to. In the day of hyperdetailed,
hyper-real-sounding speakers from
YG, Wilson and Magico, the Sterling Broadcast
SB-88s are a wonderful experience, almost
like your favorite form of comfort food.
What they lack in resolving power, they more
than make up for in natural presentation.
Day in and day out, they remain incredibly
user-friendly and non-fatiguing. Should this
be what you’ve been searching for, these
are the grail. If you’d like to keep the British
sound but still want a modern feel, the Harbeth
Compact 7 might be more your spot of
tea, as staffer Mark Marcantonio reveals on
the following pages...
70 TONE AUDIO NO.64
July 2014 71