Budget Component Reviews

Budget Component Reviews Integrated Amp Reviews

Outlaw Audio RR2150 stereo receiver

Michael Fremer Mar 11, 2006 First Published: Mar 11, 2006

Wilson Audio Specialties' David Wilson likes to say that you should build a stereo system from the speakers down. Of course he does—he sells speakers. But that doesn't mean he's wrong. So recently, when offered an inexpensive new product for review, I decided it would be a good test of Wilson's theory. I tried driving Wilson's $45,000/pair MAXX2http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/805wilson">MAXX2; speakers with Outlaw Audio's RR2150, a $599 stereo receiver.

Floor Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

KEF iQ9 loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Feb 19, 2006 First Published: Feb 19, 2006

The penultimate stop on Bob Reina's British Invasion Tour of Affordable Loudspeakers (footnote 1) brings us to the doors of KEF. Although KEF is a large and well-established British firm, I've noticed that their product lines have not been as visible in the US as those of, say, B&W, Wharfedale, or Mission. In fact, the last time I heard a KEF speaker, it was the company's then-flagship design, at a Consumer Electronics Show nearly 20 years ago! Before that, when I lived in London, KEFs were ubiquitous, down to the older, entry-level designs tacked to the walls of the ethnic restaurants I frequented. My strongest KEF memory is a cumulative one: Every KEF speaker I've ever heard, regardless of price, venue, or setup, has always produced good, convincing sound.

Stand Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Usher Audio Technology S-520 loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Dec 18, 2005 First Published: Dec 18, 2005

The last few years at our annual Home Entertainment Show, many readers have come up to me and asked: "How do you select which speakers to review?" In my case, most candidates are either new products that have impressed me when demonstrated at our HE Shows, or new products from manufacturers whose designs have impressed me in the past. Occasionally, editor John Atkinson gets wind of a speaker and asks if I'd like to review it. But once in a while, a manufacturer reads a rave review of a competing product that makes his or her blood boil.

Stand Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Nov 19, 2005 First Published: Nov 19, 2005

Following in the footsteps of my August">http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/805bw">August 2005 review of the B&W DM603 S3, the second stop of the Bob Reina British Invasion Tour is the latest revamping of Wharfedale's affordable Diamond series.

Budget Component Reviews Integrated Amp Reviews

Exposure 2010S integrated amplifier

Art Dudley Nov 19, 2005 First Published: Nov 19, 2005

Yet another of the best systems I've ever heard at a hi-fi show was an exhibit by some former distributors for the English manufacturer Exposure Electronics, at a Chicago Consumer Electronics Show in the late 1980s. The exhibitors seemed to believe it was better to impress with a humble product than to overwhelm with a full-bore assault, because they limited their display to a single amplifier: the then-new Exposure X (as in "10") integrated, mated to a record player comprising a Linn">http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/1103linn">Linn LP12 turntable, Ekoshttp://www.stereophile.com/tonearms/395">Ekos; tonearm, and Troika cartridge, and a pair of Linn Kan loudspeakers.

Floor Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

Almarro M0A loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Sep 17, 2005 First Published: Sep 17, 2005

One of my favorite parts of attending Stereophile's Home Entertainment shows—aside from seeking out the sexy new gear and pressing the flesh of readers—is the "Ask the Editors" panel discussions. What begins as a Q&A session usually turns into a free-for-all, as the outspoken and opinionated likes of Sam Tellig, Michael Fremer, Ken Kessler, and John Marks barely give room for wallflowers such as Art Dudley and yours truly to express our opinions—except when editor John Atkinson asks each of us, in turn, to cast our votes for the "most interesting rooms to visit." At both the HE2004 and HE2005 "Ask the Editors" panels, one company was recommended by a number of Stereophile writers, me included: Almarro Products.

Stand Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

RadioShack Optimus Pro LX5 loudspeaker

John Atkinson Sep 04, 2005 First Published: Jun 04, 1995

It was a classic American tale: hearing that the head honcho of RadioShack was in town, the principals of Oregon-based high-end loudspeaker manufacturer Linaeum found out where he was staying and called him to see if RadioShack would be interested in marketing their speakers. They were rewarded for their daring by being given an introduction to the right RadioShack department head, and before you could say time-coherent, a deal was struck for RadioShack to manufacture a new line of three "audiophile" loudspeakers featuring a version of the unique Linaeum tweeter. The less-expensive Optimus Pro X77 and LX4 models use a baffle-mounted tweeter that radiates just to the front; the top-of-the-line Optimus Pro LX5 reviewed here mounts a bi-directional tweeter on the top of a diecast aluminum enclosure.

Floor Loudspeaker Reviews Budget Component Reviews

B&W DM603 S3 loudspeaker

Robert J. Reina Aug 21, 2005 First Published: Aug 21, 2005

It occurred to me recently that, after nearly a decade of specializing in reviewing affordable speakers, and with the exceptions of two entry-level Mission models, I'd never taken a look at recent designs from the large mainstream British speaker manufacturers. So with this review I embark on a Bob Reina "British Invasion" tour to seek out the most innovative and value-conscious designs from companies that have been household names in British stereo shoppes for decades.

CD Player/Transport Reviews Budget Component Reviews Integrated Amp Reviews

Arcam Solo CD receiver

Art Dudley Jul 24, 2005 First Published: Jul 24, 2005

Here we are, back to the Arcam I know and love: a company that not only invents good products, but good product categories as well. Like the Arcam Black Box of the 1980s, which gave so many people fits at the time—yet which, once you heard it, made good musical sense. It made good marketing sense, too: With that one stroke, teensy, weird, nestled-away-in-the-English-countryside Arcam did nothing less than create the domestic market for outboard digital-to-analog converters.

Budget Component Reviews Phono Preamp Reviews

EAR 834P phono preamplifier

Michael Fremer, Robert J. Reina Jul 10, 2005 First Published: Jul 10, 1997

No, folks, vinyl is not dead. And even though my colleague Mikey Fremer is beginning to sound like a broken record, the little guy is right: when it comes to the sound on offer, CD still doesn't come close. There are more turntables, phono cartridges, and tonearms on the market today than ever before. Moreover, with companies like Classic Records, Analogue Productions, and Mosaic offering a steady stream of ultra-high-quality reissues, there seems to be an increasing supply of quality vinyl at reasonable prices.