Introduction Since their introduction at CES1999, the industry has anxiously awaited the release of Paradigm's Reference line of speakers. The Reference line first started shipments in mid 1999 and has received much recognition since then. The Studio 80's are the second largest in the Reference line, a line that represents Paradigms effort to bridge the gap between high performance and high price. Paradigm, a company that is headquarted in Toronto Canada, has been in existence for the better part of 20 years and has long been regarded as a company that manufactures high value Audio/Video products. Paradigm is equipped with a state of the art facility that has one of the larger anechoic chambers in the industry as well as in house transducer design and manufacturing. Since my initial introduction to the Reference Line, I have looked very much forward to the opportunity to audition these speakers and test Paradigm's claims of value. The Studio 80’s are ...

Introduction The e:XL-28P is the flagship three-way tower speaker system of the e:XL series. This system is priced at a very attractive $1,200.00 per pair, including powered side-firing subwoofers. When I first saw the e:XL-28P, I thought it belonged in a museum, not at a trade show booth. The elegant lines of the enclosure, with its serene Rosewood finish (which is also offered in Black Ash and Northern Light Birch), was a pleasure just to look at. However, we all know appearances can be deceiving. After sitting through a demonstration of the e:XL-28P, it had not only caught eye and ear, it had warmed my heart - a wonderful example of form meeting function. I couldn’t wait to get a pair home to review. Starting from the inside out, the e:XL-28P offers a three-quarter-inch, magnetically shielded aluminum dome tweeter suspended on cloth for superb transient response and low distortion. The midrange section utilizes a six-and-one-half-inch magnetically shielded, injection-molded ...

Introduction By the strained look on the face of the delivery person as he wheeled the Revel Ultima Studio’s into my room, I could tell I was clearly in for a workout setting up these speakers. After he finished chuckling at my suggestion that he lend a hand and help me unpack and position the speakers, the delivery man was off. Before me sat two boxes that I could hardly budge. The unpacking instructions indicate that two strong people should perform the task of unpacking and set-up; ideally, these are instructions that ought to be followed. Revel is the latest addition to the Madrigal Audio Group, owned by Harman International. Revel’s mission when founded in 1996 was to redefine the state of the art in loudspeaker design. With the resources of a NYSE-financed parent company, as well as some of the most advanced loudspeaker driver, cabinet and assembly know-how from sister companies like JBL and ...

Introduction The Scenario is the latest offering from Martin-Logan, the electrostatic technology speaker company, as the company refers to itself. The design goal for the Scenario was to position it just below the Aerius, which is now available only in bi-wire guise, in price and sonics. With feedback from dealers, interior designers and the like, some felt the Aerius was just a little too tall for certain applications, so with a mating of the electrostatic panel from the wall-mount Script model and the woofer from the bi-wire Aerius model, the $1,995 per pair Scenario was born. Measuring in at 48 inches high with a very small 10 by 14-inch footprint, the Scenario is about ten inches shorter than the Aerius and gives up a little to bass response as the cabinet, which houses an 8 inch woofer, is smaller, as well. Martin-Logan has big plans for the Scenario as use with an all Martin-Logan ...

Introduction Many loudspeaker manufacturers tout their products as a great value for the price. NHT does more than beat its chest about such bargains; it’s the company’s philosophy. At $750.00 for the pair, the SuperTwo system is no exception. Since 1986, NHT has challenged the notion that there is a direct correlation between emptying your bank account and acquiring the very best sound. The guiding star of NHT’s product designs is based upon the sciences of psychoacoustics, human auditory perception and love for music and sound. Each model is designed with both acoustic and aesthetic parameters of the home environment in mind. In addition, this company believes in putting the cost of production in the mouth of sonic quality – real world sort of stuff. The nuts and bolts are as follows: The NHT SuperTwo is a three-way tower system, which includes a 1" fluid-cooled soft dome tweeter, 6.5" midrange woofer and a 6.5" long-throw ...