Introduction I can still remember my first experience with electrostatic speakers many years ago, along with the intrigue they created. Since that time, electrostatic speakers have evolved, solidifying their strengths and addressing their weaknesses. As a MartinLogan customer, I was specifically curious as to how the much smaller and lower-priced Aeons would compare to both my personal Prodigies and to other comparably-priced speakers in the same category. Since my first listening experience with these speakers more than 10 years ago, MartinLogan has risen to become the most popular electrostatic speaker manufacturer, having earned a reputation for building some of the best-sounding speakers in the world. The MartinLogan Aeons are floor-standing hybrid electrostatic loudspeakers that can either be used as your main loudspeakers or as surround speakers in a complete MartinLogan theater setup. The Aeons have a reported frequency response of 43 Hz – 22,000 kHz, a sensitivity rating of 89 dB and a four-ohm impedance rating. The Aeons stand ...

Introduction When considering all the components of any home theater system, very few factors can affect the final outcome as much as the selection of loudspeakers. It is amazing how comparably-priced speakers from different manufacturers, which are competently designed, and have similar technologies, can sound very different from one another. This is why the auditioning of loudspeakers is such an important, and sometimes challenging process. Although recommendations can be a great starting point, it is very important for you to listen and make decisions based upon your own preferences and personal requirements. In addition, when it comes to assembling a balanced, effective and enjoyable home theater speaker system, there's a lot to be said for a consistent design among all the speakers. Although many music enthusiasts have augmented two-channel systems by selecting potentially excellent center and surround speakers from various manufacturers while creating a home theater sound system, the end result is often less than satisfying. A ...

Introduction As an audio enthusiast for over 20 years, I was surprised to learn that Phase Technology has been building speakers since the 1950s. Unlike many speaker companies in today’s global economy, they build nearly every part of the speaker themselves. This includes the speaker cones, baskets, voice coils, inductors and enclosures. They go so far as to actually coat their own wire for the voice coils. Even if you have not heard Phase Technology speakers, you most certainly have heard their speaker drivers in other manufacturers' products. They have manufactured drivers for nearly every major brand-name speaker manufacturer in the world. Phase Technology holds a number of influential patents, including that of the soft dome tweeter, a product that they introduced and patented in the 1960s and later licensed to a vast number of companies. The Phase Technology theater speaker package reviewed here comes from their Premier Collection series. This package included three PC 3.1 ...

Introduction Several design philosophies differentiate today’s better subwoofers from one another, yet they share a very common attribute: they are designed to shake the fillings from your teeth. A high-performing subwoofer can supply the necessary energy to make the common onscreen outbreak at a local dinosaur park feel as if T-Rex has unmistakably made his way to your home. Subwoofers can range in size from monstrosities that resemble your refrigerator to products only slightly larger than a soccer ball. The SuperCube I is the most recent subwoofer offering from Definitive Technology. The SuperCube I is an ultra-compact powered cube that measures just a hair over 14 inches in any direction and is driven by a mighty 1,500-watt amplifier. Although small in stature, the SuperCube I weighs a dense 60 lbs. and has a retail price of $1,200. From a distance, the SuperCube I looks like many cube-style subwoofers. However, close examination reveals a couple of touches that ...

Introduction Specialty audio/video manufacturers come and go, leaving a rare few who last long enough to see their tenth birthday. Loudspeaker manufacturer Klipsch has survived more than five decades. They have done so with products designed and manufactured with an unwavering design philosophy - reproducing the live event. Klipsch provided me with a review package consisting of their largest components in the Reference line: the RF-7 floor-standing speakers at $2,200 per pair, the RC-7 center speaker at $800, the RSW-15 powered subwoofer costing $1,800, and the RS-7 wall-mounted surround speakers at $900 per pair. The center channel, front main loudspeakers are video-shielded and are available in three handcrafted furniture-grade veneers: jet ash, medium cherry or blond maple. The surrounds speakers are only available with black or white vinyl finishes. The RSW-15 powered subwoofer measures 19.25 inches tall, 18.5 inches wide, 24.5 inches deep and weighs 85 pounds. Its bass reflex design uses a rear-firing 15-inch Cerametallic (specially treated anodized ...