Introduction The concept of power, or “active” loudspeakers, is one the audiophile community has fought since the beginning of time. Audiophiles have been wrong in their initial fears about all new audio formats (think LP, CD, DVD-Audio and even the almighty iPod), anything to do with EQ and, most importantly, room acoustics – they are wrong about active speakers, too. The idea of a company building amplifiers into speaker cabinets that are specifically designed to power the drivers and electronic (active) crossovers that make up a speaker system are in many cases better left to people who have real measurement tools and fixed environments to design from, rather than audiophiles who have a Platinum card and are looking to tweak. And tweaking is exactly what many of us have heard from the audiophile publications as they spew their misguided sermons of ...

Introduction Boston Acoustics was founded in 1979 and over the years has grown into a true powerhouse in home, mobile aftermarket and OEM audio systems. My history with the brand dates back over 20 years ago, when I purchased a pair of their Pro 5.2 separates and Pro 12.0 subwoofer for my car. Mobile audio was where my interest in the audio hobby began – and Boston Acoustics played a big part in what made it so much fun. The speaker system I was asked to review was Boston’s budget-conscious Horizon surround sound system. When I unpacked the main speakers, the HS 450s, my first thought was, “When did Boston start making electrostatic speakers?” These speakers are dead ringers for panels. When viewed from the side, they have a leaned-back graceful arc from top to bottom and stand about three-and-a-half feet ...

Introduction The Mod4 speaker system from Orb Audio is the Internet-based company’s attempt at a no-holds-barred home theater loudspeaker solution pointed directly at today’s design-conscious consumer. The system is rather compact and retails for a manageable $1,999 for a complete 5.1 system and comes straight from the factory to you via Orb’s website, as well as offering a 30-day money-back guarantee. For years, Orb Audio has been famed the world over for their stylish designs and quality sound at affordable prices, all made right here in the good ol’ U. S. of A., and their latest concoction, the Mod4 system reviewed here, is consistent with that tradition. The Mod4 speaker system was delivered to my office personally by Orb Audio president Garry Pelled. I was able to chat with Garry about the Mod4 system for a bit, as well as Orb’s manufacturing ...

Introduction Speaker technology is growing and designs are constantly evolving to adapt to the changes in display technology and lifestyle. Definitive Technology has been breaking the price point of full-range sound for decades, and now comes to the table with the new Mythos ST Super Tower, a speaker promising to exceed all of our expectations. A tall, slender speaker designed to fit into any décor yet offer sound beyond reproach, the Mythos ST has a built-in powered subwoofer, eliminating the need for a separate one in a home theater system. They are available in a brushed aluminum or gloss black finish and cost just $1,999 each. For my review system, Definitive was kind enough to send me four of the new Mythos STs and one of the new Mythos Ten speakers, designed as an L/C/R. The Mythos Ten retails for $899, ...

Introduction Over the last decade, Revel has established itself as one of the leading researchers of psychoacoustic science and innovators of high-performance loudspeakers. Positioned within the Harman Specialty Group, a subsidiary of the massive Harman International organization, Revel was conceived as the crown jewel of Harman's high-end consumer loudspeaker companies. By pooling resources from Harman, Revel has had the luxury of utilizing some of the world's most technically advanced engineering teams and sophisticated testing facilities to accomplish their objectives. The original Ultima loudspeaker system has been praised by the press and public alike for its faithful sound reproduction and cutting edge technology. Revel has upped the ante by recently releasing the new replacement for the original series, aptly named Ultima2. Having used the original Salons, Voices and S30s as my reference multi-channel system for several years, I was eager to experience ...