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American Sound of Canada
*NEW: Review: Focal Chorus 836 W loudspeaker

by Ernie Fisher
The Focal line from France has long been on my short list of favourite loudspeakers. I became well acquainted with their designs back in the late 1990s when I reviewed the model Mezzo Utopia in the print Version of The Inner Ear. While I was evaluating the Mezzo, it became clear to me that the company had a highly developed understanding of loudspeaker design and implemented innovative technology in all of their series. The Chorus series is JMLab Focal’s mid-price series below the famous Utopia line. The model under review is the top model of seven in the series, which also offers home theatre enclosures.

I had played the Chorus speakers for about one week, before I settled down to assess their performance with the various amps and my first impression was that there was a marked element of tonal balance, whereby the entire audible frequency scale came across homogeneously pleasing. This attribute remained unchanged with all amplifiers.
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*NEW: Review: Genesis Reference v2.2 Amplifier

by Ernie Fisher
When one hears good audio it’s usually because someone has assembled a synergistic audio system. When one hears great audio, it’s not only because of a wining system combination, but also because of the components’ capacity to recover and provide the listener with ample harmonics — the building block relating to component frequencies of a complex oscillation or wave. In essence, it is music’s overtones accompanying a fundamental tone, and it is my believe that we can never have enough harmonics to capture an intricate musical arrangement and the character or quality of musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity — timbre.

I suppose, that Class D amplification has reached maturity with the Genesis Reference Power Amplifier the proof of this accomplishment. It brings together technology and musicality and eliminates the myth that Class D amplifiers are only good for bass.
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Review: Audio Physics Tempo 25

by Ernie Fisher
The Audio Physics line is from Germany where precision engineering is a way of life. But while there is a lot of engineering in this design, and though important and of interest to the manufacturer and some audiophiles, I am of the opinion that engineering alone does not guarantee good sound. Therefore, this review is going to focus on the loudspeakers’ performance and sonic accomplishments when they are used in an audio system to reproduce music. However, the loudspeakers have numerous indicators that point at design proficiency and quality, likely based on Audio Physics’ 25-some years of experience. I have heard APs at trade shows, but have never auditioned them under controlled conditions, so I can’t comment on the company’s history and/or its past achievements. I do know that they enjoyed good press with the Tempo 25 — the 25th anniversary edition — often compared with the lower priced Tempo model, both belonging to the company’s high-end series. AP actually produces 22 models divided into four categories/series of loudspeakers and includes home theatre components.
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Review: An inexpensive tweak to energize your electronics

by Ernie Fisher
The subject of resonance and the resulting vibrations is one of my pet audio issues in which I have been interested ever since the introduction of the Mod Squad Tip Toes that came onto the market in the mid eighties. This is a brief essay about my experience of resonance control and a revisit and follow-up of the original ravioli-shaped pads review I published about three years ago.

Black Raviolis are the brainchild of Scotland-based Derek Ethell who’s earlier American distributor introduced me to these little pasta-shaped pillows that do not look like anything resembling an audio accessory but, when applied, greatly impact the listening experience.
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Editorials
About The Inner Ear – A little background, philosophy and mind-set.

E. Leopold gets on his soapbox to discuss "Editor's Choice".

Ruling Your Listening Room - The Sanctuary Controlled
Latest Audio News & Reviews
   
Allnic L-1500 Preamplifier
by Ernie Fisher
Origin Live Calypso TT & Encounter MK3c tonearm
by David McCallum
UFi ™ UCube Compact USB Digital Speakers
by Ernie Fisher
Genesis 5.3 Loudspeakers
by Ernie Fisher
XLO Purple Rush™ AC Power Cable Model PR-6
by Ernie Fisher
Commentary/Review: ModWright KWA100 Power Amplifier
by David McCallum
Commentary/Review: Pioneer Elite SC-37 A/V Receiver
by David McCallum
New: Magnum Dynalab MD 309 Integrated Amplifier
by Ernie Fisher
A First Look - Bryston BDP-1 Digital Music Player
by David McCallum
Einstein would be impressed with the TEAC Esoteric’s handling of the Forth Dimension
by Ernie Fisher
Sophisticated Audio on Steroids: Bryston 4B SST
by Ernie Fisher
VAC Signature Preamplifier Mk II
by Ernie Fisher
Kimber Kable Hero HB Interconnects
by David McCallum
Bryston's new DAC rules as affordable high-end
by David McCallum
Wright On - ModWright LS36.5 Balanced Tube Linestage - No Modes for this preamp
by Ernie Fisher
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