The New Order

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I'm a hold out. I never listen to music over my computer, even as I've become increasingly aware that the traditional CD and/or turntable-amplifier-speaker based hi-fi system is on its way out, and that some of the most revered audiophile manufacturers like McIntosh, Linn, and Kaleidescape are designing component-grade music servers.

So sure, my interest is piqued, but I have a fantastic high-end audio system, why would I ever want to listen to tunes over my computer?

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In the first two sentences of Acoustic Energy's web page on the AE1 Mk III SE, the word "special" is used four times.

Normally I would scoff at such repetition of an already over used word. In this case though, they don't seem to be resorting to hyperbole.

One from the Heart

A friend once asked me what makes a high-end speaker high-end, other than its lofty MSRP. Yes, it's a given they should sound spectacular, but a high-end speaker is more than an appliance, it's a portal of sorts.

A great speaker's presence should communicate gravitas, and I really believe they ought to be admired for their physical beauty.

Enter Loiminchay.

Speakers have the toughest job in audio; reproduce the deepest bass to highest treble and unleash the widest possible dynamic range. In stereo, the best speakers should provide a full-blown holographic recreation of the original sound event. For home theater you should feel like you're there.

That's the goal, but all speakers fall short of perfection. They never truly disappear as sound sources, and to a greater or lesser degree they all wind up sounding like an assortment of tweeters, midranges and woofers mounted in a box.

Not this time. For this review we're looking at a very different type of speaker.

Speed Racers

The night before I started writing this review I was at a party at a chic gallery. You know the scene, painfully hip posers cruising the passing parade of beautiful people. The art didn't do that much for me, but the live music was tasty and incredibly enough the musicians weren't using amplifiers. They were playing really interesting beatnik jazz with a ukulele, vibes, trombone, bass and drums.

The BG Radia's Z-92 tower speakers' was then, as they say, like deja vu all over again.

Masters of Metal

Plastic is often unfairly derided in today’s world. Without plastic, we wouldn’t have Barbie dolls. Or Tupperware. Or Hyundais.

But sometimes plastic’s bad rep is warranted. Most in-wall speakers are made from plastic, and that’s one reason some of them don’t sound good. Unless the plastic is impregnated with a stiffening substance, it tends to vibrate in sympathy with the speaker drivers. The result is often smeared, unnatural sound.

Of course, you couldn’t make cheap in-walls without plastic. But Newport Audio isn’t interested in cheap in-walls.

Has Monitor Audio Done it Again?

Consumers are sitting in the sweet spot when it comes to choosing in-wall loudspeakers. The selection of in-walls is so broad, there is sure to be a speaker for everyone’s listening tastes and room decor.

British speaker manufacturer Monitor Audio's products are highly regarded by audiophiles and music lovers. I’ve reviewed a few of their in-room speakers and reported excellent sound quality, so has Monitor done it again with in-wall speakers?