November 2018
In This Issue...
Large Loudspeakers And Great DACs
Article By Noel Keywood

  Large studio monitor loudspeakers have always been objects of awe. Both JBL and Tannoy are names to be reckoned with, making products few of us can afford – or fit in the home. These days B&W are popular in many studios, their big 801s being a common sight. I know Abbey Road studios in St John's Wood, North London and a mile or so distant from our offices, use them from my visits there to carry out interviews, attend press receptions and what have you.

Meanwhile, down at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, West London, who also hold press events and host small shows, they use looming PMC professional studio monitors – the MB2S with its distinctive inverted basket bass drivers. This little beastie has a 75mm fabric dome midrange to deliver crucial vocals – a common studio practice where they demand to hear every part of what is being sung. With this in mind we were pleased to be able to bring in PMC's twenty5.26 loudspeakers for review this month, their only domestic product with a midrange dome. Would they bring the studio into our listening room we wondered? You can find out on p10.

Aware they are doing well and competitors are sharpening their knives, Chord Electronics have introduced yet another DAC, the Qutest. This covers their position in the low priced stand-alone market, meaning you can get Chord quality at an affordable price – the highest measured performance available today globally. Yes, no one can do better. Quite an achievement when you consider the size of rivals and the backroom power of manufacturers like Texas Instruments (USA) or Asahi Kasei of Japan (AKM). So don't miss our in-depth review of this new DAC on p45. It may be the one for you.

And finally I had great fun trying to tie a reef knot in fine fishing line this month. Don't miss the reason I was forced to do so on p82.

We audio enthusiasts have to work at our hobby to get good results but relaxing to music that's a thrill to hear makes it all worthwhile.

--- Noel Keywood, editor.

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