Stereophile is a monthly American audiophile magazine which reviews high-end audio equipment, such as loudspeakers and amplifiers , and audio-related news.
38-553: Roksan is a British manufacturer of high fidelity audio products for domestic use, based in Rayleigh , Essex . It is best known for its influential and innovative design for hi-fi equipment, and in particular its Xerxes platform for playing LP records. Roksan was formed in 1985 by Tufan Hashemi & Touraj Moghaddam, graduates of the University of London , Imperial College London & Queen Mary College . The company's first product
76-511: A listening test is done in such a way that the listener who is assessing the sound quality of a component or recording can see the components that are being used for the test (e.g., the same musical piece listened to through a tube power amplifier and a solid-state amplifier), then it is possible that the listener's pre-existing biases towards or against certain components or brands could affect their judgment. To respond to this issue, researchers began to use blind tests , in which listeners cannot see
114-438: A major strength. Instead, it addressed the issues of Groove drag and lateral rigidity, the ultimate objective of which was to stabilise the relationship between cartridge stylus and the spinning record groove. Springs were not considered sufficiently rigid in the lateral plane, and permitted too much rotation of the suspended parts relative to the motor. While most other designs relied on inertia (through platter mass) to attenuate
152-412: A modified dynamic range and possibly bit rates lower than audiophile standards. Tidal and others have launched a hi-fi tier that includes access to FLAC and Master Quality Authenticated studio masters for many tracks through the desktop version of the player. This integration is also available for high-end audio systems. Stereophile Stereophile was founded in 1962 by J. Gordon Holt . With
190-534: A partial solution to the problem of reproducing the sound of live orchestral performers by creating separation among instruments, the illusion of space, and a phantom central channel. An attempt to enhance reverberation was tried in the 1970s through quadraphonic sound . Consumers did not want to pay the additional costs and space required for the marginal improvements in realism. With the rise in popularity of home theater , however, multi-channel playback systems became popular, and many consumers were willing to tolerate
228-452: A philosophy of building high quality components at an affordable price, Roksan launched the K2 stereo integrated amplifier. At a time when British manufacturers had done away with the phono stage for budget products, the K2 was notable in actually having a 47k ohm input for moving-magnet cartridges. The K3 replaced the K2 in 2012, having an uprated power supply and Bluetooth aptX as standard. 2015 saw
266-623: A power amplifier in one box is called an integrated amplifier ; with a tuner added, it is a receiver . A monophonic power amplifier is called a monoblock and is often used for powering a subwoofer . Other modules in the system may include components like cartridges , tonearms , hi-fi turntables , digital media players , DVD players that play a wide variety of discs including CDs , CD recorders , MiniDisc recorders, hi-fi videocassette recorders (VCRs) and reel-to-reel tape recorders . Signal modification equipment can include equalizers and noise-reduction systems . This modularity allows
304-467: A solid-state amplifier, the Quad 405, in 1978 after seeing the results from blind tests, but came to realize months later that "the magic was gone" until he replaced it with a tube amp. Robert Harley of The Absolute Sound wrote, in 2008, that: "...blind listening tests fundamentally distort the listening process and are worthless in determining the audibility of a certain phenomenon." Doug Schneider, editor of
342-481: A stereo (stereophonic phonograph). In the world of the audiophile, however, the concept of high fidelity continued to refer to the goal of highly accurate sound reproduction and to the technological resources available for approaching that goal. This period is regarded as the "Golden Age of Hi-Fi", when vacuum tube equipment manufacturers of the time produced many models considered superior by modern audiophiles, and just before solid state ( transistorized ) equipment
380-549: Is transparent , a properly conducted double-blind test can prove that a method is not transparent. Blind tests are sometimes used as part of attempts to ascertain whether certain audio components (such as expensive, exotic cables) have any subjectively perceivable effect on sound quality. Data gleaned from these blind tests is not accepted by some audiophile magazines such as Stereophile and The Absolute Sound in their evaluations of audio equipment. John Atkinson , current editor of Stereophile , stated that he once purchased
418-468: Is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Most adults can't hear higher than 15,000 Hz. CDs are capable of reproducing frequencies as low as 0 Hz and as high as 22,050 Hz, making them adequate for reproducing the frequency range that most humans can hear. The equipment must also provide no noticeable distortion of the signal or emphasis or de-emphasis of any frequency in this frequency range. Integrated , mini , or lifestyle systems (also known by
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#1733115246939456-427: Is popular with audiophiles and home audio enthusiasts. Ideally, high-fidelity equipment has inaudible noise and distortion , and a flat (neutral, uncolored) frequency response within the human hearing range . High fidelity contrasts with the lower-quality " lo-fi " sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment, AM radio , or the inferior quality of sound reproduction that can be heard in recordings made until
494-458: Is the music server consisting of one or more computer hard drives that hold music in the form of computer files . When the music is stored in an audio file format that is lossless such as FLAC , Monkey's Audio or WMA Lossless , the computer playback of recorded audio can serve as an audiophile-quality source for a hi-fi system. There is now a push from certain streaming services to offer hi-fi services. Streaming services typically have
532-471: The 1930s, Avery Fisher , an amateur violinist, began experimenting with audio design and acoustics . He wanted to make a radio that would sound like he was listening to a live orchestra and achieve high fidelity to the original sound. After World War II , Harry F. Olson conducted an experiment whereby test subjects listened to a live orchestra through a hidden variable acoustic filter. The results proved that listeners preferred high-fidelity reproduction, once
570-462: The 1970s and 1980s preferred to buy each component separately. That way, they could choose models of each component with the specifications that they desired. In the 1980s, several audiophile magazines became available, offering reviews of components and articles on how to choose and test speakers, amplifiers, and other components. Listening tests are used by hi-fi manufacturers, audiophile magazines, and audio engineering researchers and scientists. If
608-547: The 1970s was the integrated music centre —which combined a phonograph turntable, AM-FM radio tuner, tape player, preamplifier, and power amplifier in one package, often sold with its own separate, detachable or integrated speakers. These systems advertised their simplicity. The consumer did not have to select and assemble individual components or be familiar with impedance and power ratings. Purists generally avoid referring to these systems as high fidelity, though some are capable of very good quality sound reproduction. Audiophiles in
646-663: The August 1987 issue, it started monthly publication. In 1998, Stereophile was acquired by the Petersen Publishing Company . At this point, it was based in Santa Fe, New Mexico . During this period, it was published eight times a year. Petersen, which was acquired by Emap , was then sold to Primedia Inc. in 2001. Primedia sold its Enthusiast Network , a New York–based publisher of special interest magazines, to Source Interlink Media , in 2007. In March 2018, Stereophile
684-453: The Persian king who "went around having a good time", has been acclaimed by a number of hi-fi reviewers. This belt-drive turntable without a sprung sub-chassis challenged conventional suspension designs for build and sound quality. It succeeded in finding favour with British "flat-earthers". The design attacked the "high-ground" by eschewing the spring isolation, which was then regarded as
722-406: The advent of integrated multi-speaker console systems in the 1950s, hi-fi became a generic term for home sound equipment, to some extent displacing phonograph and record player . In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the development of stereophonic equipment and recordings led to the next wave of home-audio improvement, and in common parlance stereo displaced hi-fi . Records were now played on
760-438: The company in 2013. Roksan was the first company ever to mechanically isolate the speaker tweeter from the bass unit using springs, in their Darius loudspeaker . This design concept has since been followed by other high end speaker manufacturers. Roksan now has over 30 different products which include analogue and digital sources, electronics amplification and loudspeakers for audio as well as home cinema . In 2009, following
798-984: The company's chief designer and founder. In 2002, the TMS2 replaced the TMS turntable. John later rejoined the company to create the aesthetic design for the K3 range of electronics, the all-new Blak range and limited run Oxygene record player . In 1996, the company was acquired by Verity plc, a hi-fi group that owned the Mission, Wharfedale and Quad brands. But when Verity demerged around two years later to concentrate on flat-panel speaker technology, Hashemi and Moghaddam reacquired their company. According to public records, Touraj Moghaddam resigned his directorships of Roksan on 15 July 2011. He remains at Vertere Acoustics, where he focuses his efforts on cables. In November 2016, British HiFi manufacturers Monitor Audio acquired Roksan. The Xerxes , named after
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#1733115246939836-452: The components being tested. A commonly used variant of this test is the ABX test . A subject is presented with two known samples (sample A , the reference, and sample B , an alternative), and one unknown sample X, for three samples total. X is randomly selected from A and B , and the subject identifies X as being either A or B . Although there is no way to prove that a certain methodology
874-649: The enthusiast to spend as little or as much as they want on a component to suit their specific needs, achieve a desired sound, and add components as desired. Also, failure of any component of an integrated system can render it unusable, while the unaffected components of a modular system may continue to function. A modular system introduces the complexity of cabling multiple components and often having different remote controls for each unit. Some modern hi-fi equipment can be digitally connected using fiber optic TOSLINK cables, USB ports (including one to play digital audio files), or Wi-Fi support. Another modern component
912-405: The introduction of the blak, a new amplifier with a new 'dual monoblock' design, with XLR inputs, bluetooth and a high performance phono input. On 7th of July 2021, the company released their Attessa range, with a turntable, Amplifier, Streamer Amplifier and CD transport. High fidelity High fidelity (often shortened to Hi-Fi or HiFi ) is the high-quality reproduction of sound . It
950-938: The late 1940s. Bell Laboratories began experimenting with various recording techniques in the early 1930s. Performances by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra were recorded in 1931 and 1932 using telephone lines between the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and the Bell labs in New Jersey. Some multitrack recordings were made on optical sound film, which led to new advances used primarily by MGM (as early as 1937) and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (as early as 1941). RCA Victor began recording performances by several orchestras using optical sound around 1941, resulting in higher-fidelity masters for 78-rpm discs . During
988-434: The manufacturer to allow piecemeal repairs. Although some high-end audio manufacturers do produce integrated systems, such products are generally disparaged by audiophiles , who prefer to build a system from separates (or components ), often with each item from a different manufacturer specialising in a particular component. This provides the most flexibility for piece-by-piece upgrades and repairs. A preamplifier and
1026-433: The noise and distortion introduced by early sound equipment was removed. Beginning in 1948, several innovations created the conditions that made major improvements in home audio quality possible: In the 1950s, audio manufacturers employed the phrase high fidelity as a marketing term to describe records and equipment intended to provide faithful sound reproduction. Many consumers found the difference in quality compared to
1064-488: The older terms music centre or midi system ) contain one or more sources such as a CD player , a tuner , or a cassette tape deck together with a preamplifier and a power amplifier in one box. A limitation of an "integrated" system is that failure of any one component can possibly lead to the need to replace the entire unit, as components are not readily swapped in or out of a system merely by plugging and unplugging cables, and may not even have been made available by
1102-673: The online Soundstage network, argued the opposite in 2009. He stated: "Blind tests are at the core of the decades' worth of research into loudspeaker design done at Canada's National Research Council (NRC). The NRC researchers knew that for their result to be credible within the scientific community and to have the most meaningful results, they had to eliminate bias, and blind testing was the only way to do so." Many Canadian companies such as Axiom, Energy, Mirage, Paradigm, PSB, and Revel use blind testing extensively in designing their loudspeakers. Audio professional Dr. Sean Olive of Harman International shares this view. Stereophonic sound provided
1140-510: The problem, Roksan retained a light platter, but addressed drag by mounting the motor on its own bearing and restricted its long-range movement by a small spring, so that the revolving armature could still drive the system. Xerxes was named #53 "Hot Product by Stereophile in 2002. Radius 5 & the Radius 7 are the entry-level turntables, the latter having a high precision and stability speed control built in, designed by Simon Taylor who joined
1178-506: The six to eight channels required in a home theater. In addition to spatial realism, the playback of music must be subjectively free from noise, such as hiss or hum, to achieve realism. The compact disc (CD) provides about 90 decibels of dynamic range , which exceeds the 80 dB dynamic range of music as normally perceived in a concert hall. Audio equipment must be able to reproduce frequencies high enough and low enough to be realistic. The human hearing range, for healthy young persons,
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1216-410: The sprung sub-chassis as part of the speed-controlling system. Moghaddam built a prototype using a fire door. Hashemi, a friend who had heard the new prototype turntable and wanted one, teamed up to start the company. The Darius loudspeaker design, based on the re-examination of the relationship between and magnitudes of movements of the tweeter and the woofer, was already in prototype. The concept stunned
1254-442: The state of the audio arts when he heard his little TV set more musically satisfying than his already high-end Linn / Naim tri-amped audio system, and began experimentation. He deduced that where the existing turntable design failed was that the cartridge must be held still wherever the groove goes, and thus the mean line traced by the groove relative to the body of the cartridge needed to be constant. His ideas led him away from using
1292-464: The then-standard AM radios and 78-rpm records readily apparent and bought high-fidelity phonographs and 33⅓ LPs such as RCA 's New Orthophonics and London's FFRR (Full Frequency Range Recording, a UK Decca system). Audiophiles focused on technical characteristics and bought individual components, such as separate turntables, radio tuners, preamplifiers , power amplifiers and loudspeakers. Some enthusiasts even assembled their loudspeaker systems, with
1330-482: The trade when it was demonstrated at the 1985 hi-fi show where the Xerxes was launched. In 1990, Roksan employed John Cornock, an Industrial Design graduate from Manchester Polytechnic, to assist in the development of new product lines. He contributed to the aesthetics of the first Radius record player, DP1 CD transport, ROK amplification, Attessa range and the flagship Touraj Moghaddam Signature (TMS) turntable, named after
1368-448: Was introduced to the market, subsequently replacing tube equipment as the mainstream technology. In the 1960s, the FTC with the help of the audio manufacturers came up with a definition to identify high-fidelity equipment so that the manufacturers could clearly state if they meet the requirements and reduce misleading advertisements. A popular type of system for reproducing music beginning in
1406-622: Was launched at a hi-fi show in London in 1985. The name Roksan itself is derived from the name of Roxana , daughter of the Persian King Darius . This closely reflects the Persian heritage and roots of both Hashemi and Moghaddam. Not surprisingly many of Roksan's product names have references to names of cities, places and famous people of Persia (now Iran ). Moghaddam, having then just obtained his PhD at Imperial College, became dissatisfied with
1444-447: Was purchased, along with related magazines and websites, by AVTech Media Ltd. from The Enthusiast Network. On March 1, 2019, John Atkinson, who had joined the magazine in May 1986, announced that he was stepping down from his position of editor of Stereophile , that he would continue his association with the magazine as Technical Editor, and that Jim Austin, formerly an editor at Science and
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