A room we visited more than once because of
its wonderful sound was that of Audio Research, which used a full system of tubed
electronics along with Wilson Audio MAXX 2 speakers ($44,900 per pair). Power,
palpability, and high resolution marked this system's performance. Audio Research
Reference 300 Mk II mono amplifiers ($29,990 per pair) drove the MAXX 2s, with a CD3 Mk II
CD player ($5495) as digital source. Also used was the new Reference
3 line-stage preamp ($9995) and PH5 phono stage
($1995). A Basis 2500 turntable with Vector tonearm and Transfiguration phono cartridge
were also part of the system. Cables were from Shunyata Research, with Richard Gray's
Power Company products cleaning up the power. This system was certainly very expensive,
but its sound made a strong case for such extravagance. [www.audioresearch.com]
