30 Years ago, The Absolute Sound ran my review of Wilson Benesch's A.C.T. loudspeaker (Issue #119)

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Posted by John Marks on July 20, 2024 at 08:06:00

30 years ago, a CES exhibitor was packing up after the show. By mistake, they printed out airbills with my name and address, and not their own.

A few days later, I had the surprise of having a truck drop off two very large boxes, which turned out to contain the most attractive-looking loudspeakers I had ever seen. So, I hooked them up, and I was absolutely stunned.

I phoned an "Industry Friend," and we listened to Ella Fitzgerald and other favorite Test Tracks. He had to get back to work, but on the stroke of 5PM my doorbell rang. I opened the door. My friend thrust a paper bag with a wine bottle in it into my hands, commanding me to uncork it. He pushed past me, went into the living room, turned up the volume, and sat down.

I wrote my review. Sad to report, I had to work very hard and even make threats to save it from "the usual TAS Nonsense"--it's a tale that would curl your hair.

But the review ran, and in his Second Opinion, Harry Pearson stated that he had been listening to an $86,000 pair of Burmesters, and he knew that there was something amiss with their midrange, but he could not put his finger on it. However, whatever it was that the Bermesters were doing wrong, the WB ACT Ones were doing right.

Fast forward 30 years. The other day I received a thank-you email from Wilson Benesch, saying that in the new TAS issue just out, Robert Harley had quoted from my review of 30 years ago.

amb,

john

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Topic - 30 Years ago, The Absolute Sound ran my review of Wilson Benesch's A.C.T. loudspeaker (Issue #119) - John Marks 08:06:00 07/20/24 (15)

TAS #119 must have been from 1999 - Luminator 16:57:28 07/27/24 (12)

August/September - E-Stat 06:17:54 07/28/24 (11)

RE: August/September - fantja 14:16:16 07/30/24 (0)

Excellent, thanks! - Luminator 09:42:47 07/28/24 (9)

RE: Excellent, thanks! - E-Stat 10:01:25 07/28/24 (8)

RE: Excellent, thanks! - tomservo 16:40:56 07/29/24 (0)

Sorry for the memory fade! And about midranges... - John Marks 10:09:13 07/29/24 (6)

Verity did... - Doug Schneider 22:36:18 08/01/24 (0)

RE: Sorry for the memory fade! And about midranges... - fantja 14:16:39 07/30/24 (0)

And about midranges... - E-Stat 13:36:51 07/29/24 (0)

I think Eggleston Works used to run the mids wide open on some models - Brian H P 13:10:51 07/29/24 (2)

My one subjective impression at a CES was that that speaker had a very narrow sweet spot - John Marks 15:06:09 07/30/24 (0)

RE: I think Eggleston Works used to run the mids wide open on some models - hahax@verizon.net 18:31:11 07/29/24 (0)

Burmeister - Geoffkait 12:22:44 07/27/24 (1)

Hi; (1) it's 'mester,' 'not meister;' and, (2) I should shut up right now!!! - John Marks 16:53:56 07/27/24 (0)

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