Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Meadowlark Audio Swallow bookshelf Speakers by Belgarchi

Model:	Swallow bookshelf
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$799
Description:	Transmission Line based bookshelf, 14x7x10.5, sensitivity 89db, bandwidth (50-20,000hz)
Manufacturer URL:	Meadowlark Audio
Manufacturer URL:	Meadowlark Audio

Review by Belgarchi ( A ) on October 08, 2005 at 11:22:17
IP Address: 69.22.53.120

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for the Swallow bookshelf

* Small footprint bookshelf, good quality single pair of terminals, hybrid transmission line / bass reflex, front port, slooped baffle.
* Incredibly well-made enclosure, baffle made of MDF covered with 1/4" solid wood (!!!), and the transmission line reinforce the (already inert) box. Separate compartiment for crossover. Problem: thick panels, transmission line, isolated crossover, slooped baffle = very small internal volume to load the mid-bass driver.
* 3 high-quality elements crossover, 6 db/octave (electrical) crossover.
Unfortunately, this yield very shallow acoustical slopes (3 db /octave ?)
* Decent but not great quality Logic (made by Vifa) drivers. Woofer with plastic frame. High Fs tweeter.
* Sound is terrible. Total lack of details, huge variations with listener's position, rough medium, lack of mid-bass (the upper bass are good though).

Product Weakness: Sound, poor quality drivers, simplistic crossover, lack of internal volume
Product Strengths: Enclosure quality and look

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Arcam A75+ ; SonoGraphe SA-250
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None ; Rotel RC-1090
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	NAD 5100 ; Classe CDP-10
Speakers:	Meadowlark Swallow
Cables/Interconnects:	QED ; Kimber 8VS
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All kind
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 12 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	Neutral
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Sound, poor quality drivers, simplistic crossover, lack of internal volume
Product Strengths:	Enclosure quality and look