Stereophile recently got their hands on a pair of JL Audio Fathom f113 subwoofers for evaluiation.

The JL Audio home subwoofers entered the crowded subwoofer market like Godzilla rising out of the Sea of Japan and entering downtown Tokyo when they launched last year. Owners and reviewers alike have found favor with how well they perform for both music and home theater application. This time around, Stereophile is giving a pair of Fathom f113's a thorough shakedown for music perfomance.

Go take a look at their review of the JL Audio Fathom f113 if you're interested in a premium sub that excels at both music and home theater reproduction.

Canadian loudspeaker maker Paradigm has announced three new models for their Reference Signature series of loudspeakers.

Paradigm describes the new additions as "compact, lifestyle speakers" with entirely new form factors. Shared with the rest of the Reference line, the new models will utilize Beryllium tweeters, which Paradigm states is lighter and stiffer than aluminum, without being brittle like some premium tweeter materials. Mid and mid bass drivers are a new cobalt-aluminum alloy, which offer better stiffness and damping than aluminum, according to Paradigm. Finally, Paradigm will continue to use mineral filled polypropylene for the larger bass drivers. Voice coils, magnets and chassis remain relatively unchanged from the last generation of Reference Signatures. T

The three models announced are the S1, a 2 way bookshelf starting at $1499/pair, the 3 way, 4 driver C1 center channel, starting at $1199 and the 3 way, 5 driver ADP1 surround staring at $1199/pair. Available in cherry, birdseye maple and piano black.

The audiophile community enjoys an avid DIY contingent. The allure of the DIY loudspeaker is that for any given price point, with technical skill, proper loudspeaker design and testing, a loudspeaker of surpassing quality can be made for a fraction of what the equivalent commercial design would cost. A DIY'er can take pride in the sonic and visual fruits of their labors, and the knowledge that Joe Smith down the street doesn't have the same pair in his listening room.

DIY loudspeaker designs are especially prolific, and there are many online sources for speaker components, plans and kits. Commercial and freeware software is available to assist DIY'ers with enclosure and crossover design. One site I would like to point readers toward is Troels Gravesen's excellent page devoted to his loudspeaker designs. Troels obviously takes his projects quite seriously, as evidenced by the beauty of his enclosures and the premium drivers and crossover components he uses. Troels spends quite a bit of time ensuring that his crossovers are just right for the drivers and enclosures. His published plans are easy to follow, and aren't a bad read, even if you won't be building your own loudspeakers anytime soon.

Readers interested in learning more about DIY loudspeakers and DIY audio in general can head over to the forums at diyAudio.com and engage in conversation with the community of knowledgable, dedicated enthusiasts there.

Salk Sound has announced a new, relatively inexpensive floorstanding loudspeaker.

The 2 way SongTower QWT is a design by renowned DIY designer Dennis Murphy. The svelte SongTower measures 44.5x8x11.5, and is a transmission line design. The Hiquphon 3/4" tweeter and pair of 5" Seas bass drivers are aligned in an MTM configuration with a frequency response of 42-20k Hz. Sensitivity is rated at a tube-friendly 88 dB, but AV receiver users be advised that the SongTower is rated at 4 ohms impedance. The $1495/pair SongTower is available in walnut, cherry, maple, black satin, and for a limited time, honey locust.

As with all Salk Sound speakers, they will accomodate your request for just about any exotic wood veneer if you don't mind paying a little more. A $1395 version of the SongTower using a Vifa tweeter is also being offered.