Brent Butterworth

In Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley, where I live, “naked” is all the rage. That’s not just because the Valley is the world capital of adult video production. It’s also because the SFV is home to several of America’s leading speaker reviewers. Don’t worry — as far as I know, the reviewers are keeping their clothes on. But many of the speakers they review are not.

The Mordaunt-Short Aviano 6 tower speaker reminds me why it’s sometimes best to hold out for something you truly love instead of something that merely gets the job done.As we age, we often give up the pursuit of the great and settle for the good. We settle for sedans instead of sports cars because they get us to work every day.

The Marimba ($349/pr) is the first speaker ever offered under the Music Hall brand, known for affordable turntables and audiophile electronics. Clearly, the sound was the focus; the Marimba's black ash vinyl wrap finish won't win any design awards. The 1-inch silk-dome tweeter and 5.25-inch, polypropylene-cone woofer are mounted in a rear-ported, 11-inch-high cabinet.

Following up on the warm reception that its original Spirit One headphone received, Focal showed two new models today at the CEDIA Expo. Both have slightly larger earcups than the Spirit One, so they should be a little more comfortable.