The much anticipated 533-T Sterophile review has finally hit the street. Subscribers should have their April issue by now and the rest of you can run out and pick it up on the news stand. There is a ton of really good technical analysis in the article so I would encourage you to pick up a copy. Here are a few of the shorter, non-technical quotes from the review...
"For this business model to work, the manufacturer needs to ensure that the
customer has a way of thoroughly auditioning its products, and to provide a
generous return policy and great customer service. Aperion does all of these
things in spades—better than any other speaker manufacturer I’m aware of.
The 533-Ts were simply gorgeous (high-gloss black lacquer is also
offered), and wouldn’t be out of place in a living room with traditional
furniture.
They reproduced music with a very natural quality and did not
call attention to themselves.
The speakers seemed to disappear, and there
was a sense of organic ease with every recording I cued up.
Vocalists
sounded rich and dimensional, with no sense of excessive presence or
muddiness.
The 533-Ts had no problem reproducing convincing and weighty
midbass in my room. I don’t feel they need a subwoofer.
The 533-T also
exhibited wide, natural dynamic contrasts. Even when blasting hard-rock tunes at
95dB or above, these small speakers never sounded small.
Single
instruments closely miked for wide dynamic range really bloomed through the
Aperions.
The ability of the 533-Ts to render gobs of inner detail, room
ambience, and wide, deep soundstages made them seem to disappear.
I’m
delighted to have reviewed the wonderful Aperion Intimus 533-T. It has many
strengths, negligible weaknesses, and is a superb value. It’s visually
attractive, and would fit many different décors. Finally, it’s not really an
“audiophile” speaker—it just sits there, plays music, and plays it well. So
if you’re a man in the street who wants a pair of speakers to play a wide range
of music, and if your significant other likes the Intimus 533-T’s looks, why not
buy a pair online? With a 30-day, no-risk return policy, how can you lose? If
you want deeper bass, you can always add a subwoofer. Well done, Aperion!"
-Bob Reina, Stereophile Magazine, April 2007
Cheers,
John Wanderscheid