The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries initially established the garden on a leased site of Sir John Danvers’ well-established garden in Chelsea, London. This house, called Danvers House, adjoined the mansion that had once been the house of Sir Thomas More. Danvers House was pulled down in 1696 to make room for Danvers Street.
In 1713, Dr Hans Sloane purchased from Charles Cheyne the adjacent Manor of Chelsea, about 4 acres (16,000 m2), which he leased in 1722 to the Society of Apothecaries for £5 a year in perpetuity, requiring only that the Garden supply the Royal Society, of which he was a principal, with 50 good herbarium samples per year, up to a total of 2,000 plants.
That initiated the golden age of the Chelsea Physic Garden under the direction of Philip Miller (1722–1770), when it became the world’s most richly stocked botanic garden. Its seed-exchange program was established following a visit in 1682 from Prof. Herman, a Dutch botanist connected with the Leiden Botanical Garden and has lasted till the present day. The seed exchange program’s most notable act may have been the introduction of cotton into the colony of Georgia and more recently, the worldwide spread of the Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus).
Isaac Rand, a member and a fellow of the Royal Society published a condensed catalogue of the Garden in 1730, Index plantarum officinalium, quas ad materiae medicae scientiam promovendam, in horto Chelseiano. Elizabeth Blackwell’s A Curious Herbal (1737–1739) was illustrated partly from specimens taken from the Chelsea Physic Garden.
Parts of this classic garden have been lost to ‘development’ - the river bank during 1874 construction of the Chelsea Embankment on the north bank of the River Thames, and a strip of the garden to allow widening of Royal Hospital Road. What remains is a 3.5 acres (14,000 m2) patch in the heart of London.

The Chelsea Physic Garden was established as the Apothecaries’ Garden in London, England in 1673. (The word ‘Physic’ here refers to the science of healing.) It is the second oldest botanical garden in Britain, after the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, which was founded in 1621.
Its rock garden is the oldest English garden devoted to alpine plants. The largest fruiting olive tree in Britain is there, protected by the garden’s heat-trapping high brick walls, along with what is doubtless the world’s northernmost grapefruit growing outdoors. Jealously guarded during the tenure of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, in 1983 the Garden became a registered charity and was opened to the general public for the first time. The garden is a member of the London Museums of Health & Medicine.

Psychic Predictions For May by Gimel

I sense that June signifies the phoenix’s rise from the ashes. I foresee the birthing process entering its final phase as the phoenix takes form from the ashes of pain and suffering marring the scorched landscape of the past year. I feel that the pain of the growth process started in January will continue but diminish as the second half of the year progresses.

I sense that June begins on uncertain footing as the very fabric of our society reorganizes into its new form. I feel that a momentary flight to safety may ensue as people struggle to come to terms with the uncertainty surrounding this reorganization.

I see the fear of the populace bringing about a spike in commodity prices as negative sentiment emerges regarding the still uncertain aspects of fair valuation, economic stability, and corporate longevity. The equities market revisits lows during this spike as fear keeps the worlds wealth in cash and hard assets.

I feel that as the middle of June approaches a massive storm forms in the mid Atlantic and makes its way through the Wayward and Leeward islands. This storm continues through the Eastern Caribbean grazing Jamaica and Cuba on its way towards the shores of the United States.

I feel this storm will head towards the gulf coast and threaten the gasoline and oil industry there. I sense this in conjunction with the inherent fear in the market place, currency related inflationary pressures, and late corn planting will inflame the already elevated commodity prices.

I feel this added stress combined with the already fragile world economy creates an unprecedented call to action. I foresee a strong response signal of equal and inverse force, amplitude, and frequency negating a catastrophic outcome.

I sense that protectionism is the true enemy of global financial recovery in June. However, I feel that world leaders will unite to hasten their alternative energy, biotechnology, infrastructure, and financial agendas as a direct response to the inflationary pressures that become readily apparent as the month progresses. I sense that this unification causes a rapid change in the worlds current economic condition stabilizing global financial markets. In addition, I see, as a direct result of these events, job creation occurring in the emerging technologies, raw materials, and construction sectors. This job creation in conjunction with an increase in credit fluidity and global governmental stimulus packages produces a synergistic effect that enhances the rate of global economic recovery

Towards the end of the month I see stability returning to the market place. I see global financial systems gradually approaching dynamic equilibrium as the implementation of global economic action plans exert their damping effects on our resonating financial markets. I also feel that as the global economic systems trend back into control limits fear starts leaving the marketplace restoring consumer confidence, trust, and belief in the system. Ultimately this leads to increased consumer activity, industrial productivity, and real GDP growth.

Overall I feel June marks a turning point towards a brighter tomorrow. Change always meets resistance, as humanity always fears the unfamiliar, unknown, or incomprehensible. I feel that positive momentum will resume after a period of consolidation towards the end of the month. A renewed confidence returns during June as the formula for success becomes more defined, familiar, and accepted.
Peace, light, and blessings to all. -Gimel

Summary:
I switched from KEF Q55 to iQ5 but was not satisfied with the sound, too lean, no real bass. I decided to spend a little more money and during a listening session in a Munich Hifi-shop, I came across the Audio Physic Yara (Classic II). These sleak speakers have an incredible detailed sound, good bass (for the size) and offer a broad soundstage and sound very natural, no loudness effects but rather audiophile. You can listen to them for hours without getting tired.
The build quality and finish have a very high standard and you get 10 years warrantee.
I have fitted them antispikes (audioplan) which improved bass (cleaner and a bit deeper) and especially voices even more. They stand approx. 70 cm away from the rear wall.
I am very satisfied with these amazing, rather unknown (to me, that is) speakers.

My other equipment: Rotel RA 1060 amp, Rotel RCD 1070 CD player.

Extremely good value for the money (5 stars), of course there exist better speakers, so overall 4 stars.

 

Strengths:
- natural, detailed, 3-dimensional sound
- high quality build and finish
- nice, controlled, never booming bass
- simple but nice design
- rather slender, therefore living-room friendly speakers

Weaknesses:
- it takes a while to develop their full sound potential
- need good positioning for the best soundstage (but that is common)

Similar Products Used:
- KEF Q55 and KEF iQ5

Virgo New Design, Virgo New Technology, Virgo New Sound … this gives a perfect summary of the changes being made to the VIRGO V. Never before in the long VIRGO success story has a redesign of a predecessor model been completed to such an extent. In terms of loudspeaker technology, the VIRGO immensely benefits from its larger sister, the AVANTI, with which it shares the cabinet design as well as the highly sophisticated interior structure. Together, these features combine to take the sonic performance of the VIRGO into a new dimension. As a special feature in terms of technology, the revamped loudspeaker comes with Hyper Holographic Cone Midrange (HHCM) as the logical next step to complement the Hyper Holographic Cone Tweeter.

 

 

 Veneers

Maple	Black ash	Cherry	Ebony	Rosenut	White high gloss	Black high gloss
Audio Physic veneers at a glance

 

 Technical data

Height	990 mm / 39″
Width	230 mm / 9.1″
Depth	400 mm / 15.7″
Required Space Width x Depth	330×470 mm / 13×18.5″
Weight	27 kg
Recommended amplifier power	30-180 W
Impedance	4 Ohm
Frequency range	32 Hz - 40 kHz
Sensitivity	89 dB

 

 Features and Specs

 

 Combination example

One of many possibilities

The 2007 upgrade of the TEMPO includes subtle visual touches as well as essential technical features. Just like its larger sister, the VIRGO V, the 6th incarnation of the success model has been revamped with the groundbreaking HHCM (Hyper Holographic Cone Midrange). Combined with the newly designed soft dome tweeter and much more powerful woofers, sporting a rigid aluminium diaphragm, the new TEMPO excels at delivering a more energetic yet slightly softer and more transparent sound.

 

 Veneers

Maple	Black ash	Cherry	Ebony	Rosenut	White high gloss	Black high gloss
Audio Physic veneers at a glance

 

 Technical data

Height	1000 mm / 39.4″
Width	187 mm / 7.4″
Depth	320 mm / 12.6″
Required Space Width x Depth	290×430 mm / 11.4×16.9″
Weight	20 kg
Recommended amplifier power	20-150 W
Impedance	4 Ohm
Frequency range	32 Hz - 40 kHz
Sensitivity	89 dB

 

 Features and Specs

 

 Combination example

One of many possibilities

 

 Design

Generation VI: Tempo development full speed ahead

The Tempo has been spearheading the development in this loudspeaker range since 1986. Continuing a tradition of progress, Audio Physic has constantly and extensively updated the classic vintage model incorporating state-of-the-art technology as well as sharpening the loudspeaker’s cutting edge in the face of international competition.

Driving on the high-speed lane of development for such a long time has its price – a price we had to pay in 2005. At Audio Physic we felt that the basic concept of “racy loudspeakers” as titled by the HiFi magazine “Stereoplay” in October 2001 had finally come to a close after 19 years. Therefore we decided to introduce a completely remodelled and newly designed Tempo in 2004, a new incarnation of the success model which carried on the tradition and signified the important role its predecessor played in our product range. What is more, we outpaced our competition by a significant margin, added another chapter to our success story and provided a sound basis where all we need is to tap into our huge potential.

Driven by ambitious design goals, we are always keen to embrace cutting edge technology, making sure to incorporate the latest developments in our loudspeaker programme. Therefore, the 2007 upgrade includes subtle visual touches as well as essential technical features. Just like its larger sister, the Virgo, the Tempo VI has been revamped with the highly acclaimed HHCM (Hyper Holographic Cone Midrange).

The groundbreaking Audio Physic development, a double basket construction using a combination of plastic and metal, makes a lot of sense: basket and cabinet resonances are effectively kept away from the driver diaphragm while at the same time the thermal behaviour of the midrange driver significantly improves.

The newly designed soft dome tweeter with its massive aluminium front panel and powerful double magnet system, delivering up to 40kHz, is key to ensuring a high frequency reproduction which can only be described as perfectly smooth and utterly laid-back.

The visual appearance of the slender Tempo cabinet has hardly changed, the front panel still presents a seven-degree tilt in order to compensate for phase differences between the tweeter and midrange drivers. The 6^th incarnation is a delicately beautiful loudspeaker tuned for optimum elimination of standing waves with its curved side panels - the cabinet being a masterpiece in terms of workmanship with its many chambers and braces designed to have ultra low resonance combined with highest stability. Compared to the predecessor model, the cabinet of the new Tempo looks even more elegant where the size of the side grilles is less generously dimensioned but precisely tailored to better fit the form of the woofer drivers.

The Tempo VI is built according to the principle of our tried and tested push-push technology which has already been implemented in larger Audio Physic models. The two woofers of the 3-way loudspeaker are arranged effectively back-to-back, mounted magnet to magnet, in order to avoid cabinet resonances and support a small-baffle design.

The rear panel unobtrusively houses the bass reflex port. If it were not for our modesty, it could be said that we did it again, leaving those relentless in their pursuit of the Tempo far behind.

Cabinet design and driver technology have been taken from the successful Virgo and Avanti loudspeakers. Thus the Tempo VI immensely benefits from the Audio Physic product range where synergy, as ever, is everything.

Our quest for perfect sound reproduction is not only reflected in elaborate drivers, intricate crossover networks and sophisticated cabinet design, it is also seen in small and apparently secondary details. The well thought-out connecting terminal is aluminium, bitumen damped and fitted with neoprene for elastic suspension in order to prevent sonically adverse effects which are produced by uncontrolled vibrations and transmitted from the loudspeaker cables to the whole sound reproduction chain.

The bottom line is this:

It is simply not enough to just write about sound. Come see for yourself, try it out and enjoy the awesome sound performance of the Tempo VI. When you hear it “live”, you will be enthralled by the way the loudspeaker follows the signal with far greater ease than ever before, no matter what music it is reproducing.

The Tempo VI provides an exemplary fast dynamic tracking and processing of input signals – hence the name Tempo – with no touch of brittleness or harshness.

Thanks to the revolutionary HHCM, it excels at delivering a slightly softer and more transparent sound while at the same raising the bar another notch in terms of detailed resolution.

With the Tempo VI, you will feel swept away by its sheer, controlled speed while also enjoying that simply sublime feeling of control. It has nothing to do with racing but everything to do with being a top class winner.