Another help me spend money thread or maybe not.... going to AXPONA


How to start this thread. Well I have a full thread here which has taken me a long ways to Maggie planar bliss.
https://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=mug&m=234395
Room size is 11.5w 22.5L 8.5h

The cliff notes version of the above is Maggie 20.7 system with a pair of Vandersteen Sub 3 and HP7 crossovers
Recent additions are: Mac 601 monos, AR Ref6, dSC Bartok + AQ hurricane and dragon power + a lot of room setup.

So the only part of my system not questioned in 5 years has been the 20.7's as I really like planar sound. Of course that gets me thinking why should i stop there... for a $30k budget what can I hear.... this is where AG help is needed!!

The system sounds really good now, the Vandy system has now given me all the bass slam of big boxes to go along with that wall of planar energy. But I have the fever. I want to know how good the system is compared to a bunch of hardware I only read about. So I am going to AXPONA and also looking into my local Atlanta shops. 

Which leads me to: I auditioned two disparate systems today, Wilson Audio Sabrina's ($17k) and Wisdom Audio cost no object in-wall line source system (about $100k) which I have never heard of. I use to have WP7's, to me the newer Sabrina's are much better having lost the hot inverted dome tweeter, good but not superior to what i already have. However the Wisdom mutli line source system was just spectacular which was built around multiple Wisdom Sage L75's. These can be had as a floor stander for about $18k pair and they have them. So we go to that room but it was busy and I did not get a chance to hear them. If they are anywhere close to what I heard these go to the top of my list. 

My list (to hear or have heard as a comparison)
heard: Vandy 7 MKII, really good but too expensive
B&W 802D3 - good but not better

for my budget would like to hear at AXPONA if they are there: 
Vandy 5a Carbons 
Martin Logan ESL15A
Magico
Raidho
ATC
Focal
MBL - just because
KEF
Scaena - just because

But what about YG's or SoundLab and on and on... thanks for your inputs!


  
 

128x128hughp3
ohadaguy I have auditioned the 30.7 when Wendell was in ATL a few months ago. The system was very good, especially bass which it has in spades. But two things. I don’t have the room, mine is 11W x 22L. Compared to the 20.7, the 15A electrostatic was, to me, startling. cleaner, faster, holographic with great bass. The only issue I thought I heard and only on 1 track was the mid bass did not have quit the impact of the 20.7 otw consistently superior.. but at a price
I just heard some of these att an audio show. The Magico and Focal were fantastic. Some large MBL 101 were equally good and probably closer to the Maggie sound.

Other ones I liked were Vimberg, Kii Three with bass towers, Aequo Stilla, Paradigm Persona 7F and the largest Technichs. I think all of these are very good and the room at the show Will influence the sound almost as much as switching speakers.
I have to agree with roberjerman.  The Sanders 10e ESL has an integrated subwoofer per side.  They are very portable for one person.  With the 2 Magtech amps at 500 watts per channel, they cost $2200.  They include the room correction preamp and all cables needed system price of around $27,000.  They sound is just beautiful, extremely articulate, and sounds great with all music.  They will be at Axpona this year again after missing last year.  Plus, the ENTIRE system is warranted for life for the original buyer.  They will replace anything that goes wrong period.  There are only systems in the $100,000 plus price that can even compete with the 10e in sound--not necessarily beat it either.  There is NOTHING you will want more of when you listen.  Beauty, dynamics, ability to play loud, punchy bass--plus, in a narrow room like yours, the 10e's don't scatter the sound off the side walls.  They direct it towards the listening area.  The room correction makes great sound in any room. 
This system even sounds fantastic in the smaller hotel rooms.  ALWAYS among best in show at each Axpona every year they come and demo.  There is NO system that can compete for the money and very few that can compete with the sound at any price.  It's worth the plane ticket I guarantee you.

Bob
Thanks guys I will definetly go by the Sanders room. How do they compare to ML 15a or CLX with the correct ML subs?