Quad 2905. Clarity without harshness (unless digital source, of course). |
I now have the pair of speakers I will never get rid of as long as they keep working. My high end journey past cheaper college systems with speakers that weren't too hot began with Allison Ones about 1978. Had those until changing briefly to Paradigm 7's, then Albert Von Scheikert's Vortex Screens which I had from 1991 until 2006, then Emerald Physics CS-2's very briefly, VMPS 626 R's, then added VMPS 215/VSS upgraded sub to it, became a VMPS demonstrator for the last several years of Brian Cheney's life, VMPS RM40, VMPS RM30, VMPS RM40 BCSE, Green Mountain Audio Continuum 3/HX, Selah Tempesta, back to VMPS RM40 BCSE, and finally to my dream speaker this past summer, the Vapor Audio Joule Blacks. All the speakers were bought used after the first 2 as I actually heard of Audiogon and other sites during 2005.
I'm finally starting to figure out how to get the most out of these awesome speakers--Nordost Pulsar footers came with them. Took me several months of playing with the 2 part footers to finally get to having both parts under the top cabinets, but only the top part of the footer under the bottom cabinets. My system is in the basement with a somewhat custom built room. It has cement floors with ceramic tile on top and a large area rug between the speakers and my couch. This allowed the bass to be very deep, potent, textural while one pair of footers at each location under the tops brought out great clarity and transparency along with hopping dynamics and a precision soundstage that was deep and easy to hear individual players throughout the range. These speakers have very live sound now and just done ever break up or get stressed out in any way. The speaker has a sweeter sounding Raal ribbon tweeter than the standard Joule. I'm currently experimenting with the speaker cables & matching jumpers to see how much difference really great ones sound from the merely good. I'm expecting it will be significant and probably be a done deal.
I have taken quite a while to assemble the system after much reading, and a couple swings and almost, always returning to the VMPS sound that really got me first--for much of the journey lusting after the Vapor speakers, particularly the Joule when the 2-piece version came out. I finally got a chance at one that had some defects in the outer skin (veneer), but were otherwise VERY NICE and sounded near perfect to me.
Bob
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Not exactly in order...
Infinity Qb JBL L-110 3D Acoustics w single sub Thiel 02 Magneoan SMG KEF104 a/b ESL, then stacked, then with Decca KEF Kit / The Speaker Company 101 DCM Time Frame Sonus Faber Concertino Vandersteen 3a Signature ADS L-730 Klipsch Cornwall Dynaco A-25 Bryston Mini-A Apogee Stage with custom Soundanchor Vandersteen 5a Quad ESL-63 Vandersteen 7mk2 Vandersteen TREO-CT Vandersteen 1ci
Not bad for 40 years.... a few Bozak in there also
And considerable time at work with Shahinian, Thiel, Fried, KEF, Quad, acoustat, ADS, Vandersteen, Apogee, Soundlab, Beveridge, Infinity and the Watt Pups...
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@bigkidz You would have to buy the amps also.... ha!
like water, crystal clear water....
what DAC do you have ?
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I thought the Vandersteen 5s I owned were really good (actually they are really good). I visited a audio person this past weekend to hear the Vandersteen 7s using my DAC. I was really taken back by how good the 7s sounded. Anyone want to sell me theirs cheap? I have heard many other speakers in this price range and I would imagine that they all have an excellent sound in the right system. I was taken back by the ease of flow of the music, the clarity, and the micro to macro dynamic swings which just flowed out of the speakers. Very black background (part of that is from the DAC) though. I did leave with a with a very big smile.
Happy Listening.
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The list is long but I worked at high end dealer both in HS and University, so changing gear was easy and relatively inexpensive..... sold my high end gear to exit college mostly debt free but kept a Sony CD, Tandberg cassette, NAD 3020A and KEF Kit 101’s ....
got back into higher fi in 2001 and since have run mostly Vandersteen as my Reference 3a-sig, then 5a and now in retirement the 7 mk2
we also have the lovely Treo CT at our winter place
We were a Shahinian dealer, I always thought the Obelisk was hyper musical
enjoy them in good health
retirement at least for us gives us much time to catch live music and listen at leisure late into the night !!!
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Love the MB’s too Elizabeth |
I have owned KEF LS50, Arteluthe Cadenza, Harbeth M30.2, and now my JBL 4367. I find myself being drawn back to either coaxil or dualcentric designs, or horns.
By far the best speakers I’ve owned out of the bunch are the 4367.
I should also add that I’ve been in this hobby for less than 2 years. Quite literally before August 2017 I knew nothing about speakers, amplifiers, etc.
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Back in 1965 I bought pir of JB Lansing speakers They were the best for 15 years. If I never would have sold everything to go travelling... I might still own them.
Back in 1982/3 I bought a pair of Infinity RSIIa, which were the best speakers I owned and had those until around the mid 2000’s.
In 2010 I both a pair of Magnepan 3.6 which were the best speakers I ownd into in 2018 I bought 20,7 Magnepan. which are the best speakers I ever owned...
Though I I had only bought RS I’s instead of II’s back in 1983 I might still own them. or maybe the JB Lansings...
If I had some big money I would own a pair of MBL 101e
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I always wanted to get the Shahinian's. Very nice sound. I still remember hearing them at the Audio show opposite Penn Station back in the '80's.
Same with Maggie's and Dahlquist. I was like Homer Simpson drooling over donuts.
Well, to be honest, I ran out of money when I started my business. Only recently, have I been able to indulge in my home stereo.
Now, Vandy's for me.
Bob |
My current speakers are SAP J2001 speakers with the midrange compression/horn driver replaced with Western Electric 713b driver and ks 12025 horn. This a particularly nice sounding system at lower volume level. The system is around 99 db/w efficient, which is a good thing because none of the amps I run deliver more than 8 watts per channel.
I have heard, and really like, the Diapasons so I can understand why they are your current favorite. |
Tannoy 12" MG's in not very well made plywood boxes, were my first foray into better quality loudspeakers back in 1971, then came some B&W DM 620's, Dynaudio 5.4's, and now, back to Tannoy, with HPD 315 (12" Dual Concentric drivers in custom 150 liter bass-reflex, 192 lb. MDF enclosures). Custom built DIY crossovers using Alpha Core 12 gauge inductors, Mundorf silver-in-oil capacitors, and Dueland resistors. They are augmented with two subwoofers, one being a 15"Tannoy passive (Sub 15i) powered by a Crown bridged-to-mono 2002 XTi, the other a converted Velodyne with Eminence 12" sub driver and plate amp.
The subs, along with the HPD's, are exactly what I need in my large 16' X 34' w/cathedral ceilings room. Better (more expensive) subs would be nice, but not necessary or possible with my budget, largely DIY system.
These speakers easily do all that is needed to make me happy for the remainder of my life |
MAGICO Q3 and M3 for best build and sound quality. |
Congrats on your find. We both know the key to being happy with ones current system is by staying out of the shops, I would add shows but the sound at shows is usually pretty average.
I scooped a pair of Usher BE-20 DMD's on new years day that are doing everything right and tho' it's only 3 weeks I usually start to notice flaws by now. These might be my keepers. |
KLH 6, Large Advent, JBL L-100, back to Large Advent, Mission 770, Alon Petite, Vandertsteen 2C, Ascend Sierra 1 (still have), Spendor s3/5 (still have), Spatial M1 Turbo (still have), Spatial X2 (currently on the big system.
The X2s are wonderful - detailed, deep, tight bass, wide soundstage, musical and non-fatiguing. The M1s are on my basement system, the Ascends in the bedroom, the Spendors on the computer with an SVS subwoofer.
I'm done buying speakers. Maybe. |
