6moons review of FAB Audio Model 1 speaker


Fellow Audiogoners,
Have you ever read a review of a component you own and end up shaking your head in disbelief at what you've just read? This is the situation I find myself in after reading a Steve Marsh review on 6moons of the FAB Audio Model 1 high efficiency speaker (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/fabaudio/model1.html).

It's probably natural to feel defensive about a product you own which got a mixed or bad review but in this case there are some serious doubts about the reviewer's attitude, equipment and room challenges. Here are my beefs thus far:

* It seems to me that the author didn't get along very well with Jim Fabian, FAB's owner, and as such had a proponderence to be critical rather than neutral in his review. His negativity is illustrated by the fact that he felt compelled to tell the readers about Jim's reluctance to answer some questions that would reveal proprietary info (would he have asked the same questions to DALI or Focal-JM Labs company owners?) and then mentioned that Jim did answer the question but so quietly as if to keep the reviewer from hearing Jim's answer, he mentioned Jim's desire to quickly leave, and that Jim made a 'parting shot' about suggesting he upgrade his NAD CDP which made him feel embarassed.
* If the reviewer is a credible audiophile, then why did he seem to rely heavily upon his audiophile friends for their opinions?
* He spend a disproportionate amount of text space writing
about the negative attributes of the speaker rather than
equal time with its positive traits. He also spend a
disproportionate amount of time listening to the 'upstairs'
system of no-name components rather than equal time with
the 'downstairs' higher-end system.
* If the speakers are room placement sensitive and as
revealing as we owners of them know them to be, then the fact that there were some sound issues is more a statement about Steve's room and system shortcomings; The speakers are a window into his room and upstream components, which isn't a speaker shortcoming. He obviously didn't see it that way prefering the sound of his vintage JBL speakers that mask the shortcomings.
* What is a serious reviewer doing using Radio Shack speaker cables and a NAD CD player for reviewing top quality gear? I even found out that one of the speaker connections on his amp was corroded! These facts should speak volumes about the lack of credible equipment used by the reviewer and his testing approach.

The speakers natural sound, when connected to proper gear, and set up properly in a decent room, astonishes and sucks the listener into the soundstage. I'm afraid Steve Marsh missed the boat on this review. Hind sight what it is, I'd guess that Jim might have pulled his speakers from the review process once he got to Steve's home and saw the home brew of assorted old components and home made speaker cables etc.

Thanks for your efforts Steve Marsh but I don't share your negative review of the FAB Audio Model 1 speaker. To each his own . . .
kevinzoe
As reviews go, it seems like a reasonable review. He tried the speaker in different systems and in different rooms and enlisted the help of the manufacturer, but in the end concluded he didn't like the speaker's tonal balance. It's not like he trashed the product. If all I had to go on was this review, I would think it's a good to very speaker that appeals to listeners who value detail/resolution and soundstage over tonal balance. If you like how the Fab's sound then what difference does this mixed review make?

BTW, the speaker's sensitivity to room placement and the lack of a manual/set up guide brings into question the probability of an owner getting the speakers properly setup. That's a big practical issue.
I didn’t take it quite as negatively as you apparently did but it was definitely not a glowing review. Relax, trust your ears, and enjoy your toys. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of time and experimentation to bring out the best in a component. The reviewer has a different everything than you do including the room so it makes sense he would have different results. I guess that is the problem with reviews.

What I find curious is that the manufacturer drove 10 hours to help him set them up and apparently didn’t bring along some electronics and cabling he knew would shown them at their best. They take less than 5 watts. How much trouble would it be to bring some decent gear?

I could have done without the photo of the three of them sitting on the sofa with the middle guy spread out showing off his package.
hi,

I agree with Onhwy61. The review seems like a resonable one.

If you like the speakers, then that's all that counts. Reviews have their own preferences in sound which may not be the same as yours.

enjoy the sound

Larry
For the price, I expect more than what these 2-ways provide. They're practically monitors.

I thought the reviewer tried his absolute best, using different rooms and gear. At the end, he found he didn't favor them. What is he supposed to say? Isn't one of the biggest complaints audioheads have about reviews is there aren't any bad ones, making us wonder what the purpose is in the first place?

Every piece of gear isn't a shining jewel and competitive way above its price-point. I'm glad to read someone calling it like they hear it.

And, like the other comments, if you've gotten these speakers to harmonize, that's all that matters.