mbl - is there a problem?


For a while now I've been planning on purchasing the new Magnepan 20.7's when they become available.
However I've always been intrigued by the idea of the MBL's - partly because they are so pretty and partly because it would be nice to have a speaker with a larger sweet spot.(I've owned and listened to Maggies for about 35 years but have never had the opportunity to hear the MBL's)
Since I've already purchased mongo electronics to power my new Maggies I think they would likely also power the MBL's.
And with the new discounts on the MBL's, they become more price competitive with the Maggies.
So I was thinking of flying somewhere to actually hear the MBL's.
But the website for MBL was disconcerting. Partly is is because the discounts are so large. Partly it is because they say that and warranty work now has to be arranged from Germany. As an experiment I tried to see what to do if I had an MBL speaker that needed to work and what would I do and I did not find an easy answer.
I have a fear of purchasing an expensive set of speakers and being unable to fix a problem.
From everything I've read on Audiogon these seem like wonderful speakers and maybe I should buy a cheap airplane ticket to where I can hear them. But I worry about the service. Maybe I'm just better off purchasing speakers from Magnepan - this company must be so succesful that even if the whole town was destroyed by a large meteor somebody else would pick it up.
Does anybody know if MBL is a safe speaker to purchase?
nottop
Echoing Marty's words--the MBL's have that holographic presentation when set up correctly, sounding, to my ears, like real music...

Larry
Stringreen,

I only see one mention of your Vandies and that was mine, so who made fun of them. A little sensitive are we.

Lrsky, I have heard Vandies and they are okay but that's it, would I own a pair as my reference speakers? no. I could get into it but why, that's not what this thread is about, but if an owner such as Stringreen making silly remarks as he has noted towards the MBL's clearly demonstrates to me lack of his credibitly period. All one needs to do is read his silly postings, be it his opinion or not just isn't factual, anyone who has actually heard the MBL's knows this is far from what their sound characteristics and some have already posted above.

It really gets tirersome reading such nonsence.

Hi Ericngo1,

so Albert is referring to listening to your set-up then when he says blah! blah!

My communication back and forth with Albert is exactly that and nothing else, there is nothing wrong to agree to disagree.

But if Albert is hearing what he mentioned and relating to listening to listening to your set-up then something is wrong.

I have to say firstly my preference is not to have these wonderful speakers paired up with MBL amplification, I've been there and done that. You had asked some questions in another thread posted in relation the the 6010d pre which I also owned for numerous years so you can refer to such.

You obviously have heard Albert's system, kindly provide a description listing areas and the differences you hear in comparison to assist.

MBL's paired up with VAC's Sig. MK2a pre and Statement 450 mono blocks is the ultimate combo, nothing I have owned and heard comes close and I have heard and owned allot.

From Boulder 2050's, Karan 1200's, MBL 9008's and 9011's, CAT JL3 Sig MK2's, Bryston Squared 28's just to name a few. I don't know of anyone else who has gone to such extent.

Actually I prefered the Squared 28's over both the 9008's and 9011's BUT paired up with a tube phono, Ref3 is a great match with Bryston. I'm aware of several individuals whom after providing my thoughts tried and agreed and in the end sold off their MBL amps and using that money eslewhere. Most either have a REF3 paired up with the 28's or even some are using the Vac pre.



Holographic presentation is the unique strength of mbl. If that is important to you, definitely do not buy until you audition mbl. Otherwise, you may not care so much.

Having heard a lot of top notch systems over the years, I'd say without question mbl is the champ at doing holography on a large scale. "On a large scale" is key. You have to have a large and well set up room though I think, at least for the larger floor standing models.

Other aspects of their performance compared to the competition is more debatable in my mind. I would say they are very solid in most every other regard as well assuming proper setup and matching to room, but other lines might easily be preferred in certain regards depending on personal tastes.

I can see where the larger mbls would easily overpower smaller rooms which does not make them a good choice for many.
Anybody know how the mbl 121s perform in smaller rooms in comparison to the larger floorstanding mbls in larger rooms?

I have Dynaudio Contour 1.3mkII monitors tuned in very nicely currently in a 12X12 listening room. I often wonder if mbl 121s could work well in a room like that. I think I have the amp needed to drive them (Bel Canto Ref 1000m monoblocks) in that I understand they are extremely inefficient.
DEV...

This thread is to help nottop to find his next speaker. I don't want to go into mr. Albert system discussion. When I was on my quest to find my sonic taste, he was kind enough to let me listen to his reference system and help me out with my turntable issues. Btw, mr. Albert have never listen to my system. Maybe he have listen to the older model of MBL and that is why he have that kind of opions toward MBL. You see, my system is doing double duty. I listen to musics and watch movies 50/50 and that is why I can't go with tubes gears. I really like my all MBL gears and thats just me.