Seeking thoughts on Apogee Caliber Ribbon speakers

They indeed can be frustrating.

Physics is physics and there is absolutely no getting away from the cancellation/doubling effects in the bass....some frequencies doubling up, some cancelling out, which is why folks can't figure out just what to do with placement to get the bass right. It cannot be nearly right across the frequency range.

They also never can reflect the instant dynamic attack of most real instruments.

However, by taking the bite out of the initial attack (that should be there) they are "smooth", "natural", "easy" in a way that is stylized but is so seductive that there are many admirers and many many people who wish real music were that way.

All in home systems are portraying an event that cannot be "real" in the home, so we could say all home systems put forth stylized sound. The Apogees are just doing it in their lush, smoothed over way, more stylized than the best, most neutral speakers. If this gives some listeners the memories of real music, that's great. In the end, I too felt they were more trouble than they were worth.

Omsed,
Just wanted to know which Apogee speakers you have had experience with & which amps you used with those speakers? thanks for your feedback.

OP -

I have always enjoyed the Apogee SLANT 6 & SLANT 8 speakers.

Bombaywalla, Apogee Calipers, Divas, Duetta Sigs, with mostly Krell amps of various vintages.

I've heard them in the homes of folks involved with both companies. They can be a nice audio experience, unlike many speakers that just hurt my ears or are so full of distortions and colorations that I would not even bother writing about them.

However, the bass is never really right, and there is always a midrange coloration on transients. Nearly every Apogee owner I have ever known stays away from music they do not do well on which includes, but is not limited to, music heavy in bass transients, music using lots of standup bass.

The newly updated models from Magnepan are truly superior, much more neutral, much easier to drive. I do not own them, I know nobody at Magnepan, but if I wanted a panel speaker I'd have them.

Omsed,
thanks for your feedback.
yes, I can see now why you have the opinion that you do. All the Apogees you have experience with have Kapton-backed ribbons & the Kapton does impart its signature to the sonics.
And Krell amps. Hmmmm....I was never a fan of them.
I heard a reconstructed Diva with Krell Reference amps in a person's home & I came away less than satisfied with the overall sonics.
The other Apogee speakers (Scintilla & Full Range) that you do not seem to have any experience with are much better sonically. The Scintilla has free standing ribbons that are just aluminum foil with no Kapton backing. The bass panel does have Kapton - no way around that due to its size which demands some structurally integrity.
As an owner of a Scintilla I can tell you that I do not shy away from any music - the type that has a double-bass/standup bass included. I personally think that the Scintilla does a superb job of the bass. It's not cone- driver bass; it's planar bass. Nevertheless it's room-filing, punchy & compliments the music - never less & never more.
I think that we have different opinions driven by our different experiences.
The Magneplanar have gotten better (& yes they have always been easier to drive) but IMO they still cannot measure up to the Apogee Scintilla.
If I could have another speaker, I'd buy a SoundLab....