I had the pleasure of hearing the Model 21 at a meeting of the NJ Audio Society last summer, and can say that, even without Lamms and that level of equipment (the dealer used a Melos 333 preamp, Melos 400 monoblocks for the towers and a Bryston for the bass, and only used an MSB DAC 3 with a Pioneer DVD player feeding it ) the speaker system is stunning in certain respects and overall one of the best speaker systems I've ever heard. They do need some space, partially to give all the bass they are capable of and partially to allow you to bring the towers out into the room, and for the latter point I'd say you really need a dedicated listening room, if only because I'd hate to have to move those towers back and forth in my living room, where I listen. They have an ability to recreate a recorded soundstage that I have come close to with my 4-piece system (which is not really commercially available, but is a Richard Davidson design which uses an upward firing midrange and front and rear-firing tweeters to create a very spacious soundfield) but can't entirely match and have otherwise heard approached only by the mbl 101s, and there only on a smaller scale. They have effortless and natural dynamic capabilities, both macro and micro, and when you are in the proper spot their tonal balance and ability to reproduce timbres of instruments are excellent. And VERY deep, extended and natural bass. If I had a dedicated room and the cash burning a hole in my pocket, I'd seriously consider them; the room is key, because they indeed are best for nearfield listening so I'd think you have to bring the towers out away from the back wall to enhance the soundstaging, the sweet spot is not that wide, and I felt you have to be on axis and sitting to hear them at their best. When I stood up, the tonal balance shifted to bright, and had I not been seated I would have been critical of the speakers in that area. I wonder if that might explain some of Cg70754's reaction?
