Thank you to all have responded so far. Addyson 815 who also owns the GET model 7 articulated my major complaint about the speaker......they don't convey the feeling and emotion of real music....." For me that nails the point. However, I am not going to chase around looking at British speakers, like Harbeth, Spendor, ProAC. etc which many members have recommended for their ability to convey "the emotion and feeling of music" First, they are usually more expensive than $4000, and as good as they are, they could possibly be deficient in other areas like dynamics. I listen to mostly classic rock and rock jazz fusion, and some classical.
For those who ask: my equipment: is a Conrad Johnson PV-14SE pre-amp; a BAT VK-200 amp (100RMS) Ayre CX-7e mp CD player; Cables: Grover Huffman EX series speaker cable. Harmonic Technology "Truth Link" IC to CD player and pre-amp. Acoustic Zen Tsumai Plus power cable to Ayre CD; two Pangea AC-9 MKII power cables for the pre-amp and power amp; and a custom Signal Audio IC: (balanced to unbalanced) between BAT amp and CJ pre-amp.
Thanks, SJ. |
Thanks again to those who responded so far. Special thanks to "213runnin" for recommending the Ascend Towers. I considered them before when I was hunting for speakers before to replace GET 7's, but just passed over them ( probably because I wanted to avoid pay retail) but I will give them another look. Also thanks to those members who recommended the Focal Aria 936 which I also mentioned in my thread. There was a pair on sale I believe on AG recently. However, they are big. heavy speakers; I am just curious if anyone knows if the Aria 926 would sound almost the same, even though having less bass, and be also lighter and easier to move around. A few members mentioned the B&W CM9 S and CM10 S. However, several reviews complain about them sounding bright, less so with the more expensive model CM10 Has anyone auditioned the Revel F206 which retails for $3500?? It reviews well;. I checked with two local dealers who only display the larger and more expensive F-208 Thanks to all, S.J. |
mofogo, Thanks for the recommendation; I have checked out the Tekton Double Impacts, and they are too large for my listening space that is approx. 12X15. .
S.J. |
k-a Thank you for your recent reply and comments about the Aria 936. Seems to make good sense what you say. Regarding the Ascend Sierra you mentioned Was that model fitted with RAAL tweeter which supposedly ups the performance of the highs without brightness on edge?? S.J |
hifiron Thank s for your recommendation. I owned the Vandersteen IC about 12 years ago. It was an interim purchase, though a nice sounding speaker and it served its purpose for a while until I found something.better. Will check out the Spatials M-4's and Decware
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k-a. Thanks again for the recommendation. Did you audition the Revel F-206. at any point in your search? It reviewed well, but the Focal might have the edge in performance. However, I can buy a used pair of the Revels for about $1000 less than a pair of used Focal 936 I think the pair of Revels I saw looked snappy in a glossy cherry wood veneer S.J.. |
Another two questions: How do the Tekton "Impact" speakers rank compared to some of the other speakers above?? Some members recommended the Double Impacts, but they are too big and heavy. The Impact is one step down.
Decware offers a omidirectional speaker model ERRX. It retails for $2500. Has any one auditioned them on the 30 day home trial options?
HiFI ron mentioned he owned the HR-1's which are $4895 and have received excellent reviews including HiFiron's brief testimonial of their performance. Thanks, SJ. |
To Mofojo, Thank you for the recommendation about the Tekton "Electron" I checked it out before on their website, but will go back to take another look. BTW, I did see the pair of Focal 1028Be's on the Music Room site. I may have dismissed them because they were an older model. Will check a few reviews if still available
To ka-am: Be assured, I am not in good enough health to conduct as you say a "structured mission" looking for new speakers. Unfortunately, those days are over, so I must rely on reviews and member's testimonials and recommendations I will reciprocate to anyone conducting a similar speaker quest. I tend to agree with you about direct order companies that also may offer home trials, however, at least you have the opportunity of hearing a speaker with your own equipment. You offer a strong endorsement for the Focal Aria line. There was a dealer in Florida that has (or had) a pair of 936's store demoes on sale. When I inquired if they would overwhelm my room, he curtly replied "yes" and offered instead the Focal Aria 926. In addition, the 936's would cost close to $300 to ship to sunny SoCal, so I passed on the sale. I need to decide if I want to proceed with one of the three direct sales companies. Tekton, Decware, or Spatial Audio. As you know, handing over distribution to dealers means putting the integrity of the product into their hands, and taking less profit. However, I don't believe that the argument made by direct mail manufacturers that cutting out the "middle man" saves the buyer money. I think that is bit of hogwash. Thanks to all, SJ
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To mofojo: The Focal Electra 1027be speakers you mentioned are gone on the Music Room site already. Thanks anyway for the heads up. I am now checking out the Salk Audio "Songtower RT ( RAAL ribbon) tweeter They may be a direct market company. Has anyone heard or own them??
Thank you, SJ.
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To hfiron. Thank you for the additional info. The HR-1's are $4895, the much smaller and less gorgeous HRRx is $2495......$2400 price difference may account for their starling performance. Regrettably, I have abandoned auditioning any of the DECWARE SPEAKERS ON HOME TRIAL. The reason is simple, potential buyers must pay round trip shipping from and back to Peoria, Illinois, and if you return the speaker of your choice there is a 10 % restocking fee. I diplomatically lodged a complaint about this policy with Steve, and decided to look elsewhere. Selah Audio has a generous home trial policy where the buyer only pay return shipping back to North Carolina if your return the speaker you choose to audition. The Selah speaker " Dicennio" is a revamped version of the former the Prestigio. and is $3495 It is an MTM design using the RAAL tweeter. Not sure if it is worth the bucks when their are other speakers in that price range, though used, that could be a better and a better value. I will have to see Thanks again to those who have responded S.J.. |
To 213 runnin: Thank you for the support. However, I may be suffering from "analysis paralysis" as you suggested. The issue for me is whether how much more performance is available beyond what I hear from the Golden Ear Technology model 7. There is a lot of speakers out there, and one in particular that has help my interest only in reviews: Revel F206's. I never heard them which (I know) is not the way to buy speakers, However, I bought a pair of Acoustic Zen Adagios which I still might own if I did not downsize the system because of room dimensions restrictions after moving to L.A.. from Honolulu and also I did not want to lug around a 80 lbs speaker around the living room. To PS: I have reconsidered the Maggies, but it would have to be the Maggie 1.7i, anything else is too big, not necessarily too expensive. I think there is a 2.7i Maggies are great but a pain in the ass to set up and their speaker connectors suck. This leads to..... :
SoundsReal Audio's point of avoiding sales tax. I am as patriotic as the next guy, but 8.5% sales tax prevails in Los Angeles country with only a slight deviation. For example, a new pair of Revel F206 is $3500. With a 10% discount which I could get, the tax on $3250 is $276.25 which brings me back to retail. But the main issue is less about size and price, but much better and more revealing sound because the speaker is superior across the board.. As everyone knows on this site, buying used has its risks and you must know the seller. Also, it is somewhat of an unwritten law that unless you are a victim of a bad seller or defective product, there is no returns.
Thank again to all who responded, S.J.. |
To Avanti 1960, Thanks for the comments. I am not sure I hear some of the flaws you point out about the GET model 7's What you note about the dispersion of the tweeter seems on target and the soundstage goes little beyond the outer walls of the speakers. However, they are accurate and distortion is low, but as you note it may be more aimed at home theater use. I think the equipment I am using is pushing them to limits of their performance tier. To PS: I could not access the link you sent. I think you added one too many http No problem, I will check out the company's website.
To audiozen, I thought there was only one Enzo model in the Tekton lineup?. I will check again BTW, do you recall what issue and year Herb Reichert's review appeared in Stereophile?? Thanks to all, S.J.
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I am curious why Martin Logan planar speakers have not been recommended by anyone so far. Does it have to do with its narrow soundstage and somewhat finicky placement problems??
Thank you, S.J. |
I am a curious why no member to my knowledge did not recommend any of the Martin Logan speakers for this thread in the $3000-$3500. I have heard a few over the years, the latest being ESL-EM Electro motion model which now retails for $2495.00 I have read, and know some of their limitations, that is a narrow and shallow soundstage, finicky placement, and often a beamy treble. They are also somewhat big and the stats need AC power.
Thank you, S.J.
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To all members: I checked the other day to see if anyone responded to the "above" questions above I did not see them, knowing that AG can occasionally not post or miss posting. threads However, to my great surprise, and confirmation of approaching senility, I discovered that on November 5, member "213 runnin" was the frist to respond to those new questions, and other members followed with all good advice and valuable comments. Several confirmed that which I did not want to admit, that the lower price ML's just don't deliver the sound that other speakers in a similar price range and higher can offer and, you must graduate to the larger and more expensive models. Point well taken!! To JohnnyR: the Vandersteens are too heavy and would probably sink into my lower neighbor's living room or the center of the earth. But thanks for the recommendation. To PS and 213runnin: your advice and words of wisdom are on point even for an old geezer like me. Actually, I have more or less decided on the Revel Peforma F-206 speakers, and missed a pair about two week ago from the same member currently selling the model F-208 speakers. I also missed a second owner pair of F-206's on U.S, Audio Mart that sold very last night. To ps, I know "it is ultimately about the music". After doing this since 1971, I have not forgotten that. However, I am just always curious about hearing more music from a speaker and am aware of the importance of good electronics, and cables I will keep looking for a pair Revel F 206's, at the right price and hopefully in glossy walnut, but I am also going to wind down the quest for a while.
Thank you all, and Happy Holidays, S.J. |
