Ok folks, I HAVE FINALLY heard these speakers in person.
I was invited over to Mark Gilmore's house when I went to visit relatives.
I was able to hear both the Model 2 and 3 speakers. We listened to the Model 3 speakers extensively because the Model 2 speakers were a bit too big for the room we were listening in.
Anyway... Let's forget about all the white paper BS specifications on these speakers for a moment. White paper has never told me anything about how something sounds. I have to hear a piece of gear before I can make a judgement on the sound.
And how do I think they sound???
On axis these speakers are possibly the finest speakers I have ever heard. What do these speakers do that makes them this good?
- They are amazingly coherent from top to bottom. I could NOT hear their crossover point.
- They are the most dynamic planer speaker I have ever heard. And most box speakers do not even come close to competing dynamically as well.
- The bottom end of these speakers is mind blowing. They go so deep with minimal distortion.
- This speaker has probably the least amount of distortion that I have EVER heard from ANY speaker. Listening to these speakers is like listening to the finest headphones EVER made but on a huge scale.
- This minimal distortion enables detail to just ooze from this speaker. These speakers are like windows to the music you are listening to.
- These speakers are perhaps the fastest speakers I have ever heard. Their speed from top to bottom is insanely good.
Is there anything negative I can say about these speakers?
- These speakers are designed to be listened to from a designated listening position (on axis). If you are NOT on axis BUT you are still ear level with the drivers of the speakers, the sound they project is GOOD but not great. And if your ear is above the drivers of the speaker, the sound these speakers project declies quite quickly. Thus, if you want to hear these speakers in all of their glory, you must listen from an on axis optimal listening position.
This is the only quibble I have with these speakers.
Anyway, I planned on only being at Gilmore's house for two hours or so, and I ended up staying around seven hours. We ended up spinning a ton of vinyl (YEE HA!!!!! and only a little digital) I would have stayed as long as I could, but I had to pick my mother up at the airport.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND EVERYONE GOING TO CES DROP BY AND HEAR THESE GILMORE SPEAKERS IN ACTION. IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM (YEP, THEY NOT BE CHEAP), THESE SPEAKERS COULD BE THE LAST SPEAKERS YOU BUY FOR A LONG TIME. I kid you not... These are my favorite non box speakers by a WIDE MARGIN. THree years ago I sold my Maggies because I could NOT get dynamic sound like this from them... My favorite box speaker is the Vandersteen 5A speakers. For me to determine which I like better, I will need to hear them back to back in a reference system. Maybe one day....
Email me if you have any questions.
KF
I was invited over to Mark Gilmore's house when I went to visit relatives.
I was able to hear both the Model 2 and 3 speakers. We listened to the Model 3 speakers extensively because the Model 2 speakers were a bit too big for the room we were listening in.
Anyway... Let's forget about all the white paper BS specifications on these speakers for a moment. White paper has never told me anything about how something sounds. I have to hear a piece of gear before I can make a judgement on the sound.
And how do I think they sound???
On axis these speakers are possibly the finest speakers I have ever heard. What do these speakers do that makes them this good?
- They are amazingly coherent from top to bottom. I could NOT hear their crossover point.
- They are the most dynamic planer speaker I have ever heard. And most box speakers do not even come close to competing dynamically as well.
- The bottom end of these speakers is mind blowing. They go so deep with minimal distortion.
- This speaker has probably the least amount of distortion that I have EVER heard from ANY speaker. Listening to these speakers is like listening to the finest headphones EVER made but on a huge scale.
- This minimal distortion enables detail to just ooze from this speaker. These speakers are like windows to the music you are listening to.
- These speakers are perhaps the fastest speakers I have ever heard. Their speed from top to bottom is insanely good.
Is there anything negative I can say about these speakers?
- These speakers are designed to be listened to from a designated listening position (on axis). If you are NOT on axis BUT you are still ear level with the drivers of the speakers, the sound they project is GOOD but not great. And if your ear is above the drivers of the speaker, the sound these speakers project declies quite quickly. Thus, if you want to hear these speakers in all of their glory, you must listen from an on axis optimal listening position.
This is the only quibble I have with these speakers.
Anyway, I planned on only being at Gilmore's house for two hours or so, and I ended up staying around seven hours. We ended up spinning a ton of vinyl (YEE HA!!!!! and only a little digital) I would have stayed as long as I could, but I had to pick my mother up at the airport.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND EVERYONE GOING TO CES DROP BY AND HEAR THESE GILMORE SPEAKERS IN ACTION. IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM (YEP, THEY NOT BE CHEAP), THESE SPEAKERS COULD BE THE LAST SPEAKERS YOU BUY FOR A LONG TIME. I kid you not... These are my favorite non box speakers by a WIDE MARGIN. THree years ago I sold my Maggies because I could NOT get dynamic sound like this from them... My favorite box speaker is the Vandersteen 5A speakers. For me to determine which I like better, I will need to hear them back to back in a reference system. Maybe one day....
Email me if you have any questions.
KF