Black Friday specials in the house (grills tbd). These are interesting. I was a huge skeptic after reading the raving "fanboy" reviews and the marketing bluster. I'll report back after I get them broken in, but they sure are fun to listen to. Only about 30 hours in. First $.02.
Unless they take a sharp turn, I don't think that they render the entire industry obsolete or that they kill every $15-20k "giant," but there is definitely something special about them. The "one more song" and "turn it up a little" intangibles are there. Right now, the bass is flubby and the highs are a little gritty, even as there is a big, fast, live sound overall that I've rarely, if ever, heard on anything that wasn't bigger and more expensive. Slightly thin in the lower mids on some music. Give an impression of space--almost like adding a hint of 'verb. Oddly, both delicate and a little crude; detailed, yet a bit unrefined. "Twinkly" and "sparkly," but without fatigue-I-ness or excessive sibilance. Could listen to these things all day long (and have for two days). Female voices often forward. Male voices often recessed. Maybe like an Omega RS5-based speaker and a smaller, older model Wilson had a bastard child. So far, glad I caved and ordered them.
I'll guess that these may not satisfy the specs-are-the-bible crowd, but, for the I want to enjoy what I'm hearing crowd, definitely, definitely worth a try in or around the price range. I know...new toy, but I'm really a little surprised.
Unless they take a sharp turn, I don't think that they render the entire industry obsolete or that they kill every $15-20k "giant," but there is definitely something special about them. The "one more song" and "turn it up a little" intangibles are there. Right now, the bass is flubby and the highs are a little gritty, even as there is a big, fast, live sound overall that I've rarely, if ever, heard on anything that wasn't bigger and more expensive. Slightly thin in the lower mids on some music. Give an impression of space--almost like adding a hint of 'verb. Oddly, both delicate and a little crude; detailed, yet a bit unrefined. "Twinkly" and "sparkly," but without fatigue-I-ness or excessive sibilance. Could listen to these things all day long (and have for two days). Female voices often forward. Male voices often recessed. Maybe like an Omega RS5-based speaker and a smaller, older model Wilson had a bastard child. So far, glad I caved and ordered them.
I'll guess that these may not satisfy the specs-are-the-bible crowd, but, for the I want to enjoy what I'm hearing crowd, definitely, definitely worth a try in or around the price range. I know...new toy, but I'm really a little surprised.