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Can you ever go back and be happy?

My audiophile friends and I often discuss if we know any highenders who have great planar speakers (Soundlabs,Apogees,Magnepans) that could go back to a box enclosure speaker and could truely be satisfied with the sound of their system. We believe there is a special quality the way a well designed planar loads a room which just sounds more natural and real to us compared with a baffled speaker design. On to the question. Not including having to down size or change speakers because of $issues or logistics, having to move your sytem to a smaller space etc., have any of you GON members gone from a world class planar to a box enclosed design and were able to really be happy and not long for the "good old planar days". We do not personally know anyone who has ever done it and was truly happy about afterwards. It would be great if any of you fellow GON members can relate to this question through your own personal experience and share your opinions with us.
teajay
tbg
5,263 posts
 
I have often gone back. I have had Magnaplanors from ARC, KLH 9s (electrostats), Infinity Servo-Statics (electrostats), Martin Logans (electrostats), Sound Labs A-1 (electrostats), and an electrostatic speaker out of Florida whose name I cannot recall. In between I have had various dynamic driver speakers. Before I had any of these I had various horn speakers and presently I have horn speakers. It is the dynamics and effortness of these as well as their efficiency which allows the use of low power amps that is what always draws me back to them.

I could never get used to 6' wide mouths of vocalists on planar speakers.
hack
185 posts
 
My first taste of planar speakers were Apogee Duetta II's, man did I ever love those speakers. Kids came along and I thought it best to sell'em off before they got damaged, huge mistake. Stupid thing to do.

I went through several different box speakers before I bought a pair of Martin Logan Quest Z speakers; I enjoyed them but they didn't have the same connection to the music as my Apogees did. I eventually sold the ML's and now use Eminent Technology LFT VIIIa's in my main system. I really like the ET's and see no reason to make another change (famous last words). There's just something about ribbons that sound right to me, of course you need an amp that can drive'em. So.. there's no going back. Jeff
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
" I could never get used to 6' wide mouths of vocalists on planar speakers."

LOL, thats funny!, I'm glad my Apogees don't do that.

Dave
siliab
356 posts
 
I had each incarnation of the Martin-Logan CLSes, with, and w/o subwoofers for many years, and loved them until the day they departed. In fact, I still love the sound of Quads, Logans, Soundlabs, Innersounds, and ETs when I have the occasion to hear them. I found, however, that I prefer listening to a few of the newest generation of box speakers because they have much of the inner detail, delicacy, and immediacy of panels, and a dynamic linearity that panels lack. I, apparently, am very sensitive to this. I have not missed the Logans at all.
essentialaudio
1,147 posts
 
Norm, the company out of Florida you're probably trying to think of is Acoustat. I see you've owned a few speakers :-) all of which I've heard except the Servo-Statiks. I've found those which employ a flat profile are more prone to the 'wide mouth' characteristic. One has to weigh the pros and cons; there are very few horns I could live with, not caring for their colorations and other tradeoffs.
Brian
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