Here is what an audiophile pal of mine had to say after listening to the Spirits this afternoon.....
What an experience, and a wonderful EXPERIENCE it is. This speaker is a tour de force and should not be compared to the G1s, as it is an entirely different beast and should be considered in a class of it's own.
Rodney and myself were joking that we should develop a goose bump inducing measuring machine, think along the lines of those old analogue machines with a thousand knobs - they give you a constant supply of goose bumps from head to toe, that's what these speakers do to you. At the same time, the High Glossary of Audio Terms can be thrown out of the door, There is so much RIGHT that these speakers do that there is no need for you to even think in terms of audiophile terms to express what you are hearing.
It is the first time ever, that I could with the greatest of ease make out each instrument, note being played, the specific place that they are in, the textures, colours, values, the softest to the loudest notes of these instruments, including voices, the sense of space, as in width, height and especially depth of the venue/soundstage are all stupendous. And all of that is not etched, nor forced, nor hard on the ear, at any volume and I pushed it to levels that Rodney squealed he had not listened at.
There was hardly any music, that I knew very well, that wasn't a revelation. From Rosa Passos 'Rosa' album(Telarc) [ which is a magical album both for production values and content], the first track 'Duas Contas' with just her voice is amazing. As Rodney opined earlier all the inflections of the artist(s), the nuances in the language[Portugese here], the phrasing, the atmosphere, ambience and sense of the huge space around and behind her is palpable and easily heard. There is absolutely no ways that this is not goose bump inducing.
Take Hamilton de Holanda's [plays 10 string Mandolin] 'Brasilianos' cd where he is accompanied by an acoustic guitar, electric bass, harmonica and drums in an intimate setting [pics are provided in the booklet], the sounds he and his sidekicks produces are exquisite. His mandolin playing kicks butt. The Spirits conveys the sound in a connectable, tangible and emotional way that I have not experienced with the G1s at its best in Rodney's or any other room.
Lastly, another torture track from the many that I played that was memorable to the nth degree, that I have not played for a long while was Stanley Clarke's ' Lord Of The Low Frequencies' from his East River Drive album - this track had many a system in years past go into protection mode. Not here, no matter how loud you turned it up, the music just sounded better and better and you are helpless in the need to control your facial muscles, as you just smile and keep on smiling with the pleasure this induces.
Of all the mental notes I took, and lots of it I did in the beginning, I later just gave up, and if I had to choose one thing that struck me the most, it had to be this : it is the first time in all my years of listening to music that I can say with total conviction, that I can now hear the artist(s) intent for making the music. And the conveying of this process is as natural is it should be when listening to it through this awesome system.
On a sad note and this comes with a warning, to his credit, this is the first time ever, that Rodney put me out of his house! I took no heed of his subtly telling me that he would put a bed up for me in his room, and then he point blank asked me to leave. Guys, you ARE going to find it hard to leave and I think I have set the standard which Rodney now has to factor in when inviting whomever, that he WILL have to ask you to leave! Thanks for a wonderful afternoon Rodney and congratulations on your latest achievement.
This truly is a remarkable speaker and a great achievement, Kudos to Laurence Dickie and team.
Perhaps I should find a partner like that. Sounds like I should have no difficulties getting these through the door at $6,000:
