Split Decision!!!! StereoMojo Review: One for, One against..Bruce Brown!

[Andre Marc]

A split decision at StereoMojo!

Our own Bruce Brown gives the thumbs down, and another reviewer the thumbs up.

http://www.stereomojo.com/LENEHAN ML1 REFERENCE SPEAKER REVIEW/LenehandML1ReferenceSpeaker.htm

 

[mep]

It sounds like they were listening to two different speakers. These reviews reminds me of the old days of TAS.

 

[Andre Marc]

It sounds like they were listening to two different speakers. These reviews reminds me of the old days of TAS.

Yes, hard to believe they were both listening to the same product. One word: Subjectivity! Which is absolutely what this hobby is based on.

I think this is refreshing that we get two different verdicts. Maybe Bruce can comment.

 

[MrAcoustat]

A split decision at StereoMojo!

Our own Bruce Brown gives the thumbs down, and another reviewer the thumbs up.

http://www.stereomojo.com/LENEHAN ML1 REFERENCE SPEAKER REVIEW/LenehandML1ReferenceSpeaker.htm

To me this is normal two reviewers but with different tastes, does not mean that one is wrong and the other's right i would probably agree with only one of the two judging by the fact that Bruce like's Wilson speakers i don't think whe would have the same tastes in speakers but who knows as for me not crazy about ANY wilson speakers keeping in mind their prices i think that dollar for dollar you can do much better but that's ME others love them and it's their money let them buy what pleases them as for me i will choose Sound Labs any day over Wilsons BUT i'm a panel guy and heavy rock is not my kind of music.

 

[microstrip]

IMHO the difference in the reviews is easy to understand. Bruce used mainly acoustical music, some challenging recordings, and compared with his references, using his experience and the sound of live music. He spots the good and the bad in his opinion. The second reviewer just referred that the speaker only defect was being small and centered his critics mainly on voices - something that most current speakers reproduce fairly well. As others said, any one can pick the review he prefers, my choice was easy.

 

[Jim Treanor]

I'd have been tempted to ask how many operating hours were already logged on the speakers when Bruce got them (apparently he had first crack at them, and my initial thought was that perhaps the crossover caps might not have "settled in"), but it appears from his review that he gave them plenty of opportunity to "open up" as well as took the time to audition them in at least two different systems during their stay at his place. And the caps are copper foil, not Teflon.

 

[Bruce B]

The speakers were actually demos and were being used by someone else before I got them. When I received them, one of the binding posts had broken off during shipment, so I had to send one of them back.
At the time I received them and during the review, I had the EA MM3's speakers to compare them against. I hadn't gotten the Wilson's until the review was over. The manufacturer wanted me to keep them an extra month to compare them to the Alexia's. The biggest revelation I had was when my wife came down to the studio and the speakers were playing. She asked "What's up with these speakers? Are they broken?". With the build quality that went into them, I wanted so much for them to sound good. I just couldn't.

 

[Andre Marc]

The speakers were actually demos and were being used by someone else before I got them. When I received them, one of the binding posts had broken off during shipment, so I had to send one of them back.
At the time I received them and during the review, I had the EA MM3's speakers to compare them against. I hadn't gotten the Wilson's until the review was over. The manufacturer wanted me to keep them an extra month to compare them to the Alexia's. The biggest revelation I had was when my wife came down to the studio and the speakers were playing. She asked "What's up with these speakers? Are they broken?". With the build quality that went into them, I wanted so much for them to sound good. I just couldn't.

Thanks Bruce. What was your take on the EA MM3's?

 

[Bruce B]

Thanks Bruce. What was your take on the EA MM3's?

One of the best speakers I've ever heard!

 

[Andre Marc]

One of the best speakers I've ever heard!

It looks very impressive..what is the MSRP?

 

[Andre Marc]

The speakers were actually demos and were being used by someone else before I got them. When I received them, one of the binding posts had broken off during shipment, so I had to send one of them back.
At the time I received them and during the review, I had the EA MM3's speakers to compare them against. I hadn't gotten the Wilson's until the review was over. The manufacturer wanted me to keep them an extra month to compare them to the Alexia's. The biggest revelation I had was when my wife came down to the studio and the speakers were playing. She asked "What's up with these speakers? Are they broken?". With the build quality that went into them, I wanted so much for them to sound good. I just couldn't.

Funny story..I had a speaker in for review and I thought it sounded horrible when I first installed it...or broken..turns out I had it connected to 8 ohm taps on my McInstosh Integrated...and it was a 4 ohm speaker. When I fixed the problem it turned out to be a world beater.

 

[Bruce B]

It looks very impressive..what is the MSRP?

My guess is around $60k? I'm sure JT could tell you.

 

[Andre Marc]

My guess is around $60k? I'm sure JT could tell you.

Thanks Bruce!

 

[DaveyF]

Interesting point Andre. It would seem always appropriate for anyone reviewing a speaker ( or for that matter any piece of gear) to disclose what their reference system and reference sound is. Plus, an understanding of the reviewer's expertise in set-up may be of importance as well. It seems to me a little hard to believe that two reviewer's could have such divergent opinions. OTOH, I personally would put far more faith in a review that was more discriminatory and not full of hyperbole than the opposite. Could Bruce B have got it wrong, somehow I doubt it given his excellent description of what he heard. ( or more importantly didn't hear).

 

[Andre Marc]

Interesting point Andre. It would seem always appropriate for anyone reviewing a speaker ( or for that matter any piece of gear) to disclose what their reference system and reference sound is. Plus, an understanding of the reviewer's expertise in set-up may be of importance as well. It seems to me a little hard to believe that two reviewer's could have such divergent opinions. OTOH, I personally would put far more faith in a review that was more discriminatory and not full of hyperbole than the opposite. Could Bruce B have got it wrong, somehow I doubt it given his excellent description of what he heard. ( or more importantly didn't hear).

Hey Davey:

I think Bruce is an experience and knowledgeable listener. I don't know the other gentleman. Bruce and I both reviewed Densen gear and came to the same
conclusions, so I certainly think he had a pretty accurate take on the speaker. Of course, another listener might hear things differently, but that is what auditions are for!

 

[DaveyF]

Hey Davey:

I think Bruce is an experience and knowledgeable listener. I don't know the other gentleman. Bruce and I both reviewed Densen gear and came to the same
conclusions, so I certainly think he had a pretty accurate take on the speaker. Of course, another listener might hear things differently, but that is what auditions are for!

It is always possible that two people can hear different things in a speaker. OTOH, I have found that conformity of opinion is far more usual than such divergency, as in this review.
Interesting reviews and as I said, I would absolutely put credence in Bruce's.

 

[treitz3]

Just based off of the recordings I have heard Bruce do, I can say that he has an excellent ear. This is one pair of ears I would trust......and I do not say that often.

Tom

 

[Andre Marc]

It is always possible that two people can hear different things in a speaker. OTOH, I have found that conformity of opinion is far more usual than such divergency, as in this review.
Interesting reviews and as I said, I would absolutely put credence in Bruce's.

I agree with your point..you normally don't see such black and white conclusions..usually there is a consensus with maybe some slight disagreements about
a products strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Jim Treanor]

The speakers were actually demos and were being used by someone else before I got them.

Well, that disposes of that possibility.

 

[rockitman]

I trust the pro's ear...Bruce !