Speakers and the genius of the lamp

[Johnny Vinyl]

Not really sure on the brand I would choose, as I've not listened to many truly high-end speakers ---- barring a few store auditions and at audio shows. But I think for my room, and because it is so small, I think some top-of-the-line Monitors would make for an excellent choice. Maybe some Sonus Faber's as I absolutely adore their designs as well.

 

[LL21]

There are a few SOTA speakers i have been fortunate to hear (and others i haven't yet). Heard/auditioned/listened extensively:
- Wilson X1/Grand Slamm
- Tidal Sunrays (full complement of Tidal 6' tower subs)
- Wilson X2/Alexandria
- YG Acoustics Anat Reference
- Others (great, maybe not quite all-out-assault, cost-no-object): SF Stradivari, Martin Logan CLX, Thiel CS5, Magnepan 3.6, Cessaro Beta 0.5 with subs, Rockport Merak/Sheritan II, Apogee Stages

There are a few speakers i would love to hear but have just never found the opportunity (yet):
- Rockport Arrakis
- Sound Labs A-1
- Apogee (the big ones...duetta signature?)
- Wilson X-2/Alexandria XLF
- Genesis 1.2
- Evolution Acoustics MM3
- Martin Logan Statements
- the Sonus Faber

I would also luv to hear the Wilson X-1/Series V upgrade...basically the entire top of the speaker (tweeter thru lower mids)...is replaced including all internal wiring, crossovers, etc to Alexandria spec. Mainly because i'd luv to hear how close to these it gets for the money...even with full upgrade, a fraction of the cost of any of the new speakers, tho not the older ones.

 

[caesar]

There are a few SOTA speakers i have been fortunate to hear (and others i haven't yet). Heard/auditioned/listened extensively:
- Wilson X1/Grand Slamm
- Tidal Sunrays (full complement of Tidal 6' tower subs)
- Wilson X2/Alexandria
- YG Acoustics Anat Reference
- Others (great, maybe not quite all-out-assault, cost-no-object): SF Stradivari, Martin Logan CLX, Thiel CS5, Magnepan 3.6, Cessaro Beta 0.5 with subs, Rockport Merak/Sheritan II, Apogee Stages

There are a few speakers i would love to hear but have just never found the opportunity (yet):
- Rockport Arrakis
- Sound Labs A-1
- Apogee (the big ones...duetta signature?)
- Wilson X-2/Alexandria XLF
- Genesis 1.2
- Evolution Acoustics MM3
- Martin Logan Statements
- the Sonus Faber

I would also luv to hear the Wilson X-1/Series V upgrade...basically the entire top of the speaker (tweeter thru lower mids)...is replaced including all internal wiring, crossovers, etc to Alexandria spec. Mainly because i'd luv to hear how close to these it gets for the money...even with full upgrade, a fraction of the cost of any of the new speakers, tho not the older ones.

Lloydelee21,

That is a wonderful list! Here are a few more to add: Scaena, MBL 101 (and extremes), Nola, and Vivid Giya.

 

[LL21]

Nice additions, Caesar! I have never heard any of those and would also like to! Particularly intrigued by the MBL 101E and the Scaenas. How would you compare them with Wilsons, which i think you know very well. In particular the X1/X2s?

 

[jazdoc]

I'm happy with what I already have!

 

[NorthStar]

...And that would be? :b

 

[jazdoc]

Daedalus Ulysses:http://daedalusaudio.com/Ulysses.html

 

[rockitman]

Cost no object...top models from Wilson, Rockport, Magico, Focal/JMlab, Avalon, TAD and Evolution Acoustics would be on my short list.

 

[FrantzM]

There are a few SOTA speakers i have been fortunate to hear (and others i haven't yet). Heard/auditioned/listened extensively:
- Wilson X1/Grand Slamm
- Tidal Sunrays (full complement of Tidal 6' tower subs)
- Wilson X2/Alexandria
- YG Acoustics Anat Reference
- Others (great, maybe not quite all-out-assault, cost-no-object): SF Stradivari, Martin Logan CLX, Thiel CS5, Magnepan 3.6, Cessaro Beta 0.5 with subs, Rockport Merak/Sheritan II, Apogee Stages

There are a few speakers i would love to hear but have just never found the opportunity (yet):
- Rockport Arrakis
- Sound Labs A-1
- Apogee (the big ones...duetta signature?)
- Wilson X-2/Alexandria XLF
- Genesis 1.2
- Evolution Acoustics MM3
- Martin Logan Statements
- the Sonus Faber

I would also luv to hear the Wilson X-1/Series V upgrade...basically the entire top of the speaker (tweeter thru lower mids)...is replaced including all internal wiring, crossovers, etc to Alexandria spec. Mainly because i'd luv to hear how close to these it gets for the money...even with full upgrade, a fraction of the cost of any of the new speakers, tho not the older ones.

Nice List I have heard, auditioned a few on the list looking forward to the Arrakis and am interested in the MM3 or the Q5 or the upcoming revision of the MG 20.1/ Magnepan is usually tight-lipped on their future plans but they have to come with an upgrade considering the advances the1.7 & 3.7 brought in ...

 

[LL21]

Hi Frantz,

please let me know what you think of the Arrakis and MM3...in particular those intrigue me the most aside from the X2 which i have heard. I would be very interested to hear your impressions...i have read the post somewhere on WBF about Arrakis with great interest.

 

[Loco57]

Rockport Arrakis 2 in a heart beat I have read about the Man who invented the beasts and you just can't argue with sound engineering, technical expertise and pure genius that certinally seems to sum up Mr Andy Prior and his approach to whatever he sets his considerable talents to when it comes to all things Audio.

I have as yet to hear these mighty speakers or any of his range to be honest but I have yet to read a less than glowing report on any item Mr Prior has been involved with during his career, his products seem to be seen as visionary in design and how they preform.

 

[caesar]

Nice additions, Caesar! I have never heard any of those and would also like to! Particularly intrigued by the MBL 101E and the Scaenas. How would you compare them with Wilsons, which i think you know very well. In particular the X1/X2s?

I like Scaenas better than the Maxx 3. Scaenas just sound more real to me- a very nice bass foundation, a very lifelike, transparent, at-ease and natural presentation. Compared to the Alexandria driven by D'Agostino, however, I think the Wilsons beat the Scaena. I think Alexandria/ D'Agostino pretty much do what the Scaena does, but in comparison, the Scaena driver seems to lack resolution, so there is much more musical information from the Wilson. You do need a huge room for the Alexandria, though.

MBL, however, is in another league. Wilson sounds hi-fi in comparison to MBL - Wilson gets the audiophile vocabulary right, but doesn't capture the musical whole nearly as well as the MBL. The MBL is a total "you are there" speaker. It takes you to whatever venue the music was recorded in. I am not kidding! Imagine sitting in the recording studio with Bob Dylan during the Blood on the Tracks sessions. Imagine attending a Grateful Dead concert in Europe in 1972. Imagine getting a ticket to hear Harry Belafonte at Carnegie hall in the late 1950's... Peter Breuninger nails the experience of MBL brilliantly in his TAS review. If you haven't heard it yet, as a serious audiophile you must, as there is nothing really like it.

 

[LL21]

The MBL is a total "you are there" speaker. It takes you to whatever venue the music was recorded in. I am not kidding! Imagine sitting in the recording studio with Bob Dylan during the Blood on the Tracks sessions. Imagine attending a Grateful Dead concert in Europe in 1972. Imagine getting a ticket to hear Harry Belafonte at Carnegie hall in the late 1950's... Peter Breuninger nails the experience of MBL brilliantly in his TAS review. If you haven't heard it yet, as a serious audiophile you must, as there is nothing really like it.

Hi CAesar, Thanks for that...vvery helpful. Good to know and will look out for the next opportunity to hear them. thanks again.

 

[fas42]

Hi CAesar, Thanks for that...vvery helpful. Good to know and will look out for the next opportunity to hear them. thanks again.

But, be aware, very aware that they highlight every "defect" in the replay chain: in my one time hearing them they started off brilliantly, but steadily a harshness began to raise its ugly head the longer they were running. Not the speakers' fault; from my experiences with electronics over many years it was the classic signature of the type of circuit induced distortion that is very hard to knock on the head, no matter how expensive the gear ...

Frank