All NEW Final Audio Model 15 Electrostatic Loudspeakers Review : Taking Electrostatic Loudspeakers To A Whole New Level !

Paul1960 said:

Comparing amplifiers is somewhat like comparing different varieties of vanilla ice cream. While all might be appealing, distinguishing their differences can be challenging. Over the years, I have owned many amplifiers,

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Paul1960 said:

mainly low-powered tube, DIY FirstWatt, and Class D amps. At the time, I had Tekton Moabs, which I preferred over my Magnepan 3.7s. However, after hearing a friend’s 3.7s powered by a D'Agostino S350, I realized I had not tried the appropriate amplifier for the Maggies. Unable to afford the S350, I purchased used PS Audio BHK 300s at a reasonable price and was very happy with them. The 3.7s replaced the Moabs in my main system, and eight months later, I upgraded to the Magnepan 20.7s. Currently, I am using the Final Audio M35s, acquired in January.

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Paul1960 said:

The Plinius SA 103 sounds very similar to the Lamm M2.2’s that a friend lent me a few months ago. They have a lot of gain, with an XLR connection they are +5 dB vs the FPB 300s and +7.5 dB vs the DM-88s. In my system that is too much for a lot of the music I play. Streaming contemporary music over the Holo May KTE DAC I have to lower the volume on my Audio Research Ref 5SE preamp to below 20 and to my ears that decreases quality. Switching to the RCA input fixes that but then you lose some of the distinctiveness of the SA 103s so I didn’t listen that way for long. The SA 103 strikes me as a mid-range monster. They are extremely dynamic sounding with a ton of punch and excitement and a warm lush mid-range. But even level matched closely I often found the music sounded too loud for my tastes. I think about it like a color photograph that has had it’s contrast and saturation boosted. It has a lot of impact but for me it often seemed a little unnatural. I also found it to be less detailed than either the DM-88s or FPB 300s. It doesn’t have that same holographic quality that those other amps have. The SA 103 does have a ton of presence, and it makes a very positive first impression, but I liked it less the more I listened to it. I suspect that the people that rave about this amp have fairly specific tastes. The person I bought it from gave me a long list of well-regarded other amps he had owned that he preferred the SA 103 to, but I don’t think it is going to be the right amp for me.

I took that PS Audio BHK 300s out of the system a couple of weeks ago after comparing them to the DM-88s and the FPB 300s. Frankly, I had been completely happy with the BHK 300s and I wouldn’t have started down this amp journey if I hadn’t blown one of the channels. When I was comparing them to the DM-88s I kept finding myself preferring the tone and soundstage of the Halcros even though the BHK 300s had better dynamics. At the end of the day, I just found myself being more satisfied with the DM-88s. These are the only two amps I compared extensively with the Magnepan 20.7s as well as the M35s. If anything, I liked the DM-88s even more with the 20.7s than I did with the M35s. Comparing the FPB 300s I felt I was capturing more of the better soundstage of the Halcros while retaining the better dynamics of the BHK 300s. I also felt the FPB 300s had more detail and a bit more top end sparkle. At the end of the day, I found myself preferring the FPB 300s and didn’t hear a place the BHK 300s seemed particularly better. Now I will say the BHK 300s have tubes in the input section and even though I have a variety of different tubes to try there these listening tests were done primarily with Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8/ECC88 tubes. The tubes do make a difference, and I would try different tubes before I reached any final decision about the BHK 300s.

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Paul1960 said:

The Krell FPB 650Ms come at the end of this month. Those are monstrous 650 watt monoblocks that have a reputation for being noticeably better than the FPB 300s. I guess time will tell.

I’m afraid the conclusion that I’ve reached is a bit unsatisfying. Just like different flavors of vanilla ice cream, where you might find you prefer one variety with brownies and another with apple pie, I continue to find I prefer different amps with different genres of music and haven’t found one that is the best across all my listening. None of the amps perform poorly with the M35s and I can’t imagine anyone would be unhappy with how any of them sound. The differences I described are less than the similarities. Perhaps the Krell FPB 650Ms will bring me to audio nirvana, but it is more likely that the perfect amp is either just a dream or beyond my budget!

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jeffreybehr said:

Oh so true, especially for this non-Golden-Eared-Audiophole music lover.

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I had a pair of BHK600s and loved their sounds, overall; you might consider them.. They turned out to be too hot for me and my (over?)sensibilities.

When I read stories like yours, I'm rather GLAD I'm not a Golden-Eared Audiophile.. I tend to hear, after a week or month or ..., the overall characterstics of amps and also notice if anythings in the music are 'sticking out' or disappearing, which, of course, they shouldn't.. Since buying and then selling (for room-logistics purposes) the Sound Lab Majestic 745s, poweramps have been bouncing in and out of my system for about two years.. Finally this nonsummer I believe I'm going to fall in love with a pair of Parasound JC1+s.. I write 'believe' because I'm currently VERY pleased with a new pair of the JC1+s' 'little' brothers, the 250-into-8 JCM250s.. The JC1+s are on their way from The Music Room.. They'll be driving the upper-seven octaves of my excellent-sounding Eminent Technology LFT-8Cs I've had for a couple months, but maybe by the end of this week I'll have my new pair of somewhat customized LFT-6s that I talked Bruce into.

So unlike you, who is not fully satisfied with your poweramp status, I'm going to be thrilled with mine.. PLEASE understand that I'm not gloating, just sharing one positive result of having lower standards and less money to pis...er...invest on this stuff.

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Paul1960 said:

I am off the power amp merry go round for the foreseeable future although I am going to have a chance to try a Coda 16 in a week.

I've never tried the Parasound JC1+ but one amp I truly disliked was the original Parasound A21. That soured me on the brand.

Based on comments by you, @AudioLibertarian and @Riverdinaudio, as well as my own curiosity, I purchased a used pair of Eminent LFT 8Bs. Fantastic level of detail and imaging but I really didn't like their tonality. I know the 8Cs are supposed to be better than than the 8Bs, but I am surprised you can enjoy the 8Cs having come from the Majestic 745s. Based on a listening session I did with Sound Lab Millennium 2s in a very well set up room I can't imagine being happy with the LFTs after living with the rich tonality and vast scale of the Sound Labs. The LFTs seemed more resolving and their imaging was reminiscent of the holographic quality of Quad 57s but in every other way the Sound Labs seemed better. Hopefully, the upgraded Eminent LFT 6s you are getting will be a happy compromise. I suspect having more radiating panel area is a positive trade off for not having the integrated woofer.

Having recently cycled through Magnepan 20.7s, Quad 2912s and the Eminent LFT 8Bs in my main room I can say that I still prefer the Final Audio M35s. Each of the speakers have their own strengths but for my tastes I find the M35s to be the most satisfying to listen to.

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AudioLibertarian said:

I have listened to both models of the Sound Labs models at length (a bigger pair in a bigger hall and, a new, smaller one) at the recent Capital Audio Fest and {Finals at the Axpona last year). While both were marvelous in many regards, I d have to say that these SL sound rather different that the Eminent Tech 6s that I own (and I ve also owned 8bs). SL strength is very large (as some have said an "un-naturally" large) center imaging, and very large size of the instruments, but tried as hard as I could I just could not enjoy the music in those hotel rooms, with those SL speakers, near the extent that I do with my ET 6s. And I m not biased against the electrostats by any means, having owned various Acoustats and a pair of Audiostatics from Holland in the past, and generally being driver tech agnostic, as I now own several pairs of speakers with different driver tech, however in my humble opinion none of modern day electrostats can beat the Eminent Tech 6, and even 8c for a sense of "liveness" in their repoduction. There something bewitching that Bruce Thigpen does with their sonics! If properly combined with the REL subs (or for the best results PURE LOW subs from France, but those are kinda pricey!), the ET 6 that combo will sound competetive with any speakers at any price, in rooms of up 800-900 sq feet. One such combo is in the Philly area, done by my dealer, with tube crossover, and it sounds amazing, not unlike being in the smaller chamber live hall. The only panel speakers that I would consider if I were to part with my ET 6 would be Clarisys Studio+, and even those have a different sound character but remind me of my favorite Apogee Full Range. Naturally the above is IMHO and for my musical preferences.

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AudioLibertarian said:

I have listened to both models of the Sound Labs models at length (a bigger pair in a bigger hall and, a new, smaller one) at the recent Capital Audio Fest and {Finals at the Axpona last year). While both were marvelous in many regards, I d have to say that these SL sound rather different that the Eminent Tech 6s that I own (and I ve also owned 8bs). SL strength is very large (as some have said an "un-naturally" large) center imaging, and very large size of the instruments, but tried as hard as I could I just could not enjoy the music in those hotel rooms, with those SL speakers, near the extent that I do with my ET 6s. And I m not biased against the electrostats by any means, having owned various Acoustats and a pair of Audiostatics from Holland in the past, and generally being driver tech agnostic, as I now own several pairs of speakers with different driver tech, however in my humble opinion none of modern day electrostats can beat the Eminent Tech 6, and even 8c for a sense of "liveness" in their repoduction. There something bewitching that Bruce Thigpen does with their sonics! If properly combined with the REL subs (or for the best results PURE LOW subs from France, but those are kinda pricey!), the ET 6 that combo will sound competetive with any speakers at any price, in rooms of up 800-900 sq feet. One such combo is in the Philly area, done by my dealer, with tube crossover, and it sounds amazing, not unlike being in the smaller chamber live hall. The only panel speakers that I would consider if I were to part with my ET 6 would be Clarisys Studio+, and even those have a different sound character but remind me of my favorite Apogee Full Range. Naturally the above is IMHO and for my musical preferences.

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jeffreybehr said:

I am THRILLED to read your comments on the Sound Labs v. the LFT-6s.. Your thoughts mean to me that my incoming '6s will sound even better than I think they will. FWIW I'm still waiting on a delivery-date estimate.

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Paul1960 said:

I hope you will post an extensive comparison of the LFT-6s versus the LFT 8Cs. I would think the much larger radiating area of the LFT 6 has the potential of significantly increasing the engagement factor and scale that I found lacking in the 8Bs. If that turns out to be true that could well turn them into world class speakers.

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jeffreybehr said:

I am THRILLED to read your comments on the Sound Labs v. the LFT-6s.. Your thoughts mean to me that my incoming '6s will sound even better than I think they will. FWIW I'm still waiting on a delivery-date estimate.

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StereoGuy007 said:

A little history first. My uncle gave me my first Fischer quadraphonic stereo amplifier when I was twelve. Over the years I changed out my electronics and speakers many times trying to eliminate dispersions and get great sound. Fast forward to 2009, I bought a pair of Final Sound 600i speakers. I had these for over fourteen years along side other popular box and hybrid electrostatic speakers.

Fast forward again to 2025. I ordered a pair of speakers from a very prominent hybrid electrostatic speaker company. While I was waiting for delivery, the Final-Audio US dealer happened to contact me. I cancelled the ones on order and ended up with Final-Audio Model 15 speakers.

I replaced my reference pre-amp with a very versatile pre-amp (Parasound P-6) with robust base management and generous tone controls. After placing the Model-15 speakers to precise locations in the room and adding a couple of fabulous value sub-woofers, I was finally listening to what I been chasing all these years.

The sound stage is larger than my large room and the detail and placement of the instrument is very wonderful. Absolutely no dispersions anywhere, just a clean crisp sound field filling my 17x19 room. Not only is there air around voices, but cymbals, guitars and more have air around them.

Great purchase and experience with the US dealership...

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AudioLibertarian said:

Do you get tangible "body" and "meat on the bones" with the Final 5 model, similar to the ET 6 or the classic Apogees?

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Site7000 said:

How deep do the M15s or M35s go?

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