Speakers and the genius of the lamp

[microstrip]

Imagine you find a old lamp, rub it unleashing the Genie. The Genie reveals that since you are an audiophile, member of WBF, you will be granted only one immediate wish - a pair of loudspeakers on your choice, irrespective of price. But there is one condition - you have to use these speakers in your current listening space, and provide yourself the remaining part of the system - no extra wishes!

Which speakers would you choose, assuming you have no time to poll for the opinions of WBF members, read reviews or look for measurements?

BTW, the Genie warns you that if you try to ask for an expensive speaker in order to sell it, it you will be sentenced to listen to MP3 for the rest of your life ...

 

[LL21]

Hah! like that last bit, Micro. For me, it would either be Alexandria X2 or Arrakis (which i have yet to hear...but based on my experience with Rockport speakers and speaking to a few folks). Happy to run either with my current system. (funny thing, that's exactly why i went with SS Class A over lower powered SET)...to give me the flexibility to move over from the X-1/Grand Slamms to the Arrakis if pair ever came up in the next several yrs second hand at a good price (in the same way my Slamms did).

 

[microstrip]

Lloyd,
You have not been reading the WBF news with care - otherwise you will ask for the Alexandria XLF not the X2.

 

[LL21]

Hi Micro,

Actually...i did read that and was struggling to remember the name...i absolutely would go for XLF! In fact, i just put an Auralex wood/acoustic foam isolation platform under my sub...the Grand Slamms actually did clean up just the most surprisingly noticeable margin...but the big bass has disappeared!!! So do you think i should keep it and turn it louder? or have you ever experimented with these...and decided let it couple to the floor.

FWIW, i feel like i tuned the sub quite well straight coupled to the floor...its just that i have heard so many people have success with Auralex, that i am thinking (particularly with the Slamms seeming to be a toucher cleaner in the mid to lower bass) that maybe i should keep playing with the sub setting to re-adjust. thanks for any advice.

 

[flez007]

That's easy!.....Avalon Isis

 

[LL21]

Hi Flez,

Great speaker from what i've read...really great. often heard in the same breath as the great Sonus Faber homage series...some say better in certain respects. I wish i could hear them someplace.

 

[LL21]

Flez - you Inbox is full!!! I just tried to send you a PM about the Antileon. let me know when your inbox is cleared out.

 

[flez007]

cleared, sorry!

 

[DonH50]

Soundlabs Majestic. Or maybe Magnepan MG20-1, might have to think a few seconds...

 

[LL21]

would love to hear soundlabs set up properly someday...

 

[JackD201]

Von Schweikert VR-11 Mk.2s

Beauty of it is, all I'll need is to add a single pair of speaker cables.

 

[NorthStar]

Magico Q5.

 

[mauidan]

Based on my room and electronics, I'd ask the Genie for a pair of Wilson Polaris.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Hmmm...I can't even take over the wife's living room? If I have to stay in my current small space, I'd just ask for a couple of subs.

Tim

 

[caesar]

Microstrip, I would rub the genie the right way - so she would grant me a couple of wishes.

Wish 1: Soundlab Majestics, of course, for the acoustic and small scale stuff.

Wish 2: Something with not just a deep, dynamic bass, but something that also has a dynamic midrange driver for rock and large scale stuff. Wilson Alexandria with D'Agostino amps comes to mind for the latter, but I have not heard everything in that space.

 

[Steve Williams]

Based on my room and electronics, I'd ask the Genie for a pair of Wilson Polaris.

Why 2 center channel speakers???

 

[NorthStar]

Wow, didn't realize that! ...Hopefully they are matched (Wilson Polaris).

 

[RBFC]

Here's the Polaris:

http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product_pola_lowprofile.shtml

Lee

 

[microstrip]

Wow, didn't realize that! ...Hopefully they are matched (Wilson Polaris).

Bob,
Would you also ask for the view? It is not allowed ...

 

[NorthStar]

Yeah, because they are "low" (short), they allow a view through the window.
-> Good for the Japanese people...

* But too many buildings anyway;
I much prefer Ocean or Mountain view (without any skyscrapers or buildings of any sort).
Nature, and not man-made buildings.