After Quad ESL's?

Thanks to all who have responded so far. Thank you for considering the transparency/low listening level/imaging puzzle.

Based on your recommendations I would like to hear the Harbeth 5... has anyone compared the harbeth to the Spendors?

To me, the Gradients look a little large, and sound like they would be harder to drive, though they're advantage would be that they would not need a sub.

Something about the look of the Tyler suggests to me that this is not a forgiving speaker, and the price (with stands) is closer to $2000 used.

The most intriguing suggestion is the Omega 3R, but then the issue of bass... looks like a subwoofer in my future. I suppose I could find a sub for $500, or so, which would bring me in at my buget.

Truth be told, I have been single-driver curious, but after all these years without real bass, I was hoping to find a speaker with response into the low 40's without resorting to a sub.

Sounds like we may soon be seeing lots of used Gallo Ref III's as they lose their "flavor of the month" status, I expect they will be available for $1700 within a year. The Gallo has low efficientcy, and goes lower in the bass. It also seems to have few detractors. How would you decribe the top end and low level resolution of that speaker?

Thanks again to all.
Michael in S.F.

I listened to the Gallo Ref 3's at Marin dealer yesterday... If I were willing to spend it, I would pay $2500 for that quality of sound: very fast, and extended. Well intergrated, to these ears.

I want to get back to all of you.

I bought a pair of Gallo Ref 3's based on listening to a pair that had been broken by a nearby dealer.

Given how this new pair of ref 3's sounds after 75hrs of break in (apparently only 1/3 of the way through), I would have already returned them if I hadn't heard the dealer's pair. Fabulous tweeter but still searing at this point. I chose these for their:
1) Sound (very refined)
2) Great dispersion/ Imaging
3) Lack of cabinet resonance
4) Bass extention and potential
5) Simplicity of crossover (easy to drive/ tube friendly
6) Highest WAF of ALL (at our house), (I also like the looks)

I have also decided to update my ancient amps (Quad II Mono's, contact me if you are interested in them), and bought a used CJ MV-60, here. I love music, and have loved CJ amps because they make music.

I have used the MV-75, MV-50, Premier 4, Premeir 5's, Mv-55, and now it will be the MV-60. Lew and Bill's company is always a pleasure to deal with for updates and service (of which I have needed little).

I am also going to try a pair of NuForce monos for the second voice coil, and perhaps full range. NuForce makes an amazing new switching amp, small, cool running, and powerful, 100wpc Monos for $1600. I'll try 'em! Word has it that they compare favorably with the highe$t of the high (all bow), THE HALCRO.

I'll be comparing the NuForce amps to the MV-60's holographic midrange, and also the Rowland 201's and we shall see what we shall see.

The horn shoppe horns look fantastic, I bet they sound that way too. Especially with SET or SEP(?) single-ended pentode?

But in my case, as I think I mentioned, my domestic harmony ruled out large obelisks.

Also, with back loaded horns, many here have also complained about beamy high frequencies and wooly bass or less than steller bass, or no low bass at all.

Because the Quads always had these limitations which were a source of irritation to other listeners (I enjoy sharing music with friends) as well as myself, the solutions to these limitations became the criteria any new speaker had to meet.

According to design review (singer/songwriter Pollyanna Bush – see CDBaby.com, for her album), the Gallos Ref 3's are a winner, and that, my friends, is more than half the battle.

Good listening, with good music,
Earthy.