FWIW, I demo'd three pairs of ~$3K speakers at a retailer recently. The amp used for all 3 was a Luxman integrated (model #?) with big meters. I heard a Devore Gibbon 8, Audio Physic something or other, and Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand. I didn't like any of the speakers, to my great surprise. Could it have been the amp? All three sounded thin and lightweight, the Gibbon 8s sounded almost like the mid/woofer was disconnected, the AP sounded less thin, but still had a mid and high range emphasis, and the Mozarts sounded fuller, but tizzy in the treble. Imaging on all 3 was good, but soundstage was just fair. None of these speakers allowed me to connect to the music.
Maybe it was the speakers, or the Luxman amp. CD players were a one-box Esoteric and a Musical Fidellity A5.
It could have been the CD - Pixies' "Doolittle." It's what I happened to have with me for this impromptu audition. However, on my cheap Sony portable player and JVC cans, the CD sounded fairly good.
I will certainly revisit the VAs, and maybe the APs, but I will try a different amp next time.
Maybe it was the speakers, or the Luxman amp. CD players were a one-box Esoteric and a Musical Fidellity A5.
It could have been the CD - Pixies' "Doolittle." It's what I happened to have with me for this impromptu audition. However, on my cheap Sony portable player and JVC cans, the CD sounded fairly good.
I will certainly revisit the VAs, and maybe the APs, but I will try a different amp next time.