Dunlavy Cantata Feedback Please


Has anyone had an opportunity to hear them? I would be interested in getting your opinion. Thanks for reading this.
olga

Showing 2 responses by rap

I've had them for about 6 months and I think that they are an overlooked speaker my many. I'm shopping for an amp now to drive them but I also have SM-1 and 2-SC1AVs for a HT set up. Presently using 200wpc Adcom (yuk) with modest results. They need the vol turned up a bit to get the great bass that they are capable of. This was true with a recently auditioned 175wpc Spectral Universal amp as well. The smoothest I've heard so far was (believe it or not) the 5ch 200wpc Meridian. Very smooth, nice bass and good sound stage.
I'm going to settle on a 2ch amp for them and some 3ch amp to fill out the rest. Thinking about Rowland Model 6s.
I auditioned the N804 and Cantata. In the end I felt the Dunlavy's were superior in there accuracy and smooth sound. B&W, to me, is too much of a mass marketed speaker. They come out with a new line, series, model every 6 mos or so it seems. When I shell out my money I know that with B&W a lot of it is going to their marketing budget not product R&D and materials. With Dunlavy I get the feeling that John is "in there" somewhere. His upgrades and new model intros are few and far between and only when they make an improvement to the product.
I'm not familiar with the Parasound amp so I cannot comment. However in my quest for an amp I'm not auditioning a Goldmund Mimesis 28+. This is the sweatest, smoothest sound I've ever heard from the Cantatas. This amp makes you want to turn the volume up because it keeps getting better and better. This may be a winner!
Good luck.