I recall for the longest time they were using Esotar1 tweeters because Dynaudio was not selling Esotar2s. |
Take a look at the review ultraaudio.com |
I have a pair of their Fontaines, original version, and they are excellent. Sub(s) required for this model for music other than acoustic IMO, so I augment the low end with a pair of ACI Titan subs (powered, 12" driver, sealed). Exquisite sound, with just the right amount of bite. Superb speakers whether opera, classical, acoustic, vocals, jazz, or rock. |
I had the pleasure of listening to the Andra I in @jayctoy 's system, and this system (he has many) is wonderfully musical via his analog front end. I know another Agon member who recently went with the Andra II or III (?) and he's really happy with it.
I realize this is relative, but used units seem to be reasonably priced and look good (these eyes). |
I have owned the Andra l speaker and currently own the Andra lll. They are the best sounding speakers I have owned. ( There have been quite few over the years including Quad ESL 57.)
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I should also mention that the company provides excellent support services. I have had several unsolicited conversations with company owner who enjoys helping his customers with questions they may have.
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I recently installed a pair of EgglestonWorks Viginti Speakers in my music room.
They are absolutely amazing!
After 20 years of Wilson Audio MAXX I thought I will never change my habits.
But, In a side by side demo arranged for me at Sunny Components in Covina, I was able to compare Wilson Audio Alexia 2, Vandersteen Seven Mk2 and the Viginti. It was a close race, they are all great speakers, but when Placido Domingo voice came up, there was only one choice, the Viginti.
If your preference is Classical music, Piano, strings or voices, for my taste, the viginti reproduced them with extreme realism.
The Viginti is not a very efficient speaker, don't hesitate to drive it with ample power.
BTW, the Viginti was the least expensive of the trio I auditioned.
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Last August I purchased a pair of Egglestonworks Fontaine Signatures from a fellow Agoner. A great transaction by the way! These are great sounding speakers and I will have them for a long time. They fit my music room perfectly, the build and finish is superb, and they are easy to drive. The speakers had no grilles, which I preferred, so I contacted Egglestonworks, told them I had purchased used, and they made a pair of new grilles which I purchased at a very reasonable price. First-class customer service for a small ticket item for speakers I did not buy through their dealers. That says a lot to me. Their website is very informative. The Fontaine Signatures are part of their legacy line now, replaced by a very similar model. I do not have a pic of them yet in my room, but will as I have also updated some other components. When/if I upgrade I will not hesitate to look at Eggleston first. Like many other audio companies/products that are excellent, they do not get a lot of press.
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Last August I purchased a pair of Egglestonworks Fontaine Signatures from a fellow Agoner. A great transaction by the way! These are great sounding speakers and I will have them for a long time. They fit my music room perfectly, the build and finish is superb, and they are easy to drive. The speakers had no grilles, which I preferred, so I contacted Egglestonworks, told them I had purchased used, and they made a pair of new grilles which I purchased at a very reasonable price. First-class customer service for a small ticket item for speakers I did not buy through their dealers. That says a lot to me. Their website is very informative. The Fontaine Signatures are part of their legacy line now, replaced by a very similar model. I do not have a pic of them yet in my room, but will as I have also updated some other components. When/if I upgrade I will not hesitate to look at Eggleston first. Like many other audio companies/products that are excellent, they do not get a lot of press.
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I recall reading the Paul Schaefer (Letterman Show) chose Eggleston after he heard them. He should know sound, dynamics, rhythm, etc.
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Had the Fountaine Sigs in my system on demo. Really great all-around speakers with top notch components and build quality. Agree they should have more publicity. My only reservation is they lack just the last nth degree of air and space as compared to the likes of later Vandersteens, Joseph Audio, ProAc, and Silverline. Just my experience and taste, but otherwise just top-notch in every way.
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Thanks you to all members who responded so far. The information has been helpful. However, like a few members above I am going to have find a great deal on a pair of their speakers under $10,000 to afford them. That is why I mentioned the new Emma Evo.. Used Andra I and II's rarely appear on Audiogon for sale To soix.... Interesting comment about the Eggleston Fountaine Sigs. It speaks well of the brands you listed, except maybe the Silverline I never owned their top tier models. I did own and liked a lot, the second Prelude model. The newest version I have not heard. |
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@sunnyjim I owned Andra II’s for 3 years. They are great speakers but I ended up selling them as my long term reference has always been Thiel, a very different sound. I own 2 pair of them.
The Eggys did a lot right, great midrange and bass, very transparent and simply disappeared in the soundstage. My only compliant, not quite enough air on the top end. I paired them with Mcintosh 501’s and Classe amps, which both lean to the dark side of reality. A different amp might have yielded different results. I thoroughly enjoyed them but were not a long term keeper for me. They are extremely heavy, just an FYI. Fortunately, I sold mine to a young buck who was able get them upstairs!
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I have my Andra for about 16 plus years now, Many times I almost gave up on them, Wes Philip gave them stellar review, they are truly very good speakers, they like a lot of power, they can lack air and posses thin sounding as well, As Davidten heard them in my place, He likes what he heard, to eliminate the thin sounding , I choose tube preamp by Art audio, to push more air on them , I decided to used Musiical fidelity 550 monoblock supercharger, Teo GC and High Fidelity Reveal Cables , I complemented them with Cerious Technolgy speaker cables, the Andras did sound very musical with no trace of thin sounding....and more air and dynamics showed up.... |
My digital source Marantz Sacd 8005, Dac Schiit Gumby, And Ah tjoeb cd , use as transport as well...Iam using music hall mff 5 turntable .Power Cables are copper made by DCCA... |
Pops I tried Mc Intosh as well , not a good match...I tried the BAT amp too dry for my taste, I tried Krell too mechanical, Mark Levinson 335 and their preamp did well with the Andra with transparent cables, I tried odyssey mono extreme amp did not match, |
The odyssey mono extremes are perfect match for my friend Thiel... |
Used Andra I and II's rarely appear for sale There is a listing for Andra I on another US site: 4.2K. |
I owned the Andra 2’s for about 5 years and my impression was identical to what Pop’s stated.
The Andra 2’s used the Esotar tweeter that many raved about (perhaps it was a crossover problem) but to me, the high frequencies were lacking and was my reason for selling.
ozzy |
iam not sure if the Andra 2 were made after Bill Eggleston sold the company, I do have the Andra 1, it took a lot of works before they sound really good.... |
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If you will hang on the Andras , and be patient , at the end they will give you musical enjoyment for a long time, My plan this summer I will audition Encore tekton, to see how good are this Andras, my guest I will end up keeping the Encore and the Andra...
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Shadorne 4K watts for the savoy ? Wow they need power...thanks for the link....very informative.. |
i have the original andras - and have been over the last few years looking for a pair of speakers with newer technology. problem is that while some speakers have better bass, or better staging, they dont seem to pull everything together like the andras. they are special speakers - but they need lots of power. was using a 50 watts tube amp from italy, but things really opened up with a 350w pass labs |
I own two pairs of Andre I, one with the center channel. Very rare. Recently replace all 12 inch drivers. Purchased directly from Aggleston. Power one pair with Levinson ML 336, the other pair with a Levinson ML 433. The best of the best. Pair with center channel for sale. |
I have a pair of the Viginti's in black, and drive them with Conrad Johnson ART Monoblock Amplifiers. I listen to a wide variety of music, but really listen to classical music with piano and female vocalists; both of which sound superb on the Egglestonworks. I can't recommend them highly enough, and the people at the company are great, too.
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