"Sorry, I get sick of hearing people say they can get better sound than MBL for 1/2 the money!"
mbl 111 is the best I have heard at 3-d soundstage and imaging depth and detail. Dynamics are also very good. 101s are even better I am told. To me, these are major performance factors that when done well open things up to a different level in terms of what one CAN hear otherwise in a recording.
If you are not into the 3-d soundstage bit, then there is no reason to prefer MBL probably. If you are, then they are hard to beat from what I have heard.
There may be other omni designs out there for less that do similar things. The only ones I have heard that can compare are the OHMs, which categorically cost much less than mbl. OHMs may be more neutral sounding and also have a huge and airy soundstage but are designed for eaasier placement near walls than mbl and do soundstage and imaging differently. IF money is a factor and it were me, I'd give the OHM Walshes a listen before dropping the big bucks on mbl. I have owned a pair of OHM Walshes since 1982 and currently own two pair of more recent design OHM Walshes that are highly competitive with the better speaker designs out there these days that I have heard, including mbl.
OHM WALSH speakers are more retro looking while mbl's design is quite modern and contemporary looking.
mbl 111 is the best I have heard at 3-d soundstage and imaging depth and detail. Dynamics are also very good. 101s are even better I am told. To me, these are major performance factors that when done well open things up to a different level in terms of what one CAN hear otherwise in a recording.
If you are not into the 3-d soundstage bit, then there is no reason to prefer MBL probably. If you are, then they are hard to beat from what I have heard.
There may be other omni designs out there for less that do similar things. The only ones I have heard that can compare are the OHMs, which categorically cost much less than mbl. OHMs may be more neutral sounding and also have a huge and airy soundstage but are designed for eaasier placement near walls than mbl and do soundstage and imaging differently. IF money is a factor and it were me, I'd give the OHM Walshes a listen before dropping the big bucks on mbl. I have owned a pair of OHM Walshes since 1982 and currently own two pair of more recent design OHM Walshes that are highly competitive with the better speaker designs out there these days that I have heard, including mbl.
OHM WALSH speakers are more retro looking while mbl's design is quite modern and contemporary looking.