I remember being enthusiastic by the affordability and value offered by this company when I purchased my first pair of Studio 100's. A knowledgable friend strongly suggested listening to the slightly higher priced Hales. I had compared them both in store but in different rooms and the Studio 100's seemed to have more of everything. Within a year they offered the Studio 100 v2. A response to reviewers criticism of a somewhat bright top end, they change the tweeter and offered optional reinforced wood clad sides to the enclosure which added a little body to the bottom end.
Still fairly new I managed decent resale on the 100's and bought the v2. Another year or so and came the v3 and the obviousness of ramped marketing. Loyal to the mark I auditioned the v3 this time at home. To our ears the v3 lost something and I stopped keeping up with they're marketing.
After living with the V2's I realized they seemed to sound their best at a certain somewhat loud level and I grew dissatisfied with them. By now the S8 was out. I went back to that same store where they still sold the same model Hales and the S8's but now in the same room along with a used pair of Avalon Acoustics Eclipse 2 ways.
What I thought were the 100's strong points were actually weaknesses and I realized I knew very little about sound without honest comparison. What I thought was the Hales deficiencies were actually a correctness with nothing standing out and glaring. The difference between the S8's and the Hales was strikingly obvious. The S8's are a multi-way speaker were you seem to hear every driver. The Hales were a more integrated single source creating a far more detailed sound stage. Comparing the Hales to the Eclipse it was easy to hear the Avalons refinement but of a similar voice.
Bifwynne, you have a stunning system that hugely outclasses those speakers. Used Eidolons or Vandersteen's will blow you away. Don't take my word for it, see for yourself.
Still fairly new I managed decent resale on the 100's and bought the v2. Another year or so and came the v3 and the obviousness of ramped marketing. Loyal to the mark I auditioned the v3 this time at home. To our ears the v3 lost something and I stopped keeping up with they're marketing.
After living with the V2's I realized they seemed to sound their best at a certain somewhat loud level and I grew dissatisfied with them. By now the S8 was out. I went back to that same store where they still sold the same model Hales and the S8's but now in the same room along with a used pair of Avalon Acoustics Eclipse 2 ways.
What I thought were the 100's strong points were actually weaknesses and I realized I knew very little about sound without honest comparison. What I thought was the Hales deficiencies were actually a correctness with nothing standing out and glaring. The difference between the S8's and the Hales was strikingly obvious. The S8's are a multi-way speaker were you seem to hear every driver. The Hales were a more integrated single source creating a far more detailed sound stage. Comparing the Hales to the Eclipse it was easy to hear the Avalons refinement but of a similar voice.
Bifwynne, you have a stunning system that hugely outclasses those speakers. Used Eidolons or Vandersteen's will blow you away. Don't take my word for it, see for yourself.