@gammajo Can you tell me more about your experience with them. What other speakers did you compare them too. Very few people own them and hard to get first hand information other than hear say. Your input will be very helpful. |
Anybody knows any VSA VR-55, JA and Vandy dealers around Indy ? |
@musicaddict Thanks. Yes, with more break in, they are getting better and "opening up" more space and air around the instruments. This feels like an end game Speakers to me. |
@three_easy_payments
It’s strong opinion and yours only, thanks. I appreciate, if you don’t have any input on the speakers listed, not to mention others.
@goldprintaudio
Yes, I am thinking about Joseph audio pearls too. Hard to audition them. Have heard only good things about them. |
@erik_squires I have not done the high pass filters as you mentioned. I am not well educated or qualified in those skills. If it is something easy and makes a big difference, I am going to start learning about them.
@bpoletti Just for sake of fun, I will try those trees.
If it is OK, can we keep the discussion to speakers only.
As I mentioned, I am looking for speakers with better resolution, big soundstage, organic and sweet mids.
I liked the Musicality of Rockport's and the details of Magico. I am leaning more towards Magico kind of sound.
I wish I could audition VSA VR-55 and JA pearls. People swear by them. Will be good to hear from people who have heard or auditioned or owned them.
|
@soix and @goose Agree with you guys. I have kept JA pearls in my list and like to hear them, when I get a chance. Regarding Boenicke, I listened to them while I was in NY (I think it was W8SE). For that size, it was unbelievable how large the soundstage was and even the bass, was wow. They are very musical and neutral. I heard side by side with Gamut RS7i, and I think it was pretty close. Good thing about Boenicke is that, you can carry it easily. This was one small wonder of a speaker.
@bpoletti As I said, as with all good thing, change is imminent, especially for me. Also, I am just considering change with no final decision yet. I am also aware that, to beat the sound of 7Ts, the speakers should be real good. I still rave about them "they are best speakers nobody have heard". Regarding WA speakers, they are rear ported and the need little large room with at least 6 feet from back wall, to get best out of them. Speaker placement with WA is make or break. Besides, I am not sold on their looks, for some reason. |
@gammajo Thanks for your detailed info the sound quality of VR55. This helps.
@rodge827 @larryi I have not heard Charney audio and I will not deviate my path now. I am not close to NY/NJ and without listening to them, it is hard to get them, especially if I might have to sell it again as very few people know about these speakers (I myself came to know about them from you guys).
I have heard Maggies and they sound incredible, But they are too big and intimidating to my taste.
I wish I could hear more thoughts on speakers I mentioned, rather than trying to sway me away in different directions. I know everybody have passion for their "best speakers", and I appreciate that.
Regarding room treatment, I have done fair degree of bass traps, diffusers and absorption panels from GIK without overwhelming. I am fairly happy with that set up.
Has anybody heard or have experience with Marten Mingus or Vimberg Tonda or Vivid Giya or Rockports ? |
@audiokinesis You have very good understanding on room acoustics. Very few people have that, including me. Will certainly be in touch with you when I have to do some more changes, which will be done after my speaker purchase.
@abd1 I have heard some reviews on Nenuphar mini and 10 inch speakers. I heard them on videos too and they sounded very musical and clean. I am not sure, I might go for them. They are best with tube amps.
@larryi Vandys especially model 7 are phenomenal as per many people and reviews. I may consider putting them on list, if I can find a dealer near me.
@danvignau That will be ideal. I wish I could listen to them extensively but so many factors including the set up, audio gears behind them and the room where I hear. |
Looks like Joseph audio gets many votes, for good reason. This speaker has advantage of being an underdog among big players and hence a lot of sympathy. I can sense that and I also want to promote those kind of brands. But besides that, are there anybody here who have owned them. Will be good to hear from them too. It is easy to recommend all these speakers (some of them are so new to me), but consider this: "if it is my money, will I buy this". Throwing all the speakers at me when I am trying to narrow down makes it a long discussion without results. Meanwhile, I am going to find dealers to listen to Vimberg Tonda, Vonschweikert vr-55, Vandy 7, JA pearls. Will again listen to Magico S5MK2, and Avior II to make final decision. |
@laauadionut TAD speakers are one hell of a speakers. The one which I like is the reference one, but they are very expensive and even if I get used one, difficult to sell them. Besides, they are heavy beasts.
@john1 I wish aerial acoustics start making new speaker lines. They have vanished except for audiogon discussion forums. The 20T looks very outdated and off. But have heard from people they sound fantastic.
@ggc. I admired the Gamut Rs7i. I listened to them and they are one of the best speakers to listen for extended periods. I listened to them with Accuphase integrated (don’t remember the model). At first, they sounded dull, but as you listen, you realize how finesse they are, with good dynamics and adds soul to the voice. I thought they expensive for their offerings and even if I buy one, they are difficult to re-sell,
I know many have recommended Wilson Audio. I like them and at some point, I considered WA Sasha DAW. But their looks are like split personality. They look good with grills on, but with girls out, they look very ordinary. They do sound fantastic, mostly with grills out. Besides they need at least 4 feet from the from the front wall to get best results, and this position will be like touching my seating area.
I have kept Rockport Avior II on top so far. Once I audition, it might change, but doubt it. |
Yes, Joseph Audio Pearl is in my list. Have anybody heard monitor audio PL500II. Have heard in shows and people who buy it have kept it as end game speakers. The are tall and look good and sound very musical. Somewhat under rated but am considering it too. |
Magnepans are wonderful speakers. I like big speakers. But, they are just too big for me. There is “big” and there is “magnepan big”. |
Love those borreson speakers looks. Never heard them but people who have heard them have given very good comments. I think they are over priced. A used one might be real world price for half or so. I think monitor audio PL500II ticks most of my boxes. Leaning towards that. |
@fleschler VS VR55 and ultra 55 are ultimate end game speakers if you can afford them. I am thinking of keeping budget little low < 25K. Will wait for some deals on VS VR 55 or ultra in next few years. Also they need bigger room to really shine.
@falconquest eggleston works are well known for being organic and musical. Not sure about andra but Viginiti have lot of rave reviews. Not heard them though.
I am now close to make some decisions. Will audition few speakers this weekend, but MA PL500II has lot of speaker for money. Have heard them a while back and no dealer near me has them to audition now. But I was wowed back then. If by this weekend, if none of speakers wows me as much, especially for the price difference, I will go with MA PL500II and wait for some deals on VS VR 55 or ultras. |
@ssmaudio. Many factors. Besides budget and your listening taste, there are certain things that let’s you narrow down. The soundstage you want, the gears (amps, streamers, dac) you have, how much bass you want, the size of speakers, the looks (it does matter if you want your spouse approval), ease of driving the speakers. Once you have those, you will have to have understanding of sonic signature of each brand. I will pay attention to reviews (not always). I am not sure if anybody have had just one speaker first time and done with it. Sometimes you think you got best and may not be best match to your system, and may want to change, but it’s ok. One thing is for sure, there is nothing like perfect speaker, no matter how much you spend. It is just preference and you will have to compromise in some areas. If I don’t have near by dealer to audition, I pay attention to reviews and also listen on YouTube just to get some idea. As you know, not all reviews are transparent, I get some thoughts from fellow audiophiles in forums for real world experience and ideas. Even this can get tedious, as you ask for hep to narrow down, but you may get lot of suggestions, which is good most of times. Hope this helps. |
@mbump Your list is good one. I am not sure of the Endeavor SE, but review from parttimeaudiophile was very positive. They gave editors choice award. Damon from VSA is very friendly guy on email and he can be very transparent in his suggestions. VSA speakers are very reliable. As I mentioned, I have made up my mind for MA PL500II and will wait for VS VR55 deals in future. But I am sure you will not go wrong with Endevour SE. I could not see the price of those speakers. How much do they cost ?. See if they can demo or trial them to your house first ? |
@4425 I had Wilson in my list especially Sasha DAW. They are amazing speakers, but as mentioned, they need to kept at least 4 feet from front wall and also their looks is "like it or hate it". I have never fell for those looks, especially when you take those grills out. And they sound best with grills out.
Magnepans are very big. I like their sound but their size is too big for me. I do like tall speakers, but they are pretty big.
I am very close to finalize monitor audio PL500II. They are a lot of speaker for the money and very under rated. Not many have heard, but those who have heard them, have kept it as end game speakers. The other speaker above this one is Rockport Avior II, but I think I will buy MA PL500II and save some money.
Will eventually wait for VSA VR-55 later, if I get a good deal. |
@danvignau I wish it is easy as you say. There are some things we know and some things we don't know. I thought, the list I started was good enough. Only with exchanging ideas (audiophile world is pretty small) do we get to know more about real world experience and also got to know some new ones (even though too many new suggestions, which is expected in any forums), which I was not aware. Many times, when we listen to them in dealers, it does not exactly translate to what we hear at our house. This has happened many times. I wanted to get some "real world" experience from people who have "heard" them, and hence the post.
At same time, I agree with your recommendation about upgrading to same brand. I wish Aerial acoustics made better and bigger version of 7t, like 9t or 10t. 20t is too outdated and looks awkward compared to contemporary looks of 7t. |
@bpoletti I would like to thank you for your suggestion of placing the artificial ficus tress behind speakers. I placed few artificial palm trees behind my speakers, and yes they made huge improvement in sound. They are very good sound diffusers and made huge change in sound positively. I think, this is one of the best bang for buck on SQ other than my Fidelium speaker cables. I am planning to get some artifact ficus trees to keep between the speakers too. Once I get my new speakers and all set up, I am going post more, including pictures on Agon. |
Update: I finally got my monitor audio PL500II and the speakers are just wow, even new, right out of box. Amazing speakers. The mids are smooth and magical with addictive sound. Very musical with big soundstage (really big). Worked around with speaker placement and they got three dimensional. Oh my, they are one hell of a speaker for the money. You know when you hear, if it is real deal, and this one is, beyond my expectations. I am so sorry that monitor audio does not get much attention especially this world class speaker. I am a happy camper. Aerial acoustics 7T is a damn good speaker, and I was very skeptical if my new purchase will be better, but MA PL500II is winner for me. I am glad I made this purchase. |
@danvignau i agree with you on how people think their gears are best. Everybody is guilty of that. Also, the fact that there is no one speaker that is perfect, no matter the price, says that there is subjective component and preference for certain qualities in sound. And add to that, the hard earned money you spent, you get attached to your “buys”. @steve59 the current model is no way close to being bright. They are very polite and very true to sound source. |
@mtrot I have not heard the older MAs. I have heard the current MA PL300II and PL500II, So, I cannot talk about the first generation PL models. I just commented to the post asking whether, these are bright and THEY ARE NOT. The MA PL500II, are very musical, very good bass, amazing soundstage, very good layering of instruments in space (like you are in music hall or opera), the best 3D imaging. They are on dark side, which I like. They play what you feed. All good recordings were awesome. Bad recordings are not made any better, it just plays them as they are. One thing I can say is, it is very coherent and musical. It does not try to be analytical or extremely detailed (even though it has perfect amount of details). I have about 30-40 hrs on these. Even from the first song, they were good. |
@sounds_real_audio I have really appreciated the WB ACT technology and one of the beautiful looking speakers too. I was not able to audition them close to me and with my busy schedule, I was not interested in searching for them. I am now happy with my new speakers, monitor audio PL500II. My speaker search has ended. I guess I found my end game speakers. I am not missing anything with these. Thanks for everybody's input. it was fun discussing all about the speakers at this level. |
