Anyone listened to ML Vantage?

i am also thinking of the ML vantage to replace my older Kef reference fours, so would some answer his post "I have heard very positively of ML Summits, but that is beyong my reach! Wondering if anyone had an encounter with the new Vantage, which is the smaller sibling of the Summit ML sent be the brochure and the specs of Vantage and they look good except for the 8" diameter woofer. Ascent, which is being replaced by Vantage had a 10" woofer, so I am wondering if that is a compromise. (However the Vantage has the Aluminium cone woofer, which ML claims is up to the task)" thanks

The Vantage is a great speaker ! I finally got a pair for my own Theater. I own a music store & have 8 other mfg's to choose from.
The Vantages however need to be broker in for at least 200 hours before they shine. I would also play around in setting them up. Your local ML dealer should help you with a pair.
www.sunnycomp.com/theater.php

I own a pair of the Vantages and love them. Moved up from a pair of Ascent i's and can definitely hear an improvement. It's amazing how such a relatively small speaker can project such a wide soundstage. These speakers go way deep. Considerably more so than than the Ascents. More transparent, too. I've not heard the Summits, but it's hard to imagine how they could sound 2x better, relative to their cost.

I got a (brief) opportunity to listen in as a customer at a local dealer A-B'd the Vantage vs the Summit. The music wasn't my cup of tea - synth heavy rock- so I can't tell you much about the speakers in the absolute. I can say that, off the one listen - I'd choose the Vantage and pocket the difference. Whatever difference there is in deep bass between the 2 models wasn't really evident, despite music that was chosen (I assume) to allow the listener to discern just that. Ancillary equipment, room acoutics, etc probably didn't help.

FWIW-I had much the same reaction to an A-B of the Vandy 5A and Quattro. I suspect that the differences in ultimate capability of the pricier speakers would be more easily heard in a more carefully constructed demo. However, if your regular listening doesn't include appropriate source material, suitable ancillaries, room acoustics, etc-you may not hear much difference at home either. That's probably true in my case and the less expensive options would suit me just fine. YMMV.

Marty

Had the Vantage... now have the Summits.

Both are awesome speakers, the Vantage is obviously a cheaper entry-ticket to the sound of the two. I like the Vantage quite a bit and if it wasnt for a local deal on a pair of Summits, I would've probably stuck with the Vantages.

Joey