Qln, Joseph Audio, Audiovector, Marten, or Canton...?

I've been interested in JA BUT can't seem to get a response from them via their website. Fill out the form and radio silence. Why don't they list a telephone number?

54 weeks ago I traveled to a dealer to hear QLN P 3’s, R3 Arrete’s and anything else he might have.  The demo was be done on the same integrated amp and streamer that I owned.

The speakers and seat were set up carefully in a very proper listening room.

For 5 or more years, I’d been actively searching for a speaker to replace my old but very very good 2-way floorstanders that had been modded way up using extremely good parts inside.  Finding a speaker that was both the right size for my room and able to provide a very big step up in SQ had been elusive.  For example, in a 2017 demo, I loved Audio Physic Codex but they are much too big for my room and I didn’t care for the smaller AP tower that would fit in my space.

I much preferred the R3 over the P3.  Not trying to step on anyone’s toes by saying that.  You are right to have them both on your list.  And depending on one’s preferences, some will prefer the P3, per my dealer.

With good gear ahead of them and set up carefully, R3’s…in my opinion, are an astonishingly good speaker.  Electrostat-fast, dynamic, dead silent (cabinet), capable of incredible LF, tons of resolution without a hint of harshness.  The demo room was 34 by 22 by 10 and the R3’s ability to play loudly and fill that space without compressing was unreal.  My room is a small fraction of that size btw and the R3’s sound great at low volume as well as high volume which is very important to me.

I’m not able to compare and contrast the SQ differences between the two at this point.  But my preference for the R3 was not by a small margin nor limited to a few aspects of performance here or there.  I liked it a lot better and in every way.

The R3’s will pass thru any changes you make in gear and set up, including raking.  The drivers blend together extremely well as if a single point source and they utterly vanish while throwing a deep, wide soundstage.  While looking directly at them, the perception is that the sound is simply not coming from them.

I plan to try the freedom grounding cable in the coming months.

Hope this helps.  

OP, I recommend you check out the thread by Prof, "Contemplating DEVORE SPEAKERS (and others)....LONG audition report of many speakers".

I took delivery of a pair of Perspective2 Graphene three weeks ago and couldn’t be happier.  I had narrowed my options down, based on room size, personal preference, etc.  They sounded great out of the box and are improving.  Jeff Joseph and Aaron (at Now Listen Here) were great to work with.  All in all, I couldn’t be happier.  

I can’t compare them with the others on your list (which I’ve never heard), but am happy to share listening notes if you like.  In sum, I find them to excel in the qualities that you and others have mentioned.  Timbre is excellent, astonishing at times — especially the timbre of vocals.  I’m still working on placement, but the soundstage is large and 3-D.  They are fast and detailed, and not overwhelmed by complex passages.  I’ve had larger speakers with more bass presence (VSA HR-5 HSE), but the bass doesn’t seem absent as it does with some smaller speakers.

Good luck in your search. 

@thr1961 , 

I know it would be a schlep, but a visit to Audioconnections in Verona, NJ would be time well spent. If you could line up some other dealers on the way, then it would be quite a nice trip that would help you decide. And, perhaps reach out to the Audiogon community to see if there are any Joseph Audio owners nearby that would let you listen to their systems.

Bob

Nice budget

Sonner, SF, Q Acoustics, Spendor?