@tonnesen
We are definitely on similar paths!
I tried YG Hailey speakers, but they were not a good fit in my prior bass killing listening room. That was a costly mistake! In the right room, the YGs are superb speakers. I have PAP Quintets with the Voxativ AC-1.6s -these are the speakers that got me enamored with full range drivers. I also did some OB DIY projects using the Cube F10 Neo drivers. The Songers are in a completely different league than the Voxativ and Cube full range drivers. Ken’s an extraordinarily gifted speaker designer and the field coils put them over the top.
Years ago I almost bought Sonus faber Amati Anniversarios, but impulsively bought McIntosh XRT1K line arrays instead (I was deep into my McIntosh phase at the time). Huge (and also very costly) mistake! Live and learn....
If you’re single source, the A3 as an integrated would be the perfect fit. However, if that’s out of budget, the used Airtight is a very safe bet and I believe a better fit than the SS amps. Check out the superb Takatsuki 300b tubes. The Pass and AGD would likely both sell fast if you choose to trade up. Lot’s of great options!
Songer Audio: Simple is Best!
I have been an avid audiophile for decades. I own a large collection of high end gear that I use in multiple rooms, frequently rotate, and listen to constantly. I attend AXPONA and CAF perennially and regularly visit audiophile friends to experience their systems. I’m really into music and audio!
My long audio journey has brought through my system many different speaker configurations, including multi-driver box speakers (B&W, McIntosh, Raidho, YG, Wilson Benesch), panels (MartinLogan, Magnapan, TSW Apogees), omnis (MBL), horns (OMA), open baffles (PureAudioProject, Linkwitz, Cube), various subs (MartinLogan, JL, Linkwitz), full rangers (DIY, Voxativ, Cube, and Songer). I’ve experienced myriad tube and solid state configurations as well as most analog and digital source types. Additionally, I’ve experimented with numerous DSP and analog processing devices including some state-of-the-art components.
My ultimate litmus test is my long-term engagement. No matter how sophisticated, resolving, acclaimed, or expensive a speaker or system may be, if I find myself disengaged, distracted, or just bored, then I will move on from it. I have found that the systems and speakers that hold my attention most are typically the simplest. I tend to increasingly gravitate to simplicity.
The Songer S1x speakers are both the simplest and the best speakers I’ve ever owned. Source to the minimalist conrad-johnson preamp to a magnificent AirTight 300b amp to the single-driver, full-range, field-coil, Songer S1x speakers is a truly magical combination. These speakers are my favorite that I’ve owned (preferable to even my significantly more expensive and sophisticated Wilson Benesch Resolutions which are otherwise superb speakers). They hold their own to anything I’ve heard at shows.
The Songers have bass that should be impossible from a single driver and a 9 watt amplifier! The resolution is superb, the stage is huge, the dynamics are excellent, they are the epitome of musical and natural, and I could listen to them for hours at a time without ever losing interest. Every time I rotate in one of my other speakers, I quickly gravitate back to the Songers.
I credit this incredible accomplishment to Ken Songer’s magnificent driver design, no crossover, the field-coil motor, a superb cabinet, high efficiency, and the perfect point source single full range driver.
At $45,000 a pair, the Songers may be one of the greatest bargains in high-end audio. They’re in that rarified club with the world’s truly great speakers.
If you’re attending CAF, the Songers are a must listen. If you’re in the $50k price range for speakers, contact Songer and arrange a demo. You will not be disappointed!
One more thing….since purchasing my Songers, I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know Ken Songer. On top of being a brilliant designer and a master craftsman, Ken is also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the audio world. I do not consider myself to be his “customer”, I consider myself to be a proud patron of his art!
(This is my current system configuration. It’s a temporary set up. I’m in the process of building new equipment racks and tweaking my cable configurations.)
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@audionutjeff - on a tangent, at the beginning you mentioned “I’m in the process of building new equipment racks …...” How is that going? I am about to embark on a similar project and wonder if you have any advice? I plan to use butcher block, so it’s the joints & mounts I am trying to figure out. |
$45000???? Songer sounds like a very greedy doughboy for a guy who makes very simple speakers for simpletons in his garage... What rarified club is this?? Honey, its all in your head and Songer's head, there is no such club ok? If there is one, it has a healthy membership count of 2...you and him...1, 2...
Did Ken Songer pay you anything yet for this promo writeup? If he didn't, he better pay you immediately. You have worked hard on this writeup.
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It’s rather odd that you claim to own Daniel Hertz which are slightly more expensive at $46,500 and are also point source high efficiency speakers yet ignorantly belittle my Songer S1x speakers that actually cost less. Let’s compare. I’ve not heard the Anton’s, so I cannot comment directly on their sound. The Songers enclosures are magnificent solid walnut while the Antons are veneered and painted MDF. The Songers are a single, full-range, field coil driver that requires no crossover. This very unique driver has no direct competitors except perhaps even more costly Voxativs (I own Voxativ drivers and have enjoyed many of their speakers, but I definitely prefer the Songers.). There are obviously significant advantages to eliminating the crossovers and implementing field coils. Those advantages are extremely difficult to achieve and can be quite costly. Your Anton’s are coaxials with conventional crossovers. Not really anything truly special. Their natural competition would be the excellent Fyne Audio speakers for about half the price or less. In terms of price, you’re paying a premium in exchange rates, tariffs, and shipping from Italy for the Anton’s. The Songers are handmade in the US. You’re also paying a significant premium for Mark Levinson’s association with the brand. I’ve never been a big Levinson fan, so I don’t see any value in that price premium. As I said, I’ve not heard the Anton’s so I’m just sharing an objective comparison. However, given the design topologies, I seriously doubt they would be preferable to the Songers. I am nonetheless baffled by your rather rude and uncalled for attack on my wonderful speakers. Perhaps you have buyers remorse and realize you overpaid for your own speakers? |
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