Feedback on the current Reference 3a changes ?

Tubeears,

I've been enjoying my upgraded BE tweeters in my De Capo's for a couple of months and I can tell you that they are anything but bright sounding. More transparent with better ambient space retrieval, but not bright.

Rebbi / Tubegroover

I am so anxious to get the new amp that I can hardly eat. I am beginning to believe that the DeCapos are the best speakers that I have ever had... big or small. As I crawl through the A'gon listings every day, looking at all the luscious offerings, I really don't see anything that I would rather have more. Of course, I would be stupid to turn down a trade for a pair of 100k monster speaks but in terms of reality... the DeCapos are in a little world of their own. After the Audio Analogue amp gets here ( about July 5th ) I will order the Beryllium tweets. It will be interesting to see the comparison between your fine tube amps and my incredible SS piece. Something tells me that this thread might not die so quickly. I would sure like to pull some other Philes into giving the Ref. 3a's a try.

Cheers,
Tony

Tony,

You should hear the Grand Veenas. You might not eat or sleep for a week afterwards.....;-}}

Shakey

Shakey,

This is indeed a brutal hobby. Perhaps a bloodsport..... How I have lasted over 50 years of crawling around empty boxes and peanuts, I will never know. It seems as though there is always another speaker lurking in a back alley whispering my name, asking me to be it's friend and wanting to look at my wallet. So many times I have snuck into that back ally.. only to hear the sound of hissing snakes, bloated bass and low impedance. I stand here now (tattered and scared) with my new friends, the DeCapo's, wondering "what is next" ?
Got to run, I hear that K-Mart has a new monitor.

Tony
BTW: Your GV's look great ! Which alley did you stumble into ? ;-)

"I would sure like to pull some other Philes into giving the Ref. 3a's a try."

You know something Tony, I'm not so sure all audiophiles are going to be enamoured of them as some are. When I listen to some systems I realize how differently some hear or value certain aspects. I have been struck at how natural some systems sound with some music and how most absolutely fall apart with others, few have it all. If one has eclectic tastes you really want it all and not distracted by the artifacts that ALL too often rears its head over sustained listening. The majority of speakers sound at best "nice" on a range of music they just don't communicate across the board. I like long marriages and am less likely to change frequently which means EVERYTHING has to be re-evaluated.

On my too brief audition of the deCapos....actually went to audition a different speaker and they were an afterthought, they seemingly walked that tightrope of providing the magic of music, regardless of genre at a really reasonable price. The last one to do this for me at at a show was the 2-way floorstanding YG Carmel at 18K, at least something that will work in my space.

The audition had to be cut short as the dealer had another engagement, I could have stayed and listened for hours I'm sure, I didn't want it to end and I DIDN'T hear everything I wanted to. How satisfying are they in my space with large symphonic music? That will be the deciding point for me as to whether they are keepers. I am going to be doing a head to head with another Canadian Monitor recommended to me by someone I trust who also has great admiration for the Ref 3 line. In any event I find it hard to imagine that the deCapo is going to be "outclassed" by too many monitors or any speaker for that matter. They are just so superb as communicators.