• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

$20k for dream 2.0 or 2.1 rig

MKR

Major Contributor
Joined
Oct 18, 2022
Messages
1,473
Likes
2,149
Location
USA
I have always liked JBL but not their looks. Legacy looks nice but might be a touch on the bigger side of things. Passives are off my list.

Grimm is added to the short list. Subwoofers are okay if they can be integrated into the whole set up physically like the Kii or Hedd.
I have not heard the Grimms, but they seem to be well regarded (albeit way overpriced)
 

MKR

Major Contributor
Joined
Oct 18, 2022
Messages
1,473
Likes
2,149
Location
USA
Your own show report says you have. What did you not like about them? https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...st-for-my-end-game-speaker.38378/post-1562900
Ha! Indeed. I have heard so many speakers past year I lose track. Apparently they were not so memorable :p. Clearing out the cobwebs of my memory … They sounded very good, no major issues. But limited in output, especially dynamics. Also, beauty in eye of beholder, but I also think they are ugly. Anyway, if I am going to spend that kind of money, I much rather go with others on my short list, much more performance for the dollar. I would also say I have never been a huge fan of the Seas Mg drivers, though Joseph Audio certainly uses them to great effect.
 
Last edited:
OP
M

mad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
30
Likes
17
You could just build a pair of M2s as @MAB did :D

The horn loaded tweeter is too much plastic and looks atrocious. I love the build and think that it looks better than the original.
 
OP
M

mad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
30
Likes
17
Soundfield is like he who shall not be named in Harry Potter. I had no idea about the history.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MKR

sigbergaudio

Major Contributor
Audio Company
Forum Donor
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Messages
2,708
Likes
5,718
Location
Norway
Short list so far:

  • Siberg Manta
  • KH420
  • Dutch & Dutch 8C Studio
  • PMC 8-2
  • Genelec 8361
  • ELX Tower
  • KEF LS60

A member messaged me about Soundfield and I cannot find information on them other than some very. Does anyone have experience with this brand? Many of the models on the website say available in 2019.

Since the Manta is on the shortlist already, I'll be so bold to suggest the Sigberg Audio SBS.1 speakers as alternatives.

They are closer in price to many of the others on the list, and less "massive" for your relatively small space while still providing high dynamics.
 
OP
M

mad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
30
Likes
17
@sibergaudio Are the SBS.1 cardioid?

What is the agreed upon most beneficial frequency band for cardioid to be impactful? That goes out to all Audio Science Review members.
 

sigbergaudio

Major Contributor
Audio Company
Forum Donor
Joined
Aug 21, 2020
Messages
2,708
Likes
5,718
Location
Norway
@sibergaudio Are the SBS.1 cardioid?

What is the agreed upon most beneficial frequency band for cardioid to be impactful? That goes out to all Audio Science Review members.

The SBS.1 is not cardioid, but that's also not the case for most others on your short list?

I am not sure there is an agreed upon most beneficial frequency band for cardioid to be impactful. Most commercial designs (of which there are not that many) focus on the upper bass and lower midrange, and seem to achieve what could be said to be an impactful effect by this. So from that fact we may assume this is at least part of your answer.

I will thread a bit lightly here since I do not want to comment directly on competing designs, but with the Manta I have chosen to also focus on the midrange with a separate cardioid system, so that total cardioid effect covers an unusually wide range. That being said I've also heard great things about the Geithain (haven't heard them personally), and that's only cardioid below 250-300hz or so if I understand it correctly. And the effect is still profound / sound is still very good. So adding this to our context, it may seem that the way the total system works / is designed may be just as important as the cardioid system in isolation.

And there are of course many systems that aren't cardioid at all and still sound great.
 
OP
M

mad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
30
Likes
17
The SBS.1 is not cardioid, but that's also not the case for most others on your short list?

I am not sure there is an agreed upon most beneficial frequency band for cardioid to be impactful. Most commercial designs (of which there are not that many) focus on the upper bass and lower midrange, and seem to achieve what could be said to be an impactful effect by this. So from that fact we may assume this is at least part of your answer.

I will thread a bit lightly here since I do not want to comment directly on competing designs, but with the Manta I have chosen to also focus on the midrange with a separate cardioid system, so that total cardioid effect covers an unusually wide range. That being said I've also heard great things about the Geithain (haven't heard them personally), and that's only cardioid below 250-300hz or so if I understand it correctly. And the effect is still profound / sound is still very good. So adding this to our context, it may seem that the way the total system works / is designed may be just as important as the cardioid system in isolation.

And there are of course many systems that aren't cardioid at all and still sound great.
Based on preliminary research and talking to folks like @sigbergaudio and @MKR I will be going with either a Sigberg model or I will wait for the Dutch & Dutch floorstanding model that might just be worth waiting for. Either option are from companies that stand alone in what they do.
 

GXAlan

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
3,923
Likes
6,058
After some time in this hobby I would like to build out a nice stereo system. Surround is nice for movies but I don't notice a big difference.


I am going to be biased and suggest Genelec, Neumann, or Meyer Sound. They are reliable, no fuss options.
 

MKR

Major Contributor
Joined
Oct 18, 2022
Messages
1,473
Likes
2,149
Location
USA

I am going to be biased and suggest Genelec, Neumann, or Meyer Sound. They are reliable, no fuss options.
Would you have a specific Meyer model recommendation?
 

GXAlan

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
3,923
Likes
6,058
Would you have a specific Meyer model recommendation?

1) First of, know that "retail" price is not actual price. Even Sweetwater will give you a discount off listed price just for asking. They have a good return policy, with return shipping being what you lose -- but you need to verify since this only applies to the Meyer Sound stuff they have in stock, not the special order items.

2) If I recall, you listened to the Revel Salon 2 and liked but didn't love it. That tells you that the spinorama score alone isn't as predictive for you.

3) Meyer Sound Amie was tested here. Amir gave it golfing panther. That decision to go for different directivity is also done by Genelec S360 and really translates into a superior sound in my room. It genuinely feels like you're in a bigger room somehow.

index.php


The measured results are very similar to the Meyer Sound anechoic measurements as predicted by the MAPP XT.
1702951601500.png


The real magic of the Amie is the way it can integrate with the sub.

The Acheron Designer is a bit smoother in the midrange but the compression driver has that resonance at 9 kHz which disappears with 1/6 octave smoothing.
1702952865531.png
1702953006296.png


The key is that if studios are using this to mix their Atmos music or movies, the decisions and EQ/tweaks/saturation/etc. are all built around these types of products.

The Ultra X-20 is used by @Mr. Widget for his 2 ch setup. Again, more squiggles in terms of FR response, but the phase coherency is a step up. Again, the MAPP 3D data is higher resolution than what we've seen with the Klippel NFS and doing 1/6th octave smoothing shows you what you get.

1703021966181.png


1703022019048.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: MKR

MKR

Major Contributor
Joined
Oct 18, 2022
Messages
1,473
Likes
2,149
Location
USA
1) First of, know that "retail" price is not actual price. Even Sweetwater will give you a discount off listed price just for asking. They have a good return policy, with return shipping being what you lose -- but you need to verify since this only applies to the Meyer Sound stuff they have in stock, not the special order items.

2) If I recall, you listened to the Revel Salon 2 and liked but didn't love it. That tells you that the spinorama score alone isn't as predictive for you.

3) Meyer Sound Amie was tested here. Amir gave it golfing panther. That decision to go for different directivity is also done by Genelec S360 and really translates into a superior sound in my room. It genuinely feels like you're in a bigger room somehow.

index.php


The measured results are very similar to the Meyer Sound anechoic measurements as predicted by the MAPP XT.
View attachment 335320

The real magic of the Amie is the way it can integrate with the sub.

The Acheron Designer is a bit smoother in the midrange but the compression driver has that resonance at 9 kHz which disappears with 1/6 octave smoothing. View attachment 335322View attachment 335323

The key is that if studios are using this to mix their Atmos music or movies, the decisions and EQ/tweaks/saturation/etc. are all built around these types of products.

The Ultra X-20 is used by @Mr. Widget for his 2 ch setup. Again, more squiggles in terms of FR response, but the phase coherency is a step up. Again, the MAPP 3D data is higher resolution than what we've seen with the Klippel NFS and doing 1/6th octave smoothing shows you what you get.

View attachment 335569

View attachment 335570
Thanks @GXAlan , really appreciate your recommendations.

Thought for sure you were going to recommend the Bluehorns :D (https://meyersound.com/product/bluehorn-system/#overview)

And I think @Mr. Widget also has the Bluehorns, or used to anyway. If I were going to go Meyer, that is what I would want, sadly they are well over my budget. But will take a look at the others, thanks again.

And just a correction (though your memory still very close) … I didn’t like the Salon 2, I loved them, one of my favorite all time speakers. If not for them being discontinued, very possible the quest would have ended months ago and they would be sitting in my house now. With that said, I am happy I did not go that direction as what I have heard since is even better to my ears, especially since my discovery of cardioid.
 

GXAlan

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
3,923
Likes
6,058
Thought for sure you were going to recommend the Bluehorns :D (https://meyersound.com/product/bluehorn-system/#overview)

I did recommend those to the guy looking to spend $400K on both his HT and Hi-Fi setup (to include construction costs). ;)

And I think @Mr. Widget also has the Bluehorns, or used to anyway. If I were going to go Meyer, that is what I would want, sadly they are well over my budget. But will take a look at the others, thanks again.
As far as I know, Mr. Widget works for a company that help set clients up with Bluehorns.

The question of course is how close the Bluehorn compares to the Acheron Designer? The difference is a better compression driver and them flying out to do the EQ for you (which is essential too). With the simulations, the Acheron Designer is only a little bit better than the Amie's (admittedly in the midrange) and the issues at the upper frequencies are likely resolved in the Bluehorn's upgraded compression driver compared to the Designer.

That said, Bluehorn at $80K plus costs of Meyer install/tuning? Versus Meyer Amie at <$8K with Dirac, Trinnov, or a PC-based Acourate system if you don't need the SPLs of the Bluehorn? I think it should be surprisingly close.

It's also worth noting that the Bluehorn doesn't show a perfectly flat 20-20 kHz curve... but their focus was "nearly" flat 20-20 kHz response but with really good phase control. They also build everything in-house and still service discontinued products like the HD-1, which solves the repairability issue for you...

I did not go that direction as what I have heard since is even better to my ears, especially since my discovery of cardioid.
Meyer does have a MM4-XPD for directionality. So they do have deployed some of that know-how already but they don't apply it anywhere else in their product line.

I will say, that if you haven't gotten your end game speaker yet (I stopped following that old thread), you should do the Notify when it Stock at a place like Sweetwater. When it's in stock, it should qualify for the 30-day return policy. By the measurements, the Amie and Acheron Designer are nearly the same at lower SPLs which makes the Amie + Amie Sub a formidable option.

It's industrial looking though. That's the main weakness in my opinion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MKR
OP
M

mad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
30
Likes
17
I did recommend those to the guy looking to spend $400K on both his HT and Hi-Fi setup (to include construction costs). ;)


As far as I know, Mr. Widget works for a company that help set clients up with Bluehorns.

The question of course is how close the Bluehorn compares to the Acheron Designer? The difference is a better compression driver and them flying out to do the EQ for you (which is essential too). With the simulations, the Acheron Designer is only a little bit better than the Amie's (admittedly in the midrange) and the issues at the upper frequencies are likely resolved in the Bluehorn's upgraded compression driver compared to the Designer.

That said, Bluehorn at $80K plus costs of Meyer install/tuning? Versus Meyer Amie at <$8K with Dirac, Trinnov, or a PC-based Acourate system if you don't need the SPLs of the Bluehorn? I think it should be surprisingly close.

It's also worth noting that the Bluehorn doesn't show a perfectly flat 20-20 kHz curve... but their focus was "nearly" flat 20-20 kHz response but with really good phase control. They also build everything in-house and still service discontinued products like the HD-1, which solves the repairability issue for you...


Meyer does have a MM4-XPD for directionality. So they do have deployed some of that know-how already but they don't apply it anywhere else in their product line.

I will say, that if you haven't gotten your end game speaker yet (I stopped following that old thread), you should do the Notify when it Stock at a place like Sweetwater. When it's in stock, it should qualify for the 30-day return policy. By the measurements, the Amie and Acheron Designer are nearly the same at lower SPLs which makes the Amie + Amie Sub a formidable option.

It's industrial looking though. That's the main weakness in my opinion.
Have you worked with the Amie / Amie Sub systems before? The industrial look can be great. Meyer makes a smaller mini sub, but it looks to be more for PA systems and information is sparse in some instances.
 

GXAlan

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
3,923
Likes
6,058
Have you worked with the Amie / Amie Sub systems before? The industrial look can be great. Meyer makes a smaller mini sub, but it looks to be more for PA systems and information is sparse in some instances.

It was me who sent the Amie into Amir for measurements ;)

The smaller sub (MM10) has a surprising amount of SPL for musical bass and "chest feel" in the 50-60 Hz range. The Amie Sub is nice because it's the one that goes down the most.

I agree -- the Amie looks great in my home -- but I won't pretend that it's as beautiful as the original Sonus Faber Stradivari. ;)
 
OP
M

mad

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2023
Messages
30
Likes
17
It was me who sent the Amie into Amir for measurements ;)

The smaller sub (MM10) has a surprising amount of SPL for musical bass and "chest feel" in the 50-60 Hz range. The Amie Sub is nice because it's the one that goes down the most.

I agree -- the Amie looks great in my home -- but I won't pretend that it's as beautiful as the original Sonus Faber Stradivari. ;)
How are you liking them longer term and do you have the Amie subwoofer unit?
 

MKR

Major Contributor
Joined
Oct 18, 2022
Messages
1,473
Likes
2,149
Location
USA
I did recommend those to the guy looking to spend $400K on both his HT and Hi-Fi setup (to include construction costs). ;)


As far as I know, Mr. Widget works for a company that help set clients up with Bluehorns.

The question of course is how close the Bluehorn compares to the Acheron Designer? The difference is a better compression driver and them flying out to do the EQ for you (which is essential too). With the simulations, the Acheron Designer is only a little bit better than the Amie's (admittedly in the midrange) and the issues at the upper frequencies are likely resolved in the Bluehorn's upgraded compression driver compared to the Designer.

That said, Bluehorn at $80K plus costs of Meyer install/tuning? Versus Meyer Amie at <$8K with Dirac, Trinnov, or a PC-based Acourate system if you don't need the SPLs of the Bluehorn? I think it should be surprisingly close.

It's also worth noting that the Bluehorn doesn't show a perfectly flat 20-20 kHz curve... but their focus was "nearly" flat 20-20 kHz response but with really good phase control. They also build everything in-house and still service discontinued products like the HD-1, which solves the repairability issue for you...


Meyer does have a MM4-XPD for directionality. So they do have deployed some of that know-how already but they don't apply it anywhere else in their product line.

I will say, that if you haven't gotten your end game speaker yet (I stopped following that old thread), you should do the Notify when it Stock at a place like Sweetwater. When it's in stock, it should qualify for the 30-day return policy. By the measurements, the Amie and Acheron Designer are nearly the same at lower SPLs which makes the Amie + Amie Sub a formidable option.

It's industrial looking though. That's the main weakness in my opinion.
Thanks again for the feedback. If I were going to go with Meyer, it would be the Acheron. But, a full Acheron system is likely over my budget so a no go. And no, still on the hunt, no decision on the end game yet. At this point I am waiting to see what Dutch & Dutch has up their sleeves before making a final decision.
 
Top Bottom