PJ … have you lost your marbles? You didn’t recommend Genelec?!KEF Blade One Meta
PJ … have you lost your marbles? You didn’t recommend Genelec?!KEF Blade One Meta
This is interesting. I sit around 11 feet from my Sonus Faber Lumina V tower speakers and I find that the high frequencies are just sort of "blah" and not very good. But if I move my head just two feet closer, the highs are much better. The problem is that, due to the family room layout, I can't move the sofa any closer and I can't really bring the speakers out any farther into the room. My high frequency hearing loss doesn't help, either. Perhaps the Lumina's are intended for a smaller listening space.Cannot go wrong with KEF Blade’s or something like a Revel Salon2 which is “proven” with science. The Magico’s follow the same principles but have better enclosures and aesthetics, but there is a big step up in cost.
My bias has been to move toward active speakers, and I really like the “house sound” of Meyer Sound, which is industrial but solves the circle of confusion where the pros are mixing their content with those speakers.
Last, size matters. High frequency content is absorbed by the atmosphere at audible levels at maybe 12 ft or so. Something that measures high at 1m may not sound bright at 12-15 ft.
It’s also worth trying MBL and Magnepans. They are NOT consistent for everything, but they do offer “special effects” which people like.
I would also listen to the classic B&W Nautilus. Even though it is an outdated design, it is iconic like driving a Porsche 959.
The Yamaha NS5000 is also an option out of left field that is worth listening to before you make your final decision.
LolPJ … have you lost your marbles? You didn’t recommend Genelec?!
Nothing wrong with being a fanboy, especially such a well engineered speaker as the Genelecs, no one here can fault you for that. Now, if you were a fanboy of B&W, Wilson, etc, then I (we?) would definitely not be so tolerantLol
I'm afraid to do it
I'm already labeled as fanboy
Not to derail too much here, but have you performed some measurements to see where the issue may be? That’s where I would start rather than guessing.This is interesting. I sit around 11 feet from my Sonus Faber Lumina V tower speakers and I find that the high frequencies are just sort of "blah" and not very good. But if I move my head just two feet closer, the highs are much better. The problem is that, due to the family room layout, I can't move the sofa any closer and I can't really bring the speakers out any farther into the room. My high frequency hearing loss doesn't help, either. Perhaps the Lumina's are intended for a smaller listening space.
Perhaps, a speaker with a stronger tweeter balance might actually be better at this distance for me?
Maybe “tilting” them up or down?This is interesting. I sit around 11 feet from my Sonus Faber Lumina V tower speakers and I find that the high frequencies are just sort of "blah" and not very good. But if I move my head just two feet closer, the highs are much better. The problem is that, due to the family room layout, I can't move the sofa any closer and I can't really bring the speakers out any farther into the room. My high frequency hearing loss doesn't help, either. Perhaps the Lumina's are intended for a smaller listening space.
Perhaps, a speaker with a stronger tweeter balance might actually be better at this distance for me?
I have listened to a lot of B&W gear, same story every time - big dip in the upper midrange/lower tweeter - never an honest presentation with those speakers - no matter the price.Curious as to thoughts of others that own or have had the chance to demo the speakers in the title. I'm looking to upgrade speakers, and based ONLY on online research and my past experiences, I thought that I wanted to upgrade to the B&W 801's. I've had 3 different sets of B&W speakers over the years, and currently have both the original 703 series and some CM's in two different rooms. There were no dealers in my local area that kept 801 demo's in stock, so I found a dealer in Dallas that had some ready (and some McIntosh gear I'm also considering) in the store, and scheduled some time with them.
First up was the B&W 801 D4's,....and I thought they sounded fantastic. Same sound I'm used to but bigger in every way. I liked them and was probably just about ready to pull the trigger. The shop then suggested that I also audition the Estelon XB's. I had been considering the 801 Signature version (blue color increased the WAF) and since the price of those were close to the Estelon XB's, he said I should hear those also.
WOW. There really was no comparison. I know sound is subjective, but for me, in that room, with that gear,....it wasn't even close. The Estelon's had some voodoo that just worked for me. They then asked me if I wanted to hear something from Magico that was similarly priced, and swapped speakers for the Magico S3. Again....WOW! The B&W sound that I have lived with and loved for 20+ years....just was not even in the same ball park as the Estelon and Magico speakers.
The shop guy could tell I was in love and asked if I wanted to demo the next step up, the Estelon X Diamond. These were much more expensive speakers, but the bass extension difference was clearly better and they sounded amazing.
I'm looking for a sanity check or some advice here. Before I throw down big $'s on a speaker upgrade, has anyone else demo'd these with the same gear in the same room? Different conclusion? I'm also interested in other directions to look at both price levels here (~ $50k and ~ $90k). Sure loved what I heard, but should probably seek out listening to some other options to make sure there is no buyer's remorse. Let me hear your thoughts on these speakers....or others that should be considered in both of these price ranges.
Thanks in advance!
This is interesting. I sit around 11 feet from my Sonus Faber Lumina V tower speakers and I find that the high frequencies are just sort of "blah" and not very good. But if I move my head just two feet closer, the highs are much better. The problem is that, due to the family room layout, I can't move the sofa any closer and I can't really bring the speakers out any farther into the room. My high frequency hearing loss doesn't help, either. Perhaps the Lumina's are intended for a smaller listening space.
Perhaps, a speaker with a stronger tweeter balance might actually be better at this distance for me?
McIntosh - I see no reason to buy it, since there are tons of amplifiers for much less, that will play both the same or better - tried it so many times.
I’m biased, but I wouldn’t judge all three of these as a group. I think KEF is designed and engineered to objective design criteria consistent with the information we have on what makes a good speaker. The coaxial midrange/tweeter adds to the speaker with even horizontal and vertical dispersion.I won't go back to B&W, Focal or KEF.
I'm leaving for the show in a few minutes and also looking forward to some audio eye candy.I appreciate all the responses. Considered, researched and weighed.
Happy to report that my original "upgrade" to the living room home theater system...has morphed into a full-on 2-channel implementation of a listening room in what was my upstairs guitar room. I WILL be heading to Dallas again this weekend for the Southwest AudioFest. So much of what I'm considering is there...and I hope to see/touch/smell/hear/taste all of it.
New room is 16' x 19' and I will be allowed complete control of speaker placement and room treatments. While I would consider my wife extremely accommodating and forgiving, I never could have gotten away with huge bass traps or speakers not right up against the wall in our living room. So this is a good thing. I'm super excited about building this. Will update this thread with listening experience from Southwest AudioFest this weekend.
I am in a similar position. I was actually thinking of down sizing due to a change in employment. I currently own a pair of Xb diamond mkII with an MSB premier and s202. I had a pair of B&W 805d4 in my room to audition. There was obviously no comparison to the Estelon. I also owned a pair or Rockport Atria II and Cygnus (the later had an issue with it). The only Estelon are a much more detailed presentation than the Rockports. They are closer to my old Magico S1mkII.Curious as to thoughts of others that own or have had the chance to demo the speakers in the title. I'm looking to upgrade speakers, and based ONLY on online research and my past experiences, I thought that I wanted to upgrade to the B&W 801's. I've had 3 different sets of B&W speakers over the years, and currently have both the original 703 series and some CM's in two different rooms. There were no dealers in my local area that kept 801 demo's in stock, so I found a dealer in Dallas that had some ready (and some McIntosh gear I'm also considering) in the store, and scheduled some time with them.
First up was the B&W 801 D4's,....and I thought they sounded fantastic. Same sound I'm used to but bigger in every way. I liked them and was probably just about ready to pull the trigger. The shop then suggested that I also audition the Estelon XB's. I had been considering the 801 Signature version (blue color increased the WAF) and since the price of those were close to the Estelon XB's, he said I should hear those also.
WOW. There really was no comparison. I know sound is subjective, but for me, in that room, with that gear,....it wasn't even close. The Estelon's had some voodoo that just worked for me. They then asked me if I wanted to hear something from Magico that was similarly priced, and swapped speakers for the Magico S3. Again....WOW! The B&W sound that I have lived with and loved for 20+ years....just was not even in the same ball park as the Estelon and Magico speakers.
The shop guy could tell I was in love and asked if I wanted to demo the next step up, the Estelon X Diamond. These were much more expensive speakers, but the bass extension difference was clearly better and they sounded amazing.
I'm looking for a sanity check or some advice here. Before I throw down big $'s on a speaker upgrade, has anyone else demo'd these with the same gear in the same room? Different conclusion? I'm also interested in other directions to look at both price levels here (~ $50k and ~ $90k). Sure loved what I heard, but should probably seek out listening to some other options to make sure there is no buyer's remorse. Let me hear your thoughts on these speakers....or others that should be considered in both of these price ranges.
Thanks in advance!
I double-triple that.You might check into Rockport Technologies speakers. The Avior II is in that price range. There is a dealer in OKC.
Also, consider attending the inaugural Southwest Audio Fest in Dallas next weekend, where there will be all kinds of top speaker options being demonstrated. It's at the Anatole Hotel.
Attend | SouthWestAudioFest
Information on what attendees of the SouthWest Audio Fest can expect including show dates & times, accommodation info, and events taking place at the show.www.southwestaudiofest.com
Check Cabasse La SphereCurious as to thoughts of others that own or have had the chance to demo the speakers in the title. I'm looking to upgrade speakers, and based ONLY on online research and my past experiences, I thought that I wanted to upgrade to the B&W 801's. I've had 3 different sets of B&W speakers over the years, and currently have both the original 703 series and some CM's in two different rooms. There were no dealers in my local area that kept 801 demo's in stock, so I found a dealer in Dallas that had some ready (and some McIntosh gear I'm also considering) in the store, and scheduled some time with them.
First up was the B&W 801 D4's,....and I thought they sounded fantastic. Same sound I'm used to but bigger in every way. I liked them and was probably just about ready to pull the trigger. The shop then suggested that I also audition the Estelon XB's. I had been considering the 801 Signature version (blue color increased the WAF) and since the price of those were close to the Estelon XB's, he said I should hear those also.
WOW. There really was no comparison. I know sound is subjective, but for me, in that room, with that gear,....it wasn't even close. The Estelon's had some voodoo that just worked for me. They then asked me if I wanted to hear something from Magico that was similarly priced, and swapped speakers for the Magico S3. Again....WOW! The B&W sound that I have lived with and loved for 20+ years....just was not even in the same ball park as the Estelon and Magico speakers.
The shop guy could tell I was in love and asked if I wanted to demo the next step up, the Estelon X Diamond. These were much more expensive speakers, but the bass extension difference was clearly better and they sounded amazing.
I'm looking for a sanity check or some advice here. Before I throw down big $'s on a speaker upgrade, has anyone else demo'd these with the same gear in the same room? Different conclusion? I'm also interested in other directions to look at both price levels here (~ $50k and ~ $90k). Sure loved what I heard, but should probably seek out listening to some other options to make sure there is no buyer's remorse. Let me hear your thoughts on these speakers....or others that should be considered in both of these price ranges.
Thanks in advance!
I totally agree on that and add that the level should be at the point where the (possible) higher dynamic range playing ability of more expensive speakers will not take over too soon as it is a big differentiator.Check Cabasse La Sphere
Vivid Audio Giya too.
As Sigberg Audio previously advised, make sure the volume from the speakers are matched for each demonstration. There's a possibility that dealers may play more expensive speakers at a higher volume to motivate you into spending more. To counter this, I recommend purchasing a reasonably good SPL (sound level) meter to measure the speakers sound levels in the dealer's room accurately. Without such a tool, you may be susceptible to the dealers manipulative tactics.