Please don't take this as "audiophile review hyperbole", I'm just trying to use "known terms" to try to describe what I hear.
Some thoughts after a bit more listening and watching some TV etc. Note that I've not recalibrated (Trinnov), so the RC/EQ is still based on the C2+, I currently have it horizontal and am comparing to the C2+ it replaces which was also horizontal. Vertical C2+s left and right with tweeter nearest centre per Erin's measurements showing slightly better response to the tweeter side.
C3+ is as expected "punchier".
Off-axis does seem much better, in my room, with the RC not optimised as mentioned, moving off-axis to the left (which has a better "weighting" as herself sits there" there was no drop off audible and indeed the dB meter reading was identical). Moving to the right there was a drop of about 1.5db, but I also had a box of A1+s sitting on the floor there). With the C2+ there was a noticable drop off off-axis, IIRC measurments showed 2 to 3db and listening sounded like that.
Whether it's the 5.25" drivers (which I think contribute to the extra punch in the higher frequencies versus the 3" pair - I think my ERM-6.3s with their 4" drivers had more punch there than the C2+), the position or the new "wave guide" around the tweeter - it's now square versus flattened top to bottom, the crossover point/electronics or what, I don't know but the radiation pattern seems much better.
Quieter parts of music seem clearer and overall this seems to be a really acurate speaker, what you feed it is what you get.
Regarding the sound, I have a house curve set in the altitude which I like that tapers off the high end (I'm very sensitive to high frequencies and do not like a "bright" sound - however, (without the reclaibration), what I have noticed is the amount of brightness or conversely how "laid back" it sounds seems to completely depend on the music, e.g. a jazz singer (Nina Simone etc.) recorded from "older" mics, can have a tiny/bright sound that seems "forward" (as you might expect) but then you put on a different artist/stle and it's smooth and melow with excellent bass.
Examples listened to:
Yello - Oh yeah: excellent clarity, really, really deep male vocal for the signature phrase while still being clear.
Come away with me - Norah jones: "smooth and creamy".
Peggy Lee - Fever: crisp and clear "snaps" and vocals.
Yes - Leave it: "belended" positioning with L+R spot on, no "smearing" smooth, airy, "ethereal".
The cars - Best friend's girl: massive sound stage, Don Henly's dirty laundry likewise.
Talking heads - road to nowhere: clear and defined.
My overall impression is that it throws a "huge", tight, room-filling sound with lots of heft, clear trebles (trumpet, snare) and is a great step up from the C2+, as a horizonatal centre in particular. I still like the C2+ vertical for L+R but wish they had rotatable tweeters or indeed the new ones. I wonder could the cut out be enlarged and the new one fitted. Hmmm.
The square shaped tweeter I think plays a part as I got a couple of A2+ in at the same time and it also has the new tweeter guide, unlike the B2+ which Erin reviewed recently and he was not too impresssed, these A2+ exhibit the same improved off-axis I hear with the C3+. I suppose they didn't use it in the B2+ as it's more a "fixed location" style - i.e. vertical bookshelf wheras the C3+ can go both ways and the A2+ is specifically designed for many orientations - a shame as I suspect the B2+ could benefit from it.
I will be very interested in seeing measurements for the C3+ and the A2+ - it will likely be much easier for Erin/Amir to get the A2+ and we can see how that new tweeter graphs.
I would also be interested in seeing them come out with a dual 5.25 or 2 of each 5.25/6.25 model (maybe in a squarer shape) as that would be easier to fit in room (expecially smaller ones like my 5.4m x 3.2m one) and for surround use ... even a thinner one that could go on-wall.
Out of interest, those that are using horns etc. what speakers are you using and how much do they cost? The value here seems to be very good - comparing what you get with a C3+ versus e.g. an M & K S300 at a 3x higher price or the 150s at ~1.75x - I'd love to see a shootout between them. The S300 would certainly be easier to carry though versu the C3+ beast.
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