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Auditioning new Floorstanding Speakers - any hints for a shortlist?


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dusty;91461 wrote:
Really interesting thread guys. Thanks for comments and points. Must say though that the Paradigm Studio 60 is one damn ugly speaker!

 

 

 

I will definitely give those Totems a bit of a gander - I originally checked out Real Music co with a 2-3k budget (which I've since destroyed) which led me to the Rega R3 which I just didn't like the look of. Must head back.

 

 

 

Can't find an Image retailer in Wellington, let alone Sonus Faber. Looks like I'll be hitting up Totally Wired next time I'm down in Dunedin for work.

 

 

 

Anyone have any thought on the new Mirage OMD15 or 28?

 

PM Chris ball ( he is a poster on here, pretty sure his name is simply "chris" ) and he will point out any dealers handy.

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dusty;91461 wrote:
Anyone have any thought on the new Mirage OMD15 or 28?

 

These are both on the floor at Sound Expression on Willis Street. You will have to ask the guys there about the "special" amplifiers the larger OMD28s are running on ;)

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too_tall;91440 wrote:
Interestingly enough, I have twice contemplated a pair of Paradigms Studio Reference speakers, firstly the 60's which I felt were good, but not worth the money ( in my system, in my room, in my opinion of course ) And then later on have tried the Studio 100's, which are indeed gutsy, but also brash and not a patch on Image Rev's or other similarly priced speakers. However, this again, was in my system, in my room, and in my opinion.

 

Hmmm, deja vu. Listened to Studio 100s and bough image revelations...

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dusty;91461 wrote:
I will definitely give those Totems a bit of a gander - I originally checked out Real Music co with a 2-3k budget (which I've since destroyed) which led me to the Rega R3 which I just didn't like the look of. Must head back.

 

Having auditioned both Totem's and Neat's last year i'm not sure either of them could be considered 'gutsy'.

 

Rega have just introduced the RS range and from what i've read they are a considerable improvement over the previous R range. The RS 5's and 7's are probably in your revised price range and are 'gutsy' (and not as ugly as the Paradigm's either):D

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dusty;91251 wrote:
What I'm Looking For

 

I'm not anally retentive about music. I don't mind colouration or something that is less than accurate - but I'm searching for something musical, engaging, forgiving and flattering of my gear and the recording. I want a gutsy presence with movies.

 

 

 

 

Gutsy is in the ear of the beholder.

 

I detect anal retentiveness amoungst some of my fellow members...

 

Nigel.

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Gutsy.. To me, Plenty of power, loud, able to fill large spaces to high SPL levels.

 

Not necessarily refined or particularly nice sounding, but it can be.

 

B&W801's are gutsy

Image rev's are gutsy

Paradigm Studio 100's are gutsy

Just to name a few.

 

These speakers all offer plenty of cone area, plenty of sensitivity and plenty of power handling, Thats the gutsy part. 2 of those 3 speakers are considered to be exceptionally good speakers for reasons other than sheer SPL. Thats where it becomes a lot harder to make a good speaker.

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I will throw in a vote for Image Revelations too, although I must say I did not (and have not since) auditioned many other speakers. I initially auditioned Image 414's and some comparative price point competitors @ Smiths Sound AK some years back and was shown the Revelations at the same time (although well out of my budget at that time!) It wasn't until a few years later I decided to upgrade whereby I tried some DynAudio floorstander's (good sound but unattractive), KEF's (a little lightweight for me) Regas and another which escapes me at present.

My musical tastes tend to involve busy guitar based bands and I like a bit of punch and control in my playback, but, I must also say on more open and airy music (ie; singer songwriters/acoustic) and the Rev's are brilliant here also. My lounge where the speakers are is a pretty good sized space (4.5 x 10m) so I needed something that would 'fill the room' and many people suggested the Rev's should do a good job of that. Being a NZ design geek I wanted to build an all NZ system IF it sounded good enough to compete with similarly priced 'international' gear, which it obviously did to my taste/ears/opinion...

cheers

dc val

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Craig F;91485 wrote:
Could somebody please describe to me what "gutsy" sounds like?

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Craig.

I don't think it's what gutsy sounds like, but rather what it 'feels' like. The below quote from 6moons review of the totem arro's may help clarify my thoughts on this

 

Their one flaw is lack of impact or raw displacement of air, that visceral sensation you get when the crescendo comes and the percussionist whacks the bass drum hard... The pressurization of even say, a 14' x 15' listening room just takes a bit more than so small a speaker can muster where the threshold of suspension-of-disbelief is concerned, the feeling that real musicians are playing in your listening room...

 

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Yep, that's a fair old description of gutsy. While not all of us have the luxury of large cone areas or the enclosures of horn loaded woofers, a well integrated sub is good alternative that can help achieve viscera-moving levels which we may term "gutsy".

 

 

King Size;91509 wrote:
I don't think it's what gutsy sounds like, but rather what it 'feels' like. The below quote from 6moons review of the totem arro's may help clarify my thoughts on this

 

 

 

Their one flaw is lack of impact or raw displacement of air, that visceral sensation you get when the crescendo comes and the percussionist whacks the bass drum hard... The pressurization of even say, a 14' x 15' listening room just takes a bit more than so small a speaker can muster where the threshold of suspension-of-disbelief is concerned, the feeling that real musicians are playing in your listening room...

 

 

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nixon76;91512 wrote:
Lucky B*gger
:P

 

even luckier now that I am nearly finished with the renovations!!! (ie I can set up the new kit), BTW the room is part of an open plan space with the kitchen at the opposite end. The new 8200 has more control than the old 3100 but the speakers are kinda plonked down rather than placed at the moment so I hope to see some improvements when I get some time.

I agree with King Size's post above regarding the definition of 'gutsy', it sums it up better than I could have described it as.

dc val

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Luis;91514 wrote:
The Usher range of speakers have been very well reviewed. I haven't heard them but may be worth considering in your price range. They look pretty good too.

 

Although not floorstanders, the Usher Be 718 is suppose to be the business.

 

US model has higher spec crossover, etc. Not sure available in NZ in that spec.

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curious_george;91535 wrote:
Although not floorstanders, the Usher Be 718 is suppose to be the business.

 

 

 

US model has higher spec crossover, etc. Not sure available in NZ in that spec.

 

The review I read (Stereophile?) indicated these liked a good thrashing power amp wise, something the plinius/perreuax can probably provide, but probably not with your current setup.

 

[edit] Oh yeah - here it is: http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/508ush/index.html

 

 

 

Wow. I cannot emphasize this enough: These speakers liked to be kicked in the arse—mo' power was waaay mo' better. They sounded fine with the Ayre, but my oh my, with 300W, they woke up and sang.

 

:D

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curious_george;91535 wrote:
Although not floorstanders, the Usher Be 718 is suppose to be the business.

 

I wonder if these Ushers are available in NZ, http://www.usheraudio.com/speaker-mini%20dancer%201.html

 

Looks like a new model with the same Beryllium tweeter. A bit like a floorstanding version of the Be-718.

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