AV NIRVANA Speaker Evaluation Round-Up (Session One) - Suggestion Thread

[Mark C Flick]

I hear the Klipsch RP-280F are pretty good and don't have what many consider that Klipsch harsh high end. I'd like to hear them but no one around here has any. I'd like to hear the panels impression if it's possible to add them to the evaluation.

 

[Sonnie]

Klipsch has not been cooperative in sending us speakers. The last ones we evaluated I had to purchase. I don't know if Todd has a connection with them now, but maybe he can check into it and see if they are obliging these days.

 

[Mark C Flick]

Too bad Klipsch is not cooperative. Only other floor standing speaker under $2500 (not already in the eval) that, to me, might be of interest is the Sony Core SS-CS3. Could be interesting to hear how an inexpensive speaker would stack up against some of the others.

 

[Craig Chase]

Craig... I think Leonard makes some good points... we are not really ranking the speakers per se... we are simply evaluating each one to report on what we believe to be their qualities (good or bad), from several individual perspectives (and ears), since we each have different likes and look for different qualities in a speaker. Some of us hear things differently and we want to give the reader a viewpoint from several listeners.

Leonard and Sonnie ... This makes perfect sense. To take several models and try to do a proper blind test is time consuming enough for one person and two pairs of speakers. Doing so with a panel and several sets is quite difficult, as in it could take 4 days, 8 hours a day.

 

[Bacovish]

Hello, first post here. I don't know what the logistics or what kind of cooperation you would get...and if y'all wouldn't mind trying out a Danish speaker the Dali Opticon 6 looks very intriguing. The price for a pair is right at 2495.00. They do have cheaper versions.
I recently picked up the entry level Dali Zensor 7 and have been truly impressed for what I paid for them. Audio lab sold me the demo set they had for $800.
Fwiw I previously had the Klipsch
RP- 280F(still have actually)For music at least for my ears and set up..the Dali Zensor 7 came out on top by far.
I was waiting on the Chane to come back into stock but I'm not a patient person. I'm sure I'll try the new Chane when they do come out. It's only money right??
XTZ is another brand I have been reading about and curious. The spirit or the 99 series in mind. I believe if I'm not mistaken they aren't as spendy and don't know how they would compare to others in this price bracket.
Looking forward to the reviews.

 

[theJman]

I was waiting on the Chane to come back into stock but I'm not a patient person. I'm sure I'll try the new Chane when they do come out. It's only money right??

Stock issues have plagued Chane for a while. Seems as soon as they get a shipment they sell out. When you finally get the chance to hear them in person you'll understand why - as their value proposition is incredible - but it is still frustrating for potential customers. That will be changing in the future though. I'm not at liberty to say exactly why, but supply chain restrictions are being rectified at this very moment.

XTZ is another brand I have been reading about and curious. The spirit or the 99 series in mind. I believe if I'm not mistaken they aren't as spendy and don't know how they would compare to others in this price bracket.

I'm one of the few people in North America that seems to have much experience with XTZ, having reviewed and owned several of their products. It's a shame they never got their stateside marketing strategy worked out as I think the buying public on this side of the pond would really like what they make. I know I do.

 

[Sonnie]

Welcome to AV NIRVANA Bacovish... glad to have you with us.

I would definitely like to get Dali in the house for evaluation. I have never heard them, but have read good things about them. They have a couple of distributors here in the U.S., so maybe we can work something out.

XTZ was a sponsor at HTS a while back... Chris Sahakians, who was previously with Ken Kreisel, was helping them market their products here, but after we sold HTS, not sure what happened. Jim probably knows more, but it sounds like they did not get the U.S. support they needed.

 

[1_sufferin_mind]

Some of us hear things differently and we want to give the reader a viewpoint from several listeners.

That being the case, do you think it may help readers to establish a frame of reference if the panel were to post their past speaker/sonic preferences?

 

[Leonard Caillouet]

We generally do just that, more in the context of what we prioritize and listen for than specific brands and models. But we try very hard to wrap these reviews in the context of what we are bringing to the event, what our assumptions are, and what our pre-conceived notions are.

 

[Bacovish]

Last night I was going through some notes from last month when I was shopping for some towers. So I'll just throw a couple brands out and see if they peak anybody's interest.

Focal Chorus Series. Don't know much about them except they have been picking up steam in regards of being talked about but not many reviews that I can find. I know they have a great reputation in car audio. This might not mean a lot for home audio.

Another would be the Boston Acoustic A360. I know they are probably on the bottom end as far as price goes but reviews seem to be pretty good. Maybe the biggest complaint would be speaker sensitivity.

One more brand would be the Monitor Audio Silver 6 or 10. I believe the 10's just dropped to $2400 pair last week maybe in anticipation of a new Silver line coming out. Just rumors at this point.

 

[Sonnie]

I know we've had the Focal Chorus model in one of our previous evaluations and they fared pretty well.

We attempted to get the Monitor Audio Silver line, but Monitor Audio would not oblige. They did not want it evaluated with a group of speakers. Then I don't even think we could get them to send us a pair for review. That's been a while, so they may now at least send us a review pair, but I don't think they want to be part of a "group" evaluation.

The Boston A360 should be doable. That is part of D+M Group (or now Sound United). We did not have an issue get the Polks that we evaluated previously.

 

[Bacovish]

Shame MA wouldn't get on board.
Highly regarded speaker. Don't know how the BA would compare with some of the heavy weights being mentioned already but you never know.
No worries. I was just throwing some names out there to see if anybody had some interest.

 

[Sonnie]

That is exactly what this thread is for... and we appreciate suggestions and recommendations.

 

[Bacovish]

Edit

 

[Tonto]

Hey guy's, Jon has updated his L7 thread in his forum indicating they should be out next month!

http://www.chanemusiccinema.com/forum/showthread.php?47679-The-Chane-L7-thread&p=755481#post755481

I sure hope this means we will have a set for the upcoming speaker evaluation.

 

[Sonnie]

We are working on it... but still trying to iron out the date, as Wayne is moving to North Carolina in the next few weeks, so we will need to work around his move.

 

[Tonto]

I/we understand completely. These speakers need undivided attention to really evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Don't rush into this thing...it will kill the enjoyment of the whole event! Really looking forward to the results!

 

[bkeeler10]

Well I just found this thread and was about to recommend the Monitor Audio Silver 8. I recall that Wayne had a fantastic experience with the Silver line at an audio show a year or two ago, so I thought that would be just the ticket. Too bad they won't cooperate.

A couple other ideas if you're looking for more: GoldenEar Triton 5 and the new Revel F36.

 

[speakerman49]

Hello I am very new here. Noticed this thread and have a question for you guys. Is there going to be a bookshelf comparison of any kind in the near future? Sure hope so as I am NOT a tower guy. Much prefer a very good stand-mounted speaker coupled with a very capable sealed sub of some sorts. Music is my preference NOT HT. If there is such a comparison in the works, then I highly recommend that you all include the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary bookshelves, as well as, the Diamond 10.1's/220's. Just curious to see how the warmer sound signature would do here. Thanks!


Cheers,

Phil

 

[Sonnie]

I/we understand completely. These speakers need undivided attention to really evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Don't rush into this thing...it will kill the enjoyment of the whole event! Really looking forward to the results!

No doubt about it... not rushing it here. We'd like to get the L7 on board and July might be pushing it. Either way, we are going to need to push it out to August or September to let Wayne get his move under his belt and not have to leave his wife while they are still unpacking... otherwise me and you and several more of us may have to make a trip to North Carolina and help them unpack.

Well I just found this thread and was about to recommend the Monitor Audio Silver 8. I recall that Wayne had a fantastic experience with the Silver line at an audio show a year or two ago, so I thought that would be just the ticket. Too bad they won't cooperate.

A couple other ideas if you're looking for more: GoldenEar Triton 5 and the new Revel F36.

I am not sure if the same folks are with Monitor Audio or not, but can certainly try again. GoldenEar should be pretty easy, as Todd has an excellent relationship with Sandy.

Hello I am very new here. Noticed this thread and have a question for you guys. Is there going to be a bookshelf comparison of any kind in the near future?

Hi Phil and welcome to AV NIRVANA! Yes indeed, we do plan to do a bookshelf/monitor evaluation session. It will likely be our next session... and all of these evaluations are more about music listening more so than movies. My best guess is probably sometime in the winter months... like January/February, if this one ends up being August or September. We have attempted Wharfedale in the past, but they would not participate, but that has been a while ago, and they might be more receptive now. It's hard to say, but we are certainly not scared to ask.

 

[speakerman49]

Thanks Sonnie for the warm welcome and explanation. Looking forward to it. I would be more than willing to send you my Wharfedale Diamond 220's to include in said review. Can't say the same about my Dentons........LOL!!!! I also plan to buy me a set of the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1's as soon as funds will allow. I might be able to send them as well. Also have a set of B&W CM1 S1's that are going up for sale very soon. If not sold, then I might can send you them too. I believe any of these would do very well in your comparisons. Especially, musically speaking.

Just let me know as I will be happy to assist. Looking forward to it. BTW, I have also owned the Chane A2.4's across the front and all I can say is wow. Have since moved on to 2-Channel via Wharfedale in a BIG way. Very happy where I am. Thanks!


Cheers,

Phil

 

[Sonnie]

Awesome... and absolutely we will take you up on that offer. That would just be great, especially if Wharfedale refuses us again.

 

[speakerman49]

If Wharfedale refuses to be of help, then let me know. I will gladly send my Diamond 220's. Possibly my B&W CM1 S1's as well. Might even own a set of the Diamond 10.1's by then. Just depends on my finances like always. However, the CM1 S1's are going up for sale soon. Just let me know.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[tesseract]

Hello I am very new here. Noticed this thread and have a question for you guys. Is there going to be a bookshelf comparison of any kind in the near future? Sure hope so as I am NOT a tower guy. Much prefer a very good stand-mounted speaker coupled with a very capable sealed sub of some sorts. Music is my preference NOT HT.

Cheers,

Phil

My preference as well! Hopefully something we can do, soon.

 

[Tonto]

Wow! Moving is one of my least, favorite things in the entire world. I don't mind the packing so much...but the unpacking...aaarrgggg!!! I think it's because the wife has to move stuff around several times before she likes the setup.

But if you guys need help, I'll man up and make the road trip! I know my wife would love taking a small vacation to NC (after the work is finished)! Doesn't Paula Dean have a restaurant up there in Savanah? How far is that from Wayne's place?