What about the GT Audio Works GTA-2's ???.... |
I've owned a few 'stats as well as Maggies, but my current fav's are 1 ohm Scintillas which betters the others I've had. The upstream gear is very important to any panel speaker and makes a huge difference in it's voice. |
Soundlabs get a lot of positive buzz worth noting. |
Chadeffect,
I'm curious - just how did Magnepan "kill off" Apogee? I would have nominated a/d/s for that award. |
Br3098,
Infringement of copyright I believe :-( |
I second the Apogees. I've moved up from a set of Calipers to Duetta Signatures. Yes, they need the right amp to shine, but boy oh boy, nothing else quite like them.
Yes, you are taking a bit of a risk buying a pair since they are usually 20-25 years old now. But there is nothing to compete with them at the prices I see them listed for. |
I thought Apogees are/were ribbon speakers, not electrostats?
Also aren't Maggies planar magnetic/ribbon speakers and not electrostats as well? |
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I third the apogees (former owner, circa 1995-98). |
For what it's worth, it wasn't Magnepan's patent infringement suit that killed Apogee, but financial difficulties. Apparently, the Grand, while superb, was very expensive to make, and they also had trouble with the cost of in-warranty ribbon repairs. If you do a search you can find an account by someone who worked at Apogee at the time. |
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The original Quads are pretty tough to beat, sound quality wise. Sans grills and dust covers and with good tube electronics. |
Former magnepan owner here. 3.3. Powered by Spectral DMA 180. Quite clear,but could never get the imaging right,and the bass response was inadequate. Subwoofers at the time were not up to the task. Went to dynamic speakers for last 14 years, Audio Physic. and was completely satified until an unplanned audition of Martin Logan Montis. Wife was checking out Martin Logan Clx for a client, so I was in the other room passing time. Hadn't heard ML in 15 years, and was thrilled. All the Bass needed, dead center imaging. Bought them that day,and retail was less than my 15 y/o Audio Physics. |
Geoff,
The original quads were good if you listened a low volume to light music, otherwise you would soon start complaining. Where is the bass? Where are the dynamics? |
Chadeffect, please note I said sans heavy metal grills and plastic dust
covers which restrict dynamics and bass performance considerably. |
Geoff,
I understand and agree the quads dynamics are better with all that removed, but could hardly be called great by today's standards. Much as I respect it for its time. |
Best Electrostatic ?!?! Yes. The very best. Made by Sound Lab. Why is it the best? Its the one that plays the deepest bass and has the greatest dynamic range. That is why- otherwise, Quads, ML, etc. are all quite convincing (and excellent IMO) due to the speed of the diaphragm and their cohesive nature endemic to ESLs. But only one was conceived to be a full-scale loudspeaker, one that is ESL from top to bottom, one that you don't have to worry about putting more than 35 watts into it, etc- and you all know what I am talking about. So Sound Lab is the best ESL made by nearly all standards. Not saying that that is the way it will always be, but so far I've not seen anyone else really take up the gauntlet like Sound Lab has. |
How much are Sound Labs these days? Just curious. |
Geoff, current prices on the full range models range from the M-3PX at $13,270/pair to the U-1PX at $40,270. The popular M-1PX is a bit over $25k. |
Essentialaudio - thanks for the info. If not asking too much, can you arrange to have some U-1PXs delivered for my next birthday? |
Sure, when should I look for your check? |
Has anyone listened to the Electrostatic speakers from Sanders Sound Systems - Models 10c or 11 ? Appreciate any comments or feedback regarding these speakers. |
Essentialaudio,
The check is in the mail. :-) |
Wilfredt- Sarcher has some Sanders or the earlier version, I forget the name. You might look at his system and ping him. I started with 'stats back in the early 70's and could never find midrange comparable on other speakers, but using the original Quad, I WAS limited by restricted dynamics, bass, beaminess, etc. I used ribbon tweets, and subwoofers, which I could never integrate properly. Still have them, awaiting restoration. Then went to a Quad 63, mod'd by Crosby. That speaker overcame some of the shortcomings of the original Quad ESL, but to my ears, it didn't have quite the same coherence in the midrange. Still have those too. Finally went to horns, circa 2006. Dynamics not an issue, but getting them right has taken time, and they are much more finicky about the associated equipment. At some point, I'll reassemble some Quad stuff, just for kicks (I wouldn't mind doing a slightly updated version of the HQD). I did like that original Martin Logan curvalinear panel and back in the day, listened to my share of others, including the KLH 9 and Dayton-Wright.
Soundlabs probably makes sense. Haven't heard the newest incarnations of the Quad either. |
Wilfredt, I own the predecessor to the Sanders Sound 10b which is the Innersound Kaya. The Kaya's are a little bigger than the 10b and/or 10c. These speakers do not lack in dynamics and can handle high SPL with no fear of arcing like Quads. They are also full range with no need of a subwoofer because they basically have subs built in. They need a powerful amp to drive the electrostat panels but come with an amp to power the woofers. I'm using an Innersound amp for the panels and it drives them well.
I have heard the 10b and 10c at RMAF a few times and they sound very similar to my Kayas. Driven by a good source these are very good speakers.
They are very directional in the high frequencies because of the flat panel. This results in a one person sweet spot. If you usually listen in the sweet spot then this is not a problem. The benefit of the highs being directional is there is less interaction with the room. |
I just finished reviewing the King Sound King III for Dagogo.com. The article is not yet published, but the speaker will be on demo at RMAF this weekend. Distributed by Performance Devices.
I consider the King III the best sounding Panel speaker bar none under $20K. In my system pics you will see the original King. I have switched to the King III but have not put up the pics yet. :) |
Lived with ESLs all my audio days. Finally settled for the Sound Lab Ultimate a few years back, driven by Atmas or Siegfrieds. Stopped fretting, tweaking and being ambivalent, just listened to the music ever since. |
Actually this newer company GT audio works makes. Excellent
Magnetic planer .in som ways better then Maggie's I have owned then nd ML. For one their Cabinet is 3x thicker and dissipates vibration much better from my observations at th N.Y show. This speaker ribbon unit,as well as the panel uses the 10 x better nd more expensive Neodymium magnets
Which make the speaker much more efficient around 90 db stop and start
Faster better lock on imaging and dynamics.the panel is smaller for the panel handles just midbass and up .the seperate cabinet has 2- 8inch Scanspeak drivers for the lower midrange and 2-8 inch drivers for the lower Bass down to 28 hz and is powered.for $3500,at th moment $500 off
This would be a $10k speaker all day long if it was dealer based.
This is one speaker to look out for it is well worth checking it out
And the in home trial makes it easy,which I plan on doing after Xmas. |
My choice would be Infinity's Servo Static One. I owned a pair in the past after having a single pair of KLH Nines. The SS-1 was a great speaker - electrostatic mids and highs along with a super 18" woofer that went down to 20Hzs. Problem was, it was unreliable, service was poor, and it was built out of "bubble gum and tape." The KLH Nines were great, but you really needed two pairs (Double Nines), to realize their full potential. They needed a large room to sound best. My suspicion is the Sound Labs are the best electrostatics around. I heard them once and wanted to own a pair but could not afford them...yet. |
Koss Model 1A. Tri-amped. |
I think my soundlab m2's do quite well in the bass region;overall it is the best speaker I have owned;I would like to hear that field coil speaker that Ralph from atmasphere comments on now and then. |
First post in maybe 10 years.....
Avalon Radian 2C3D with all Spectral/MIT setup long gone......
But my ex-wife graciously gave back after 15 years my original Acoustat 2+2 speakers with my original Spectral DMC-10 and DMA-50. Running a old Rega Saturn with very old MIT Oracle cables.
Re-read Holt's 1984 review of the Acoustats and Dave Wilson's review of the DMA-50 from 1985 or 6. Funny how delightful to hear and feel the joy of being an audiophile again.
When I heard Schubert's 9th I leaped with happiness with smiles hearing the Emerson Quartet performing the late quartets.
35 years later I can find peace.
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It's great when you find a treasured speaker! Eight years have passed since my Kingsound King III review, and they continue to amaze me.
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