I love my Proac Super Towers, Studio 100's and the Studio 1 mk 2 (sold). AR and Jadis are two of the best tube amps I've ever heard.Doesn't even matter which amp (tube) it was/is. CJ is also pretty awesome with it. The thing about any Proac is that they will sound better/worse with any changes made as they are so revealing. I think that's the way any top speaker should be. I purposely got the Super Tower over the Response series because it was a bit more forgiving and I listen to rock in addition to Jazz and vocal. Most rock just isn't produced properly and I wanted a more forgiving speaker that could reach lower. I also didn't like the Tablett's from the 90's as the highs were too forward for me. I haven't heard newer ones though. That's why the Studio series was best for me. If figured that there is a reason that so many top studio's still are using the 100's. The ones were the favorites of so many of the british studios. The Beatles LOVED the Proacs/Celef as they were known as.
Most don't know the Onyx, but they were considered by many to be the best of the affordable British integrateds in the 90's. The top models were only made for a few years and I have two of the three integrateds that were considered the best sounding. There was a fight between the two founders and the company was sold a few times etc... The two that I have sound so much better than most of the under 1500 integrates I've heard. They are compact, like so many of the British components are and one only has two large black knobs with NO markings on the faceplate. Kind of cool. Typical British sound and very dynamic. They play loudly if you like that and are detailed without etching. I think they are a bit rolled on top, but not as much as most tube gear. I personally have never heard an old tube receiver that I've liked as they are dark, rolled off and noisy. That's just me. I like the newer tube gear. Same circuits, but with better quality components available, you get much much better sound, I understand nostalgia, but to what expense? Why spend money to get the most out of your system, just to pair them with really old and outdated amps? That's just me though. I think going back much further than the 90's for amps are a waste as most of the top amps back then, can't hold a candle to the amps made from the 90's forward.
As much as I love Pracs and what they do. I have fallen in love with the newer Vandy's. They do everything right. The new ribbon Proacs are the only ones I haven't heard yet, but I have spoken to two have have and one is a dealer. Both chose the Vandy's although they say they could EASILY live with the Proacs.
If you are looking at 2k and can go used, I STRONGLY advise listening to the Ayre AX7. I just got one and I know Johnny at Audio Connection in Verona, NJ sells them. I don't know what they go for new, but he also sells Carey, AR, Rogue, NAD and Rega along with Music Hall which is also a GREAT value and needs to be in this conversation I think. There is a reason that he carries nearly all the brands folks are talking about in this thread. He is a big Proac dealer as well as Vandy, Maggies, B&W and a few others. I haven't met a dealer who is better and I've been to many of the high end dealers around the world. He's worth making a call to if you are serious as he won't push you to what HE listens to, but he will find out what you need and then share his thoughts. Just a thought.
