Borresen X1 & X2

"Strange imaging?"  Some speakers, even different models by the same manufacturer, have higher soundstages than others.  Just pick the one you like best and roll with. Personally, I prefer a taller, deeper, and wider soundstage.  Happy listening  

Yes, it was unusual. I actually looked up and behind me looking for surround sound speakers.

Maybe it's the room. I heard them at AXPONA this year but couldn't get a center seat, so I couldn't judge the image, but they sounded great anyway which is why I went to hear the again.

I have heard both and didnot experience that ,that being said for the $2k difference

the x2 is the better buy better deeper Bass and a bit more complete.

the x1 most likely was not. Runin good at the time.

@OP. I was listening to the X1s last weekend. There is nothing strange about the height of their imaging. It's exactly what you'd expect from a two way standmount.

I recently had a similar experience on my DIY speakers where at first I thought the imaging was incredible but it didn’t take me long to realize something wasn’t right. the left image was so far beyond the speakers position something was up. Turns out I had wired that speaker out of phase internally. Prior to this, I had switched the phase externally, accidentally on various speakers before and never had encountered this, so it was quite surprising. Just a thought.

I have heard both and didnot experience that ,that being said for the $2k difference

the x2 is the better buy better deeper Bass and a bit more complete.

the x1 most likely was not. Runin good at the time.

I agree, I liked the X2 better, but the X1 is doable, especially because I have a pair of subs. 

Honestly when I listen to c1, and x1  I am just totally immersing myself to music the more I analyze, the more It mess up my listening. Thats what this Borensen speakers does to me. They are just very good.And Borensen staff knows how to set their speakers.

Hi OP:

I’ve had weird surround-sound like effects from speakers, it was related to brand new film capacitors I was trying out. Took a couple of days to break in and then it was done. I’ve never heard anything like it but it was related to Mundorf MKP caps.

Perhaps the speakers you were listening to needed more break-in or perhaps it was a faulty crossover altogether.

Best,

Erik

Erik, 

Maybe. Maybe it was the demo music? Tunes that I picked out had less of that effect. 
In any case I'm probably going with the X2 and Axxess Forté 1 package they offer, if I can get my Magnepan 3.7i sold. 

OP:

Could be, could also be they had tweaked the player via DSP and ended up with some weird EQ curve. Whenever a store won’t let me play a CD directly I always suspect this, or it could be odd room reflections / interactions.

Research on Head Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) has shown how the right/wrong EQ can trick your ears into surround like effects as well. It’s the basis for many virtual surround features.

Best,

Erik

Oh, and let us not forget the possibility the speakers were wired out of phase at the amp or internally.  That's another curious coincidence I've run into at dealers. 

Yes...Sounds like an out of phase wiring issue. I have the X-3's and they are spot on imaging....definitely go for the X-2's if you can.....

Could be, could also be they had tweaked the player via DSP and ended up with some weird EQ curve. Whenever a store won’t let me play a CD directly I always suspect this, or it could be odd room reflections / interactions.

Uh, no. They were using the Axxiss Forte 1 amp and you can't do DSP on it. 

It's very possible he had +and - swapped. Would be the first time I heard that at a dealer.

Don't forget that with bi-wiring it's super easy to accidentally swap 1 of the 4 wires.

These are single wire only.

Make sure the + on the speaker is going to the + on the Amp  :)

Hello, two weeks ago I bought a pair of Borresen X2’s from a great guy who ordered them in April 2024 as a temp pair till his large Wilson speakers arrived. Those arrived early so I received a pair of X2’s with only 20-23 hours on them. I’ve put about 30 hours on them and, while they have opened up, they seem to be a fair ways behind my Focal Sopra 2’s in area of comparison. Yet, I hear something I really like about the Borresens....some great detail but a much smaller soundstage (and yes I have the positive and negative terminals aligned).  I’m running a Boulder 866 integrated amp with DAC, an Auralic Aries G2.2 streamer, and Audience Front Row cables throughout.

Can someone who broke in a pair of Borresens tell me how much more I can expect when I cross 100 hours, 150, 200? Borresen estimates 50-100 hours but I’ve read others speak of real audible improvement up through 300 hours.

Just looking for some encouragement to keep putting the hours on them before deciding which to sell. Anyone running Borresens on a Boulder amp? The synergy between my Boulder and Focal is lovely. Went down this road because my wife isn’t super happy about a pair of big red speakers (I like the red) so I thought I would entertain some smaller black floor standing speakers. Greg

I would like to read more about your Sopra 2 vs X2 comparison when you have time. 

I am going to run as much music through them for three more weeks. I’ll drop a post once a week or so.

Here is the single most easily detected difference...the Focals immediately present themselves as coming out of a very black background. I knew it before but didn't really fully recognize till side-by-side testing with the same gear. 

Is this black background that is presenting itself on one speaker far more than the other a result of the limited hours on the Borrensens? Will the black background intensify over time with the B's?

While I do think that (unlike cables) speakers do change slightly after a certain amount of use, I really believe it’s well under 100 hours and probably closer to 10 or 20. And the differences will be subtle. If you’re waiting for them to dramatically change, I think you’ll be disappointed. What I believe is more likely is, your ears become accustomed to them and they’ll slowly start to bring more enjoyment, even though the speakers themselves aren’t changing, you are. :)

Entirely possible....I couldn’t disagree with anything about the psychological side which then brings in other aspects of us like our emotional state at the time of listening or altered states due to getting high in one form or another...

Regarding speakers, manufacturers designate varying hours needed in their opinion to hear their speakers at their best. So, I also think there are speaker changes beyond 20 hours though to what degree seems up for grabs...These and other factors influence our perception of a drink or food or cigar as being exceptional one time and the next not so much. So much going on in and around us when we switch that music on. One of life’s greatest joys for us.

Traudio Read the review of Steve Huff on Borensen x1. He never experienced what you have on x1.My friend who has been audiophile 40yrs who has an excellent listening skills, who listen to my x1 was very impress and did not experience what you have , Idid not either .So no the x1 is not the issue,

I've seen it. 

I mentioned before that I believe the dealer had accidentally reversed the +&- on one of the cables. I wish I would have checked when I was there and surprised he didn't notice it. 

Traudio I wish you did examine it. Your thread will affect x1 buyers. If I did not have my x1 . I might not get one. Glad I read Steve Huff reviews .

Did Borresen stop making the X series? I could not find it on their website.

https://audiogroupdenmark.com/product/boerresen-x3/
 

I have had a pair for little over 30 days. I like them but everyone is different.