Borresen X3

I have heard the TOTL Yamaha amp and preamp with the NS5000. It was not the gear I would use with those speakers. I actually own the NS5000 and use a CODA #16 with a Holo Audio Serene preamp. My Schitt Yggi+ OG DAC is also much better than the expensive DAC I heard paired with the TOTL Yamaha gear.

I recently heard another amp that I would love with the NS5000, it was the neutral  SimAudio  761 from the North Collection. Different sonically from the CODA and the Yamaha gear.

I thought my setup sounded excellent, but I only have a certain frame of reference. However, when a friend of mine, who is a musician and audio hardware vendor for some seriously famous musicians came over and heard my setup. His comments were very informative and made me realize I should keep the NS5000 forever. I tossed out the shipping boxes.

@deep_333 thanks for the heads up on the Aavik SD-880 and the 880 amps. I find your posts very informative.

@deep_333 Appreciate the response. Once again, my intention was not to embarrass you in any way. I completely understand that people often change their views after experiencing an audio component in person where they might have formed a negative opinion in the past based on reviews, opinions, etc. I've been guilty of this many times in the past. No big deal!

I know a couple of people who own the X3s and they share the same opinion that higher end Borresen speakers (including Raidho) are overpriced for what you get. I have heard some of his expensive speakers and found them to be too 'hifi' for my taste -- too fast, detailed, and not enough soul. But it seems that he is tuning his X series to lean more towards a warmer, fuller sound but without sacrificing resolution and imaging. I am trying to get an audition set up to listen to the X3s to figure out what the fuss is all about. X6 is probably too big for my room. 

Also, I've heard the Yamaha NS5000 multiple times at a friends's place. Great speaker, but for my taste I prefer my Harbeth 40.2 by a large margin. Doesn't mean its a bad speaker, just not for me. But from it sounds like, the Borresen X3 is able retain the magical midrange of Harbeth but add better bass, dynamics and imaging. I hope to find out soon. Thanks for your feedback.