@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.
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.
I’m a little confused after reading this post as I thought you own the X6 model. I’m assuming you wrote this post before you got your X6s? The X6 are too big for my room, and I was researching X3’s. Just curious, did the X6 made you change your mind about Borresen?
P.S. This is a genuine question and not an attempt at sarcasm or trying to make you look bad.
@arafiq , Yes, that comment was from before i bought/lived with a X6. I had heard the high end Borresens prior to that. I’ll still stand by the statement that the higher end Borresens (M series, etc) are a bit too overpriced for what you get. Diminishing returns on those are quite high if you have the X series.
A lot of AGDenmark’s magic dust is the front end electronics. When you put the same electronics they put on their M-series on the X-series (equalize the electronics, give it the same privileges), for example, you’ll know what i mean. Is it the speaker’s doing or the electronics? it will get demystified for you.
The Aavik SD-880 and the 880 amps (a very unique implementation of the class A topology) are unbelievable...if you can afford it. I don’t feel like spending that much right now (would rather wait on some trickledown), but, i get to live vicariously through some guys with bottomless pockets around me who have it.
The Yamaha can hold its own for a different purpose (a different type of speaker than Borresen). These guys do a lot of iterative tuning with their musical instruments division, etc. I have yet to hear a violin or a piano that sounded as real/close as it does on that speaker, i.e. an advantage they have, when they choose to spend some money. A musician will find it quite useful.
The Borresen has other wow factors for audiophiles/playback, as reported by many of them...Both brands are very innovative/respectable (in different ways).
Funny enough, having auditioned the Yamaha NS-5000s with their TOTL separates, I can comfortably and confidently assert that they are not competitive, let alone superior, to the Borresen X series. That would even be true if the NS-5000s retailed for under $10K/pair. And I say that as someone who is probably one of Yamaha’s biggest fanboys. The NS-5000s are certainly good, price unconsidered, but the X3s are downright exceptional when setup well and paired with decent amplification (like something other than Axxes’ 100 wpc Forte). The X series is also a much better value considering the X3s outperform the 5000s for 2/3rds the price.
If anything, the X series has flown too far under the radar for the value it achieves. Prior to experiencing the X3s, I was a staunch factory direct/DIY convert. I had vowed to never again buy another pair of dealer-hawked speakers, due to their comparatively low performance values. The Borresens upended that philosophy for me. The only dealer marketed speakers I’ve encountered in all these years that match or exceed the X series retail for at least twice the MSRP.
All the Borresen sht is so overpriced for what it actually is. Get a pair of the Yamaha NS5000 speakers+Rythmik or GR Research subs, pair it with something like a Luxman C900u/M900u or some Gryphon piece. Spend the rest of your cash on a dedicated room+competent treatments/get in touch with Acoustic fields and go to town with their ACDA. Watch all the Magicos, Borressens and Wilsons crumble to dust after that.
I'm a little confused after reading this post as I thought you own the X6 model. I'm assuming you wrote this post before you got your X6s? The X6 are too big for my room, and I was researching X3's. Just curious, did the X6 made you change your mind about Borresen?
P.S. This is a genuine question and not an attempt at sarcasm or trying to make you look bad.
Heard them for about 30 minutes at the Southwest Audio Fest. They were very impressive. Wide and deep soundstage, with great detail and instrument separation. The detail and wide deep presentation was their strength. I not am sure how I feel about their cosmetic appearance. They look quality built but not my favorite appearance.
Lars knows how to make a show impressive, I’m not an end all measurement freak, but look at how their speakers measure and then consider what kind of music those speakers will take to the next level and what types of music will fall flat? When I read Raidho back when MB and LC were heading the show charged $40-$50k to upgrade their speakers and the price included flying those 2 gents to do the work and hotel them for a night I realized their prices were entry costs for the cigar smoking rich guys club and had nothing to do with music quality. Cryogenically frozen drivers!!! pleeze.
I heard the X3’s at a show and I was very impressed. Michael Borresen is a brilliant designer but his speakers are extremely expensive. The X3’s are exceptional at their price point.
I think mtbiker29 makes an important observation at 50.8 x 13.6 x 23.9" the X3 is a somewhat large and deep cabinet. I don't think I have the room necessary for a rear-ported cabinet that deep which is too bad as I think the X3 has a lot to offer for the price of $11,000. In reasonable comparison, for example, the Perlisten S5t is priced at $13,900 but does have the Beryllium tweeter. The cabinet size is more room-friendly at 44.1 x 9.5 x 15.8”. and can be configured as sealed or ported which is desirable in my opinion.
I am impressed by both designs. Better yet, the possibility of a good amount of value preowned in the 8-10k range between the two.
The X3 is a phenomenal speaker way better than the Focal Kanta 2, well worth the $11,000 asking price, there's one speaker I like better though and that's the monitor audio platinum 200 and 300 G2 and G3.
I heard them Saturday and thought they sounded very nice but maybe tilted a bit to the upper frequencies. Went back on the last day and and again heard the same thing. Although musical don't think I could live with them for the long term. Maybe with a different amp they might work better.
I listened for about a 1/2 hour on Friday opening day of Axpona then again on Sunday to determine if any speaker break in occurred. My limited impression is a very intense presentation that spotlights the tweeter. At $11k I would desire a more natural presentation that the $6500 Audiovector QR 7 accomplished. FWIW Audiovector had top level Cardas speaker cables that might have cost more then the QR 7.
I listened to them and did enjoy, but felt they might be a bit deep for my room at nearly 24”, IIRC. I was trying to avoid the made in China notion, so glad I didn’t get too tempted. I listened back to back with Focal Kanta 2, and could have lived with either…. X3 bass was noticeably tighter.
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