2. speakers
  3. 1115003025

Can you ever go back and be happy?

My audiophile friends and I often discuss if we know any highenders who have great planar speakers (Soundlabs,Apogees,Magnepans) that could go back to a box enclosure speaker and could truely be satisfied with the sound of their system. We believe there is a special quality the way a well designed planar loads a room which just sounds more natural and real to us compared with a baffled speaker design. On to the question. Not including having to down size or change speakers because of $issues or logistics, having to move your sytem to a smaller space etc., have any of you GON members gone from a world class planar to a box enclosed design and were able to really be happy and not long for the "good old planar days". We do not personally know anyone who has ever done it and was truly happy about afterwards. It would be great if any of you fellow GON members can relate to this question through your own personal experience and share your opinions with us.
teajay

Showing 2 responses by tbg

tbg
5,263 posts
 
I have often gone back. I have had Magnaplanors from ARC, KLH 9s (electrostats), Infinity Servo-Statics (electrostats), Martin Logans (electrostats), Sound Labs A-1 (electrostats), and an electrostatic speaker out of Florida whose name I cannot recall. In between I have had various dynamic driver speakers. Before I had any of these I had various horn speakers and presently I have horn speakers. It is the dynamics and effortness of these as well as their efficiency which allows the use of low power amps that is what always draws me back to them.

I could never get used to 6' wide mouths of vocalists on planar speakers.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Brian, yes Acoustat. Actually, if you hung a monster high voltage cap on them, they were very good.

I also think you are right about flat profiles. The SoundLabs had less of this problem, but still had it. There certainly are problems with horns and putting them together seamlessly, but nothing else even approaches realism in the speed of music. I am beginning to miss this in my Beauhorns although the Acapella LaCampenellas have better frequency range and are seamless.

As you can see, I am never satisfied, and I suspect there is no good speaker outthere. They all are hopeless compromises.
More to discover