Final-Audio New Series electrostatics

For the record, I do not have a favorite.  Apologies Ravi.  My joy is from the journey.  Some of us are blessed with the ability to sample.  Thank you ecommerce and previously owned.   All the designs mentioned should satisfy long term.  Each design has strengths and compromises.  Intellectually, the segmented, flat panel has the advantage.  I am in agreement with Acousticrat34 on the Final value leader statement.  And I have always listened off axis.  Even with the Sanders Sound setup.  Most of the more recent designs have reduced current demands from our amplifiers.  Please note; the headroom a high wattage high current amp provides is important and has no substitute.  

Might as well get the spelling of Hungarian speaker manufacturer "Popori" correct if interested.  A friend of mine is totally impressed with his pair after decades with modified stacked Acoustats.   

@dgarretson  I attended the 2025 Tampa Audio Expo and wanted to hear the Popori speakers, however they were demoing the high end one and I wanted to hear the more mid-level one.  They seemed more interested in catering to those who wanted to hear the high end speakers.  I am very happy with my Final Audio M12+'s !  

First post, this thread drew me to comment. I have a pair of Final M35’s on order with Ravi. They caught my interest from AXPONA 2024. I believe he had the M15 on show there with some Tekton sub towers. I’m a lifelong Acoustat fan and liked what I heard enough to put in an order not too long after the show. Yes, this is more than a year later, but I have had a big move come up and paused my order so I wouldn’t have to move the M35’s too. They should be arriving in a few weeks. I already had enough to move (7 pairs of various Acoustat models).

When I say I am a lifelong Acoustat fan, my father bought a pair of Acoustats in the late 70’s. I grew up around those and I still have that pair. Having models with the direct drive servo amps and interfaces, I tend to agree that direct drive is better, but my Spectra sets, which only work via interfaces, can be very good with enough power. The problem with direct drive is very limited amplifier options. The Acoustat direct drive servo amps can be updated and taken really far, but we’re still talking about hotrodding amplifiers that were mostly built in the 70’s (I think production of those amps ended in 1980 or 1981). There are plenty of high quality robust amplifiers available today to make the interfaces sing today, but it’s my belief that the interface itself is a weak link holding things back.

So, I’m looking forward to getting and living with my M35’s to see how they stack up to my reference. Oh and the move has provided the benefit of a higher ceiling. Now I can fit the stacked Acoustats, so my collection will likely continue to grow. I’ll finally have room to build some 8-panel (per side) versions. I have heard a setup running 17 panels per side and it was glorious. I never would have thought that would work, but it did. And it was in a fairly small room (considering how big it was to even fit that many speakers). There’s no replacement for displacement and that much surface area extended the bass incredibly low. That was all using interfaces and VTL tube amps to boot.

Welcome to all taking the time to post to this thread.  Ravi is fundamental to Final-Audio's success in the US.  The M series electrostatics will bring fond memories to Acoustat owners.  Similar voicing to my ears.