Gallo Reference 3.1 questions...

I checked Gallos in 3 systems (2 tubes, 1 ss).
There were always problem with the deep of the soundstage.
Any comments?

I just bought a pair of these last week. Overall, I am very happy with them. I do notice them improving as they break-in (love you Sade :)

These are replacing my beloved KEF 104/2s. These are fantastic speakers in their own right with great imaging, crystal clear highs, and a very detailed and forward midgange. Bass is actually port loaded - a unique feature for these venerable loudspeakers. As far as musicality, pace, rhythm, these speakers have it in spades. They are just getting old so I was looking for something special to replace them.

The Gallos are a very different speaker with many of the same qualities. Imaging and sound staging are as good or even better than the KEFs. The bass is certainly tighter already, and I'm sure has a ways to go. The highs are silky smooth, but not as detailed as the KEFs. I've notice some improvement in the highs, just tonight in fact. So I think this will come along with time. The mids are a concern for me. And it's not that the mid are bad, just very different than the "in your face" 104/2s. The Gallos present more of a laid back blended in midrange. When I focus on it, it sounds very good... I'm just not used to having to focus on the mids. This too seems to be slowly improving (or I'm getting used to it :). Ditto on musicality. right out of the box, they didn't have "it" - the reason you listen to music. Tonight, they definitely did. I'd rate them as semi or sometimes engaging compared to the KEFs.

My placement is about 18" out from the wall and only 7' apart. The room is very large and well damped with only a section of it being used for listening. These speakers have no problems filling it.

Like I said, overall very happy with these speakers. They have many of the qualities I was looking for and sound pretty darn good right out of the box. I can certainly see, er, hear the potential these speakers have to offer.

Follow-up in a couple of weeks.

So, what was the result?

I'm considering replacing a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel Hot-Rods with these and am interested in your comments. They are driven by the 45 wpc Conrad Johnson MV-55. I'm wondering if anyone knows if this will be a good combination and also if this will be a huge step forward with my system.

We all have to remember that the sound is the result of the total system. If Dannyers's system has a more laid back midrange presentation now than before...he should not necessarily blame the speakers (I personally like them). Danny should have auditioned those speakers in his own system with his own electronics and his own cables, in his own room. Now Danny, you seem to have a wart (the midrange) which will eventually drive you nuts. Now comes the change of cables, amps, etc., etc., etc. to find that midrange again.

It's been a while since I last posted and the Gallos are now fully broken in... and sounding great! But it's not just the break-in that has made them sound better. I also made some key setup and environment changes. Here are the four things I did to bring these speakers up to performance on par with my previous speakers:

1) Z axis + : I went to Home Depot and bought 4 of the heaviest retaining wall stones I could find. At 46 lbs each I placed two under each speaker. This raised the height by 5 inches and provided a more solid base than my thick shag rug. The effect is to expanded and raise the sound stage and further tighten the bass. The tweeter is now slightly above my ear level. So I agree with folks who have replaced the wood base and/or otherwise raised these speakers: It does make the sound stage more realistic.

2) X axis: The speakers are now about 6' feet apart and not towed in at all. Used to be 7' and slightly towed in.

3) Y axis: I'm now sitting 4' back, used to be 5' back. This is closer than I have ever sat to a pair of speakers I've owned. It's almost near field listening, but not quite. I've still playing with this parameter a bit, but love the imaging I get right here right now.

4) WAF: Hung a heavy rug on the wall behind the speakers. This cut some reflections which I suspect was causing mid-range cancellations.

Now the mid-range is dialed in, very present, and if not forward, certainly not laid back I would say the porridge is just right. My mid-range test disks/songs include Sam Cooke's vocals on the live Coppa album and trombone in The Moche on Stereophile's Jazz album. Female vocals (Alison Krause, Eva Cassidy, Jacintha) sound rich and full. All sound as good as I remember the KEFs. Certainly, I am no longer straining to pull out the midrange. That trombone is now totally in my face and Sam is in the room. Sax, trumpets, and pianos all are now sounding great and I'm pulling out albums I haven't listened to in quite some time.

Speaking of older albums, these now sound better, but still not great. For instance, the old Sanborn album Hide Away from the eighties. Love the tunes, but the cymbals still sound very metallic and over processed. I attribute this, as on the KEFs, to excellent detail communication. I've heard this album on lesser speakers (Pardigm 80s) and you don't get that same digital sound. I consider this a loss of information, but YMMV as older albums certainly sound better on the Paridgms.

The imaging is still excellent/exceptional with well placed instruments. Heavy Weather exhibits that all important "wrap around sound" effect on the low synth note mid song. The Gallos and the KEFs are the only two speakers I've heard that can pull this off. I also use Jaco's bass on this album as a good test of articulate expressive bass. For treble I listened to the cymbals on Take Five. The Gallos have great treble and I can clearly hear the wood sticks on the brass plate. Very few speakers I've heard can make cymbals sound like they do live. The Gallos can do this with ease.

So in summary, I made several changes to clear up the recalcitrant mid-range and increase the height of the sound stage. These changes, and a healthy break-in period, have turned these into real keepers that rival the best speakers I have heard.