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Gallo REfF3's-All their cracked up to be?

Having won award from Absolute Sound,6Moons etc just wondering if how they compare with others in $25r00-$5K range.With Maggie 1.6/3.6's,Spendors,Harbeths,B&W Nautilus 803's etc not to mention used Quad 988.989,Infinity Preludes that have been seen as low as $3500,Gershman RX-20's used,offerings from Audio Physic (again good values used,heard Sparks where I liked low volume dynamics and read the Gallo's need to be pushed to come alive) well it's a crowded market.But seems like the twop speakers that have major buzz factor are the Gallo and NHT Xd system (selling for a bit over $6K).Live in sticks anbd would like to hear from folks who have put the Gallo's up against other speakers with empahsis on accurate midrange.Had as pair of Ref 2's but never got system set up around them nor dialed them in correctly.Was so nervous that tweeters might blow which were irreplacable got me nervous and I got rid of them pretty quickly.Have heard from dealers that Gallo can be unpleasant in cutomer support and lack of back tweeters could have been his resent ment that they did not sell better.But even though that's speculation is does say that they could be beter in support area.Maybe new models and sales might correct this.,They seemed to have great attributes but also weakneeses.Couldn't shake the feeling they were "gimmicky" in some respects but againn perhaps they were not dialed in proprly.Would lkike to run with 40 watt glass but could go 200+ solid state.Any auditions or owners who could give the good ,the bad and the ugly?
Thanks
Chazzbo
chazzbo

Showing 3 responses by woifi73

woifi73
8 posts
 
i have been playing to get the ref3's to sound good for 4 years now. (stands, tweeks..). i am throwing the towel.
i listen to classical music and chamber music. while imaging very well, the sound is tinny and etched. the reviewers praising the 3's tweeter may not listen to life music. violins do not sound right through this tweeter. i have tried tube amps (quicksilver v4 monos) in combination with a vtl5.5 preamp and the benchmark dac. alternatively i used the speakers with the musical fidelity kw500. i find that they sound much better with rock and electronically modded music than with classical recordings. i have my guarneri memento's next to the gallo. they portray the music in all its glory. any similar experience and possible remedy?
woifi73
8 posts
 
thanks dopogue, i will send them to gallo and have the tweeters checked.
woifi73
8 posts
 
thanks jamesgarvin. i have tried everything, even different rooms. shooting them straight out is helping a bit. reading up in the maple shade catalogue, i have tilted them back much more, helped also a little.
the only action that make them really sound better is to switch the gallo sub amp to full range. i get a more satisfying fuller sound and the highs seem to be less pronounced. obviously, the woofer is taking on some of the job the midrange units should perform and this with satisfying clarity. it is obvious, that i am acting against gallo's advice by bi amplifying the ref 3's with the complete frequency spectrum into the bass unit. while this may send shudders down the spine of serious audiophiles, it seems the only way for me to get acceptable performance from these speakers.
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