Hales Transcendence 5 speakers endgame?

I love Hales speakers.


The T8s are still one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard (it was my favorite when debuted at CES) and I owned the T5s for a number of years.


Paul Hales had a magical way with those drivers, making such a coherent, lush sound, an absolutely magically grain-free midrange and highs, with incredible soundstaging and imaging. And a timbral accuracy I still rarely hear from other speakers today. They were the speakers that showed me metal drivers could actually sound wonderful.I think they are competitive with anything today and definitely in the "end game" category, depending on the individual of course.



So why did I sell them?


Well...I’m an audiophile. Nuff said ;-)


But to be more specific: the two nits I had with the Hales were that they were so smooth they smoothed away a bit of presence and texture to the sound. There wasn’t quite the textural presence of some other speakers I liked. Also I found the sonic images weren’t as dense and palpable as I preferred.


I found for me a better combination of timbral accuracy, image density, dynamics and texture with Thiel speakers (which I still own).


But I still loved the Hales sound so much I tracked down rare-as-hens-teeth Transcendent 1 monitors and the T- Center channel for my home theater (in fact, bought some directly from Paul well after Hales folded).Best decision I ever made. I’d never give them up as they provide such a smooth, gorgeous, timbrally beautiful sound for home theater. I even bought extras in case any of them break!
Though I still have Thiels (2.7) I also added Joseph Audio Perspective speakers which use the similar SEAS drivers (though newer versions) for the midrange/base, like the Hales.   There must be something about those drivers because they have the same grain-free timbral beauty as the Hales.   But I'm getting a bit more texture out of them as well.

I think the T8s are end-game level speakers.  I found a guy selling a great pair a few years ago and would have tried them out, but their size just didn't fit where I'd have to put them in my room.

BTW,  some Hales fans may be aware that just before Hales folded (and later went in to pro sound), Paul Hales produced a flagship Alexandra speaker, shown only once I believe at CES 99.  You can see a photo of it in this report:

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/wces99/speakers.htm

I've always wanted to hear that speaker to see how far Paul pushed his design at the time.  Some reports said "best I've ever heard."I actually know by acquaintance the fella who managed to scoop up that one existing model!   (Never heard them, though).

Thanks daveyf,
I would have some confidence in the sound of the Alexandra.   Paul was really focused on timbral accuracy and smoothness at that period, and his transcendence speakers - all metal drivers - where a marvel.  I can't imagine he'd suddenly stumble on this design.    One or two who heard it raved.

Yeah the T5s I had were plenty awesome.   Super clean, clear, relaxed, dynamic, huge soundstage and killer imaging.   Really close to endgame speaker for me.

 

Still loving my Hales T1 and Transcendence center channel in my home theater set up.  Though I have Joseph Audio Perspective speakers for 2 channel listening, I often listen to music on my Hales-based HT set up - e.g. youtube performances or apple music.   Every time I listen I'm sooo glad I snagged these speakers.   So lush, so smooth, so rich and tonally convincing.