JM Lab Alto comments please

For a few hundred bucks (if you end up shipping them back)why not use the Zu trial period? That way, you get to hear them in your home, and well beyond the typical ~1-hour audition period.

2bigears, the coin flip may work. While the coin is in the air doing its thing; Before it lands I somehow know which way I want it to go. Keep us posted with your speaker journey. peace, warren :)

I think they are incredible. Lack of bass?..... I never found this to be. I used them with Halcro amps ( which are often criticized in the bass area).

I am not in the mood to type too much, but if you can get these speakers at 1/2 price, used.... then it is a no brainer.

The JM Lab Utopias are tough to judge. They can sound very different with different amps and rooms. I have heard the Divas sound really warm and relaxed but then in another system they were lean and forward. I am sure the Altos can do that too.

Also, I wouldn't expect a dealer to have speakers setup optimally. All the fancy dealers I have visited never seem to have things quite right IMO. It takes them too much time and effort to do that and besides, they only have a limited number of rooms to feature all types of speakers.

Only after using Altos in your system with different amps will you have any idea what they are like. You shouldn't be hasty in your judgement. That goes for any equipment. And I sure wouldn't bet my $10,000 on another person's single audition! That seems ridiculous.

With any great speaker, it will take some work to get the most of them. Don't forget you are paying all that money for transparency and resolution. Along with that comes good and bad, as always. Good luck.

Arthur

I agree with Arthur. The JMs can sound different with different set up. My 1037 BEs started off sounding lean and bright in my system when i first brought them home. I upgraded my cables to all Virtual Dyanmics and applied Xtreme AV Quicksilver Gold treatmen to the connections. Now the 1037 Be JM labs sound warm, full and smooth and relaxed.

I also added spiked mapleboards to the bottom of the speakers. This addition allowed the bassa and mid bass to be more defined.