Joseph Audio Perspectives (originals) - Rendition of symphony orchestras


Tossing out to those who know the JA Perspectives (originals) sound ... Currently in a conundrum about whether the Perspectives will achieve a satisfying : ) reproduction of a 'big' orchestral sound.  The kind you feel in your chest, "almost" physically as well as emotionally.  I know these are superlative speakers.  I expect they'll have a full spectrum of chops, for me the tone/timbre element is primary, and I know the imaging and sound-staging is there.  I know they're dynamic and engaging in low frequencies.  I haven't heard much about how well they can impart the bigness of an orchestra - thump of tympani, orchestral dynamics, massed strings, (etc., etc. !).  any help on this question?
They'd be driven with a Pass X-250.8, BHK250 pre, Aurender N10, Lampizator Atlantic SE ...
Thanks
nightrunner

Showing 1 response by prof

nightrunner,


I own the Joseph Perspectives (original).   I also own Thiel 2.7 floor standing speakers (which replaced my larger Thiel 3.7 flagships). 



When I had to replace my big Thiel 3.7s it was tough because I was looking for a smaller speaker that still had to "play and sound big."


The two speakers that did that best, in my auditions, where the Joseph Perspectives and the Devore O/96 and O/93 speakers.


The Josephs play all music with dynamics and almost peerless timbral purity, IMO.    Given their size, they are outstanding on orchestral music because they have this ability to "puff up and sound larger" when demanded, e.g. orchestral climaxes.   John Atkinson noted being thrilled with this aspect in his review too.


They have a way of swelling dynamically, the bass rumbling forward like waves, as the music swells, making for a very "emotional" connection beautifully in tune with the dynamics of classical music.  (I like classical music, but I'm an even bigger soundtrack fanatic, so my speakers had to be great for this stuff).


Now, my larger Thiel speakers do sound more rich and full, top to bottom, giving the actual orchestral instrument sizes a bit more heft. And the Devore speakers went even further in this regard.  Strings on the Devore sound thicker and more substantial than on the Joseph speakers.


The flipside is the Josephs have such timbral precision and beauty that it helps make up ground this way.   In fact during one audition of the Josephs it was listening to some Ravel pieces I knew well that stuck in my mind.   The sheer timbral realism, the way horns cut through with such metallic, but subtle brassiness, the boxy woodiness of the string tone, the reedy sound of the woodwinds, literally raised the hair on my arms with how much it reminded me of the sound of a real orchestra.


And they have continued to amaze me since I've owned them.


So...yes they convey the feel and dynamics of orchestra music beautifully.  You feel it.   And they are gorgeous in tonal reproduction.And they can cast an enormous soundstage.   I've sometimes spread them up to 9 feet apart (seating 7 feet away), with no loss of center-fill, and the entire wall behind them just melts away in to a giant stage.  I was playing one of my favourite soundtracks, Conan The Barbarian, a newer performance release, and it was just insane on the Perspectives.   Huge, thundering kettle drums and roaring deep brass, absolutely thrilling.



They are bettered by some other speakers in terms of the sense of body and heft to instruments, string sections etc, which is one of the reasons I also like the Devore speakers and my Thiels.   But neither of those better the clarity and timbral realism of the Josephs.


Your Pass amp should work perfect with the Josephs.  I have conrad johnson premier 12 tube monoblocks, 140W/side and they work great.  Though a Bryston 4B3 I borrowed, 300w, did give symphonic music that much more solidity and realism.


Hope that helps.