The Signature III's are truly an amazing speaker...you can't go wrong. The Mcintosh will do just fine seeing the speakers are very efficient. Anyone with negative feedback on the Legacy is probably pissed they spent thousands more for a lesser speaker. Goodluck! |
I've owned three pr. of Legacys in the past (Classic, Focus 20/20, Sig III) They are all good speakers. Sometimes a little hard to dial in though. Your Mac amp will work, but... even though the Legacys are rated to be very efficient they do like alot of power and perform there best in a fairly large room. |
I agree with Ribd11...truly amazing speakers.
I have owned my Signature III's for about 9 years now and have never regretted purchasing them. They are still the last speakers I will ever need.
The sound is seamless from speaker to speaker and the soundstage is fantastic once they are dialed in.
Your Mac amp will work just fine. They are very sensitive and easy to drive. That said, they do like a lot of power as well and sound even better with more power. (The bass is incredible).
I drove mine for years with a 90 watt Denon integrated and was very satisfied. I now drive them with a much more powerful Musical Fidelity A5 and they sound even better.
In my opinion, you should buy them. I doubt you will be disappointed. (Legacy and Cerwin Vega are not in the same league, btw..) |
Another opinion - just average. Clear, but disjointed. Efficient, but difficult to drive the woofers. Never really disappear, and are not 'wholistic'. Can be impressive hi fi, but not musical. Just my 2ยข |
Smthies & Ribd11,
The word "amazing" is way over the top for the Sig. III. They are good speakers, that can be hard to dial in. While they will produce without a ton of power, they will not be at there best. |
Anyone who thinks the Legacy Sig IIIs are lacking, should check their associated equipment and room treatments. Properly set up, the Sig IIIs is an amazing speaker.
One thing the speakers love are tube amps. If any of the naysayers are using, or have used solid state amps with the Siggies ... therein lies your problem.
I've been in this hobby since the early 1960s and can honestly say, FOR THE MONEY, the Sig IIIs are among the best speakers out there. |
|
I currently have both the focus and the Sig's with a Mac 352 and 2200 pre and found them seamless. They need an amp with high current. My mac is 100 amps and is very good at controlling the speaker. I also would add that adding good speaker stands attached to the speaker really helped clean every up including the bass. |
Cassroy ...
On the speaker stands ... could you give a recommendation? Are you talking about something like the Maple shade footers and wood platforms?
Thanks ... |
http://www.soundocity.com/Gallery.html
I mounted these with wood screws and gorilla glue. They provide the fondation and adjustment you will love. I wish that every Speaker company started with this kind of base.
Cheers |
Thanks for the info, Cassroy. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
As a point of interest for others out there who are curious about the Sig III tweeters, all I can say is, these tweeters are what brought me back into the fold of dynamic speakers. Because I could always "hear" the tweeters in box speakers, I had long sworn off of them and opted for planers. After years of listening to Acustat IIIs and IVs, and Martin Logan speakers, thinking I had the ultimate in transparency, I learned to live with their short comings. Then one night I visited a friend of a frend and heard the Sig IIIs for the first time. He was driving them with a modified Dyna-70 and the sound was spectacular! I put my Martin Logans up for sale the next day and the rest is history. The tweeters on the Sig IIIs consist of a small dome tweeter and also a small ribbon tweeter. With them working together, I honestly cannot detect the tweeters at all. The highs are sweet and very extended. Honestly, with the tweeters working as they do, and the lack of a "box" sound, the Sig IIIs are everything I had with the planers ... but so much more. These speakers MOVE AIR! Again, they do their best with tube amps. |
I have not heard the Signature III but I have owned Legacy Classics for the last 10 years and I love the sound. The bass can sometimes be boomy but the mids and a highs are what sold me on the Classics especially the ribbon tweeter. There are a lot of drivers in the Legacy speaker brand.
Agreed that like a lot of power. I have a 150 watts integrated amp and the Classic can suck up the power but they do reward you with good sound. |
Oh, and to add one more thing: If you want a nice improvement in your Sig IIIs, change out the stock binding posts for the Cardas solid copper binding posts. |
I know this is an old thread, but the Sig III's rank among the best I have ever heard. Very flat across the spectrum to the point of being a bit bass-shy if anything. Still when there is heavy bass in the music they speak up. You will not find any upper bass emphasis like many speakers have. The upper end is extended and effortless and never harsh sounding. Overall very easy to live with. Their modest physical size doesn't overwhelm the room either, even in smaller rooms.
|
