Looking for my End Game Speaker

@fastfreight  

Thank you for the input… It shows on your profile that you had YG acoustic speakers previously. Were you not happy with them? Do you have the vivid audio speakers close to the wall? I heard the Kaya series at a local dealer… and was not that impressed. They did not have the Giya in stock. I had heard the oval speaker from vivid years ago at the Rocky Mountain audio festival.… and I loved them!  

@sounds_real_audio 

Thank you for your recommendation!  My friend in Germany owns Wilson Benesch speakers… Endeavour3… He loves them! They are difficult to find in Canada. I will certainly try to listen to them when I’m at the show in Chicago.

@kennyc  Thanks for your response!  I think you did really well going with the Vimberg Mino D (that's the Diamond tweeter upgrade correct?); the Vimberg are on my audition list as well.  My big concern is that they are rear vented.  I'm hoping to speak to some of the reps there to pick their brains on room placement.  So the new S3 compares to the M3....That's impressive!  

Do the exhibitors offer show specials during Axpona?  

Tony

@zuesman I'll definitely put Monitor Audio on my list!  Thanks!  A local dealer is doing a special listening session with the new Monitor Audio Hyphn later on during the month, so I'll probably drop by if I get a chance to hear them!

@laaudionut  @jdavis234  Thanks for your recommendation.  I'll put the TAD on my list to audition.  I'll do some research ahead of time!

@larsman Do you have the model with the Diamond tweeter or the ceramic?  Yes, I've read great reviews about the whole Marten lineup...and I'm a big fan of the custom made isolation feet by Isoacoustics.

@stringreen I haven't listened to Vandersteen in years!  I'll have to check out their new lineup; I see they've totally redesigned their Carbon model....looks very similar to the Quattro wood.....

@p05129 The Magico A3 that I have now don't seem overly large in my room currently.  The Magico M2 (used) is very similar in size to my existing speakers...so I think they would be a good choice (although, even in the used market, is one of the most expensive options).  The Vivid Audio Giya G4 would also be a good fit size wise....

@kennyc Gershman is a Canadian company; I have heard of them previously, but have never had a chance to audition them.  I will definitely add them to my Axpona list!  I have read about the speaker...but I think they look a bit odd, especially with their wood grills.  Being from Canada, I would love to support local if possible (Acora is Canadian too!)  Thanks for the tip!

@johnread57 I've owned the PMC OB1 speaker in the past....and loved it!  I'll be sure to check their latest models.  I like that the transmission line port faces forward....It allows for easier placement!

@jdpalmer1 I've heard ProAc speakers in the past ...years ago and was impressed!  I'll look for them at Axpona.  Thanks!

@vthokie83 @disc Yes!  Joseph Audio is on the list....the Perspective and the Pulsar!  I've read a ton of UK magazines giving awards to the Fyne speakers...but have never heard them in person;  I'll definitely check them out!  Thanks.

@grislybutter Thanks for the great list of sealed speakers!  Appreciate it!

@steve59 I went to the RMAF in Denver in 2015 and heard the original B1!  I loved that particular speaker....but I wished it had more bass....thus my interest in the Giya G3 and G4.  I have to admit, I wasn't a big fan of the Kaya series when I auditioned them recently....so I wasn't sure if the Giya would live up to my expectations.  I'll see when I check out their room at Axpona.

@p05129 I wasn’t too concerned about overloading the bass given I already have the A3….and I don’t play my system that loud.  I agree though, the s3 might be too big….which is why I’m also looking at the m2. 

@kennyc Do you the know the Gershman 30th anniversary Grand compare to the Vimberg Mino Ds?  I was reading up on the Gershman, and they have that bass trap that would appear to deal with bass in smaller rooms. Very interesting.

@steve59 I know the movie The Fifth Element as well.  The Giya totally reminds me of the blue opera singer; I actually really like the look of the Giyas!  Lol. If they were a sealed design, it would be a done deal!  I’ll have to listen to them carefully when I get a chance. I would order them in dark blue too! Thinking of the G3 now too; the G4 looks too small!

@mbmi Yes!  I’ll be checking out the Borresen room for sure. They are the hot speaker brand currently!

Does anyone have much experience with Audio Physic?  

@zuesman So I had the chance to attend a mini audio show here at one of my local dealers....and got to listen to the Monitor Audio Hyphn.  It was a fairly crowded room (fairly warm as well)....and upon first listen, I wasn't overly impressed.  The speakers were powered by two Audio Research mono blocks running a Linn DSM streamer/DAC/preamp.  All wiring was Audioquest Dragon.  I went back a couple more times when Audioquest was doing a cable demo....and got a few minutes to listen to more familiar tracks.  Yes, I would say the sound was impressive.  I wasn't used to the height of the soundstage (the hyphn is a fairly tall speaker).  I'm not sure they were worth $130K CDN though.  To be honest, I thought the Acora SRC1 speakers were considerably better in terms of overall realism, transparency, and soundstage width (was uncanny!); where the Hyphn was clearly better was the bass response.  Unfortunately, I never had a chance to listen to the Monitor Audio 200s; they had them on display, but were not hooked up. 

@blisshifi Thank you for taking the time to respond.  My first experience with Vivid Audio was back in 2015 at the RMAF where I heard the B1 orange coloured Oval speaker; I really enjoyed that system at the time....and became an instant fan of the Vivid brand.  I did get to listen to one of the original Giya (series 1) speakers speakers at a local dealer several years ago, and thought they sounded very good at the time as well.  Fast forward to this year, I had auditioned the Kiya 45 with Moon electronics, and was underwhelmed.  The clarity and micro-details I was expecting to hear just wasn't there; it sounded veiled ....and for lack of a better word, cloudy....as if I were hearing the cabinet.  You, and a couple other reviewers, have suggested the Kaya models as alternatives to the Giya series....but I'm really shying away from they Kaya based on my latest audition.  With that said, the Giya G3 and G4 (series 2) are both on my list to seriously audition.  I'm leaning towards the G3 simply because I think the G4 look so short.  I'm also afraid the G4 might not provide enough low bass response, even though I don't play my system that loud.  For my room, do  you think the G3's would be too much speaker????  Do the Giyas perform well at lower volumes?

@fleschler Yes, I have not had a chance to listen to the Acora SRC2.  I spoke to my Acora dealer, and he had mentioned that the bass response between the SRC1 and SRC2 would be similar; the SRC2 was just meant for a larger room.  I'm hoping to hear the SRB with the new sub module bases, as well as the SRC2 at Axpona.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!  I have added them all to my list to audition next April.  I'm just hoping I'll have enough time to visit all the rooms that I want to visit.

@zuesman Yes, I was speaking to the Monitor Audio representative and he mentioned that solid state amplifiers are ideal for their speakers. 

I’m adding another speaker to my audition list; Magico recently announced the new S2 is launching quarter 2 of 2025.  I’m wondering how it compares to the m2. I hope they have it on display at Axpona!