MBL sometimes demos the 101s at very high volume with a very good, tho unfamiliar, electric blues recording. At the LAX show, maybe five or six years ago, it was the single most convincing recording of a small combo with electric guitar that I've ever heard. Very loud, very dynamic, and tangibly three dimensional. Nuances in tone aren't going to be front and center in that type of demo, but there was nothing distracting about those characteristics.
However, I've also heard them at a few dealers where the tonal balance has always been an issue. Especially in smaller demo rooms, the bass can be a little much and the presence region a bit forward. I was actually considering a purchase at one time, but held off because I feared that my room was probably too small to get proper bass balance. Even then, I thought hard about possibly bypassing the internal woofer box in favor of stand-alone subs. Eventually, I decided to pass.
In all, I find that the 101 is among the truly great speakers that I've ever heard, but they really need a large space to sound right in tonal balance IMO.
BTW, I found the smaller MBL floorstanders much less impressive.
However, I've also heard them at a few dealers where the tonal balance has always been an issue. Especially in smaller demo rooms, the bass can be a little much and the presence region a bit forward. I was actually considering a purchase at one time, but held off because I feared that my room was probably too small to get proper bass balance. Even then, I thought hard about possibly bypassing the internal woofer box in favor of stand-alone subs. Eventually, I decided to pass.
In all, I find that the 101 is among the truly great speakers that I've ever heard, but they really need a large space to sound right in tonal balance IMO.
BTW, I found the smaller MBL floorstanders much less impressive.