Rockport Lyra: +1500
Rockport Cygnus: +1500
Mágico M6: +900
Mágico MPro: +300
Wilson Audio Chronosonic: +900
Sonus faber aida 2: +250
Sonus Faber SE: +1500
Estelon ForzaK: +1500
Kharma Exquisite Midi: +1500
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Damn I can’t guess on that one, too much choices. Complete darkness here. 😆 |
The
Wilson Audio Chronosonic
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Hmm.
Rockport Lyra
Rockport Cygnus
Mágico M6
Mágico MPro
Wilson Audio Chronosonic
Sonus faber aida 2
Sonus Faber SE
Estelon ForzaK
Kharma Exquisite Midi
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Cool 2 weeks is soon.
Can you give us some insight? Maybe a choice of contenders so we can try to guess. |
Wilson Audio AlexxV. There, I just did. ; )
Haha, just kidding. Those are your speakers within the next 6 months (they won’t even be released for 4 weeks) |
@whitecamaross
Alright! Looking forward to the start of the next system. |
Well
I have selected and paid for my next pair of speakers. They should be with me in 2 weeks. I plan to unveil them by the end of the month. |
Doesn't sound like the Pass XA 30.5/30.8 would be a good match for Sonus Faber Olympica series? |
One thing is for sure: the new boulder gear is murdering a lot of brands out there. I can't recommend it enough. It was hard for me to see it go but I'm sure I'll eventually circle back to it. I predict I'll go back to boulder in the next few months. |
Gryphon Diablo 300 - best 'budget' integrated.
D'Agostino Momentum - best integrated.
Boulder separates - best sound in town. Incredible.
I like Wilson Maxx speakers.
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Rockport now uses CH Precision at their factory. |
I see. Thank you. Grand Utopia are thought by some to be among the very best speakers. VAC uses them too. |
Focal grande utopia are used at the boulder factory.
Mágico are used at synergistic research and at Wireworld to build their cables
Rockport uses gryphon amps at the factory.
I heard mágico is currently demoing pilium amps from Greece to see if they want to use them going forward in their factory.
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#1 is clearly better. In #2 something was wrong.
Boulders are such great amps. If I had them I would play a bit more with interconnects, speaker cables and power cords. Could be very time consuming but these amps are worth it.
What speakers does Boulder use to voice the amps ? |
Agreed. I doubt I'll be able to find an amp that can keep up with the 2150s unless i spend big money. Mephisto monos have been on my mind but you all know the Gryphon line is protected very tightly... I don't want to go to amps that expensive. |
Presentation #2 sounds clearer, sharper and more transparent and I think for the short term I would choose #2....however with long term listening #1 would be easier to listen to and less fatiguing. Boulder gear is just so transparent it seems difficult to improve on the sound with aftermarket PC's and isolation.
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@whitecamaross, I have the same experience with stock power cords on my Boulder setup, they're so good that I only worry about power cords on my DAC and streamer now. It's very odd because they look just like normal cheap computer power cords.
As for MBL with other electronics, I've only heard them with Boulder but not Gryphon. They were a wonderful match with Boulder, which brought out the sparkle and definition in the sound without being bright or etched. Also from what I've heard and read, the bigger MBLs are more prone to brightness than the smaller ones.
@kps25sc Fair point on the A/B of the gear location within the same setup. That I have not done, so very well might be much better with an optimal room setup. |
Interesting Dave. It's quite shocking how good stock powercords are with Boulder gear... |
Just listened to the video. Most folks are picking #1, but I'll be different and pick #2 - that's what I preferred.
Dave
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In the meantime, waiting for B&W D4 series, you could try a pair of Spendor D9.2 if you ever get that opportunity.
Supposed to be very engaging speakers. |
Stage III Concept cables and power cords could be interesting. May not be easy to sell them later, though. Same with Echole brand. |
Thanks for the info above. I just want to be honest: i don't have hands on experience with mbl so i have to go by what you guys with experience are telling me.
I have heard 101mk2 which are interesting and i do like the looks. My issue is if i bring them and i can't quite get them to sound to my liking then I'm in deep waters.
I will be putting out a video hopefully soon where I will go over all the gear i am currently considering. |
Most powerful high quality amp with lots of reserve can do the job, but don't strap up a powerhouse with shitty treble MBL speakers can be brutal with bright amps, or amps that start suffering under heavy load. The MBL amps where custom made for the speakers, but are definitely not the only game in town. |
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Interesting. I was under the impression that mbl amps are what's best for mbl speakers. |
@divertiti Sounds like you have been visiting the Houston dealer a lot. I was talking about the difference in setup, with and without gear placement between the speakers. But truly knowing how a speaker behaves and integrates in different rooms with different equipment is something you learn about when you live with it, not by visiting.
I am sure Boulder or Gryphon gear would be excellent matches for 101E's, the MBL speaker i have my experience with. |
@kps25sc I have heard the same MBL setups in the same room with different electronics, both large and small MBL setups at that. Also compared them to the MBL 101 Extreme at the same time. I would say I have a wider set of experience than someone who has just owned one pair of MBL in their homes, maybe not as in depth. |
Agreed. I have heard mbl on a few occasions but don't have experience with it. |
@divertiti
Judging from your post history you have never owned MBL, i am sure you have heard excellent sound from the setups you have visited, but judging the impact of other equipment in the sound field is only possible when you hear both in the same system.
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They are being replaced. I will wait until D4 is announced in the summer.
There will be a model above the 800 according to what i heard. For the first time they will be building a 900 series B&w...im guess $50k msrp. Not sure |
Bring in a pair of B&W 800 D3. This brand has put a lot of $ in R&D over the years. |
I have heard quite a few MBL systems, with racks between the speakers, with subs in the back, they all sounded fantastic. Also as I mentioned before, they don't need MBL electronics. The Boulder helped MBL be more focused and image better, but it's true they are omni directional so imaging will never be as precise as dynamic box speakers.
Speaking of which, a few recommendations on speakers I have heard that have jumped out as very special:
Joseph Audio Pearl 3 - incredible bass and sound stage for relative small stature, heard the back to back with some Wilson Alexx and they were not embarrassed by any means. Amazing midrange timber with dynamics.
PMC Fenestria or MB2 - $60K flagship PMC speaker heard in a London show with AVM monoblocks, easily bested B&W 800 D3 and Focal Grand Utopia at the same show. Also better than big Wilsons I heard at a dealer’s dedicated room the day before. It’s the combination of cohesiveness, incredible dynamic contrast, effortless detail and scale, incredibly balanced yet has that special something.
Vivid B1 Decade (and Giya) - Listened to these with Jadis amps, was floored by the tonality and timbre, instruments sounded like the material they are made from, the emotion and intention of the singers were like I’ve never heard and effortless articulate bass from such a small cabinet. |
Then yes, that is not for me. I appreciate the feedback. |
You alway have to much gear everywhere, especially between the speakers, not a great setup for dipoles or omnis . Your room treatment is great for conventional speakers and i don't see you changing all the things that need to be done to make MBL's sound great. They take time and extended dedication before they really sing. |
That's something I really don't know... |
Jay, your room is not great for MBL anyway. |
One day. That is all on my radar |
I cannot possibly follow this thread on its entirety, so maybe this was covered earlier, but @whitecamaross this is my advice for you to try:
1) Shunyata Everest
2) Shunyata Omega power cords
You owe it to yourself to give them a shot. |
I can’t use 60.8, gryphon essence, simaudio 860, etc etc with mbl. They need power and if you all want me to bring a small amp then i don’t the speaker to use it with. There is also the constant talk about mbl being bright and not imaging nowhere near a wilson or magico...
Yes, i know i love finding stuff out on my own but speakers don't exactly sell quite easily in case they aren't my cup of tea. |
Of course, Boulder electronics should be better than MBL, I am not surprised at all. |
Jay, you mentioned that you were thinking of MBL but are put off by possible electronics matching. I wouldn't be put off by that, I've heard the big 101s and small 126s with the Boulder 1110 + 1160 combo, and they had amazing synergy. Myself and others all thought MBL with Boulder sounded better than with MBL's own electronics. Boulder brings a level of incisiveness and authority that was missing with an all MBL system. |
I actually am very surprised to hear the 60.8 sound this good. Don't get me wrong it isn't a Mephisto or boulder 2150 but the level of performance is still impressive.
Makes me wonder if buying an expensive supporting cast and an affordable amp would actually change the way most of us feel about cheaper amplifiers. I don't even remember my xs300 sound this good which doesn't make sense. Just goes to show EVERYTHING is important in order to maximize components potential. |
Many options but there is only one winner ....one world class speaker...get ready to be shocked..2-3 weeks time... |
Wilson just announced a successor to Jay's speaker, the ALEXX V due out in March. Alsyvox should be on the list as well as the just-released GTAW Reference 3. |
Do the integrated amp shootout I posted about! That is what would drive subscriptions and views. It’s brilliant!
keep the xa60.8 as a separates benchmark with a reasonable priced preamp and see if any of the integrateds can beat. Ratings Gold I tell ya!!
Alas, my prediction if not now within six months is Gryphon Mephisto mono blocks (solo or whatever they are called) and the new Wilson AlexxV. Book it |
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Have you considered Devore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 speakers? Could be a good choice for a second pair of relatively affordable speakers and a good partner to your future tube amp. |
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I am exploring different speaker brands. Not just wilson.
I'll miss the alexx dearly! |
