I didn't. It was a fairly quick impression. |
Tortilladc.
You don't really go into specific details about the sound of the Zensor 1 that you dislike. Can you elaborate?
I have read up on the Ikon line and the high end is apparently a bit bright at least that is what some owners of the Ikon 1 are saying. I want a clean, natural high end but not bright. Based upon reviews I've read on the Zensor 1 it has a more neutral sounding high end. |
I have a pair of the Mentor 6 floor standers and the Ikon Vokal center channel. When I heard the Zensors, I felt like ok they were Dali's but didn't have that sonic signature that the others had. This is by no means a properly controlled comparison - just based on what I heard in the showroom when my friend was quickly auditioning them. Could be a number of factors but I chalked it up to the lack of the hybrid tweeter.
I really dig the Mentor and Ikon line but personally would pass on the Zensors. So I suppose my comment wasn't really evaluating the Zensor on its own - simply noting that it wasn't as nice as the more expensive offerings that Dali has. Now I feel dumb. =)
I guess my point is that you don't want to immediately start pining for the nicer model or feel like you're missing out on a signature feature simply to get in the door with a brand at a certain price point. The Zensors give me that feeling. The Mentors do not. Call it insecurity, buyer's remorse, or being hard to please, but I'm not immune to that sort of thinking.
With regards to the Stereophile review...I suppose it's nice to see measurements but most hifi reviews print some variation on the item sounding better than its price point. They do compare the Zensor 1 to the Wharfedale 10.1, which is a lovely speaker and I bought a pair for for my sister. |
Tortillade.
What do you believe the shortcomings are of the Zensor 1? Stereophile just gave them a hearty endorsement and said they sound far better than their price. I really have not read a single bad review.
Someone else has suggested the Focal 705v. Sounds like this would also be to my liking as well. |
I love my Dali Mentors but if I were you I'd skip the Zensors. Didn't do much for me when I heard them and you don't get that nice hybrid ribbon tweeter that Dali is known for. Check out the Ikons - between the Zensor and Mentors and they have the hybrid. |
I've known thieves that don't act like thieves in their hobby
audio store, but will pick your pocket at their furniture or car store.
Not a joke. |
Schubert. Can't really comment regarding what you've just stated. But I do know this. I spent many years living in Connecticut and found that virtually every single privately owned stereo shop was dealing above board with their products and services. In Kansas City I found it to be the opposite. |
The fact that MOST stores are run by thieves has been rather well understood by most for the last thousand years or so. |
And another story to illustrate that some stores are run by thieves.
While I was shopping for speakers I auditioned the Phase Technology V 4 speaker last Spring in a local store. Checked out this place after auditioning the years old Polk and Dali speakers. The list price on the V 4 which was at that time very outdated since the new line of Velocity speakers had been out for over a year was $1,000.00! You read that right. The store had the V 4 marked down to $529.00 on "special". That "special" price was still too high. I called Phase Tech and they told me the list price on that speaker and the new V 52 was around $450.00! Highway robbery. Selling a speaker line that is many years old and not even carrying the new line even though it had been out over a year. The store told me they were getting in the new line within a couple of weeks. Not sure if they did because when I called back a couple of weeks later I got a runaround on it. |
"These people are not thieves, they are simply trying to earn a return on their money, time, and knowledge. Anyone that abuses businesses for no other purpose but to get a demo so they can turn around and buy cheaper online is a thief. Have fun buying online from reviews and forum feedback and be sure to tally the number of times you end up trying different speakers because you either don't like what you ended up with and/or wonder what else something sounds like. "
Actually they were thieves. You were not in that store but I was. The clerk didn't even give me the accurate models of the Jamo speakers they had in the store. None were the C series or the S series either. Older stock.
Not all stores are of course but the one I just mentioned that I went to it was clear they were trying to pawn off merchandise that was several years old, probably overstock but at inflated prices. Example: A Polk line that was released years before the current line was being billed as the latest and best. And still at the list price!
So, the topic at hand is out of the Jamo C803 or Dali Zensor 3, what are the best and worst attributes of each. |
Also, online purchases will NOT have a manufacturers' warranty, unless the selling website is listed on the manufacturers' website as an authorized online reseller.
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Will have to purchase online since every local outlet I've talked to are thieves and have over priced products. These people are not thieves, they are simply trying to earn a return on their money, time, and knowledge. Anyone that abuses businesses for no other purpose but to get a demo so they can turn around and buy cheaper online is a thief. Have fun buying online from reviews and forum feedback and be sure to tally the number of times you end up trying different speakers because you either don't like what you ended up with and/or wonder what else something sounds like. |
For some reason the speaker models did not post in the subject line when I typed them in.
Speakers are the Jamo C803 and Dali Zensor 3. |
Looking at buying either of these speakers in the very near future. Based upon reviews I've read both speakers possess the sonic qualities that I desire. That being the case, I'd like to get the opinion of the people on this board about their perception of each speaker. Strengths and weaknesses. Still using the Qinpu A3 amp. |
I decided first to try the Jamo C603. Found a pair through Amazon listed as New. Turned out they probably were not. Not the fault of the Seller since he got them through his distributor. The cabinet on one speaker had a blotch of gloss black paint instead of the flat black the speakers are finished in. And I saw some specks of pink paint on the front baffle of one speaker. And I played them for at least a dozen hours and didn't even detect a subtle change in the tonal qualities of the speaker which seems to indicate they were already broken in. Even if a speaker needs dozens of hours of break in, you can usually hear a minor difference in sound after a few hours of break in at a moderate playing level.
Going to try a Phase Technology speaker next. While I really liked the sound of the Jamo speaker, I have some questions about whether or not Klipsch is upholding the integrity of the brand name now that they own it. |
Finally found a website for Focal. Thanks for the suggestion. |
Schubert. I was a bit worried about the sensitivity of the NHT speaker. Someone at Audio Advisor claims it won't present an issue with the A3 but I am a bit leery of it.
The Phase Tech sounds quite good and the spec's will match up fine with the amp.
Can't find the speaker you are using other than a review from 2002. Guessing it has been discontinued. Can't even find a website for Focal speakers. If you can provide one I will certainly look into them.
Why don't you like the Jamo C series? I've read a lot of great reviews of this particular line of speakers. They seem to be quite neutral sounding from what I gather. |
Unfortunately I have a limited budget right now. Just bought a house and have a ton of things to do with it.
I looked into the Monitor Audio Bronze series based upon a review I read in Sound and Vision Magazine recently. The BX 2 appears to be a little too bright for my taste but the BX 1 according to the article might be in the ballpark.
Do you have a link to the Focal speaker company? I can't seem to find it. |
Of what you list ,the NHT will sound best, but they need power, 8 watts ?-I doubt it.Phase Tec is OK, I wouldn't want the other two if they were free, to be blunt about it.
I have a pr of Focal Titus 202 I use with a 8watt Eastern Electric tube integrated, VERY nice sound , just what you describe. I've seen them on here for around $300. |
Have you researched Monitor Audio products. The older Monitor Gold sound like what you seem to want.
BTW a speaker which is lighter on bass tends to be heard often times as a midrange and treble boost.
I was thinking of Focal speakers but they may be too revealing. There are a number of different models of Focal (and monitor for that matter), the one you might want, will depend on how much you have budgeted for. |
