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Nova Utopia Be or Dynaudio Temptation\Wilson Maxx

This is my first posting, so hi there from Australia.

I'm having a hard time deciding on my next speaker purchase and hopefully I can hear some of your thoughts so I can finally make a decision.

I currently have a pair of Dynaudio C4 and I’m looking at upgrading to JMlab Nova Utopia Be, Dynaudio Evidence Temptation or Wilson Puppy\Maxx. Or if anyone knows anything about the new Focal Utopia range I would be interested.

I have previously owned the Dynaudio Contour s5.4 and C2, B&W 802, Wilson Sophia and other bits and pieces. Amplification is currently Gryphon Antileon. Source is currently Mark Levinson 30.6 DAC and Mark Levinson 31.5 Transport. With MIT Oracle 2.1 speakers cables and MIT Oracle 2.2 interconnects.

I am leading towards Nova Utopia as I liked the sound of the Wilson Sophia and have been told that the Nova sound similar. I don’t know if the Dynaudio Evidence Temptation is better than the Nova Utopia or if I would prefer the Wilson Watt Puppy \ Maxx.

But then I guess it comes down to the usual ‘personal preference’ ‘room size’.

It's not easy to find and listen to this speakers in Australia so if anyone has any information or experiences....
r_paton

Showing 8 responses by r_paton

r_paton OP
26 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses. Shadorne I heard the Dynaudio Saphire in Singapore and wasn't too impressed, might have been the associated equipment. I was just reading up on Joseph D'Appolito and yes because of the driver arrangement in the Nova Utopia I think it will be hard to know what they will sound like without doing a home demo, which will probably be impossible in Australia :(

Gryphon Atlantis, good suggestion i'll do some investigation.

Bigbucks, your comments about the C4 being played loud, I've had the same experience with the C2, they sound a lot better a higher volumes.

I wonder when, or if Dynaudio will update their Evidence range, getting old.
r_paton OP
26 posts
 
I haven't heard the Usher BE-20 but have read some reviews about them and they seem good value for money.

A friend of mine managed to organise a session to listen to the original JMLab Utopia http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/273/

Sounded very clean and detailed but was not blown away. He's been trying to get the best out of them but the room wasn't ideal. He said they sounded brilliant in his friend's room.
r_paton OP
26 posts
 
Thanks for the responses. I have just invested in a pair of Nova Utopia Be. So should be interesting....
r_paton OP
26 posts
 
Thanks Bar81. I never heard the MIT cables to sound dark and the Gryphon should take the edge of the Be.
r_paton OP
26 posts
 
The Nova Utopia be arrived last night. I'm glad I paid two guys to take them upstairs.
Let the fun begin.
r_paton OP
26 posts
 
Thanks, I've just started breaking them in. 10 hours down and counting. They sound amazing, even out of the box.

Can anyone share their experience in breaking in the Nova or Alto?
r_paton OP
26 posts
 
Hi Thomashungary,
I bought my dream speakers as well. The Nova's are a perfect match for the gryphon or the Gryphon is a perfect match for the Nova’s. I think the Gryphon is a great match for almost any speaker. Enough about the Gryphon.

They Nova’s have had about 30 hours break in and already starting to sound more integrated and the bass is tightening up, was quite loose to start with. I’m using an Accuphase DC801 DAC at the moment.

I think the Accuphase amps are slightly warmer than the Mark Levinson and would be a better match unless you’re talking about a pair of 33h.

Good luck, hope you get a pair one day.
r_paton OP
26 posts
 
Wholly Molly, 27,000 break in time. I'm only up to 20 hours. Good idea having the tuner break them in.

If I had someone else to help me move them I’d place them face to face and burn them in, but they're pretty heavy to move. And I think I’ve found a good position for them but will experiment more with that after break in.

I agree about the low end, the bass is amazing especially at low volumes. I don't have a preamp as I’m using a CD player straight into a DAC with volume control. I'm trying to find a cheap tuner with a digital out so I can connect that to the DAC and leave it on all day.
Did you notice much change after the break in and what sort of changes? Sound stage expansion and a softer treble?

I think my room would turn into a sauna if i left the gryphon on all day.
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