Qualio IQ owners, still happy?


I'd like to hear from current or former owners of these speakers. Also anyone who has had an audition of them. What do you think? These are on my radar.

 

 

ozzy62

I sold my Qualios recently and replaced them with a pair of Wharfedale Dovedales. The Qualios are very good, but I had a love/hate relationship with them for over a year. Some recordings were awesome, but much of my music collection was relegated to the sidelines because the IQs made them unlistenable. And this is in a highly treated dedicated room. I do miss them from time to time for the great things they did, especially on dynamic rock recordings. But it was time to move on.

@ozzy62 I completely get what you are saying. For me that was the case with the Axxess L3. Almost $5k. I loved them in the High End Show (first of its "Axpona" kind show in Dubai last year) but at the first listen at home I knew I had made a mistake. I tried to like them- various things but could not. Right now they are on a consignment basis with someone to sell- I am willing give them away for a song- I don't want them back at home.

On the Qualio- in the same room I had my Omega Junior 8 XRS- where I could alternate with the help of a switcher. The XRS was much louder (and brighter) at the same volume level on the amplifier. The IQs- more subdued- almost the same difference between an MM and MC cart (2M Bronze vs. DL103). Oncet the Axxess' moved out, the XRS' have moved to where the Axxess' were) - and if I don't compare the IQs sound way better. I guess a long winded way of saying that the IQs are not perfect speakers :) (way better than the Axxess though). But then I don't which are the perfect speakers- and I am tired of buying and selling- not only the cost but the effort (especially of selling). So will keep them for now. I also feel that (here's where I go philosphical) Hi-Fi listening beyond a certain level is only about comparison and sometimes the difference is marginal and only when two pieces are side by side. Similar to plasma and LCD TVs back in the days- in the shop the LCD looked much better (of course), but when I got the plasma back home it was perfect. Granted the differences in speakers are more obvious (and my example is more pertinent in DACs- at least for me) but then finite resources, tedium and that we all have a day job to do- is going to make me keep the IQs.

 

Sorry- a very long, blathering response.