I also never heard the mini Ulfs. I was talking to Eric before he ever designed them and we discussed the concept. I ordered them based on hearing the Double Impacts but they took a long time to happen and things happened in my life along the way so I never got them.
I then heard the Aeris at Raven and loved them but they were expensive. I loved the openess of the speakers, but I am not sure they are the most accurate speakers. However, they are great to listen to.
I have spoken to James a few times but have never met him. Very knowledgeable and super nice guy. I really like what he did with the speakers. In my opinion, the clarity is exceptional and they are musical at the same time. Not an easy feat to accomplish. The vocals were like the person was in the room. I have heard various Wilson speakers and I love them also, but again... not sure they are the most accurate. I've listened to so many darned speakers from 3k Tektons to various 6 figure speakers, it's hard to remember them all. But I am not a trained ear or anything. I just want something that I like and have had to spend a lot of time finding it.
I really think (for me anyway) that I found the best compromise of accuracy, musicality and value. I really can not think of any speaker I have heard at any price that is head and shoulders above these. So if a six figure speaker MIGHT be better, and you have to go back and forth to decide, I can’t justify the crazy difference in price. Everything has a positive in some columns and a negative in other columns. Nothing is perfect.
I have never heard the Viking speakers you ended up with. I am sure they must sound great. The only horn speakers I ever owned were Klipsch back in the day. My ears tend to like the open sound of an open baffle or electrostat, but I like the accuracy of conventional drivers. I am not sure how James did it, but these things don;t have any business sounding as open as they do with three conventional drivers.
I then heard the Aeris at Raven and loved them but they were expensive. I loved the openess of the speakers, but I am not sure they are the most accurate speakers. However, they are great to listen to.
I have spoken to James a few times but have never met him. Very knowledgeable and super nice guy. I really like what he did with the speakers. In my opinion, the clarity is exceptional and they are musical at the same time. Not an easy feat to accomplish. The vocals were like the person was in the room. I have heard various Wilson speakers and I love them also, but again... not sure they are the most accurate. I've listened to so many darned speakers from 3k Tektons to various 6 figure speakers, it's hard to remember them all. But I am not a trained ear or anything. I just want something that I like and have had to spend a lot of time finding it.
I really think (for me anyway) that I found the best compromise of accuracy, musicality and value. I really can not think of any speaker I have heard at any price that is head and shoulders above these. So if a six figure speaker MIGHT be better, and you have to go back and forth to decide, I can’t justify the crazy difference in price. Everything has a positive in some columns and a negative in other columns. Nothing is perfect.
I have never heard the Viking speakers you ended up with. I am sure they must sound great. The only horn speakers I ever owned were Klipsch back in the day. My ears tend to like the open sound of an open baffle or electrostat, but I like the accuracy of conventional drivers. I am not sure how James did it, but these things don;t have any business sounding as open as they do with three conventional drivers.