I think the little guy on the subwoofer is some kind of fertility god - not doing me much good if I just sit here listening to music!
I really like my Ayre but also have been wanting to try tube amps sometime - I am on a budget though so maybe in the future. For right now, I still have a bunch of music to go through and according to Roy, the speakers will get better once the new CAPS break in - hard to imagine them getting much better! |
I have the EOS HD. For a couple years now. Haven't looked at any other speakers since. Great speakers and allowed me to finally sell off a bunch of others.
Very easy speakers on amps. I run Art 845s, EAR 534s(Aesthetix pre) with no problems. Also have some SS around but been tubes for a while now.
I think a friend summed it up best one day, he said, you put on a different disk and it's like a totally different set of speakers. |
Oh, and who's the little guy standing behind the speaker? |
Drew,
Congrats on the new upgrade. I love my C3 HDs. I heard non HDs in a friends system, but hard to tell what the differences are unless you can hear them side by side. All I know is I am extremely happy with my pair. Roy is a genius who doesn't get enough exposure or credit.
Shakey |
I would love to hear your system, but I am just about as far away as i can be and still be in the country (unless you mean the Massachusetts bay area). There is definitely something about time coherent speakers - I now have a pair of Ascendo ZF3s that I think will stop my esarch for speakers for a long time (although I would still like to ehar the GMAs). |
OK, that is really funny! Seriously made me laugh.
Thanks - by the way, that is quite a system you have, you clearly have put a lot of thought, time and energy into (as well as cash I guess). No wonder you never turn it off.
Too bad we can't teleport around and hear all these different systems.
drew. |
"Two people have cried, one guy would not get out of my chair and just sat there with his eyes closed for 1/2 an hour. Another woman just started dancing around the room with a big smile on her face."
Now that perfectly describes my family room on the rare occasion that I turn off my audio system.
Seriously, an excellent review. A friend has similar experiences with GMA Calypso HD. |
Just wanted to update this review - I received my upgraded EOS back from Roy. He was so great about all of it, helped with shipping, called me regularly to update me, etc. It was worth it just to interact with him.
So how do the EOS HD sound? Well, I could use all those terms that show up in every review, soundstage, transparency, clarity, etc. I am going to skip to what is really important. These speakers make music. Whatever the other qualities, the sound is captivating and emotionally moving. I have played these for everyone who will listen and the responses have been amazing. Two people have cried, one guy would not get out of my chair and just sat there with his eyes closed for 1/2 an hour. Another woman just started dancing around the room with a big smile on her face.
Although I have not listened to every speaker out there, I have listened to and owned a few EOS HD's paired with the Ayre components are the most faithfully musical system I have heard. Instrument timbre is true, timing is impeccable and bass is tight and realistic. The best part is the human voice though. I don't care what your opinion is about time-coherent speakers, when the tweeters and speaker position is dialed in, the voices just float in the room as thought the singer is right in front of you. It is especially nice to hear individual voices and positions when backup singers are in the mix.
For the past 5 years, I have been juggling amps and speakers and DACS trying to achieve this feeling about the music. Now I can sit back and enjoy. |
You should give them a listen then for sure - you are welcome to come hear mine if you are in the bay area. I understand this is a subjective experience, but for my ears, they are the most accurate and true to instrument timbre and timing. Like most of us on agon, I have listened to and owned a lot of speakers. |
Congrats!!! It seems to make sense for you; you'd probably have lost a lot more on selling and buying new than upgrading. I suppose it is a shame to waste good parts, but compared to the vast quantities of stuff we as a society throw away, a few capacitors or inductors, or even the entire pair of speakers, are a drop in the ocean. I've never heard a pair of GMA speakers, but would like to because people who like speakres I have liked (Spicas especially) seem to like them. |
My EOS are no longer for sale, same advice! - Roy has agreed to upgrade them (apparently he doesn't like to do this because it is not cost effective and destroys a lot of useful parts). I will them for a few more weeks and will acclimate to them so I can report on the difference between the EOS and the HD versions. |
I went from Europas to Callistos and then to EOS. Each has been a step up in performance (and cost). The Callistos provide a big improvement in bass over the Europas. In my opinion, the EOS were a big step up over the Callistos as described in the review. I was actually surprised at the difference. Whichever you decide to jump to, you will enjoy it. If you can afford the EOS or EOS HD, that would be my suggestion. I realize though that you can disqualify my advice since I am selling a pair to go the HD's. They are all great speakers and provide a great listening experience. enjoy them. |
I got a pair of Europas via Audiogon, great monitor for the price and eventually I'll upgrade. Are the Callistos or EOS a big step up in performance? |
Why don't you just send them back to GMA for an update? It seems like you're losing an awful lot of money selling them to buy the HDs. I've always heard good things aobut GMA and Roy. I would think he'd be willing to update them for you, and for a lot less than the loss of selling them, even if it ends up being more than if you had obught the HDs to begin with. |
I only buy GMA speakers and have owned Europas, Callistos and EOS - My goal was to the inform owners of older models how much I enjoyed upgrading to the EOS. Thanks for your feedback. |
It never looks good when you post a review of an item you are selling, but good luck. I know that they are supposed to be great speakers. |