Soundstage Heresy IV and Forte IV

@tonydennison 

How long did the break-in take? I simply couldn't stand that sound over 2 months, but the good news is that the IIIs with the subs and amps I use are so damn good that the only reason I'd replace them is simple curiosity...Heresy speakers are seriously underrated in my book, and sort of a bargain really.

I initially was really impressed with the improvements done to the Heresy IVs...lower frequency range (58hz to 48hz), cool ports, better internal wire (AQ), better bolt and nut speaker attachment instead of wood screws, better speaker binding posts, etc. Their  fit and finish is superb. The new base looks cool also, although you can't dust under it (might not need to). I had them for a couple of months of break-in so I doubt that was the issue. I listen to a lot of piano music, and certain mid-high frequencies would jump out weirdly and harsh my mellow. The IVs simply didn't deliver the coherency from top to bottom I was used to with the IIIs. I tried swapping out the preamp, different amps, anything I could think of and when I put the IIIs back in it was a revelation...the IIIs just work for me. Maybe over time the IVs would have gotten better, or maybe it was just that pair, but I sold 'em at a very small loss and I assume the next guy liked 'em. Who knows?  I simply assumed the new polyamide "non throated" mid was the culprit as that's a complete redesign from the IIIs. I'll call Roy Delgado...now where did I put his number...damn...

I bought a pair of new "open box" (Non sequential serial numbers, but close) Heresy III "Capitol Records Anniversary" speakers maybe 5 years ago or so...1500 bucks for the pair. They use titanium diaphragms in the mid and hi horns which I mention only because the IVs use a different design "poly" mid with seemingly no horn throat for compression...it’s simply stuck on the "tracktrix" horn flare. This wouldn’t matter except when I bought a new pair of IVs the mids just sounded bad compared to my IIIs. Real bad...smile reduction...sold the IVs and kept the IIIs. Maybe it was that particular pair of IVs but life is too short to tolerate unbalanced peaky mids. Ya know? As far as soundstage goes, sitting with my earballs maybe 8 or 9 feet from the speakers, the soundstage is amazing...doesn’t seem to be coming from the floor one bit. I use 2 older REL subs so the low end is covered, and all my other gear is well vetted. I’ve considered trying Forte IIIs as they also have titanium mids but these days it's kind of hard to find a clean pair...the Volti Razz also interests me but their NO RETURNS FOR ANY REASON policy rules them out...am I supposed to go to some audio show and sit in front of a pair for hours? I refuse. I’ll never use anything but horns in my main system as the increased efficiency and tonal immediacy beats "drivers in a box" all day...and all night...