Thanks for all your input. Remember, the parameter is 2K... ie, Aerial 5's fall way outside. Also, which Ohm Walsh (number)? Which Spendor? Which Harbeth? |
I'm not looking for "perfect" speakers. I'm looking for speakers that make the best compromises possible at the 2K price point, with lack of harshness or hardness at the top of priority list. |
So far Harbeth and Spendor get the most votes.
Others recommend: Vandersteen, Magneplanar, Ohm, Shelby, Holistic, Reynaud, Von Schweikert, Aerial and Green Mountain.
No votes for Fritz Carbon 7 or Merlin MMI or MME? |
Harbeth and Spendor: What are their notable respective STRENGTHS? What are their notable respective WEAKNESSES? |
Thanks, Rgs92 and Clio09. Now there's the kind of substantive input I like! |
About Merlin TSM needing "tubes to really shine"... I have a tubed dac and a tubed preamp, but ss monoblocks (albeit designed to sound like a tubed amp). Hmmm. |
I've narrowed my choices to Merlin MMI, Ohm Walsh 3000, and Fritz Carbon 7. Anyone done a heads-up with all of these or care to input on comparisons? |
Clio09, Why do you say that? Are you familiar with my amp? |
Overly "polite" is not desirable either.
Do any of these options qualify as overly polite?
My tubed preamp does give me some leeway for "tuning." And I have a large menagerie of NOS flavors.
I wonder how the various recommendations stack up in terms of speed, density, layering, note decay, imaging and air?
Balance is the key. No gaping holes... |
How do high-hats and brushes sound with Spendors and Merlins? |
What people's experience been with and without Merlin RCS, standard and master? Do they generally make a difference, and if so, how much? Are they more effective with tube or solid state amps? |
Unfortunately, I need to rule out Ohm Walsh out for size and WAP factor. Maybe someone needs to start a new Ohm Walsh thread. |
Wait, I take it back on the Ohms after looking at their website: the new model Walshes are reasonable scaled and cosmetically improved. Plus free in-home trial Hmmm. |
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The Merlin TSM MMI and Fritz Carbon 7 are monitors, the Ohm floostanding. |
Are any of the various suggestions noted for their efficiency? |
My amps are ss monoblocks, 170 watts/8 ohms. Preamp and DAC are tubed. |
It's been suggested to me that, all other things being equal, more efficient speakers are better speakers -- more micro detail. I started a thread on efficiency... |
I purposely kept my question general in order to let let real world considerations bump up against the hypothetical. Of course "all other things being equal" doesn't exist -- except in any one particular system -- but interesting and useful information has resutled. Thanks for all your responses. Carry on. |
PS. I'm referring to the matter of efficiency in my other thread... |
Tube Audio Design (Paul Grzybek): 170 watts/8 ohms, high current... |
Thanks for the heads-up, Mapman. I noticed they were having a sale, I talked to John S. yesterday. At this point it boils down to making a choice and hoping for the best. Free home trials are great -- Fritz and Ohm offer them, Merlin doesn't
-- but there's always shipping costs and inconvenience for both the manufacturers and myself to consider. The Ohm sale applies only to the older style cabinets, not the new ones with the rounded edges, which I prefer. |
BTQ, Mapman, my preamp and dac are also TAD. 1950's pinched waist Philips tubes. CD transport is CEC, cabling is a combination of Synergistic R, A Zen, and Tube Research Labs. |
I agree about undertaking an home audition of the omnis. I asked John S. at Ohm about hearing them in Seattle but he said he couldn't help me there. If there's anyone in Seattle with omnis following this thread, I'd be grateful for an audition! |
My current speakers, Silverline SR-17.5, are rated at 89db/8 ohms. My amp has plenty of power to drive them. |
Just ordered the Merlin TSM-MMI with Master RCs. Since the proof's in the pudding, I'll report back after they've had a chance to break in... |
I haven't ruled out the Ohm Walsh 2000s, but now I'll have to wait and see how the Merlins work out. |
Just got my Merlin TSM-MMIs. Nicely balanced and highly highly resolving. They're not broken in yet but I can see why they would love the fat bottle. More later. |
20 hours and still opening up, but land o'goshen, these are some special disappearing trumpets! (And the ugliest speaker grilles on the planet.) |
