Top notch speakers with their own sub

I am referring to sub-woofers matching the remaining drivers. I am not talking about woofers. After several years enjoying that very deep base provided by the 2 subs which so seemingly align with other drivers to complete the sound projection, it's not easy to find "standard" speakers that can generously go that deep. I do not wish to go the route of standalone subs. Seemless sound transmission is a nightmare.

As to music taste, I do listen to a variety, from classical and acoustics, where texture and body are highly important, to that base-pounding rock music.

As to comment about Wilson Audio, the Infinity Prelude MTS in my opinion is somewhere between the Watt/Puppy and the MAXX 2.

Thanks,
David

I certainly don't mind supplying amplifiers for various drivers including the subs. It's the seemless integration of the subs with other drivers to have coherent sound that I am worried about. Perhaps I'm wrong, but so far from the discussion, it comes across that the major speaker manufacturers don't get into system approach. In other word, you are on your own if you want to add sub-woofers into "standard" pair of speakers. This is for music listening, yet "standard" speakers don't have that abudance of a deep base sub-woofers can provide. Nor can you afford having the base coming from somewhere else but the primary speakers. At least with home theater, incoherance is more tolerable.

I will admit not knowing much about bass equalization. All I know is that independent subs for home theater has this phase adjustment that does not work well at all. I can definitely hear where the bass comes from, despite the common claimed for non-directional effect. With just a brief look at Audiokinesis, I don't know the details. Can these 4 subs be integrated into any full size speakers? Or is this the case that you have to buy their main speakers as well?

The Prelude MTS back in their hay days costed $11K. I don't want to go beyond $15K. Of course the big boys in the speakers world do offer products in the $30K and up that easily blow away the Prelude MTS.

I don’t know any of the mentioned brands of speakers in this topic, except for Wilson Audio. Venturing beyond the big brands does have the typical advantages and disadvantages we all know about. To do proper homework I really should look at the reverse role and take on what Lloydc said, that is if anybody wants to join the discussion and throw a monkey wrench. Is Prelude MTS really that outdated? Frankly speaking, edging out the well respected Watt/Puppy 8, which sure is current in technological development, is no easy task. Yet in my opinion the Prelude MTS has more details, fuller body, and less harsh a presentation. Granted that in the grand scale, mine is closer to the Watt/Puppy than the Maxx. An upgrade for my speakers without venturing out into the unknown (brands and sub equalization technology) would be getting the Wilson Maxx, or say the Gershman Black Swan. These are wonderful speakers from high to the very low frequency; however they are out of my price range.

I listened to the Vandersteen/Ayre combination at a show and did enjoy the relaxed presentation. However this was a show with people constantly came by. So it wouldn't be fair if I conclude that Vandersteen 5A is about a trade off to Prelude MTS. Does anybody have studio comparison between Vandy 5A and Prelude MTS or Watt/Puppy 8?

Discussion on sub equalization and placement going on today is precisely the reason I hesitate straying from the mainstream speaker establishment. Now I have more plausible theory as to why major speaker manufacturers don't want to package non-integrated subs with their main speakers for music listening just yet. The technology is not sufficiently developed. Secondly, the idea of having 4 sub is quite intrusive, one way to get into major fight with your wife. Oh well, back to square one for me! But then the Prelude MTS is not bad at all really.

Marty, I do appreciate the discussion. We are not talking and about your intention, and RABOS is definitely an EQ scheme of sort. The differences here are that I already know RABOS works and have been praised as an oddity in light of too many things that don't work. All I am saying is that hearing you guys somewhat disagreeing among yourselves doesn't help me build confidence in the unknown any.

Now what I didn't tell you yet is that even a few tens of dollars is not to be wasted in my life. So an upgrade from the Prelude MTS has to be truly an upgrade. Sort of better kinda thing is money not well spent. Why do I have a sense that in order to have that sufficiently spectacular improvement, thus justification to spend money, the order of improvement would have to be something in the scale of say ... the Wilson Maxx. Otherwise I am better off to sit still. Regardless of outcome, I do appreciate everybody's pitching in.