Upgrade from Joseph Audio Pearls?

Not that it’s not possible, but I’ve never heard of anyone upgrading from Pearls.  Ever.  You’ll notice they hardly ever come up for sale, for a reason.  Frankly I’m surprised at the question.  Do you own them and are looking to upgrade?  I suppose top Raidho, Wilson, Estelon, Rockport, Vandersteen, maybe a few others.  Pretty sure Tidal would be a considerable upgrade at a big price premium.  Basically, it’d take a lot and likely a lot more $$$.  Please share why you’re asking the question. 

I do not own them. Pure curiosity since they are frequently recommended to buy used as an upgrade. 

Sheesh...

Rockport Avior ii speakers would be my choice in the same price range. Yes I have them. I heard the JA speakers at Axpona 3 years ago and they were very good as well. 

Unless I win the big lottery, it’s all a moot point to me. 

JA Pearls sounds slight clearer/smoother than some others. These different videos sound similar. Alex/WTA

JA Pearls & EMM Labs $65k MTR5  Amp 

JA Pearl Graphene - Florida Audio Expo 2025

have heard them at shows a good speaker but quite frankly don't hold them in the same regard as Soix 

they use good  drivers but theses drivers are not as transparent as a top Amt or ribbon driver available  today

so perhaps people are trading them in for some loudspeakers using next generation drivers 

 There are a ton of loudspeakers that are in a similar price point that we would recommend over them 

legacy aeris 25k plays louder goes lower is more transparent and comes with room correction.

alta audio diamond hestia deeper bass  greater transparency more efficient as well

marten parker comes with a diamond tweeter and offers greater transparency and is more efficient same price 

kharma db 9 are also excellent 

have heard them at shows a good speaker but quite frankly don’t hold them in the same regard as Soix .  they use good  drivers but theses drivers are not as transparent as a top Amt or ribbon driver available  today.  

There are a ton of loudspeakers that are in a similar price point that we would recommend over them.  legacy aeris 25k plays louder goes lower is more transparent and comes with room correction.  alta audio diamond hestia deeper bass  greater transparency more efficient as well

@audiotroy  Are you kidding?  You’re a dealer and are completely biased.  It’s one thing for you to come on here and push your own products, but when you question the opinion of another member to do it that’s just completely inappropriate.  Do you not see that?  The Pearls have won several Best of Show awards, which is more than Legacy or Alta can say.  Regardless, what you’ve done here is just poor form and you should be ashamed of yourself, not that you possess that capability.

+1 @soix . Audiotroy has no morals it's his MO. 

+1 @soix 

Yes, the Joseph speakers use traditional drivers.

But I note that they continue to get into many people’s “ best of show” lists despite the fact, they are competing against the latest and greatest from other companies.

A lot of people report that hearing the Joseph speakers is like a form of “ relief” in terms of how smooth and natural and easy to listen to they are, despite being highly detailed.

That’s my experience as well, as someone who owns Joseph Perspectives.

My buddy reviews, high-end audio equipment, so I get to hear lots of the latest stuff.

I’ve been able to come home from listening to expensive Estelon diamond  speakers, Dali Epicore etc and flick on my system and like what I hear on my system even more. 

there’s a combination of detail, clarity with a rich, relaxed unmechanical quality That the Joseph speaker is just nail.

+1 @soix 

Some speakers may have a clear upgrade path, like moving up Sonus Faber’s or Magico’s product line.  Others, seems it’s not so clear/easy like musical speakers like Joseph Audio or Devore O/96

not biased at all its called an opinion and joseph uses conventional drivers in our opinion there are other better driver technology

rsf507 no we have plenty of Morals there are plenty of over hyped brands that we wouldn't  care to sell. 

prof many expensive setups are not necessarily well setup while your setup may by  be superior 

we don't sell  Kharma or Marten yet  we recommended them

Soix  quite frankly we don’t see that at all people will go to theses shows and draw their own conclusions 

some people will hear our speakers and not like them its called an opinion

not biased at all its called an opinion and joseph uses conventional drivers in our opinion there are other better driver technology

@audiotroy You’re a dealer for other brands hocking your equipment here and you’re not biased?  Are you even for real?  FYI, speakers are more than just drivers, duh.  Joseph Audio uses a patented asymmetrical infinite slope crossover that is what sets them apart from other speakers.  Of course that you heard them at a show obviously makes you an expert on them and qualifies you to judge them effectively against other speakers. 🙄😖  What an absolute joke. 

@soix 

Wow!  slow down dude!  @audiotroy was not critical of Joseph audio, just not fanboy.  and yet you’ve gone medieval on them.  chill out, enjoy the music.

audiotroy was not critical of Joseph audio
 

@mdalton  Um, yes he was.  Go back and read his first post.  And that’s ok, he’s entitled to his opinion, but he also implied my opinion of JA is overinflated and that I was wrong because his speakers supposedly have better drivers.  Then he went on to push the speakers he sells.  For a dealer to put down competing products is just low and he’s the only one who does it here, and to comment on any member’s opinion is just wholly inappropriate.  Further, you’ll notice several other members here have backed me up.  You’re the only one supporting audiotroy.  Clue?

@soix 

Lord of the flies behavior is no drfense,”.  But regardless, what is your specific experience of Pearls?  Isn’t that the question?

@mdalton  No that’s not the question at all except in your mind.  As usual you’re off base and on another planet.  You and I don’t agree on anything, and I’m not going to waste my time going round and round with you. Been there done to that.  Not worth my time. 

@soix 

Lol!  Topic from op is “upgrade from joseph audio pearls?”. @audiotroy first post said “have heard them at audio shows good speaker”.  and then you attacked, without mentioning your experience of the speaker.  hmmmm….

@mdalton   You were specifically addressing my interaction with audiotroy and the nature of his comment, not the thread in general and in that context my opinion of the Pearls is not the main point.  Now you randomly switch it back to the original thread, which is something totally different and then yes my opinion of the Pearls is relevant.  Again, several people here have supported me, and you once again find yourself on an island in the minority just like when you denied the benefits of pricier streamers.  When you’re constantly in the minority here at some point you have to realize it’s you.  I’m done. 

huh?  you’re delusional dude.  have a good night.

 

rsf507

Audiotroy has no morals it's his MO. 

Please explain your claim. He has excellent user feedback here on A'gon, which you can see here.

I have to chime in here regarding these attacks on Audiotroy's "morals." I've had a one on one conversation with with him in the past regarding a potential speaker replacement/upgrade. He was unbiased in his comments and told me to keep the speakers, I wasn't going to improve on them in my price range he said. He then discussed what he thought was the correct path forward (amp/preamp/etc.) and made several suggestions which proved to be accurate. Not once did he push what he was selling in a manner that demeaned other brands. Like everyone, he has his preferences and he explained those clearly.

Based upon what I've read in this thread Soix overreacted to Audiotroy's fairly benign comments.  Is there something else going on here?  Carry over from another thread possibly?

+1 @audiotroy  Conventional dome tweeters is not transparent

I agree with "sheesh"......For what I look for in a loudspeaker, to reproduce the music I like, at the levels I like, I have easily kept my tweaked Lascalas as I have heard the Joseph Audio Pearls, and like many speakers I have heard, they were lifeless. We are allowed to have our own likes and opinions, and simply no need to get huffy. Enjoy! MrD.

Meaningless thread since the OP doesn't own JA speakers and is just "curious". Wasted bandwidth and back and forth arguments.

If you have  loudspeakers with dome tweeter and you interested to get airy sound you have to add supertweeter . If not -enjoy what you have 

I admittedly haven't heard either, but I  wonder if the Tekton Moab or any model above it such as the Ulfberht 15, with the ultimate crossover upgrade and ceramic midranges, would be on par with the Pearls. And for much less money. 

+1 @danbro   Also you forgot mention Bose, SVS , dont by anything more $ 3000, save the money and go to Las Vegas

@bache True, I forgot to mention those brands. But at least I remembered to use proper punctuation, spaced my words and symbols correctly and was able to spell three letter words.

I agree completely with @soix in that it seems absurd to let audiotroy even use this forum, given the obvious conflict of interest on display in the majority of their posts. While this particular thread was not so egregious, I've seen many other examples where audiotroy pops into a thriving topic, badmouths the product(s) being discussed, and recommends an unrelated brand that they just so happen to sell. 

I'm sure audiotroy is nice enough and means well but it seems crazy that the mods let them basically have free reign to market like this. 

How are you defining the word transparent ? Does it mean great clarity , accuracy, definition? 

@ronboco 

If you actually want an answer to your question, you might direct it to the person you want queried. I scrolled up 10 posts and it appears you meant this for @bache, but I doubt he knows it.

@ozzy62 

I will reference @bache but I also thought others might say what it means to them. Thank you. 

@bache 

could you please tell me what transparent sound means to you ? Thank you. 
 

Ron 

Understood.

For me it means clarity and the ability to "see" the performers without much effort.

Sound transparency is when your home audio gear does not significantly alter the sound in any way. This means that your system is providing a listening experience that clearly reflects what the artists, recording engineers, and mastering studios want you to hear.

Sound transparency is when your home audio gear does not significantly alter the sound in any way. This means that your system is providing a listening experience that clearly reflects what the artists, recording engineers, and mastering studios want you to hear.

So now, tell me how you know when this is achieved.

Did not say i achieved , Just try  . made new model Sofia 104 , you can see on my selling list . will be on my room NY audio show n October, Let see what listener say

If you close to NY NJ can demonsrtrate in you room

You didn’t say try.

OP wants to know what JA pearl owners consider an upgrade without having even heard them and ended with soux throwing his beer at AT. fun stuff.

The internet has made everybody argumentative. 

I couldn't afford them. but always wanted to hear J.A.'s and several other of the brands listed but with no dealers close by that would even remotely carry that stuff? Probably better off since I might just want what I can't afford. 

since I might just want what I can't afford. 

A malady that afflicts many.....

Hear JA’s here. Alex/WTA

Joseph Audio Pearls & EMM Labs $65,000 MTR5

norton  always wanted to hear J.A.’s and several other of the brands listed but with no dealers close by

Wow. Lot's of absolute statements made here, and yet we all know audio is subjective. For me personally, I have heard Joseph Audio Perspective 2 Graphene $16,000 and Pulsar 2 Graphene $9,500 on many many occasions; and have always found them to be stellar across the board. I have helped a bunch of friends with their systems, and Joseph Audio - Pure Audio Project - Volti - Rosso Fiorentino - Revel are all very easy recommendations.

Joseph Audio speakers are not exceedingly finicky with pairing gear, placement, or genre of music; and just sound great.....almost without fail. Go to any audio show where Joseph Audio speakers are present, and their rooms are always packed and hard to find a seat. On the rare occasions that they do show up used (I'm speaking only of the Graphene models), they do not last longer than a couple of days.

Great listening to you all!