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Why is Shahinian not more popular

I am a German living in Moscow, and only recently got to know the speakers of Shahinian. I first received a pair of Obelisks in the summer of 2001, and liked their sound and presentation so much that I upgraded to the Diapason when Audiogon-member dogman7515 offered them for sale. I drive them with a MacIntosh MA6500, a German Audionet CD-transport and the Chord DAC64. Everybody who listens to these uncoventional, omnidirectional speakers is amazed, and I already have my best friend shopping for Obelisks as well. Having fallen in love with the Shahinian-speakers, I took a look around, but was astonished to see that there is almost no discussion of these speakers on Audiogon. Nor, it seems, are there dealers of Shahinian in the US. Why, dear Audiogons, are they not more popular with you? To those of you who own Shahinians: What is your experience as far as room acoustics are concerned? And what are your experiences with bi-amping and bi-wiring them? A review in the German journal Image Hifi stated you'd nee to dampen the wall behind Shahinian-speakers (Diapasonns, in that case)to get decent soundstaging. And finally, does anybody know what Shahinian is doing like? A German Hifi-dealer told me the rumor that Shahinian might be in trouble and bankrupt soon.
Thanks for your insight. Florian Hassel
hassel
jay_douglas_2879b79
239 posts
 
most hi end consumers would rather spend thousands on tweeking a room rather than buying a loudspeaker that uses the room to its benefit. other guys did this too with varying success. allison,vilchir,bose.....they were all brilliant like mr shahinian. all were scorned by much of the hi end community were not that brilliant.
hbarrel's avatar
hbarrel
342 posts
 
Venus Hi-Fi (Michigan) is the only U.S. dealer.

Realizing the Shahinian spaker is not for everyone... I'm enamored with my Shahinian Arc's.
They fit my room, have a HIGH WAF, disappear when the music is flowing, create a broad and believable soundstage...
silvercj
1 posts
 
I own a pair of Arcs and have also had the pleasure of a pair of Hawks in my listening room for a few months. They do love a bit of power, but in saying that they are still quite driveable with most reasonable power amps.

I bought mine from a Dealer in New Zealand and had never heard of them prior to walking into his store. His problem is supply, and I understand that is across the board. I believe that Shahinian are happy not to advertise and to build a quality speaker that "speaks" for itself and is known by word of mouth rather than flashy advertising.
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