Hi Livin 262002,
Congrats on your purchase. I think you can't go wrong with those SF 2.5's. I figure If a speaker can sound good in a mediocre showroom powered by a surround sound receiver then they must be great speakers. I'm happy to know that you didn't hear that slight plastic rattle I was talking about in my last post. In the showroom the speakers are all packed in close to one another with many other objects around. The vibration could have likely come from somewhere other than the Venere 2.5's themselves. You own them now so I trust your ears more than my demonstration of them in the showroom.
Your Hales were good speakers that sold for $2195 back in the late 90's. If they were sold today I am sure they would cost $3500 with the way the price of audio has risen in the last decade. So I think that says a lot about the value of the SF 2.5's.
I'm wondering if my observations are correct here? The Hales Revolution 3's do have that 10 inch bass driver for more bass vs the 7inch one in the 2.5. But the Hales also has a smaller 4.5 inch midrange driver vs the 7 inch one in the 2.5. So I'm betting the SF sounds fuller and bigger in the midrange with a better sense of relaxation? Maybe the Hales sounds a little faster and cleaner in the midrange? Also, the Hales does use an aluminum dome tweeter vs the soft dome one used in the Venere 2.5. So it makes sense that we both thought the SF sounds smoother on top.
Enjoy your speakers. I think a nice tube integrated would be the way to go for your future upgrade.
Congrats on your purchase. I think you can't go wrong with those SF 2.5's. I figure If a speaker can sound good in a mediocre showroom powered by a surround sound receiver then they must be great speakers. I'm happy to know that you didn't hear that slight plastic rattle I was talking about in my last post. In the showroom the speakers are all packed in close to one another with many other objects around. The vibration could have likely come from somewhere other than the Venere 2.5's themselves. You own them now so I trust your ears more than my demonstration of them in the showroom.
Your Hales were good speakers that sold for $2195 back in the late 90's. If they were sold today I am sure they would cost $3500 with the way the price of audio has risen in the last decade. So I think that says a lot about the value of the SF 2.5's.
I'm wondering if my observations are correct here? The Hales Revolution 3's do have that 10 inch bass driver for more bass vs the 7inch one in the 2.5. But the Hales also has a smaller 4.5 inch midrange driver vs the 7 inch one in the 2.5. So I'm betting the SF sounds fuller and bigger in the midrange with a better sense of relaxation? Maybe the Hales sounds a little faster and cleaner in the midrange? Also, the Hales does use an aluminum dome tweeter vs the soft dome one used in the Venere 2.5. So it makes sense that we both thought the SF sounds smoother on top.
Enjoy your speakers. I think a nice tube integrated would be the way to go for your future upgrade.