Sweet not so sweet

I would suggest Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home.

Mike,
I haven't chose Eminent Technology VIIIA's ---- yet, still waiting to get a demo. But I've heard nothing but good about them from those whose opinion I trust, and yes they take some power but supposedly have the Eros magic.

As a personal preference, I try to stay with American made loudspeakers and I've heard very good things about Reimer and Tyler Acoustics.

I would also suggest you look into VMPS (RM30) speakers --- they have flat panel tweeters and midrange married to cone woofers -- I'm going to listen to a pair in a month or so.

My thinking is once someone owns an electrostat or flat panel ribbon speaker they might have a little trouble switching to box speakers. You might as well which is why I strongly recommend you audition your short list before you purchase.

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the replies.

Raquel -- I wasn't aware that the Dunlavy's had a small sweet spot. Do all time aligned speakers have a small sweet spot?

Elgordo -- thanks for the simple suggestion! However, as my listening room and family room are one and the same, I cannot install room lenses, tube traps and the like :(

Eldragon -- I'll look into the Grand Piano. I'm sure my wife would like their appearance!

Sedona -- I know I'll have sacrifices involved, and I'm willing to give up some of of the Eroses' strengths. Frank Alles has written a very glowing review on the VMPS RM30s and I will have to look into them as well.

Thanks again!

Mike

Mike: Generally speaking, yes, time-aligned speakers have small sweet spots and could sound better if you are listening off-axis (but not like a classic electrostatic, which can sound broken off-axis).

Mike-

Well I may just be the guy to talk to on this one. I have had the Eros MK 3 in my living room for two years and have always been plagued by the exact thing you complain about, small sweet spot. I like to lay back to one side of the couch to say relax, but the top end rolls off too, and for the most part other areas of the house such as the kitchen, you would hardly think you are listening to a hifi system. Plus I was always really bothered by the feeling that I need a substation worth of power to really drive the Eros right. I sent my Eros back to Innersound as the paint was slightly cracking in the back, they had them picked up and are taking care of everything no problem (great guys)

In the meantime I picked up a set of VR 4Jrs. I also happen to also own the Silverline Sonatas, and have owned the Dunlavy 4s before those. In short, none can do the things you like about the Eros. I think of them you would like the VR 4Jrs better, as they have a very wide sweet spot and can really sound engaging throughout the house when playing. My gripe with them would be they just don't have the weight in the bass. I am playing mine in a room with a huge cubic volume, so that may be the problem, or I just haven't found that magic spot to put them in. For me I have to really pull the JRs out into the room to get them to stage right, mine are probably 5 ft to the front, where with the Eros they sounded super at only 3ft off the wall. I think the Silverlines would be even fussier in regard to placement and they have a small sweet spot, as with the Dunlavys though they don't roll off like the Eros out of the sweet spot. The Jrs will actually give you a window into the stage from off axis.

I think it really boils down to what you listen to. The Eros are to my ear a more refined sounding speaker with greater image specificity and depth. I have mine in a second system, so I'm not as eager to be glued to the sweet spot with mine, so I feel like I get more enjoyment out of the VR 4Jrs, because I listen more from outside the sweet spot. I feel that if this was my only system I don't think I would be willing to make to tradeoff from the Eros to the 4Jrs. The Jrs are more dynamic, and are funner to listen to with dynamic music for me.

I think the 3ft from the wall may be a big problem for you to overcome with most speakers, the Eros just happen to love that placement and was one plus for me on my decision to get them. You may not want to let the Eros go till after you see if the new speakers can fill their shoes.

I would also be intrigued with the Hyperion speakers and have thought of those myself.