Harley's Q7 Review

cjfrbw

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Apr 20, 2010
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Is this one of those TAS encomiums where you wish you had that fifteen minutes of your life back?

Is this the perfect speaker? NO. It's BETTER than perfect.
 

LL21

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Dec 26, 2010
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I have heard Q1-Q5 but not Q7. I have spoken with numerous people...does anyone feel as strongly positive towards Q7 as Jeff Fritz and Robert Harley? I am not trying to be controversial in anyway here. Literally just curious.

Often times, when hugely favourable reviews come out...at least SOMEONE in the non-reviewer category (ie, private buyer) puts up their hand and agrees...often people who have actually liked it so much they've bought it. But I have yet to come across any posts anywhere in which listeners, owners, auditioners have said anything close to this (ie, more revelatory, best product in 23 years of reviewing, etc). I have read superlatives from people who've paired this speaker with Zanden monos, but I am not sure even those comments were so far-reaching as the review.
 

Elberoth

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Haven't heard the Q7s, but after auditioning S1, S5, Q3 and Q5, what he is saying doesn't sound improbable.
 

FrantzM

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Haven't heard the Q7s, but after auditioning S1, S5, Q3 and Q5, what he is saying doesn't sound improbable.

I am looking forward to audition the Q7 .. I usually take review with a truckload of salt but I have heard the Q3 .. I was floored. On my short list for my next dedicated room.
 

Elberoth

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asiufy

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(Raises hand) me here.

Granted, I don't have that much experience (not even close, actually), but the Q7 was good enough to buy for me. I've heard the Q1 (didn't like), the Q3 (fantastic, best at its price range), and the Q7. Wasn't interested in the Q5, as I wouldn't be able to use my darTZeel with it.
I've heard my share of big speakers, in my room, at friend's, or dealers. The Q7 was, by a considerable margin, much better than anything else.
My first listen was with electronics I knew where not to my liking, and still I was very, very impressed. Came back with my darTZeels, and the magic was still there, only more so.
Of all these guys you mentioned, I like Jeff Fritz's position better, when he answered a reader's email, whether he prefered a Q7 or a big Rockport. At this level, it's down to taste. The Rockport is not going to be horrible. And neither is the Q7, even though some people try their hardest to make it so.
Every day that goes by that I listen to my set up, I realise that, unless I could put my ears on someone else, there's no way I'm going to convince anybody that what I hear is the absolute best. It is the best, for my ears. And Robert's. And Jeff's.
Writing reviews is hard. I don't doubt there's real excitement behind Robert's words, so maybe the problem lies on his writing style, that puts people off.



alexandre
 

rbbert

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Dec 12, 2010
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Don't we already have this topic (and IIRC it went on for many many pages)?
 

microstrip

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(Raises hand) me here.

Granted, I don't have that much experience (not even close, actually), but the Q7 was good enough to buy for me. I've heard the Q1 (didn't like), the Q3 (fantastic, best at its price range), and the Q7. Wasn't interested in the Q5, as I wouldn't be able to use my darTZeel with it.
I've heard my share of big speakers, in my room, at friend's, or dealers. The Q7 was, by a considerable margin, much better than anything else.
My first listen was with electronics I knew where not to my liking, and still I was very, very impressed. Came back with my darTZeels, and the magic was still there, only more so.
Of all these guys you mentioned, I like Jeff Fritz's position better, when he answered a reader's email, whether he prefered a Q7 or a big Rockport. At this level, it's down to taste. The Rockport is not going to be horrible. And neither is the Q7, even though some people try their hardest to make it so.
Every day that goes by that I listen to my set up, I realise that, unless I could put my ears on someone else, there's no way I'm going to convince anybody that what I hear is the absolute best. It is the best, for my ears. And Robert's. And Jeff's.
Writing reviews is hard. I don't doubt there's real excitement behind Robert's words, so maybe the problem lies on his writing style, that puts people off.



alexandre


Alexandre,

What is your source and cable system? Perhaps you have listed it sometime, but I can not remember or find it.
 

Bruce B

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Apr 25, 2010
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edorr

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May 10, 2010
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And the price keeps dropping!

It is like a Dutch auction. I saw it happened with a pair of Avalon Times. Seller wanted $35K, I was ready to pay $25K. He did not bite - I bought the MM3s instead. Of course, he could not sell the Time's for $35K, kept dropping his price and eventually sold for around $25K I estimate. The economics of high-end audio....
 

asiufy

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Alexandre,

What is your source and cable system? Perhaps you have listed it sometime, but I can not remember or find it.

MSB Diamond IV DAC + UMT transport. I've Kubala Elation throughout, with 2 Transparent Ref. MM2 power cords that I rotate between the MSB stack and the darTZeel pre+power.
I didn't test the Q7 with these, though. Since I had to take my pre+power to dealer's room, I used his cables (MIT and Synergistic) and source (Soulution series 5 CD player).

alexandre
 

microstrip

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(...) with 2 Transparent Ref. MM2 power cords that I rotate between the MSB stack and the darTZeel pre+power. (...)

Thanks Alexandre. Please do not tell us that the Dartzeel preamplifier sounds better if you charge the battery using a Transparent MM2 power cord! ;)

I must listen to the MSB Diamond someday. Many people tell me very nice thinks about it.
 

asiufy

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Thanks Alexandre. Please do not tell us that the Dartzeel preamplifier sounds better if you charge the battery using a Transparent MM2 power cord! ;)

I must listen to the MSB Diamond someday. Many people tell me very nice thinks about it.

hahahaha! No, I can't honestly say I hear a difference on the 18NS, but just to play it safe, I use a quality cable, matched with the one on the 108 :)

If you like your digital more lively than laid back, more presence and less "soundstagey", you're going to like the MSB.


alexandre
 

nirodha

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2010
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I have heard Q1-Q5 but not Q7. I have spoken with numerous people...does anyone feel as strongly positive towards Q7 as Jeff Fritz and Robert Harley? I am not trying to be controversial in anyway here. Literally just curious.

Heard it 3 times and it is a landmark in loudspeakers. This comes from someone who is not a Magico fan (don't like the Q1 and the bass of the Q5 for instance). Is the Q7 perfect? NO. Is it the most complete loudspeaker I have ever heard (in a shop?) ? YES!
 

nirodha

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2010
679
296
975
(Raises hand) me here.

Granted, I don't have that much experience (not even close, actually), but the Q7 was good enough to buy for me. I've heard the Q1 (didn't like), the Q3 (fantastic, best at its price range), and the Q7. Wasn't interested in the Q5, as I wouldn't be able to use my darTZeel with it.
I've heard my share of big speakers, in my room, at friend's, or dealers. The Q7 was, by a considerable margin, much better than anything else.
My first listen was with electronics I knew where not to my liking, and still I was very, very impressed. Came back with my darTZeels, and the magic was still there, only more so.
Of all these guys you mentioned, I like Jeff Fritz's position better, when he answered a reader's email, whether he prefered a Q7 or a big Rockport. At this level, it's down to taste. The Rockport is not going to be horrible. And neither is the Q7, even though some people try their hardest to make it so.
Every day that goes by that I listen to my set up, I realise that, unless I could put my ears on someone else, there's no way I'm going to convince anybody that what I hear is the absolute best. It is the best, for my ears. And Robert's. And Jeff's.
Writing reviews is hard. I don't doubt there's real excitement behind Robert's words, so maybe the problem lies on his writing style, that puts people off.



alexandre

Agreed Alexandre! As soon as someone throws his enthousiasm on paper he becomes untrustworthy... What a pity!!!
 

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