Sorry for the break in the action, but January has been tight with other obligations including an amp that had to go into service. I will revisit both the Rockport and YG in the next month and pick a dynamic driver winner. On the former, the dealer assures me the Vitus is the right amp and is going to re-position the speakers for better dynamics and shove. On the latter, I will hear the Hailey 2 which is expected to be delivered in February (I also might ask
@asiufy to hook up the Sonja 2 b2b).
In addition, I have started to think about skipping the "middle" range of each line and waiting for a demo piece of the previous top line speaker, but that's just chatter at this moment as I don't have a new room yet. For instance,
@Ron Resnick believes an Altair, Sonja, or Alpha is a much better idea, even if a generation old, than a Avior, Hailey, or Wagner. There may be some credence to this theory that I will get to explore. Although at least in Rockport-land, I know several people who think the lowly Atria is the most coherent and perhaps best sounding speaker in the line - and as mentioned in my initial review- the dealer's favorite for normal rooms.
I also confirmed the US Cessaro importer will have the Wagner 2 and Listz for demo during my April trip to NYC. The Wagner 2 uses a countertop- style cabinet vs the prior birch ply. That said,
@bonzo75 recent comments on the Cessaro have soured my outlook a bit - as soundstage is one of my top criteria for a speaker and apparently this is not the Wagner's strength.
So by the end of spring, I should have a path formulated - even if its staying put with my Gibbon Xs which I can say is not an improbability.