KeithR's "Dream Speaker" Search

[gestalt]

The Horning Hybrid Aristotle PM65 is a horn loaded loudspeaker with a traditional appearance. The Wolf von Langa SON is a bit more aesthetically unique but is easy to integrate into most living spaces due to its size. Available in a beautiful high gloss bamboo finish if you prefer the wood aesthetic. Both are top of class for that budget range, imo.

 

[rbbert]

Daedalus Ulysses

 

[KeithR]

The Horning Hybrid Aristotle PM65 is a horn loaded loudspeaker with a traditional appearance. The Wolf von Langa SON is a bit more aesthetically unique but is easy to integrate into most living spaces due to its size. Available in a beautiful high gloss bamboo finish if you prefer the wood aesthetic. Both are top of class for that budget range, imo.

I really need to make a side trip to Nashville next year and hear Cessaro, WVL, Lamm, etc. How is the ribbon integration on the SON?

 

[PeterA]

I really need to make a side trip to Nashville next year and hear Cessaro, WLS, Lamm, etc. How is the ribbon integration on the SON?

I am looking forward to reading your impressions of the FYNE Audio speakers.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Son driver integration is excellent Keith. A member here whom I'm v friendly with, heard the Son versus Cube Nephunar. He really liked the Son, felt the drivers were very well blended. He feels he needs to hear them with a greater variety of amps, but they're in pole position re him buying them.

 

[KeithR]

Hi Guy's Happy Holidays

This is a pretty amazing forum, really appreciate the quality and quantity of focused input.

I'm just starting a new system buildout and have a few questions that seem appropriate here. From the thread, I've picked up two gems that appear to be in my wheel house cost/performance wise, but perhaps more importantly aesthetics wise. (Gibbon Super 9's and the Spendor D9.2's)

I appreciate that many of the speakers mentioned in this thread are designed in a way to improve the overall sound. That being said, I grew up in the 60/70's and while I love old science fiction, I'm not sure I want something that looks like a movie prop from B movie parked in my living room.

Outside of the Gibbon & Spendor's, what else would would the board recommend I look at that is more traditional in design, perhaps even aesthetically beautiful in the sub $15k range. I'm looking for the highest possible musicality and transparency, in an easy listening, relatively efficient speaker, that will render (Jazz, Classical and the periodic higher volume classic rock session). The speaker should pair fairly easy with a high end integrated. Integrateds I'm looking at (Pass labs, Luxman, Accuphase, Gryphon, Hegel) mostly streaming local digital files or Tidal.

Thanks in advance.

Happy Holidays - and thanks for reading. I think the $10k-$15k speaker budget can be frustrating in audio as the options are more limited. I ran into this issue a few years ago.

That said, Devore, Harbeth, Vandy, Spendor, Magico A series, Dynaudio Confidence are the normal recommendations in this space - I prefer the Devore Gibbons. There are a number of great integrateds to pair a set with once you decide. Preferably Class A/B (tube or SS) with good bass control.

Fyne Audio, which I hope to hear in January, also has good options in this price range (the 7-series) but I can't comment on the brand quite yet.

 

[the sound of Tao]

Son driver integration is excellent Keith. A member here whom I'm v friendly with, heard the Son versus Cube Nephunar. He really liked the Son, felt the drivers were very well blended. He feels he needs to hear them with a greater variety of amps, but they're in pole position re him buying them.

Also thought this made for good New Years reading on the Son Marc...

WVL Son review

 

[KeithR]

Happy Holidays, all. What speakers would you like me to hear in 2021?

Next up is a full Gryphon Trident system over the break.

 

[jeff1225]

Happy Holidays, all. What speakers would you like me to hear in 2021?

Next up is a full Gryphon Trident system over the break.

Here are some speakers I'd like to hear in 2021:

1. JBL Hartsfield
2. WVL Son
3. Fyne 12

 

[djsina2]

Fleetwood Deville and WVL SON.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Happy Holidays, all. What speakers would you like me to hear in 2021?

Next up is a full Gryphon Trident system over the break.

I would like you to hear an Alsyvox and a Goebel Divin.

 

[bazelio]

Happy Holidays, all. What speakers would you like me to hear in 2021?

Next up is a full Gryphon Trident system over the break.

Viking Acoustics L'Instrument Mk3.

 

[christoph]

Viking Acoustics L'Instrument Mk3.

Viking Grande-Voix

 

[Folsom]

Audio Kinesis new one

 

[Duke LeJeune]

Audio Kinesis new one

Thank you Folsom!

I am working towards having a shippable dedicated demo version, so that in-home auditions become practical.

 

[Folsom]

Thank you Folsom!

I am working towards having a shippable dedicated demo version, so that in-home auditions become practical.

Sounds neat. I take it then a release of the actual speaker isn't far from now then, too?

 

[Duke LeJeune]

Sounds neat. I take it then a release of the actual speaker isn't far from now then, too?

We're still waiting for some custom tooling needed for the enclosure build, and based on timeframe estimates we're probably looking at February or March for the full-up speaker. The demo version will be ready before then. It will be in a smaller, lighter, more durable, and easily touch-up-able enclosure, to reduce everybody's risk.

 

[KeithR]

Viking Acoustics L'Instrument Mk3.

Albuquerque I believe - @PeterA is next door to their MA location.

 

[chuck]

I don't think that's a fair characterization. While your descriptions are probably spot on, it has to be said that the YGs imprint *far* less character of its own vs the SF, so you're mostly listening to downstream components. The SF OTOH will always have that nice "timbre", pretty much regardless of amp, for instance.
Go back to that SF and put a dry Class D amp in it. Then see how the sound changes. Now put same amp on the YG and observe the far greater impact it'll have.
You want the YGs to have a timbre like the SF, it's doable, just have to find the gear to go with it.

I think the point here is that if the objective is to build a system mainly for classical music, the YG has a higher ceiling than the SF and IMO that is true.

 

[KeithR]

Speakers I’d like to hear in 2021:

Fyne Audio F1-12
Verity Audio Amadis S
Wolf von Langa SON