KeithR's "Dream Speaker" Search

[BruceD]

Speakers I’d like to hear in 2021:

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

Ah yes talking my language !
BruceD

 

[Ratbastrd]

I'm curious if the QLN prestige line have been auditioned or written up here, can't find much on them.

 

[PeterA]

Keith, have you heard any of the JBL speakers like K2, Everest, etc?

 

[Mdp632]

@KeithR My vote is for the Chronosonic XVX

 

[KeithR]

Keith, have you heard any of the JBL speakers like K2, Everest, etc?

I've heard them, just not in optimal circumstances. The K2 on full Levinson gear at the LAAS sounded very hifi/incoherent to me. The Everest on all custom tube gear the following year was bright. And the K2 in NYC last year at the Harman store had a listening position that was next to stairs with glass behind it and the speakers were elevated 1' on a riser of sorts- no thanks.

JBL is very difficult to demo here, despite the Northridge office which has been closed since COVID, as most dealers are HT oriented. I can hear Classic 100s all day long locally, but 4367 and K2/Everest are elusive and not stocked by hifi stores. If I take a trip to Northridge (10 mins) in 2021, I will definitely update this thread- they have all of the above.

 

[KeithR]

@KeithR My vote is for the Chronosonic XVX

i've heard them

 

[Mdp632]

i've heard them

Please tell I don't think I recall reading or seeing an XVX post of yours.

 

[Ratbastrd]

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.

@KeithR have you listened to the QLN Signature or Salk SS series? They both seem to stem from a similar lineage as the Harbeth, Spendor and Devore speakers. Curious if you have thoughts on this or am I inferring more to the lineage then is there.

 

[KeithR]

Please tell I don't think I recall reading or seeing an XVX post of yours.

That's because it's a reviewer friend of mine and doesn't impact the subject of this thread. I can say after hearing them I wouldn't shell out $330k for *any* speaker. That's just me though. I believe this hobby's gone the entirely wrong direction as I've stated many times on this forum.

 

[KeithR]

For some quarantine fun, I've received a set of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 headphones and have a pair of Sennheiser HD660S on order. I've owned Grados for 20 years, the 225 most recently. Will see if stepping up to the ~$500 range is worth it or not.

 

[jeff1225]

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.

Gestalt,
Have you tried the Lamm SET's on the WVL SON's?

 

[gestalt]

Gestalt,
Have you tried the Lamm SET's on the WVL SON's?

ML2.2s are en route to do that very thing.

 

[rbbert]

That's because it's a reviewer friend of mine and doesn't impact the subject of this thread. I can say after hearing them I wouldn't shell out $330k for *any* speaker. That's just me though. I believe this hobby's gone the entirely wrong direction as I've stated many times on this forum.

It's hard to argue against a manufacturer producing a luxury product if there is a demand. The problem (if there is one) comes when such a product is presented as SOTA and a benchmark for others to aspire to. To use an (overused) automobile analogy, the fact that there are luxury sedans, SUVs and sports cars that cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars doesn't necessarily make them the "best" or even a vehicle you or I would want to own and drive.

 

[KeithR]

@KeithR have you listened to the QLN Signature or Salk SS series? They both seem to stem from a similar lineage as the Harbeth, Spendor and Devore speakers. Curious if you have thoughts on this or am I inferring more to the lineage then is there.

Sure haven’t. Salk only once at a show.

 

[KeithR]

Happy New Year, all!

After various talks with different people, and in light of the brand not having west coast distribution, probably won't be hearing Verity this year.

 

[jeff1225]

ML2.2s are en route to do that very thing.

Very good. Please report back what you hear.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

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.

It sounds like it is well worth the wait.

 

[Duke LeJeune]

It sounds like it is well worth the wait.

Thank you for the vote of confidence. This project is my Apollo program... I'm aiming high pretty...

 

[spiritofmusic]

I'm assuming 11...not 13 Lol.

 

[Duke LeJeune]

I'm assuming 11...not 13 Lol.

We'll see!!