I still own a lot of Cardas Golden Reference using rhodium plated plugs (speaker and ICs) and can assure you it does not sound thin and bright - the contrary IMO.
i think Marty wrote some very involved and thoughtful posts about this question a few years back and possibly that was influential to some degree. also many systems don't have acoustics and signal path to hold up to neutrality. and variables of taste.
at the end of the day this is a fundamentally subjective question. like Japanese cartridges are all colored. easier to follow than lead.
I have liked panel dipole speakers ever since I auditioned a bunch of different speakers, and ultimately selected Magnepan MG-IIIAs as my very first high-end audio loudspeaker.
My first "religious experience" of an audio nature occurred at Lyric Hi-Fi with Infinity IRS V loudspeakers. The Pendragon is a reimagined and simplified Infinity IRS V.
The Pendragon does the usual wonderful planar dipole open presentation job with vocals, and adds big bore woofage in an essentially simple two-way design. I think the planar magnetic/ribbon driver in the Pendragon offers more corporeal body than an electrostatic panel.
I have liked panel dipole speakers ever since I auditioned a bunch of different speakers, and ultimately selected Magnepan MG-IIIAs as my very first high-end audio loudspeaker.
My first "religious experience" of an audio nature occurred at Lyric Hi-Fi with Infinity IRS V loudspeakers. The Pendragon is a reimagined and simplified Infinity IRS V.
The Pendragon does the usual wonderful planar dipole open presentation job with vocals, and adds big bore woofage in an essentially simple two-way design. I think the planar magnetic/ribbon driver in the Pendragon offers more corporeal body than an electrostatic panel.
Analysis Audio Amphitryon
Apogee Full Range
Genesis Prime
Goebel Divin Majestic
Graz neo-Diva
Magnepan 20.7 and 30.7
Martin-Logan Neolith
Rockport Arrakis
Rockport Lyra
Tune Audio Avaton
Von Schweikert Audio Ultra 11
The Martin Logan Neolith, with a sixpack of Martin Logan - Balanced Force 212’s, would have been a nice set up in your room. With an extra preamp to the subwoofer stack, it would have been a killer setup!! I like your choice of the Pendragons… they are awesome… But a monster Martin Logan setup had been a neat thought in my opinion. And the subwoofer stack had been more easy to interact with the main speakers / planars… just saying…
The Martin Logan Neolith, with a sixpack of Martin Logan - Balanced Force 212’s, would have been a nice set up in your room. With an extra preamp to the subwoofer stack, it would have been a killer setup!! I like your choice of the Pendragons… they are awesome… But a monster Martin Logan setup had been a neat thought in my opinion. And the subwoofer stack had been more easy to interact with the main speakers / planars… just saying…
I have liked panel dipole speakers ever since I auditioned a bunch of different speakers, and ultimately selected Magnepan MG-IIIAs as my very first high-end audio loudspeaker.
My first "religious experience" of an audio nature occurred at Lyric Hi-Fi with Infinity IRS V loudspeakers. The Pendragon is a reimagined and simplified Infinity IRS V.
The Pendragon does the usual wonderful planar dipole open presentation job with vocals, and adds big bore woofage in an essentially simple two-way design. I think the planar magnetic/ribbon driver in the Pendragon offers more corporeal body than an electrostatic panel.
Analysis Audio Amphitryon
Apogee Full Range
Genesis Prime
Goebel Divin Majestic
Graz neo-Diva
Magnepan 20.7 and 30.7
Martin-Logan Neolith
Rockport Arrakis
Rockport Lyra
Tune Audio Avaton
Von Schweikert Audio Ultra 11
The same way I can explain most anti-X sentiments in WBF. Some one dislikes a product ans spends some time writing why he dislikes it is his system and experience. A few who also dislike it join the party and add a few imaginative reasons why technically it should be so, preferably speaking loud. The WBF active community is small and the local myth is fast created.
IMO some of these myths also are related to visual aspects - polished silver is naturally bright, it should sound bright. Copper looks neutral, it should sound neutral. Rodhium is an hard and reflective metal, it should sound bright.
BTW, sometimes cables have a sound signature in a system and can sound very different in another system.
