I think MBL saw the efficient-speakers-with-SETs wave coming based on andromeda's posts and decided to fold.
Sad news. MBL has filed for insolvency.
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Older t&a amps can sound a bit dry high dampingfactor over 1000.
But restek i think is one of best amps today sounds perfect for my ears.
Although it came onto the market in 1988, if you look at the prices, it costs more today when it used than it did when new.
Very rare to find, very sought after. All-purpose weapon for quiet and loud
P.S careful at speakertermial 160 volt rail
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Having made much the same post, I'm reminded of the reason why Jelco shut up shop:
The novel coronavirus pandemic continue to have a significant impact on our production lines, and so I have decided to terminate our business effective immediately.
For the past few years, the business has endured a decline in labor productivity due to health issues arising from our aging skilled engineers. Furthermore, due to our obsolete mechanical equipment, performing maintenance on them has become difficult.
Depreciating human capital.
In the business world technology is often developed that cannot be exploited commercially because it is too expensive, more specifically cannot provide an economic rate of return. Consumer products don't have the same metrics.
In fact, most people who know the facts restrain from posting in public on such subjects in WBF and those who know little speculate.
Surely.
Yes.
People have the right to be informed about the operating conditions of high-end companies. Besides most of the high-end is intrinsically not transparent - it leaves on speculation. We can't expect this subject to be different.
However, people should realize that MBL is not DartZeel and do not try extrapolating from this last case.
That explains a lot about your perspective.
For background music here we use two Denon Home 350s and a Bluesound Pulse 2i. Each is a self contained streamer, amplifier, and speaker. The Denons are set up as a stereo pair in a major common entertainment area and they are controlled by the HeOS app. The Bluesound is in the bedroom and controlled by the BluOS app.
The serious system for intent listening (or for loud listening) is in a separate insulated “man cave.” The latter might affectionately be called “the money pit,” although no money has been thrown into that system since last summer … I am not motivated to upgrade anything because all aspects of the performance are truly pleasing to me. The HT is also in a separate, isolated room.
Back to MLB … I am 100% in the school of thought that says all the speculation is just unhelpful gossip.
Nevertheless, my own take on MBL is that I’m surprised that it took this long to get into trouble. If I had a palace with a dozen large rooms dedicated to high end audio, I’d want a pair. Maybe they would make the cut based on novelty even if I only had six such rooms. But as a daily driver for intense listening with one or two dedicated high end spaces, they’re not on my list. Who cares that I don’t covet a pair? Probably no one.
So you re making progress.
My system can do it all , it just doesnt need a 100 K monster amp to sound good , 10 -20 watts is fine .
When you have a 81 db eff / difficult imp curve like MBL or any other transducer for that matter costs go up very quickly and dynamics go down .
Thats why you see those big MBL s , DAG relentless , GRYPHON Apex etc on the market to give those transducers a kick in the butt and get them moving
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They works w
I heard often this combination years ago.
It's not that bad. The impedance curve never drops below 3.5 ohms on the MBL 101E. There are speakers here that are praised above all else but are significantly worse. A Horch 3.0s power amp (400watt at 2 ohms) drives easily the MBL . And that's at a volume comparable to an orchestra.
I heard often this combination years ago.
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Yes you re right .
I heard the latest version last year at the brussels show incl the new DAC and it sounded nice
Yes.this amps looks so small but its pitbull on steriodsYes you re right .
I heard the latest version last year at the brussels show incl the new DAC and it sounded nice
Yes.this amps looks so small but its pitbull on steriods
No i mean this MBL product , sounded nice , the radialstrahlers as well
Elliot G.
Industry Expert
actually they ran out of money that is the reason. why is only how they got to the point that they had to file. It may be the product, it could be the payroll and overhead, it could be a myriad of things which we don't know. what we do know is they can't pay their bills ergo they ran out of money.
Not true. These numbers just suggest you must select your amplifier carefully. I have owned MBL101c's long ago - they sounded terrific with a Mark Levinson ML23. It was not just a question of watts and amperes, but mostly of sound balance. CAT's also sounded fabulous of them.
However, one critical aspect of the MBL's is room matching - you really need an adequate particular room, as could be expected with an omnidirectional design. Most rooms can't handle them - it is written on the books.
MBL manufactures many models of speakers starting at around 10k. We can expect that in order to get marketing exposure the top models are presented with top amplifiers.
MBL at the brussels show last year
Sounded nice , the amps dont seem very big
Sounded nice , the amps dont seem very big
I have been using a pair of Rowland 925 amps for the last 5 years and they sound glorious driving my MBL101E's!
If someone were to bring to me the reason for a company being in financial trouble, was that they ran out of money......I wouldn't need to ask this person a second question.
That isn't the reason. It's obvious they ran out of money. Why they ran out of money is the actual reason.
Every company today is no longer with us, ran out of money in some way.
I have to admit that I prefer the older devices in terms of design and sound. For example, the 311 is a good speaker for smaller rooms, with a large soundstage and natural sound.fablous workmanship.Yes you re right .
I heard the latest version last year at the brussels show incl the new DAC and it sounded nice
Legendary 4010 preamp superb phono
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If the UK companies are any indication the answer is probably. We see their lagging financial reporting on Companies House.
The transparency of the UK financial system can be helpful. Imagine seeing this spreadsheet when the audiophile press is saying the opposite.
I agree, Elliot. People rubberneck for a reason, and a failing specialty audio company is no different.
With that said, smaller specialty audio companies, many of which offer great products (something you and I can relate to), do address the legitimate concerns many WBF Members continue to express about the high cost of today's top components. What makes a bespoke DAC, selling perhaps a few hundred pieces per year, cost 100 times or more the price of a product selling tens of thousands, is simple - the economy of scale.
The same principle applies to cars, watches, and many other luxury goods. I would argue that there are numerous bargains in high-end audio today, and that a thread titled 'The True Bargains in the High-End Today' would be helpful to many and a lot more fun to discuss and debate.
Not the point I was trying to make, but you are correct, Sir.
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