TAS Alexia review (December 2013 issue)

[zztop7]

If you look at specs, then we'd all be using zip cord or coat hangers Proof is in always in the listening.

Please do not Knock coat hangers. I used to use them as welding rods in the 60's for repairing cracked Lotus 7 frames. The coat hangers were of higher quality steel than the Lotus frame.

zz.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Please do not Knock coat hangers. I used to use them as welding rods in the 60's for repairing cracked Lotus 7 frames. The coat hangers were of higher quality steel than the Lotus frame.

zz.

Not any more though

 

[MylesBAstor]

JPS Labs Aluminata

I wanted to like the TA's and I believe it's also used on the inside of each Wilson speaker

I assume they were "matched" for the amp-speaker interface. Also, I was only referring to the TA Ref. MM2 or Opus.

 

[zztop7]

Not any more though

Too True, unfortunately.

Best to you,
zz.

 

[Bruce B]

I assume they were "matched" for the amp-speaker interface. Also, I was only referring to the TA Ref. MM2 or Opus.

Yeah, I had Brad match everything in my system with Opus 2

 

[ack]

If you look at specs, then we'd all be using zip cord or coat hangers Proof is in always in the listening.

True However, every time I look at Transparent I can't tell when and where they stopped copying MIT's inventions as of 20 years ago. Even that impedance matching (aka Zobel network), though MIT doesn't customize.

 

[Peter Breuninger]

The sound is good here...

 

[microstrip]

I find that in order to discuss cables we should present the whole system - source - preamplifier - amplifier - speaker - and even the room treatments. Just because Wilson uses Transparent and Transparent uses Wilson does not warrant good results. The matching with the source equipment is really critical, and I would never use a TA speaker cable without the IC's. In my all Audio Research system the TA Reference MM2 speaker and OPUS MM2 ICs sound great with Alexia's , but were not my choice for the SoundLab's or the Aida's.

IMHO, once you use TA cables you should avoid excessive absorption in the room.

 

[MylesBAstor]

True However, every time I look at Transparent I can't tell when and where they stopped copying MIT's inventions as of 20 years ago. Even that impedance matching (aka Zobel network), though MIT doesn't customize.

Yet TA doesn't sound at all like MIT.

 

[Kingsrule]

Doesn't one of them (MIT, TA) wire the networks in series and the other in parallel?
I always thought that's how the 2 companies settled their separation....

 

[Sauerball]

Please do not Knock coat hangers. I used to use them as welding rods in the 60's for repairing cracked Lotus 7 frames. The coat hangers were of higher quality steel than the Lotus frame.

zz.

The coat hangers probably weighed more than the 7 frame also!

 

[MadFloyd]

I thought the review in TAS was pretty disappointing. All I can deduce is that he liked them. I would prefer a lot more information about how they were setup in his listening room, how they sounded with the various amps he mentioned that he apparently tried, what music he listened to, how the Alexias sounded with cymbals, bass, piano etc. Maybe even compare them to another speaker besides the Legacy he mentioned.

Overall I felt it was a marketing blurb and not a review. Compare it to Martin Collom's review for contrast.

The speaker deserves better.

I hope JA's review is much more in depth.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Agreed M collums or JA versus TAS is quite a difference

I thought the review in TAS was pretty disappointing. All I can deduce is that he liked them. I would prefer a lot more information about how they were setup in his listening room, how they sounded with the various amps he mentioned that he apparently tried, what music he listened to, how the Alexias sounded with cymbals, bass, piano etc. Maybe even compare them to another speaker besides the Legacy he mentioned.

Overall I felt it was a marketing blurb and not a review. Compare it to Martin Collom's review for contrast.

The speaker deserves better.

I hope JA's review is much more in depth.

 

[microstrip]

I thought the review in TAS was pretty disappointing. All I can deduce is that he liked them. I would prefer a lot more information about how they were setup in his listening room, how they sounded with the various amps he mentioned that he apparently tried, what music he listened to, how the Alexias sounded with cymbals, bass, piano etc. Maybe even compare them to another speaker besides the Legacy he mentioned.

Overall I felt it was a marketing blurb and not a review. Compare it to Martin Collom's review for contrast.

The speaker deserves better.

I hope JA's review is much more in depth.

MadFloyd,

Reviewers can not please everyone. I found it rather interesting in the usual AHC style. He approaches the speaker and tells us where we should look (hear) when listening to it and where it is SOTA in his opinion. It is surely an evolutive review written for those who know his previous reviews - as a standalone article it misses a lot. It has also another sin - indirectly he is permanently comparing it to the XLF. Having gone through the same route, I feel the shadow of the large cousin in his words.

And yes, owners, such as us, can be disappointed - he does not tell it is a lot better than the competition!

 

[Bruce B]

- indirectly he is permanently comparing it to the XLF. Having gone through the same route, I feel the shadow of the large cousin in his words.

While not approaching the scale of the XLF, it certainly has the tonal and other characteristics of its larger sibling.

 

[rbbert]

I also got the impression that he likes it more as an excellent speaker to use reviewing other components (i.e. a "reference" speaker rather than the best he's heard).

 

[MadFloyd]

I also got the impression that he likes it more as an excellent speaker to use reviewing other components (i.e. a "reference" speaker rather than the best he's heard).

I get a bit of that too as his current speaker isn't suited for evaluating amplifiers. I'm guessing he heard differences between the three amps he used and I wish he would describe them. Matching an amplifier to this speaker isn't trivial.

 

[Bruce B]

I get a bit of that too as his current speaker isn't suited for evaluating amplifiers. I'm guessing he heard differences between the three amps he used and I wish he would describe them. Matching an amplifier to this speaker isn't trivial.

Well I've heard many amps on this speaker and just do not feel tubes allow it to reach its full potential.... even the big Siegfrieds. The best amps I've heard with them are the Momentums, Pass and Boulder. The Siegfrieds work on the much more amp friendly Alexandria's

 

[LL21]

Well I've heard many amps on this speaker and just do not feel tubes allow it to reach its full potential.... even the big Siegfrieds. The best amps I've heard with them are the Momentums, Pass and Boulder. The Siegfrieds work on the much more amp friendly Alexandria's

That concurs with Martin Colloms' measurements. he found that between the actual impedance measurements of 1.8 - 2.5ohms around 60-80hz, he also found the phase angles to be extreme enough he considered the 'effective' impedance the amp would 'see' is equivalent to 1ohm or so. He also found the generally between 20hz and 300hz, the de fact impedance of the Alexia is around 3ohms.

I am no techie...just repeating from the article which I've got here. But that does make it a tough load...and in fact, Martin Colloms was using a D'Agostino Momentum Stereo (peak 45a) and said he felt it was just even a little shy of being able to 100% fulfill what he felt were the peak requirements of the speaker.

 

[MadFloyd]

Well I've heard many amps on this speaker and just do not feel tubes allow it to reach its full potential.... even the big Siegfrieds. The best amps I've heard with them are the Momentums, Pass and Boulder. The Siegfrieds work on the much more amp friendly Alexandria's

I would have loved to hear how the XA160.5's worked with them - or rather how he thought they sounded. I keep pestering PeterA to bring over his pair to try with mine, but he makes excuses like they're heavy or something <shrug> .

Would love to hear Boulder too. I have no doubt that each amp will sound very different with these speakers.