The Path to Paradise . . . or the Road to Ruin?

[Audiophile Bill]

Hi Ron,

If you decide to venture down the horn route with Vox Olympians, be sure to check out the GIP speakers. They are wonderful on the occasion I heard them @ Munich. Sounded better than Vox @ Munich.

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/08/gip-laboratory-gip-9700a-horn-speakers.html

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Hi Ron,

Check out The Sonus Faber too.

 

[bonzo75]

Hi Ron,

If you decide to venture down the horn route with Vox Olympians, be sure to check out the GIP speakers. They are wonderful on the occasion I heard them @ Munich. Sounded better than Vox @ Munich.

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/08/gip-laboratory-gip-9700a-horn-speakers.html

I went last year only to listen to these.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I went last year only to listen to these.

They were special eh? I would buy these with an epic 300b amp and a TT and go to heaven. Then spend the rest of my time on a mission to find the best Decca SXLs in the world.

 

[rockitman]

Hi Ron,

If you decide to venture down the horn route with Vox Olympians, be sure to check out the GIP speakers. They are wonderful on the occasion I heard them @ Munich. Sounded better than Vox @ Munich.

http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/08/gip-laboratory-gip-9700a-horn-speakers.html

Far more affordable at $200k...

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Far more affordable at $200k...

Lol. Might as well have a 5.1 system then eh?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you for the suggestions, gentlemen. I feel that elaborate horn systems are not for me. More rationally, it seems that horns do not reproduce depth in the way I am accustomed to from planar speakers and conventional box speakers.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Well Ron, I was there w/you at the Cessaro Liszts trial where you commented on this very thing, apparently similar to your experience at the AG factory listening to the Trios/B'horns. I kinda concur w/you, but I think depth can be impvd w/careful setup. Just heard Blue58's AG Duos sound better than ever w/new Sablon Reservas cables, and the sound is a lot more filled out, incl more front-to-back depth. For me the AG sound really "speaks" to me, and is alongside Zus in my short shortlist for upgrade to come.

 

[caesar]

Budget is always an issue, but I do want to aim pretty high this time.

(But don't Mook me, Bonzo!)

Hey Ron,
If budget and real estate are not an issue, have you considered more than one system? After all each technology has its strengths and weaknesses.

For my tastes, I think I need 4 speakers:
- I like the midrange of the soundlab - nothing really like it on earth, despite what the smegma in the audio media say,
- the musical transparency of the mbl - including ability to play rock, blues, and orchestral,
- the inner detail and dynamics of horns, and
- the musical resolution and coherence of the Vivid Giya

Now get some tube and SS amplification for each....

 

[es347]

..Ron not sure if you'll end up with the best speakers on WBF but one thing's for sure...you'll always have the best head of hair

 

[Jim Smith]

IME, Avantgarde horns can produce tremendous depth, when they are voiced properly to the room.

Probably other horns as well, but I have set up many Avantgardes, thus I can speak to this issue with them.

Never heard much depth at Avantgarde's factory showroom, though...

 

[Ron Resnick]

..Ron not sure if you'll end up with the best speakers on WBF but one thing's for sure...you'll always have the best head of hair

Thank you. My wife greatly appreciates that!

 

[Ron Resnick]

IME, Avantgarde horns can produce tremendous depth . . . Never heard much depth at Avantgarde's factory showroom, though...

It was puzzling to me that the Avantgarde designer twice told me that no depth is to be gained by pulling the speakers out from the front wall.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Hey Ron,
If budget and real estate are not an issue, have you considered more than one system? After all each technology has its strengths and weaknesses.

I agree that each technology has its strengths and weaknesses. Budget absolutely is an issue, and I have only one space to use as a listening room.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

It was puzzling to me that the Avantgarde designer twice told me that no depth is to be gained by pulling the speakers out from the front wall.

Interesting Ron. I was also put off the horns that I have heard for the same reason - lack of depth!

 

[nc42acc]

Ron have you narrowed your choices down to a top 5 or top 3?

 

[microstrip]

(...) For my tastes, I think I need 4 speakers:
- I like the midrange of the soundlab - nothing really like it on earth, despite what the smegma in the audio media say,
- the musical transparency of the mbl - including ability to play rock, blues, and orchestral,
- the inner detail and dynamics of horns, and
- the musical resolution and coherence of the Vivid Giya

Now get some tube and SS amplification for each....

Caesar,

I would need two speakers:

The Soundlab for midrange, transparency, inner detail,
The Wildon Audio XLF for everything else on your list!

If I would appreciate rock at realistic levels I would add a third on for scale, energy, presence and dynamics - the German Physiks The Gaudi.

Only referring to speakers I have listened in controlled conditions (two nice words for not at shows or unknown rooms).

 

[PeterA]

Caesar,

I would need two speakers:

The Soundlab for midrange, transparency, inner detail,
The Wildon Audio XLF for everything else on your list!

If I would appreciate rock at realistic levels I would add a third on for scale, energy, presence and dynamics - the German Physiks The Gaudi.

Only referring to speakers I have listened in controlled conditions (two nice words for not at shows or unknown rooms).

I would need only one pair of speakers: Magico M Pro.

They do everything on Caesar's list but I'll never be able to afford them.

 

[TitaniumTroy]

Ron, my favorite speaker at the 2015 AXPONA, was Vapor Audio's Perfect Storm. That Raal ribbon tweeter is something special (even better than my Magnepan's ribbon tweet). They had incredible depth and detail, and the transmission line bass was great too. This may have been the best speaker I have ever heard, this coming from a big planer fan guy. Only 45K to boot


http://www.vaporsound.com/speakers/perfect-storm-black/

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ron have you narrowed your choices down to a top 5 or top 3?

I think so. In alphabetical order:

Analysis Audio Orion (with custom Mark Seaton subwoofer towers)
Apogee Diva Advance 7 by Graz in Brisbane (with custom Mark Seaton subwoofer towers)
Genesis Dragon
Gryphon Pendragon
MartinLogan Neolith (with custom Mark Seaton subwoofer towers)
Rockport Arrakis