Speaker advice
cmalak -- Fri, 01/16/2009 - 17:10
I am considering the following speakers: Rockport Technology Mira, Wilson Sophia 2, Thiel 3.7, Sonus Faber Cremona M and Elipsa speakers, and finally Verity Audio Parsifal. My current system is ARC Ref3, Ref110, Ref CD7, Shunyata Hydra 8, Nordost Heimdall speaker and IC cables, and Thiel 2.4s. I enjoy all kinds of music and place a premium on musicality, resolution, and deep bass (current achilles heel of my Thiel 2.4s). Has anyone heard the speakers above mated to ARC Reference gear and which parings have proven to be the most synergisitic in your mind? I recognize that the list above has speakers ranging from $13K to $21K and is wide-ranging. Any thoughts/impressions would be appreciated. Thanks,
Cyril
I have had the chance to audition the Wilson Sophia 2s and the Sonus Faber Cremona M speakers at 2 different dealers (though not with my ARC gear) and have been able to rule them out. I found the Cremona Ms to have insufficient base, although the midrange was clean and very musical. I was puzzled by the Wilson Sophia 2s because I thought they were extremely clean and highly resolving and very dynamic however I walked away feeling the speakers were overly analytical and emotionally unenvolving. This could have been the electronics with which they were matched. Leaving the Rockport Technology Miras, Thiel 3.7s, and the Verity Parsifals in my list of speakers to audition. Has anyone heard these speakers with my aforementioned ARC gear? Your thoughts would be very helpful. Also, I understand Verity profiled a new speaker at CES - the Leonore which seemed to have gotten positive reactions at CES. Would love to hear what TAS editors thought of that speaker at CES. Thx again.
In my show report I wrote this about the new Finn and Leonore," the new three-way, bass reflex offerings from Verity Audio revealed wonderful promise with open sonics and rich, warm tonality not to mention exquisitely lacquered finishes. At 39.5** tall, the small footprint Finn and the premium 42.5** Leonore both sport high sensitivity for easy low power amplifier matching. Priced at $5995 and $15,995 respectively." I think both these speakers represent something in short supply today, lower relative price points with little to no reduction in the sonic expectation. I'm anxious to hear the Finn for myself. It's musicality was simply gorgeous. Here is the little Finn pictured with designer Julien Pelchat. the Leonore is larger and uses the modular construction of Sarastro, etc, but not surprisingly their tonality is quite similar although the Leonore will obviously trump the Finn in terms of extension and output.
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Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I've no experience of ARC gear but am familiar with the Sonus faber and Verity Audio speakers you've listed. I thought the Parsifal Ovation sounded tight and bright in the top end and bass was too dark for my taste. I believe, though, that they were fairly new units. I really recommend that you add Usher's BE-10 speakers to your list. They outperform the Sf Cremona M in midrange and musicality (actually, they outperform my own Sf Guarneri Homage's) and have excellent bottom end performance - reach, weight, clarity, defintion, tonality. Build quality is very good - different to Sf but still very satisfying - and they have great proportion so, visually, are very appealing. I've heard Sf Amati Anniversario's in a friends home and rate the BE-10's as better in the mid/top and equal in the bass department.
Thx very much for the feedback on the Leonore Neil and on Usher Hamblis. I am not sure if I have a dealer nearby that carries the Usher BE-10s but if yes, I will try to audition and report back. Thx again.
Neil, i'll totally agree with feedback. Finn's musicality was really fantastic for my ears.
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