Usher Audio Mini Two
JLeeMD -- Thu, 02/10/2011 - 12:50
Chris Martens, are you out there? You opined that the $5k Mini Two Diamond "more than ever invites comparison with speakers with 5 figure price tags" yet this speaker is nowhere to be found on TAS most recent Editor's Choice list. I'm looking for a speaker to replace my Dynaudio Confidence C1s (so they have to be very good) but with better LF extension, better sensitivity (my Mark Levinson integrated with 100 watts isn"t quite enough for the C1s), and yet will behave in a small-medium size room. There are alot of speakers on that list (104!). Is the Mini Two not in the top tier?
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Why not listen for yourself?
Perhaps a better way of stating my thoughts is the following: Chris Marten's review of the Mini Two was a rave review if ever there was one. I can understand if it did not win a POY Award as there can only be one or a few at most, but the speaker in question did not make a list with ~50 speakers on it! So my question is this: what is the value of a rave review?
Again, why not listen?
No Usher dealer in area with showroom.
So why not try listening to speakers that are in your area, instead of looking for unobtainium? You might find something.
The city I live in has ONE hi-fi dealer. Relying on trustworthy reviews allows me a MUCH wider selection. This rant was basically triggered by the disappointment of feeling that I can't trust a rave review of a TAS writer.
Always trust your own ears!
Actually the TAS Editor's Choice list has 104 (!) speakers on it.
There's a whole lotta good ones out there.
Oh well...I received my Mini Twos several days ago. Yes, I ordered them solely based on Chris Martens' review :-) My Dynaudio C1s are gone. Initial impressions are good: natural saturated timbres, big 3D soundstage, quick reflexes, easier to drive with my 100 watt integrated amplifier (Mark Levinson No.383) and, of course, more extended bass with no apparent room issues(!). Resolution and focus initially seemed lacking compared with the Dynaudios but, over the last several days, has improved. I'll post more thoughts as the speakers settle in. I know there's a dearth of available reviews and, despite what some folks may believe, many of us live in cities where opportunities to "listen for yourself" are limited.
No tubes?
Too busy for tubes!
What does that mean?
I get significantly different sound depending on whether I use the stock jumpers, Kimber Select jumpers, Analysis Plus jumpers and whether I hook up the speaker cable to the mid-bass binding post (vs the treble binding post) or vice versa. What this tells me is I need to send my Audioquest Oak speaker cables to Audioquest and have them re-terminate them for biwire before I will hear the full potential of these speakers.
Bi-wiring does getcha better sound. Now, back to tubes?
Same reason I don't spin vinyl: too much hassle.
Tubes used to be a hassle, not anymore. Vinyly offers superior sound to cd, a proven fact.
If Audio Research's CD8 played SACDs, I would have tubes in my system now.
Try the DAC8 with a transport & get a tube integrated amp & enjoy the music.
All possibilities in the future. I'm currently happy (for the moment) with my system: Esoteric X-05 SACD/CD player, Mark Levinson No. 383 integrated amplifier, Audioquest Colorado/Oak cables, Shunyata CX power cords, PS Audio Power Plant Premier and, of course, the Usher Audio Mini Two speakers.
I added $159 Audioquest jumper cables and am surprised by how much better the Mini Twos sound. In fact, I'm beginning to think I owe Chris Martens an apology.
I owe you an apology Mr. Martens. I'm sorry I implied that your rave review of the Mini Two was somehow suspect because the Mini Two did not appear on TAS Editor's Choice awards. Now that I've lived with the Mini Two Diamonds for a couple of weeks, it is clear that they are everything you said they were...and then some. I replaced the highly regarded Dynaudio Confidence C1s ($8k, Stereophile Class A) with the Mini Two Diamonds in my listening room with the hope of getting a speaker that was easier for my Mark Levinson integrated amplifier to drive and one that had better bass extension and power. For this, I was willing to trade off a little refinement.
Well, these speakers have me shaking my head in disbelief at what I got for $5k: slightly better resolution than the C1s combined with lower distortion resulting in a superbly transparent sound; timbres that are more saturated and natural; dynamics that are fast, fluid and effortless; a soundstage that is wider, deeper, taller with images that are more dense and life-sized. All told, the Usher Audio Mini Two Diamonds are the most musically expressive speakers I've ever owned!
Wait until you hear them with a tube amp! I see the nominal impedance is 4 ohms, what is the minimum?
if you have the space, the Dancer 8571s are definitely worth an audition! they are a fantastic bargain in high end speakers! i would have bought them if i had the space but they are HUGE speakers.