Kurt,
I really appreciate the depth of your review. Combined with Amir's measurements (and surprising thumbs up on the actual sound) it has given me the fullest picture of how the DBR62 sound short of actually listening to them. In my room, with my equipment.
I have been running a set of Sony SS-CS5 on my desktop for about two years. I still feel for the price they are nothing short of astonishing considering that they come out of a mega conglomerate's marketing and R and D. Just proves every now and then you can still get something worthwhile from that world. With Covid 19 I have moved from about 50% remote work to 100% for the past four months and there is no sign of that really changing. Listening to music all day, everyday, seated at the computer, has given me an upgrade itch.
There is nothing wrong with the Sony's, I'm just looking for better. They are 36" apart, about 4" from the wall, elevated 7" from the desk and my head is 36" from both, they are slightly toed. There is a 24" monitor between them, slightly in front of the front plane. They are running from the full range out of a B&K PT-3 and an Adcom GFA535-II. I also have a Dayton Audio Sub-1200 crossed in at 80Hz. The PT-3 has an 80Hz HP out but I find it messes with the Sony's and at the volumes I listen to their natural roll-off is fine. While I have not found their rear port an issue (and have experimented with it plugged but that doesn't really improve anything) I am inclined to stay with front ported or sealed designs
I've been looking at any number of different options, ranging far afield in type, size, and design. I'm trying to set an upper limit of $600, new or used.
Spendor S3/5
Usher S-520
HTD Level 3 (intriguing tweeter but not enough critical reviews other than their own site)
Totem DreamCatcher
Chane A1.5 (also intriguing tweeter but currently out of stock)
Arche Audio FR2 (tiny single driver partial folded horn)
But I do keep coming back to the DBR62 and the ease of returns to Bestbuy. I have never heard any of the Elac speakers. My only experience with Andrew Jones design was in setting up a full 5.1 system for a friend with BS floorstanders, center, bookshelf surrounds, and sub, all with a current gen Yahama AVR. He loved it. Best sound he has ever had. I found it woolly and unlistenable. I had to wonder what all the fuss was about. Perhaps with the DBR62 the hype is living up to the AJ marketing?
Given that you have had extensive critical listening to both the SS-CS5 and DBR62 I was wondering how you would characterize their fundamental sonic differences? It is a given that the Elac will have better LF extension and from all I have read I would expect a less forward sound in the upper bands. But I have not seen any useful direct comparisons. Not looking for a pronouncement of one being better than the other, that is subjective in so many ways as to not serve a real purpose, but rather how do they differ in achieving their design goals for music presentation?
To put my ears and psychoacoustics in perspective, I am 57, with the attendant HF issues. My informal testing with tones and headphones would put my upper limit at 14~15K. My primary 2ch system is a set of Eminent-Tech LFT8B's driven by Cary SLM100 (EL34/6SN7) and an Anthem Pre2L (6922). I've had the LFT8's for 15 years, starting as A rev and upgrading the tweeters to the B rev, thus my inherent interest in any conventional box using a ribbon or an AMT.
My 5.1 setup is a pair of Symdex Grand Epsilon (long defunct, think a Vandersteen approach), B&W Matrix HTM, Wharfdale Diamond 7.2, and an SVS CS20-39. All driven from a Marantz AVR.
So the median age of my primary gear is all somewhere around 20 years old (other than a 55 year old AR-XA). Once you get good stuff setup to your liking you just don't need to keep changing things unless there is an actual problem. There is no problem in the office system. I mostly listen to small jazz and chamber music in that context, some classic rock, prog, blues, reggae, and it does fine, but I know it could be better. Without going insane trying to build some sort of "reference" system, better speakers are not an unreasonable quest, just trying not to go down a rabbit hole.
Whew. That is a lot for my first post on this site. I appreciate any feedback from you or anyone following this thread.
r/Saul
