Mordaunt Short and Wharfedale

[Joe Schmoe]

I have decided that only approx. $1000/pr bookshelves stand a chance of outperforming my Cambridges. An ID store close enough to me for one-day delivery has Mordaunt Short Mezzo 2s and Wharfedale Evolution 210s in that price range (they also have Missions, but with less bass than the Cambridges.)
Anyone have experience with either of these models?

 

[j_garcia]

Try a pair of GR A/V-1s. $229 a pair for the kits, though you do have to build the cabinets.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Try a pair of GR A/V-1s. $229 a pair for the kits, though you do have to build the cabinets.

No skills, no tools, and no workspace. (Besides, I looked at them and there is simply no possibility that they could outperform the S30s.)

 

[adk highlander]

I have heard the Evo 2 10's and own the Evo 30's (tower). I really like the Wharfedale sound. They are detailed without being harsh and have very good imaging. I have only heard the 10's with a sub so I cannot comment how low they will go on their own.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have heard the Evo 2 10's and own the Evo 30's (tower). I really like the Wharfedale sound. They are detailed without being harsh and have very good imaging. I have only heard the 10's with a sub so I cannot comment how low they will go on their own.

My ears don't seem to care much about bass below about 60Hz or so. In fact, I have towers that go to 40Hz and it seems like too much bass in my room. That is why I am only looking at bookshelves.
I am extremely happy with the sound of my S30s, which is why I am intrigued by the idea of something even better. I will believe such a thing exists when I hear it, though. I do think I am going to at least try one of the models I listed (with a 30 day return option.)

 

[j_garcia]

No skills, no tools, and no workspace. (Besides, I looked at them and there is simply no possibility that they could outperform the S30s.)

Trust me, they most certainly could, though I cannot compare because I haven't heard the S30s. I am not impressed by many speakers, and as such, there is a reason why I own so many of these. I have 3 more cabinets waiting to be stuffed with the gear. Don't let the simple looks and seemingly low cost components fool you, these things really sing. Danny is a excellent speaker designer who really knows what he is doing. The drivers are built to his specifications and his crossovers are simply magical. These are tuned to 55Hz and put out plenty of bass for such a small speaker. I use them with no sub in my bedroom and haven't needed to add one so far.

You do have me very curious about the S30s though...

 

[Joe Schmoe]

You do have me very curious about the S30s though...

Assuming the AV-1s are about as good as it is possible to get within the limitations of driver size and cabinet size, I would suggest that they and the S30s are peers.
(I keep wavering, though, because my Mirage 350s have that "big speaker sound" which I enjoy, but lack some of the detail and transparency of the S30s.)

 

[j_garcia]

What sucks is, the only local CA dealer in my area closed down about a year ago, so if I want to hear a pair, I have to buy them. What is online pricing like? Did you get yours local or online?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

What sucks is, the only local CA dealer in my area closed down about a year ago, so if I want to hear a pair, I have to buy them. What is online pricing like? Did you get yours local or online?

Online, from a place called Wild West Electronics (close to me, but no B&M store.) MSRP is $260/pr but they were on sale for $220. Based on the sound, most people would guess closer to $1000.

 

[jonnythan]

I looked at them and there is simply no possibility that they could outperform the S30s.

Hm.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Hm.

Same driver size, same cabinet size, same configuration (even to the point of including the slight cutout at the buttom of the tweeter plate), same -3dB point, same "minimalist" crossover philosophy, same price. The quality of the Cambridge components (designed by them from the ground up) eliminates the possibility of the AV-1s using better components.

 

[jonnythan]

Same driver size, same cabinet size, same configuration (even to the point of including the slight cutout at the buttom of the tweeter plate), same -3dB point, same "minimalist" crossover philosophy, same price. The quality of the Cambridge components (designed by them from the ground up) eliminates the possibility of the AV-1s using better components.

Highly interesting.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

And the winner is...

...ACI Sapphire XLs. At $1700/pr, these will take a minimum of 4 months to save up for (though the tax rebate may shorten that.) Based on the reviews I have read, however, they could turn out to be the last speakers I ever buy.

 

[jonnythan]

How can you spend $1700 a pair on speakers you've never heard and expect them to be the last speakers you ever buy?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

How can you spend $1700 a pair on speakers you've never heard and expect them to be the last speakers you ever buy?

Obviously, I can't be sure. The reviews merely make it seem like a strong possibility. Now that B&M stores are almost extinct, I will take the only route that remains and try them for 30 days.
It is actually quite conceivable that the S30s will turn out to be my final speakers. (They will be if something like the Sapphires fail to blow them away.)

 

[j_garcia]

Well, the only thing that I have heard that I felt were better were these. Also at $1700 a pair, these things were simply jaw dropping. The clarity is stunning and the bass was entirely unexpected from a bookshelf (42Hz).

High quality components doesn't necessarily make the best speaker (it sure doesn't hurt ). A designer who knows what to listen for can do a lot without breaking the bank. The actual selling price for a completed pair of A/V-1s was $750 with your choice of finish, so the $229 price for the kits is a bit misleading. For those with wood working capabilities, they are an incredible value. Danny tests the tweeters and hand matches your set, including printed response curves. He said the midbass has no meaningful variance in the production run, so there is no need to match them. A friend of mine who does a lot of DIY stuff brought a pair over to my place to listen to and I was very impressed to say the least. So I requested a set of A/V-2s from Danny to audition and I was sold as soon as I heard them... The pair of A/V-1s I currently own is that actual pair that were the first ones I listened to because my friend bought all new kits and built an all new set.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

It is unfortunate that I am not able to try the kit. Unlike a finished speaker, it would be impossible to get my money back after the sloppy, amateurish job of building them that I would inevitably do.
I am going to give my Mirages another chance tonight. One thing I have not tried is fine-tuning them with the "bungs". I cannot predict how this will turn out, except to say that the last time I tried them I went back to the S30s (which amaze me all over again each time I fire them up.)

 

[bandphan]

http://www.sumikoaudio.net/sonus/prod_concertino_domus.htm

one of the best bookshelves ive heard

 

[Joe Schmoe]

In a few months, I will be able to afford something in the $1500-$2000 range. The problem is that I can only afford one pair at that price, not two or more for A/B comparison. I also hate to make enemies of dealers by buying and returning several makes/models. The only really high-end speakers available for local auditioning are B&W, and I was not impressed with their $1500 705s for the price.

 

[j_garcia]

I have good rapport with a few of my local shops, and have bought plenty from them. So they let me borrow speakers for up to a week at a time to audition, usually floor models if they can spare them. They have the credit card info, so if they come back damaged or not at all, then I pay for them.