Auditioning Speakers; Mirage and others...

[rnatalli]

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33159

I originally posted in the above thread in search for separates. I'll likely go with an Emotiva combo or an Outlaw combo.

After some help from this forum and others, it's clear speakers are the first thing to consider. So I did just that and went out over the last few days to audition the different brands on various amps. Here's what I've heard so far and impressions:

-Klipsch: Bright. To my ear the seemed harsh.
-Paradigm: Heard some different ones and they sounded thin to me.
-B&W: Very natural sounding. A bit too expensive for me.
-Martin Logan: Very accurate and clear. Direct sounding. They also seemed hungry for power compared to others.
-Focal: Bright. They filled the room, but seemed too harsh.
-DefTech: Bright. Great sounding for movies, but didn't like their directness.
-Polk: Not bad overall. Laid back and I didn't tire listening to them. Probably my 2nd pick so far.

After all the listening, the Mirage Omnisat v2 series hit the spot with exactly what I had in mind. The filled the room with sound. The bass on the speakers seemed a bit weak, but that's easily fixed with a good sub. I still have to listen to a few others including Orb Audio and PSB, but Mirage is leading the pack for me at the moment. I wanted to post to see if there are any brands I should audition now that the type of sound I'm interested in is better defined. Thanks!

Robert

 

[Seth=L]

Which series of B&W did you audition?

 

[Adam]

I'd suggest also listening to NHT speakers if a local dealer has them. I bought mine over nine years ago and still like them. Their designs have changed, but I still read good things about them.

 

[Seth=L]

I'd suggest also listening to NHT speakers if a local dealer has them. I bought mine over nine years ago and still like them. Their designs have changed, but I still read good things about them.

He is going to think they are bright.

 

[rnatalli]

The B&W's I heard were the 700 series I believe.

 

[Seth=L]

The B&W's I heard were the 700 series I believe.

Did you have access to the 600 series, they are supposed to be very good bang for buck. I personally enjoy the sound of the 603.

 

[Davemcc]

What material are you using to demo speakers. You should be bringing your own music to demo, preferably something that you are intimately familiar with, and using the same material for each audition. Concentrate on music, since most speakers that sound good with music will usually sound great with movies, while the reverse is not usually guaranteed.

P.S. Which Focals did you audition? I've only heard the Electras and I am so in love with them, I can't even express it.

 

[Pheaton]

Hi,
I just finished a search for new speakers and decided on Monitor Audio. I listened to both the RS8 and the GS60. I liked both of them, they were very clear and precise to my ears. If you have a dealer nearby I would suggest that you try to audition them. The gold series is quite a bit more than the silver series, but I thought the price difference was worth it. I liked both of these speakers better than the B&W's I listened to. Of course what matters is what sounds good to your ears, not mine. But I think the Monitors are worthy of a listen.

Pheaton

 

[rnatalli]

I didn't have access to the 600 series.

Pheaton - How would you classify the sonic qualities of the Monitor Audio speakers you're referring to?

 

[Pheaton]

Pheaton - How would you classify the sonic qualities of the Monitor Audio speakers you're referring to?

Hi,
I would call both the silver line and the gold line of Monitor Audio to be clear and accurate without being bright or harsh. The difference between the two models that I heard was in the gold line the reproduction of sound was more accurate to actual instruments. Without using audio jargon; as my wife, who is a bassoon player, and I were listening to Rite of Spring there is a bassoon solo in the beginning and we both liked how it sounded on the silvers. Then we listened to the same passage on the golds, and my wife says, "That is how my bassoon sounds when I play it." So to us the golds delivered a very accurate sound which was better than the silver line.

I hope that answered your question.

Pheaton

 

[gus6464]

If you liked the B&W I suggest you check out PSB. I have listened to the Platinum and Stratus line and they are both excellent speakers. Although the Platinums would be outside your budget the Stratus GT1 and GB1 would fit the bill nicely.

 

[rnatalli]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to go out later this week to hear PSB, Magnepan, Acoustic Research, and a couple of others.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

See; that's exactly why we have to audition speakers and see what sounds best to us. I found the MA to be harsh and they actually started get on my nerves after about 30 minutes and Pheaton found them to be clear and accurate without being harsh. You just have to listen and find out what sounds "right" to you perferably in your own house.

Hi,
I would call both the silver line and the gold line of Monitor Audio to be clear and accurate without being bright or harsh. The difference between the two models that I heard was in the gold line the reproduction of sound was more accurate to actual instruments. Without using audio jargon; as my wife, who is a bassoon player, and I were listening to Rite of Spring there is a bassoon solo in the beginning and we both liked how it sounded on the silvers. Then we listened to the same passage on the golds, and my wife says, "That is how my bassoon sounds when I play it." So to us the golds delivered a very accurate sound which was better than the silver line.

I hope that answered your question.

Pheaton

 

[audioaddict]

I would reccomend trying to find the B&W 600 series to audition as well. The new 600 series 4 is a fantastic value for the money, the 683 especially. It has a FST midrange and nautilus loaded tweeter. The sound is similar to the 700s, though not quite as wide a sound stage and not quite as forward. But they are also half the price. If you like the B&W sound, the 683 reall deserves a listen.