I also missed my delivery yesterday (as expected) so I selected "Hold for pick-up" and drove the 12-15 miles to the UPS service center near the airport in south Oakland this afternoon. FedEx is much more user-friendly for me.
Other bookshelves I have on hand at the moment are Paradigm Studio 20's V1 in Rosewood, a mis-matched pair of Studio 40's (one in beautiful curved rosewood, the other with flat sides in ebony), Infinity Beta 20's, Polk LSi7's and a pair of Infinty Primus 160's and Mordaunt Short 902's, neither of which should be directly compared to the 05's (but I did it anyway). All listening was done with a Marantz 8002 avr and 8002 BR player in Pure Audio analog playing Al Stewarts The Year Of The Cat cd.
Visually and cosmetically they're about what should be expected. While not as imposing as my LSi25's they would garner as much attention and I would certainly be proud to have them in my livingroom. I did find a couple of manufacturing flaws but nothing to worry too much about. The grills don't seem to be up to the same level of quality but again, they serve their purpose. I think I prefer the rosewood Studio 40 but the 05's are very nice. I think I liked my Swan Diva's best of all. Just beautifull. Simple but elegant.
The wiring terminals are a bit unusual but I was able to get my banana plugs in them and screw them down. But while doing so I felt like I shouldn't be. Bare wire is definently the way to go.
As for the sound I think they are very much like the Studio 20's, just better...in every way. More detail, crispness, tighter bass. Just more of everything. AS others have said, it seems like you hear things you hadn't noticed before. And the whole frequency response seems to hit you at the same time and volume. This really is a very good speaker. The Studio 40's have a bit more bass but they also have an additional 6" driver. The LSi7's can't touch the 05's clarity and their Vifa tweeters aren't quite as active (not as crisp) but I could live with either one (the 7's tweeters, not the whole speaker). Maybe the LSi 9's would put up a better fight but probably not quite enough of one. I bet the real star is the MB Quart center channel. But I may never know.
I'd love to hear the MB's along with some stiffer competition like Dynaudio Contour's or some of the better Revel speakers to name just a couple. I have had some Dynaudio Audience 40's and 50's and thought they were fantastic. But it's been a while and my memory is fading.
I'm still quite fond of the Beta 20's, especially at their current prices on the used market. I still think they are on the softer, warmer side even if Zieglj01 disagrees
. They actually put out more bass then either the Studio 20's or the 05's. Not deeper. Not better. Just more, as in spl. The tweeter is just a tad bit too much on the soft side. The midrange is very nice but not as smooth or accurate as the Studio 20's or the MB's. I've also had the Beta 40's and Beta 50's but prefer the 20's for over-all sound quality. They just don't have any
major flaws IMO. Maybe that soft tweeter?
The Mordaunt Short 902's have an excellent tonal quality about them. Decent bass for it's size and just about perfect midrange and highs. The tweeters don't have the "tinny" sound to them like most metal tweets, including the Paradigms. But they can't be compared to the 05's. No way. I wish I had some Mezzo's!
. Maybe someday.
Just for fun I hooked up the Primus 160's just after the MB Quart 05's. Wait, did I say for
fun! What a mistake. The Primus series is an excellent entry-level speaker but I shouldn't have done that. Neither the 160's nor the 05's thought that was very funny
. BTW, the 160's are much brighter then the Beta's. Maybe to compare more favorably to Polk and Klipsch at Circuit City?
Anyway, one thing I've learned about myself while listening to different speakers is that better speakers don't WOW me all that much. But when going back to lesser models I really miss the accuracy, definition, clarity, and the rest of that stuff. As soon as I hook them up I can tell "nope. This isn't anywhere near as good".
I broke my golden rule. Buy the best speakers you can afford...then never, ever listen to anything better. Yup. Screwed myself again.
Those who had the kahona's to buy the whole set did get a great deal.
Anyone got a pair of 05's and a center for Sale? In Elsberry?
