Mordaunt Short and Wharfedale

[Joe Schmoe]

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.

There are no local shops where I live, other than the aforementioned B&W outlet.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

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.)

That turned out to be my shortest comparison yet. The Mirages only lasted 10 minutes before I started missing the sound of the CAs.
I have also become convinced that, in addition to having to spend a lot more to get better sound, the sound in question is unlikely to be enough better to justify that expense. More and more, it looks like the S30s really will be my last stereo speakers, ever.
I suppose I could look into a sub, but it would have to be an exceptionally tight, musical sub to do the S30s justice. Speaker-level inputs would also be mandatory.

 

[j_garcia]

You have to give a speaker some time to grow on you, especially if you are acustomed to the sound of a particular speaker in your room. I usually give them a few days and go back and forth, and listen to a wide variety of material. It usually takes me a few hours of tweaking just to get a new speaeker situated properly in the room so they get a a fair shot.

Better pic:

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I agree in general. This time out, however, the relative lack of clarity, detail, transient response, imaging precision, transparency, and low-level dynamics were all immediately obvious. No further contemplation was required. (Remember, I have spent a lot of time with the Mirages previously, so this A/B merely served as a reminder.)
They are good speakers, but the CAs simply outclass them.

 

[j_garcia]

I am not a big fan of Mirage either.

 

[trnqk7]

Joe, you could try some Mentor 1's from Dali-they are about 1800pr list I think...they had a good review on here...cheaper would be the Ikon 1/2's...I believe the Ikon 1's are 800-900/pr and the Ikon 2's a little more. You might give them a chance. Not many people know about the Dalis or have an opportunity to listen to them.

 

[trnqk7]

Not to forget that Usher's had some good reviews as do several ID companies like Axiom...although if I remember correctly you don't like ID very well...

 

[j_garcia]

I found a different local (semi-local) dealer for Cambridge. I sent them an email to see if they have the S30s in stock.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

You have to give a speaker some time to grow on you, especially if you are acustomed to the sound of a particular speaker in your room. I usually give them a few days and go back and forth, and listen to a wide variety of material. It usually takes me a few hours of tweaking just to get a new speaeker situated properly in the room so they get a a fair shot.

I have taken this advice to heart, and am giving the Mirages another chance. Experimenting further with placement/toe-in has resulted in such improvement that it is tipping the scales in their favor. (In particular, it has tightened up the bass and brought the imaging into sharper focus.) They could end up being my favorites yet. The more tangible bass and larger soundstage are definite assets.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Conclusion: the S30s are still better (and no obvious lack of bass, either.) I am more convinced than ever that I would have to spend a lot more to do any better, and no guarantee even then.