Suncoast Audio goes to the EXTREME - MBL XTreme Reference System

**bluegrassphile** · November 18, 2019, 08:57 AM

Gorgeous!! Mike, is that the same MBL system I got to hear when I was down there? It was breathtaking.

**Mike** · November 18, 2019, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by bluegrassphile

Gorgeous!! Mike, is that the same MBL system I got to hear when I was down there? It was breathtaking.

No. That system is at my house now. This one is their Reference XTreme line.

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**joeinid** · November 18, 2019, 09:14 AM

Mike,

You’ve hit the big time. There’s no system that could be any better. MBL and Avantgarde are just as good as it gets. You had no clue the extremes were coming and look at what a resounding success it was and will be going forward.

Congratulations! We are all so proud of you.

**Mike** · November 18, 2019, 09:36 AM

Thanks Joe for the kind words. Now if I could just get you down for a listen!

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**joeinid** · November 18, 2019, 09:38 AM

If I could put mom in storage, I’m there.

Originally Posted by Mike

Thanks Joe for the kind words. Now if I could just get you down for a listen!

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**Mike** · November 18, 2019, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by joeinid

If I could put mom in storage, I’m there.

LOL. Bring her! We have kittens.

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**dimfer** · November 18, 2019, 10:35 AM

congrats Mike! I heard similar system at CES 2009. I wonder if MBL did any upgrade/update to these fine speakers since.

**Mike** · November 18, 2019, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by dimfer

congrats Mike! I heard similar system at CES 2009. I wonder if MBL did any upgrade/update to these fine speakers since.

Thank you. Some changes, yes. More slight improvements from the earliest version in 2009.

They are out of this world.

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**bart** · November 18, 2019, 06:18 PM

Mike, you must be the only dealer in the Americas that has this system constantly on demo.
It makes your store an end destination for real audio lovers.

With all the gear available before, it already was a top high end shop.
Now it is a must visit for hifi enthusiasts.
Worth a trip for sure.

A hearty congrats!

**Mike** · November 18, 2019, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by bart

Mike, you must be the only dealer in the Americas that has this system constantly on demo.
It makes your store an end destination for real audio lovers.

With all the gear available before, it already was a top high end shop.
Now it is a must visit for hifi enthusiasts.
Worth a trip for sure.

A hearty congrats!

I’m the only dealer in North America, yes, with the MBL 101 XTreme Reference System. If someone in NA wants to hear it, a trip to Sarasota Florida in the winter is the ticket! Not a bad place to visit.

I’ve closed the doors for the day, and I’m all alone in the store tonight listening to this incredible system.

It’s truly a system that allows you to get lost in the music.

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**the professor** · November 18, 2019, 08:59 PM

I'll come to New York for the weekend and babysit.

Although both of us at Mikes at the same time would be AWESOME!

It would take me a couple days just going thru your amp collection.

Originally Posted by joeinid

If I could put mom in storage, I’m there.

**nicoff** · November 18, 2019, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

I’m the only dealer in North America, yes, with the MBL 101 XTreme Reference System. If someone in NA wants to hear it, a trip to Sarasota Florida in the winter is the ticket! Not a bad place to visit.

I’ve closed the doors for the day, and I’m all alone in the store tonight listening to this incredible system.

It’s truly a system that allows you to get lost in the music.

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Mike,
What kind of purple lighting is that?

**Mike** · November 18, 2019, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by nicoff

Mike,
What kind of purple lighting is that?

I have special lights in the store that work off an app on my iPhone!

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**nicoff** · November 18, 2019, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

I have special lights in the store that work off an app on my iPhone!

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Are they like Philips Hue? I like the fact that they change the mood of the room.

**Mike** · November 18, 2019, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by nicoff

Are they like Philips Hue? I like the fact that they change the mood of the room.

TuyaSmart Bulbs is the brand

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**nicoff** · November 18, 2019, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

TuyaSmart Bulbs is the brand

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Thanks Mike! Will look that up!

**nicoff** · November 18, 2019, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

TuyaSmart Bulbs is the brand

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Thanks Mike! Will look that up!

**Randy Myers** · November 19, 2019, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

I’m the only dealer in North America, yes, with the MBL 101 XTreme Reference System. If someone in NA wants to hear it, a trip to Sarasota Florida in the winter is the ticket! Not a bad place to visit.

I’ve closed the doors for the day, and I’m all alone in the store tonight listening to this incredible system.

It’s truly a system that allows you to get lost in the music.

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Dam, I would have a hard time going home. Certainly has to make it easy to "go to work" each day

.... They look simply amazing... I watched a video a couple years ago about how these are built. MBL simply amazes me. I definitely have a soft spot for German gear.

**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

I’m the only dealer in North America, yes, with the MBL 101 XTreme Reference System. If someone in NA wants to hear it, a trip to Sarasota Florida in the winter is the ticket! Not a bad place to visit.

I’ve closed the doors for the day, and I’m all alone in the store tonight listening to this incredible system.

It’s truly a system that allows you to get lost in the music.

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Congrats! Just getting spine tingles from the pics!!

Wasn't there a dealer in Arizona at one point that had these?

**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Thanks Mike. They’re from a company called SMT. I bought eight. Going to get four for my home. The walls have so much absorption and a speaker like MBL works best with bare walls or diffusors, never absorption. So, the SMT diffusors are in front of the absorption panels which are glued to the walls. The SMT diffusors are also on wheels. You can order them with or without wheels. Behind the speakers are plants, again, acting as a diffusor. The front wall is all diffusor so we are good there.

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Nice!!! Out of pure curiosity, have you tried the SMTs behind the speakers instead of the plants?

**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

Congrats! Just getting spine tingles from the pics!!

Wasn't there a dealer in Arizona at one point that had these?

Just the speakers, not the electronics, as far as I’ve been told.

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**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

Nice!!! Out of pure curiosity, have you tried the SMTs behind the speakers instead of the plants?

No. The wall has a massive diffusor already.

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**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

....

After playing with the MBL’s and learning a lot, I’ve decided I will eventually bring in the 126 stand mounts along with the Cremona integrated. For ~$20k, that is one hell of a system. The 126’s have the exact same midrange and tweeter as the Xtremes and all the other MBL’s in the line.

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The 126s are incredible. For those that like open sound, 126s kills electrostatics, panels, and the like, until one goes to better MBL model.

And if you are going all out, the MBL center channel is phenomenal as well. Your home theater customers will forever be grateful.

**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

The 126s are incredible. For those that like open sound, 126s kills electrostatics, panels, and the like, until one goes to better MBL model.

And if you are going all out, the MBL center channel is phenomenal as well. Your home theater customers will forever be grateful.

Agreed. I have the 120’s, 101e mk2’s and Xtremes. We had the 111F’s in the store as well. I can only imagine a home theater - 5.1 or 7.1 with MBL. Would be incredible.

**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Agreed. I have the 120’s, 101e mk2’s and Xtremes. We had the 111F’s in the store as well. I can only imagine a home theater - 5.1 or 7.1 with MBL. Would be incredible.

Awesome! People will shiiit their pants!

So how much better are the Xtremes than the 101s?

**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

Awesome! People will shiiit their pants!

So how much better are the Xtremes than the 101s?

It’s one of those times you hear a speaker and go “yeah, they cost almost four times as much, but yeah, they are at least four times better.” Someone asked me the other day, I said, the 101’s are like driving a Porsche Boxster and thinking “this is the shiit”. Then someone hands you the keys to a Porsche 918. Game over.

**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

It’s one of those times you hear a speaker and go “yeah, they cost almost four times as much, but year, those are four times better.” Someone asked me the other day, I said, the 101’s are like driving a Porsche Boxster and thinking “this is the shiit”. Then someone hands you the keys to a Porsche 918. Game over.

Yes, I only heard these at shows but what you say is a perfect way to put it.

Setup wise, how close do you need to get the speakers to the wall? the subwoofer stack distance to the wall? the speakers to the subwoofers distance?

**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

Yes, I only heard these at shows but what you say is a perfect way to put it.

Setup wise, how close do you need to get the speakers to the wall? the subwoofer stack distance to the wall? the speakers to the subwoofers distance?

31 inches or MORE from any wall, measured from the CENTER of the speaker.

Distance from subs to speakers is fully adjustable on the subs.

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**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

31 inches or MORE from any wall, measured from the CENTER of the speaker.

Distance from subs to speakers is fully adjustable on the subs.

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Thank you. How long did it take for the MBL team to set it up/ dial in?

**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 06:06 PM

And also, how big is the sweet spot? How does it sound in and out of the sweet spot?

Congrats again!!!!

**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

Thank you. How long did it take for the MBL team to set it up/ dial in?

Three days

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**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

And also, how big is the sweet spot? How does it sound in and out of the sweet spot?

Congrats again!!!!

It’s huge. Three seats at least. You can be sitting one or two chairs over from center and it sounds amazing!

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**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 06:44 PM

Thanks. Another important thing is synergy.

And I know it may be heresy for some to hear this, I think the MBL Reference digital is as good as the MSB.

**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 06:46 PM

Are you using any footers under MBL speakers? I think MBL shows with either Stillpoints or Shun Mook Audio depending on the room situation.

**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

Are you using any footers under MBL speakers? I think MBL shows with either Stillpoints or Shun Mook Audio depending on the room situation.

Not on the XTremes. They have built in spikes.

For my 101’s I’ve ordered some Symposium platforms with a special config which I got from a distributor in Asia.

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**Boogieman** · November 20, 2019, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Not on the XTremes. They have built in spikes.

For my 101’s I’ve ordered some Symposium platforms with a special config which I got from a distributor in Asia.

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I have heard great things about those. What is the expected result?

**Mike** · November 20, 2019, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

I have heard great things about those. What is the expected result?

We will soon find out!

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**Alpinist** · November 21, 2019, 04:00 AM

Originally Posted by Boogieman

And I know it may be heresy for some to hear this, I think the MBL Reference digital is as good as the MSB.

It’s a better match. MBL speakers sound best when all MBL components are used in the system from front end to back end. This is the way MBL designed it to be used.

Ken

**Adyc** · November 23, 2019, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Alpinist

It’s a better match. MBL speakers sound best when all MBL components are used in the system from front end to back end. This is the way MBL designed it to be used.

Ken

Sorry. I respectfully disagree. I owned MBL 101 for several years. I had 9011 driving 101. But the best amp I had driving 101 is VAC 450. VAC drives them with better dynamics than 9011. 9011 is very ordinary. It rarely partners with other speakers because it is ordinary.

BTW, 101 is the best speaker I ever owned. I love them so much. Unfortunately, my room is too small for them. 101X is my dream speaker. Hopefully, I will own them one day. But before that, I need to find a bigger room.

**a.wayne** · December 8, 2019, 11:10 AM

Wow Mike ,

The Big room is now “The big room “ massive effort , congrats ...!

Regards

**a.wayne** · December 8, 2019, 11:14 AM

BTW, Will there be a 101X demonstration at the tampa show next year ..?

**Mike** · December 8, 2019, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by a.wayne

BTW, Will there be a 101X demonstration at the tampa show next year ..?

No, the hotel refused to add the required power we need. So, a drive down the road will have to suffice for interested parties.

**a.wayne** · December 8, 2019, 11:23 AM

Damn ,

Disappointing to hear that , did you have to do any upgrading for power in your showroom ..?

Able to elaborate on power requirements necessary ..?

Regards

**Mike** · December 8, 2019, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by a.wayne

Damn ,

Disappointing to hear that , did you have to do any upgrading for power in your showroom ..?
Able to elaborate on power requirements necessary ..?

Regards

We had 4 dedicated 20 amp circuits, but added 9 more to accommodate the system. There is a thread I started called “The Road to XTreme”. Check it out. It explains everything, the prep, etc.

**Phishphan** · December 8, 2019, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

We had 4 dedicated 20 amp circuits, but added 9 more to accommodate the system. There is a thread I started called “The Road to XTreme”. Check it out. It explains everything, the prep, etc.

13 x 20 amp circuits!

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**Mike** · December 10, 2019, 06:59 PM

In the latest issue of TAS, the MBL XTreme Reference System is reviewed. Don’t miss it!

I’ve had this system for almost a month now and am totally blown away. Every listening session is a live concert in your room. The sheer scale and realism is off the charts. I’ve heard some of the best of the best in Munich and this system remains my favorite system of all time.

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**Ritmo** · December 10, 2019, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

I’ve had this system for almost a month now and am totally blown away. Every listening session is a live concert in your room. The sheer scale and realism is off the charts. I’ve heard some of the best of the best in Munich and this system remains my favorite system of all time.

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That is a dream system Mike! Congrats!

**still-one** · December 12, 2019, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

In the latest issue of TAS, the MBL XTreme Reference System is reviewed. Don’t miss it!

I’ve had this system for almost a month now and am totally blown away. Every listening session is a live concert in your room. The sheer scale and realism is off the charts. I’ve heard some of the best of the best in Munich and this system remains my favorite system of all time.

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I just received my copy of TAS today and read the review of the X-tremes. Just the review I would have expected. Even 10-11 years after first hearing them nothing in my audio experience has equaled that afternoon. There are many excellent speakers to choose from. This is one of only two speakers that I have speaker envy. Oh those fortunate few who don't have to weigh the pro's and con's of such a purchase.

**still-one** · December 12, 2019, 03:52 PM

Mike
I like the MBL X-treme ad in the latest TAS on page 17.

"Now at Suncoast Audio" Sarasota Florida.

**Mike** · December 12, 2019, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by still-one

Mike
I like the MBL X-treme ad in the latest TAS on page 17.

"Now at Suncoast Audio" Sarasota Florida.

Thanks!

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Thread: Suncoast Audio goes to the EXTREME - MBL XTreme Reference System

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