Fun Speaker Search

[FDPDK]

We did listen to the big Stenheims and also the new smaller Alumine Three , i must say that the big Stenheims are in my view really good , the are delivering a rock solid musical perspective and the bass is in my view really good , dynamic , precise , deep. I wasn't lucky enough to get to sit in the hotspot so started out on the side in the middle of the room and next time i went in to listen i was all the way back in the room but it was still really really good.
It was an weekend event made by a dealer from Copenhagen HighPerformance Audio....was held at a hotel and i am not too sure about the room dimensions, but would be able to find out.
Have also listened at the dealers shop to the Stenheim Alumine five paired with PS Audio and playing various type of music also organ , and to me they do perform really good. I find it hard to say how the speakers sound, as i think they are really neutral but still musical , every time i left the shop and on the train ride back i am thinking why is that i really would like that speaker , they are really good but can't at this point , pinpoint exactly why i feel so.
Ohh i can fill in that i also listened to the Magico A3 at the same dealer , and to me they sound " darker" , maybe more bold in sound. Hope it makes some sense to you.

 

[Howiebrou]

We did listen to the big Stenheims and also the new smaller Alumine Three , i must say that the big Stenheims are in my view really good , the are delivering a rock solid musical perspective and the bass is in my view really good , dynamic , precise , deep. I wasn't lucky enough to get to sit in the hotspot so started out on the side in the middle of the room and next time i went in to listen i was all the way back in the room but it was still really really good.
It was an weekend event made by a dealer from Copenhagen HighPerformance Audio....was held at a hotel and i am not too sure about the room dimensions, but would be able to find out.
Have also listened at the dealers shop to the Stenheim Alumine five paired with PS Audio and playing various type of music also organ , and to me they do perform really good. I find it hard to say how the speakers sound, as i think they are really neutral but still musical , every time i left the shop and on the train ride back i am thinking why is that i really would like that speaker , they are really good but can't at this point , pinpoint exactly why i feel so.
Ohh i can fill in that i also listened to the Magico A3 at the same dealer , and to me they sound " darker" , maybe more bold in sound. Hope it makes some sense to you.

Thank you for your description. It's funny, i felt the same way. I listened to the Reference Ultimes for a few hours interspersed with Magico M Projects and something kept drawing me back to the Stenheims. With four 12 inch woofers, the base was strong but controlled. I hesitate to use neutral because that makes it sound boring but it is not. It has a subtle musicality as opposed to the in your face sound of some brands which impress you first but wouldn't be pleasant if you listened too long. I am not sure who has a similar sound. Certainly not any of the other brands I have witnessed of late.

 

[LVB]

Rockports are nice.
Don’t quite get the latest infatuation with Stenheims. Nice enclosure, with basically PA drivers in it (Made by PHL, I was told own by Devialet).
I had sound like that out of ProAc 25 years ago.

 

[Mike]

Rockports are nice.
Don’t quite get the latest infatuation with Stenheims. Nice enclosure, with basically PA drivers in it (Made by PHL, I was told own by Devialet).
I had sound like that out of ProAc 25 years ago.

Interesting.


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[bart]

Rockports are nice.
Don’t quite get the latest infatuation with Stenheims. Nice enclosure, with basically PA drivers in it (Made by PHL, I was told own by Devialet).
I had sound like that out of ProAc 25 years ago.

I am with you on this one.
Haven't heard the floorstanders, only the standmounts, and they were awful.
Could have been the system set-up of course.
But they didn't look worthy of their asked price either. 15K if I recall well.

I'll throw in another brand I heard recently: Boenicke.
Their W13 SE+ don't cost the world, and have powered woofers, so they can be powered by tube amps.

 

[Howiebrou]

On holiday in Denmark i managed to squeeze in a demo with Peak Consult based in Middelfart. I had a tour of the factory where everything is hand made and then had a lovely session with their Phoenix speakers, one down from the Dragons and a little bit smaller. They were fantastic. Very musical and analog sounding without a whisper of excessive resolution which would limit listening sessions. I don’t mean to say it lacked detail just that the presentation was involving and organic. Pink Floyd’s final cut, which is my favorite PF album, sounded awesome. They were driven by Vitus cd and virus pre and Vitus monoblocks. Well worth a listen imho.

 

[pdub]

On holiday in Denmark i managed to squeeze in a demo with Peak Consult based in Middelfart. I had a tour of the factory where everything is hand made and then had a lovely session with their Phoenix speakers, one down from the Dragons and a little bit smaller. They were fantastic. Very musical and analog sounding without a whisper of excessive resolution which would limit listening sessions. I don’t mean to say it lacked detail just that the presentation was involving and organic. Pink Floyd’s final cut, which is my favorite PF album, sounded awesome. They were driven by Vitus cd and virus pre and Vitus monoblocks. Well worth a listen imho.

I had a case of the Middlefarts once. I think it was due to a virus ...

(could not resist)

 

[Howiebrou]

I had a case of the Middlefarts once. I think it was due to a virus ...

(could not resist)

Yes lots of farts here, fart control, middelfart, din fart...took me a few days to realize it means speed!

 

[KeithR]

Rockports are nice.
Don’t quite get the latest infatuation with Stenheims. Nice enclosure, with basically PA drivers in it (Made by PHL, I was told own by Devialet).
I had sound like that out of ProAc 25 years ago.

So you’ve never heard a speaker but taking pot shots. I guess CH must suck too since their designer uses them as a reference.

Internet forums, yay.

 

[Pearce Harrison]

Listening to speakers is really an invitation to comment on what used to be called— ‘ a glimmer of experience ‘.
There are so many variables that affect speaker sound and so many conclusions that come about, incorrectly in my opinion, that I believe the ONLY way to determine if a speaker fits into your ‘expectation quota’ is to listen to the speaker in question...in one’s own system only!
While this may be somewhat difficult in most instances, due to size, weight and other aspects, it really is the true determinant of whether a speaker will ultimately work for you. All else, is simply idle speculation and guessing at best. Personally, any dealer that suggests that a speaker will work for you in your room, without you demoing it in that fashion and with your musical taste and choice of ancillary gear...is doing everybody a disservice. IMO.

 

[Mike]

Yes lots of farts here, fart control, middelfart, din fart...took me a few days to realize it means speed!

Howie - how is the search going? Any revelations? Any making your short list so far? Have you considered any unique designs like Vivid or Estelon? Is the efficiency of the speaker a deciding factor for you?

 

[Howiebrou]

Listening to speakers is really an invitation to comment on what used to be called— ‘ a glimmer of experience ‘.
There are so many variables that affect speaker sound and so many conclusions that come about, incorrectly in my opinion, that I believe the ONLY way to determine if a speaker fits into your ‘expectation quota’ is to listen to the speaker in question...in one’s own system only!
While this may be somewhat difficult in most instances, due to size, weight and other aspects, it really is the true determinant of whether a speaker will ultimately work for you. All else, is simply idle speculation and guessing at best. Personally, any dealer that suggests that a speaker will work for you in your room, without you demoing it in that fashion and with your musical taste and choice of ancillary gear...is doing everybody a disservice. IMO.

I don’t think anyone can argue with that. Only issue is that in reality it’s not always possible and in many countries the market is simply not big enough to allow dealers this luxury. If i was to restrict my choices to those dealers who could let me demo at home, I would have a very small choice unfortunately. My recent audition of Peak Consult which i can not hear at all in Hong Kong is a good example. Trying to gauge the sound of a speaker in someone else’s room with someone else’s system is difficult but i think it is possible to get an idea of the signature of a speaker that way and you can eliminate quite a few.

 

[Mike]

I don’t think anyone can argue with that. Only issue is that in reality it’s not always possible and in many countries the market is simply not big enough to allow dealers this luxury. If i was to restrict my choices to those dealers who could let me demo at home, I would have a very small choice unfortunately. My recent audition of Peak Consult which i can not hear at all in Hong Kong is a good example. Trying to gauge the sound of a speaker in someone else’s room with someone else’s system is difficult but i think it is possible to get an idea of the signature of a speaker that way and you can eliminate quite a few.

Agreed Howie. I always get a chuckle when I read these comments. As a dealer, I can tell you, the risk to damage (no insurance will cover it), not to mention the logistics involved are a nightmare at the size and expense of speaker you’re looking at. Maybe some Harbeth’s or Magico A3’s, sure. But crating up and carrying 6 figure, 600+ pound speakers out of the store, into a trailer, into the customers home, around corners, up the stairs and then back again is a nightmare. I do get a chuckle though when I read people thinking some Joe Schmoe on Audiogon can get a dealer to let him try for fun a pair of $150,000 600 pound speakers to make sure they’ll work in his room. Haven’t seen it happen here. Too much risk involved that no one wants to take and frankly, too many tire kickers. Just look at guys like smodtactical. Anyone think a dealer will do that for him now?

Spend all the time you want in the store. Come back a dozen times if you want.

 

[Howiebrou]

Howie - how is the search going? Any revelations? Any making your short list so far? Have you considered any unique designs like Vivid or Estelon? Is the efficiency of the speaker a deciding factor for you?

Thanks for asking Mike. I am enjoying the chase and also the seriousness with which dealers afford you when they know you are going to end up buying something. The question is, of course, which one? I enjoyed the Stenheim Reference Ultimes, the Rockport Cygnus (no Lyra to demo), the Peak Consult Phoenix (no Dragon to demo). Magico was better than i expected as I didn’t warm to them before but the M Projects weren’t bad. I have heard Vivid quite a few times and they weren’t bad either but they don’t do anything for me yet. May be i need to have a listen to the Spirits. Even though they are quite a lot cheaper i have not found a pair of JBL DD6700 to demo either. I guess they are just too big of most apartments here and to be honest they are probably too wide for my listening space. So far so fun and no i am not restricted by the Kaguras. I don’t mind switching to some megalithic monoblocks if needs be. That chase could be a lot of fun too!

 

[Howiebrou]

Agreed Howie. I always get a chuckle when I read these comments. As a dealer, I can tell you, the risk to damage (no insurance will cover it), not to mention the logistics involved are a nightmare at the size and expenseof speaker you’re looking at. Maybe some Harbeth’s or Magico A3’s, sure. But crating up and carrying 600+ pound speakers out of the store, into a trailer, into the customers home, around corners, up the stairs and then back again is a nightmare. I do get a chuckle though when I read people thinking some Joe Schmoe on Audiogon can get a dealer to let him try for fun a pair of $150,000 600 pound speakers to make sure they’ll work in his room. Haven’t seen it happen here. Too much risk involved that no one wants to take and frankly, too many tire kickers. Just look at guys like smodtactical. Anyone think a dealer will do that for him now?

I think it all boils down to developing a long term relationship with your dealer and demonstrating that you are a bona fide customer. Brick and Mortar stores are still the way to go imho.

 

[Mike]

I think it all boils down to developing a long term relationship with your dealer and demonstrating that you are a bona fide customer. Brick and Mortar stores are still the way to go imho.

Totally. It’s why I built my store with three different sized rooms - small, medium and large. Try them out in whichever room you want, bring your amps if you want, we can even move them into a spot that is most likely where you would put them from a back wall.


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[Pearce Harrison]

G

Agreed Howie. I always get a chuckle when I read these comments. As a dealer, I can tell you, the risk to damage (no insurance will cover it), not to mention the logistics involved are a nightmare at the size and expense of speaker you’re looking at. Maybe some Harbeth’s or Magico A3’s, sure. But crating up and carrying 6 figure, 600+ pound speakers out of the store, into a trailer, into the customers home, around corners, up the stairs and then back again is a nightmare. I do get a chuckle though when I read people thinking some Joe Schmoe on Audiogon can get a dealer to let him try for fun a pair of $150,000 600 pound speakers to make sure they’ll work in his room. Haven’t seen it happen here. Too much risk involved that no one wants to take and frankly, too many tire kickers. Just look at guys like smodtactical. Anyone think a dealer will do that for him now?

Spend all the time you want in the store. Come back a dozen times if you want.

While I understand your point, the issue is who is going to take the ‘Risk’. The consumer, who pays $150k for some speakers that don’t work worth spit in their room and system, and is then forced to sell the same speakers onto the used market at a small fraction of what he paid...or the dealer, who has the concerns that you elucidated.
Personally, if I am paying $150 K for speakers, I would expect two things..1) the dealer to set the speakers up in my room, and 2) if they cannot be made to work well in said room and with my ancillary gear..for the dealer to swap them for something else that the dealer could have available to him. Clearly, this is fraught with issues for the dealer..but he should know his gear well enough to know what the synergy is likely to be with my room dimensions and my gear.
Otherwise, this scenario plays out...and I give you a real life example:
Aphile friend of mine buys a high $$ Speaker from a dealer in Chicago...the dealer knows his room size and his driving amps and ancillary gear. The speakers are delivered and my friend unpacks and sets them up. Big dissatisfaction...because his amps are in no way capable of driving the speakers in his room size. My friend ends up selling his multi kilo $$ speakers for a fraction of what he paid...and after some considerable time on the market. Do we think he is still best buds with that dealer in Chicago??

BTW Mike, this may apply less to you than other dealers, as your protocol would seem to minimize the possibility of this circumstance, but most dealers are not able to, or willing to, do the same thing as you.

 

[Mike]

G

While I understand your point, the issue is who is going to take the ‘Risk’. The consumer, who pays $150k for some speakers that don’t work worth spit in their room and system, and is then forced to sell the same speakers onto the used market at a small fraction of what he paid...or the dealer, who has the concerns that you elucidated.
Personally, if I am paying $150 K for speakers, I would expect two things..1) the dealer to set the speakers up in my room, and 2) if they cannot be made to work well in said room and with my ancillary gear..for the dealer to swap them for something else that the dealer could have available to him. Clearly, this is fraught with issues for the dealer..but he should know his gear well enough to know what the synergy is likely to be with my room dimensions and my gear.
Otherwise, this scenario plays out...and I give you a real life example:
Aphile friend of mine buys a high $$ Speaker from a dealer in Chicago...the dealer knows his room size and his driving amps and ancillary gear. The speakers are delivered and my friend unpacks and sets them up. Big dissatisfaction...because his amps are in no way capable of driving the speakers in his room size. My friend ends up selling his multi kilo $$ speakers for a fraction of what he paid...and after some considerable time on the market. Do we think he is still best buds with that dealer in Chicago??

BTW Mike, this may apply less to you than other dealers, as your protocol would seem to minimize the possibility of this circumstance, but most dealers are not able to, or willing to, do the same thing as you.

Agreed and thank you.

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