Mbl 111f

kzhtoo said:
Magico, Avantgarde, MBL, Harbeth, Verity. That’s an All-Star lineup, Mike!
A couple of years ago, I made a mistake of introducing my wife to MBL at a show. Since then, she thinks everything else is crap.


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Thanks Khin. I really feel excited about my speaker options (and I'm done with speakers):

In the store:
Magico - best SOTA modern box speakers. Best speaker under $10K too. Leading edge in box design, usage of materials and seamless driver integration.
Harbeth - best BBC monitor/stand mount speaker
Verity - best slim line, efficient floor standers which fill a ~$10k (Finn, Otello) to ~$25k+ (Parsifal Anniversary) gap in my offerings. Offer a full line of attractive, slim floorstander options (no standmount to confuse with Harbeth).

Out of the box:
Avantgarde - best horn speakers, high efficiency, dynamic “live sound” champs, great use of DSP in the bass for seamless driver integration. Very efficient.
MBL - best OmniPolar, true 3D sounds speaker. Must be heard to be believed.

P.S. yes, I'm constantly thinking of this stuff! [emoji4]. I try to avoid too much “likeness” because it just creates confusion in a buyer. I go in some stores and see 8 or 9 different brands and they’re all so close in design and sound.
 
nile49 said:
What is their dealer network like Mike? I've really only heard of people being very enamored with them but don't think I've ever seen them in a store.


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~12 dealers across the U.S. I’m the only dealer south of Virginia. MBL North America is local to me too. Yes, yes, yes, I have no clue either why I didn’t pick them up sooner either. Always loved them, as Jim said, provide great sound for the price. I guess I assumed they would be too difficult to setup (they’re definitely not) and too hard to drive (they definitely are not, their omnipolar design skews their efficiency ratings). They’re a 4 ohm speaker and barely dip much below that.

I also look forward to trying their electronics.
 
Mike said:
~12 dealers across the U.S. I’m the only dealer south of Virginia. MBL North America is local to me too. Yes, yes, yes, I have no clue either why I didn’t pick them up sooner either. Always loved them, as Jim said, provide great sound for the price. I guess I assumed they would be too difficult to setup (they’re definitely not) and too hard to drive (they definitely are not, their omnipolar design skews their efficiency ratings). They’re a 4 ohm speaker and barely dip much below that.

I also look forward to trying their electronics.
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When you host the MBL event I bet it will be well attended!
 
kzhtoo said:
Magico, Avantgarde, MBL, Harbeth, Verity. That’s an All-Star lineup, Mike!
A couple of years ago, I made a mistake of introducing my wife to MBL at a show. Since then, she thinks everything else is crap.


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Don’t forget Gryphon. The Pantheon are terrific speakers!

Ken
 
Congratulations!!!

I think many people love the sound of MBL, yet get spooked by the setup and amp options.

How did the setup go? What happens when you get them closer/ farther from the walls? What were some of the things you and your setup crew try, and what worked and what didn't?

And amp-wise, congrats on the sound with Pass! If you can't stop listening to a speaker that's not even broken in, you know it's a winner!

Curious how they would sound with MSB monoblocks, as someone mentioned above, and with Gryphon. Maybe even better than Pass? If you try, please share. There is also Bryston and MBL's own new class D amps that are very good, and won't break the bank too much.
 
Boogieman said:
Congratulations!!!

I think many people love the sound of MBL, yet get spooked by the setup and amp options.

How did the setup go? What happens when you get them closer/ farther from the walls? What were some of the things you and your setup crew try, and what worked and what didn't?

And amp-wise, congrats on the sound with Pass! If you can't stop listening to a speaker that's not even broken in, you know it's a winner!

Curious how they would sound with MSB monoblocks, as someone mentioned above, and with Gryphon. Maybe even better than Pass? If you try, please share. There is also Bryston and MBL's own new class D amps that are very good, and won't break the bank too much.
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Thank you. I think you’re right and I was one of them. If I had known it was this easy, damn, I would have jumped on them sooner. So, I plopped them down where I put every other speaker in this room. I toed the from MBL logo and adjusted with my laser so it was pointing at the listeners ears. Listened. Then the MBL rep called and said “if you toe them out a little, the center image will really tighten.” Huh? I thought. Now the MBL logo is pointed just outside the listeners shoulders. Poof! Center image in clear focus.

They need to be at least 31 inches from the dead center of the top of the speakers to any wall (side or front).

I will be trying them on other amps after break in. And definitely trying the new MBL N15’s.


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Mike said:
Thank you. I think you’re right and I was one of them. If I had known it was this easy, damn, I would have jumped on them sooner. So, I plopped them down where I put every other speaker in this room. I toed the from MBL logo and adjusted with my laser so it was pointing at the listeners ears. Listened. Then the MBL rep called and said “if you toe them out a little, the center image will really tighten.” Huh? I thought. Now the MBL logo is pointed just outside the listeners shoulders. Poof! Center image in clear focus.

They need to be at least 31 inches from the dead center of the top of the speakers to any wall (side or front).

I will be trying them on other amps after break in. And definitely trying the new MBL N15’s.


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Looking forward to hearing about your journey with the speaker break-in and the amp combinations.

And also wondering when you find the right amp combinations that properly grip and command the speakers, how they would sound with the VAC preamp. I think that when properly amplified, and with tubes in the chain, one can get the rich tone and texture as good as anything out there in the high-efficiency world with these speakers.

Great to see entrepreneurial dealers thinking in and out of the box! All the best to you!!!!
 
Mike
I don't see you having any set-up issues in the room you have them set up in. When I had the 111F's in my room I thought they sounded better when they had room to breath on the sides. Therefore I set them up on the longer wall and sat a bit closer than ideal yet I was able to get great sound in that set-up. Your customers will have options.
 
Mike, excellent choice to add to your speaker offerings. I am a big fan of MBL speakers. They are consistent with my general preference for “out of the box” speakers. If you host an MBL listening session, I would be interested in attending, especially if you set up the MBL Xtremes.
 
Mike said:
Thank you. I think you’re right and I was one of them. If I had known it was this easy, damn, I would have jumped on them sooner. So, I plopped them down where I put every other speaker in this room. I toed the from MBL logo and adjusted with my laser so it was pointing at the listeners ears. Listened. Then the MBL rep called and said “if you toe them out a little, the center image will really tighten.” Huh? I thought. Now the MBL logo is pointed just outside the listeners shoulders. Poof! Center image in clear focus.

They need to be at least 31 inches from the dead center of the top of the speakers to any wall (side or front).

I will be trying them on other amps after break in. And definitely trying the new MBL N15’s.


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Mike, wonderful decision to bring in MBL.
It really is a unique brand.
The X-tremes with an all Reference system: the most fantastic audio experience I ever had.
And the N15s you're talking about are great mono blocks. 560W into 4 Ohms. I heard them on the 101E MkII, and it was a terrific match.
 
Have about 100 hours on them now. They’ve improved even more. Played with setup a little. Nothing major. Listening to Kenny Loggins Live gives you goosebumps. I have found it best to close your eyes because these will literally overload the senses. They’re AMAZING!!!

I think I need the 101e mk2’s!

923044da9a84fedbe43bbd2bf801e2e3.jpg



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I was wondering why you didn’t get 101e mk2? That didn’t sound like Mike that we know. [emoji12]
 
Wow..!

You got MBL's now mike , congrats , did you find them any more difficult / easier to dial in than conventional speakers ..?

Edit : Saw your previous post on setup thats great ...



Regards
 
a.wayne said:
Wow..!

You got MBL's now mike , congrats , did you find them any more difficult / easier to dial in than conventional speakers ..?



Regards
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Thanks. About the same. They sound best (so far) back about a foot (closer to the front wall) more than most of the other speakers. The most difficult part is to stop listening and get stuff done.
 
Mike said:
Have about 100 hours on them now. They’ve improved even more. Played with setup a little. Nothing major. Listening to Kenny Loggins Live gives you goosebumps. I have found it best to close your eyes because these will literally overload the senses. They’re AMAZING!!!

I think I need the 101e mk2’s!

923044da9a84fedbe43bbd2bf801e2e3.jpg



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Good music.
 
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