Open Baffle Speakers

veindoc

veindoc

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2013
Messages
665
Location
Northern California outside SF
Recently heard Nola(ugly to my eye) and at CES hope to hear Zellaton(stunning to my eye). Nola's with eyes closed presented a very wide and deep soundstage and according to my buddy were incredible simple to dial in and setup properly. Other than low efficiency, would love to hear any positive or negative views on this type of speaker design.

Nick
 
Nick,

I had Alon Lotus Signatures for 9 years and Nola Micro Grand Reference speakers for almost 2 years. Just an amazing and musical speaker. I really miss the Alon/Nola sound. The Nolas were amazing with my Burmester 911mk3 and just about any tube amp. Those were the times that I'd play music and just enjoy everything. Probably the most satisfying speakers that I have ever heard. Jay on the forum here has my Nolas and loves them. Very easy to set up. The new models have upgraded drivers. They need to be about 3' from the front wall but that's it. Give them some room to breath and they reward in spades. Anti-TADs.
 
veindoc said:
I've heard very easy to setup and live with. How was bass and soundstage width?

Thnx Nick
Click to expand...

Bass was very surprising considering the 4" drivers but they are long-throw which helps. Not the tightest bass but I never felt that I needed more. I briefly tried my F113 subs and while it helped, they took up a lot of room. I am not as picky as some. Give me great treble and mid range and I am happy. Very wide, deep and tall sound stage. Very electrostatic-like quality. I love that. Oh boy, I am talking myself into another pair. :)
 
Joe...which begs the question if you loved them so, why don't you revisit your old flames? Is it the visual aesthetic that you did not like?
 
cmalak said:
Joe...which begs the question if you loved them so, why don't you revisit your old flames? Is it the visual aesthetic that you did not like?
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I love the way they look. I've considered it many times. One set of speakers that I need to get out of my system (and believe they will be destination speakers) are the SF Strads. Those are truly speakers that push all the right buttons. I think spring of 2014 will be the season of my content.
 
joeinid said:
I love the way they look. I've considered it many times. One set of speakers that I need to get out of my system (and believe they will be destination speakers) are the SF Strads. Those are truly speakers that push all the right buttons. I think spring of 2014 will be the season of my content.
Click to expand...

Makes sense.
 
Joe

Considering what you just described as your preferences in a speakers performance, I would suggest that you contact John Rutan at Audio Connection and have him set up a demo of some of the Vandersteens, especially the Treos that JA just raved about. I know you heard the 5A Carbon at a group demo and weren't impressed, but I don't think that was anymore of an appropriate demo than a Show setup in an empty motel room. If John thinks you are serious and you tell him what you are looking for he will help you get there. The Treo's are my next upgrade in the second quarter of next year. I already have a pair of the Vandersteen subs so an upgrade of the main speaker is all I need.
 
Two speakers that gave me goose bumps were the Alon Circe (loved them) and SF Strads (still love them).

Jack,

When I get closer to a purchase, I will seek out another demo of the Vandersteens. I know several friends who love the Vandersteens.


Jack said:
Joe

Considering what you just described as your preferences in a speakers performance, I would suggest that you contact John Rutan at Audio Connection and have him set up a demo of some of the Vandersteens, especially the Treos that JA just raved about. I know you heard the 5A Carbon at a group demo and weren't impressed, but I don't think that was anymore of an appropriate demo than a Show setup in an empty motel room. If John thinks you are serious and you tell him what you are looking for he will help you get there. The Treo's are my next upgrade in the second quarter of next year. I already have a pair of the Vandersteen subs so an upgrade of the main speaker is all I need.
Click to expand...
 
Joe

I have been through a lot of speakers in my time, though not in the price range on this forum, and the only ones that gave me goose bumps were all 1st order crossover designs. The Snell Type AII's that my son has then the Vandersteens and the Reynauds. Before you venture off into the world any further of "reviewers" favorites I would only suggest that you contact John and Bob Neill and hear what the Vandersteen's and Reynaud's have to offer in a better than public demonstration setting. Both brands are more about the "soul of the music" than what sparks a reviewer's interest, though a Vandersteen speaker has been in the Stereophile Class B ratings for over 20 years. I have followed the reviewer favorite for years and always been disappointed so now I just follow my ears. I also understand that other peoples favorites may not be mine.
 
I heard the Vandersteen Treo when they first came out and thought they sounded great. I really like my 2CeSig; I just wish they weren't so plain looking.
 
Matt

They may be plain, but they are what they are. Over 35 years of constant innovation and upgrade. I have had mine for six years and the Treo or the Reynaud Offrande Signatures are the only upgrade I see in my future. With the pair of Vandersteen subs there is no part of the frequency range I am missing.
 
Hi folks. I've listened to the Nola's but just hear sound - they simply don't affect me. That's not to say somebody else won't love them though. I opted for Zellaton Emotion's which are semi open baffle but will consider Grand's if I move into a bigger room. This is the first speaker I've had in 25 years (after my Goldmund Prologues) that make music. Does anybody remember those Goldmund speakers? They actually used the Zellaton driver but not in an open baffle. I listened to nearly 15 speakers before going for the Zellaton's. The 20 year old Symphonic Line speakers also used Zellaton drivers but good luck finding those speakers.
 
I'll chime in here as the current owner of Joe's former Nola Micro Grand Reference speakers. I love them! Very natural, easy to drive, beautiful (to me), with a great soundstage. They are the type of speaker that acts as a window to the recording venue as opposed to transporting the artists into your room if that makes sense. They sound phenomenal with live music and I'm always surprised at their ability to fill my 22' x 32' room with sound from a 30 watts of triode tube power. One other benefit is they have a large sweetspot so my wife hears good music next to me or when we're moving around the house. I'm considering a new speaker purchase bc I'm nervous about the exposed drivers / stand mount nature with a baby due in January, but I keep putting off as I don't want to part with them! Two years I've had them and haven't heard anything that makes me want to move on....
 
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