What stereo(s) do you listen to? What do you want?

[habitant]

I’ve had the fires and metals before, now I’m using the Tribe Towers. Totem always offers very good value for money!

 

[freshcutgrass]

I’ve had the fires and metals before, now I’m using the Tribe Towers. Totem always offers very good value for money!

Aren't the Tribe series a move down from the Element series....what prompted you to switch? I can see the Metal being a bit overpowering in a small room.

I am at a bit of an impasse as to what speakers to keep. Besides the Metals I just acquired, I also have Apogee Duetta's, Tannoy Monitor Gold's (12") in MINT Stuart cabinets and for the nearfield experience, Linn Kan II's with the matching stands.

I have the Tannoys and the Kans up for sale but haven't figured out whether I'm keeping the Duettas or the Metals.

 

[scb]

How's the sound quality of Kaiser 10? I'm thinking of getting one also.

I ave the original Kaiser 10 and the Katana. Both are awesome, though I find myself listening to the Katana more

 

[habitant]

Aren't the Tribe series a move down from the Element series....what prompted you to switch? I can see the Metal being a bit overpowering in a small room.

I am at a bit of an impasse as to what speakers to keep. Besides the Metals I just acquired, I also have Apogee Duetta's, Tannoy Monitor Gold's (12") in MINT Stuart cabinets and for the nearfield experience, Linn Kan II's with the matching stands.

I have the Tannoys and the Kans up for sale but haven't figured out whether I'm keeping the Duettas or the Metals.

I’m a bit of a speaker nut and I like to try new or innovate speakers. These tribes sound unbelievable. My favourite in the line up are the Fires, there’s just something magical about them. I had them paired with a direct stream junior and a stellar amplifier from PS Audio, just phenomenal.

The tribes are set up with a Naim Atom and I’m really impressed with the sound, even though it shouldn’t work.

 

[freshcutgrass]

I’m a bit of a speaker nut and I like to try new or innovate speakers. These tribes sound unbelievable. My favourite in the line up are the Fires, there’s just something magical about them. I had them paired with a direct stream junior and a stellar amplifier from PS Audio, just phenomenal.

The tribes are set up with a Naim Atom and I’m really impressed with the sound, even though it shouldn’t work.

As usual, amp synergy is so important. My big Apogee ribbons have an old school Classes DR-3 running them (an excellent match) and the 4 ohm Metals seem to love its massive current and stability (considering it only has 25 watts).

 

[habitant]

Yup, Totems love power. I ran the fires with a Musical Fidelity M6si rated at 400 watts in 4 ohm. It had a ton of get up and go.

Ultimately I think it was just a lot of brute force without a lot of finesse.

I guess, power isn’t everything.

 

[RedLantern]

I always forget about you weirdos in here ... carry on.

 

[Artisan Fan]

BTW congrats on your new Wilson’s. I heard the Alexia 2 at a dealer a few months back on Spectrals and they have a real low end body to them. Are you running the Alexias on ARCs?

I would be satisfied with my system if I didn’t know how much better it could be. For my money, I favor Magicos on Jadis. The Magico M3 with the Jadis JA200 + JP80 have a beautiful midrange.

I like it but I’m not sure I can justify the cost.

Yes, ref5se line stage, ref phono 2, and heavily modded VT-100 with KT120s. A friend has the M3s and they sound great.

 

[A Y]

Siegfried Linkwitz passed away yesterday peacefully in his home after a long fight with prostate cancer. Here's what I wrote on the OPLUG message board (a message board for fans and owners of his speakers):

I had the good fortune to visit Siegfried in his home to listen to the original Orions in the mid 2000s when there was only 1 version of the Orion. He and his lovely wife were warm and welcoming hosts, especially to a stranger who'd just emailed him out of the blue. I was curious about the sound of dynamic dipolar speakers, and was going to be in his neck of the woods, so I sent him a message to see if I could visit him. Those were the days when few enough people followed him that he had an open invitation to visit to hear his creations.

I had no intent of building the speakers, as I thought I had pretty good speakers already (Aerial 10Ts). My exact thoughts were, "I need another large speaker like another hole in the head." But as many of you who have heard his speakers know, less than a minute into the demo, I started thinking about how maybe I could fit another pair of speakers into my home. Then when I heard the organ bass line at the end of Mahler's 2nd symphony stand out clear as day for the first time ever on a recording, the deal was sealed. There are so many good things dynamic dipoles do, but their bass clarity and dynamics still stand out to me as their most distinctive feature.

I've emailed with Siegfried a few times since, and while he was increasingly busy, he was still always very gracious. I think we will all miss him and his spirit. My deepest condolences to his wife, family, and friends. Rest in piece, Siegfried.

 

[borderline]

Would like some speaker advice. I have a smallish room--running VTL 80W mono blocks with VTL preamp, phonograph/CD player, and EPOS 11 speakers on stands. These are the monitors. I used to have some Thiel CS3.5 floor standing speakers, but I sold them last year because I didn't like the sound, I think they were just old and the midrange cones were worn out.

I'm looking at used B&W 801 Series 80 (these are fairly old, early 80's?) and Vandersteen Model 3 uncertain vintage but also likely old.

1) Is it worth buying vintage speakers? I know the B&W uses kevlar for some of the cones so not much chance of wearing out. But other components might be worn.

2) Are these speakers going to be OK with the 80W per channel tube amps?

3) Are these speakers overkill for a small room, or is there an advantage to having high quality sound even if they aren't cranked up to 11?

Thanks for any feedback--I'm going to have a chance to demo these but wanted some feedback ahead of time.

Asking prices are B&W $1250, Vandersteen $750.

 

[Girardian]

I loved both back in the day. In terms of a footprint, I think contemporary speakers are more likely to give big sound in a small footprint, but I think both would sound great with tube gear.

Re: small room, you'll get more benefit from the great ambient sound, but may not find the sweet spot.

 

[Artisan Fan]

I ave the original Kaiser 10 and the Katana. Both are awesome, though I find myself listening to the Katana more

I prefer the Katana as well. Great product.

 

[R.O. Thornhill]

Just added a Rega P8 with Ampheta 2 to my setup (Aurender X100L, Chord Blu transport, Devialet 440 Expert PRO, SF Olympia II, Shunyata Triton v3, Entreq Silver Tellus) and I am sold on vinyl. All my cynicism (“I got into vinyl because of the expense and inconvenience”) has melted away. How have I been missing this for so long?

R-O-T

 

[scb]

I prefer the Katana as well. Great product.

Selling my Hugo 2, though. It's too bright for my tastes. (if interested, PM me)

 

[poorsod]

Just added a Rega P8 with Ampheta 2 to my setup (Aurender X100L, Chord Blu transport, Devialet 440 Expert PRO, SF Olympia II, Shunyata Triton v3, Entreq Silver Tellus) and I am sold on vinyl. All my cynicism (“I got into vinyl because of the expense and inconvenience”) has melted away. How have I been missing this for so long?

R-O-T

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The P8 just came out. I like the look but haven’t seen it here in the US. The dealer said they might be available end of December or early January.