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Outside of USA(in majority of countries definitely not all) the choice between KEF Q series SVS Ultra Evolution series the choice becomes extremely easy. Because SVS Ultra Evolution is extremely overpriced here. Like I could get KEF R11 Meta and be left with another $1.5k for a really good SUB for the same price of SVS Ultra Evolution Titan. And the Pinacle towers are even more expensive at $11.25k Yep. SVS is insanely expensive. Wish that changed. Because there are other internet direct brands which actually are much smaller in comparison or even be it on par in scale like Emotiva they all offer their products at a reasonable price even with Shipping. Only SVS is odd that way.
Great job at the end of the video about keeping this "hobby" in perspective. I have had some pretty in depth talks with other, older, audio enthusiasts. Discussions about how for some people this quest for better sound or the next best thing is truly a struggle & self consuming. There are deeper psychological issues going on imo..but in general it's just not healthy. I think it's important to remind the masses every once in awhile how unimportant all of this is in the grand scheme of life. Most people don't need this reminder but I know there are some that struggle & probably aren't even aware of it. Yet even the people that are aware, or are more in tune with themselves, sometimes need a reminder to pump the brakes...& to realize the beauty & good things we already have. Anyway, I just wanted to say I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the subject & how you did it. You & Kristi are great 👍
But I assume most people listen to music on multiple systems, either friends or their own, hard to ignore hearing the same music and realizing you just heard something for the first time
@@itshadoukenpower of unintentional and indirect marketing or word of mouth with friends and family who knows how to pull your FOMO strings or convince you like a used car salesman because you share the same interests! It's what I do best as a friend with disposable income...goading each other to spend more when hanging out 😂
Which means don’t watch this channel anymore. lol. But you are correct. Anything that even seems tempting to me, I don’t watch. And I never listen to anything in stores ever. It all sucks compared to what I have. Right…..
It’s really quite simple-you need to accept that there will always be something better out there. However, it’s just as important to recognize when you’ve got something good and appreciate what you have. If your system sounds great to you now, you’ve probably reached the point of diminishing returns. Enjoy it and stop spending more money chasing perfection.
FOMO. There is always going to be something else. There is always another speaker. Another amplifier. Another sale. Finding joy in what you have is the best (and most difficult) part of this hobby. I'm always amazed, that for such a small hobby, there are so many different options to consider. But if it's good, it's good. It doesn't matter if there is another speaker, amp or sale. We can wax poetic and philosophize all we want about this hobby, but the most fun I've had listening to music in the past year is having a dance party with friends at an Airbnb in phoenix, listening to music through the built-in speakers on an iPhone.
If you're constantly buying gear instead of looking for new recordings/artists then that says it all. Lots of people have a "hobby" like that, for example guys that constantly buy golf clubs or guns rather than practice with what they have. For them it's all about the gear and the excitement of buying new stuff. I'm happy to keep what I have for a long time unless I'm truly disappointed with how it performs and need to upgrade because I made a bad purchase.
True, cars too, but it’s a lot less doable w sound systems. A lot of setup and takedowns, room matching, installs, etc. golf clubs are easy to abandon by comparison
That’s me. I like constantly rotating new stuff, boats, cars, audio, houses, sometimes wives. There are a few occasions where something really gets my attention and I’ll keep it. Usually, lower priced items. Example, musical fidelity A1, q acoustics 3030i’s, Lintons, 2023 Porsche 911, 2011 ford f150, Boston whaler Montauk 190. Wife #4.
Agree with you on the car analogy. Completely appreciate the entertainment I get from car channels/reviewers without wanting a different vehicle. Your channel brings the same joy with audio though I am happy with my present system.
HAHA, when I saw the title I KNEW my comment would be featured 🤣 Thanks for discussing my thoughts on the R/Q-Meta. I agree with the statement that if you wait, there will always be something better as everything is evolving while simultaneously becoming cheaper. I just think that a two or three year window is a short timeframe (though three times longer than let's say an iPhone where the issue is far worse), and that the value of the existing R-line today has no relevance anymore. From my point of view, they invalidated the R-line now because the value per dollar is many, MANY times higher that even if your budget allows it, it would be a bad decision to do so because you're not getting all your money's worth out of the cost. In this case, as you said, YES, the R-line does the same to the Reference line. Again, materials, finish and component quality will certainly improve and get better and better, and without accounting anything but the improvement of sound, it's a no-brainer that anyone would pick the Reference or even Blades out of the whole range. But, and with that I answer the question Kristi poses, I now find that the 20% improvement *isn't* worth the money. You're spending 300%-400% more money for 10%, maybe 15% sound difference and longer-lasting components. My answer after the release of the new Q-line is: NO 🙂 With the older generation of Q/R and R/Reference, there was more reason to go for one or another. Now, not so much. So, yes, I feel like I should have waited. Yes, perhaps the Q-line hadn't turned out to be this good, and then yes I would have been vindicated. Not only did it turn out to be great, but it's practically identical now (based on Eric's measurements as well), so to me it's not that it happened to be 'quite closer', it is basically a replacement at the current price differences, and a no-brainer for anyone that does his research. I even find the Shadow Flare of the Q-meta nicer looking (visually) than the current and old R-line. I should go and check them out at the dealer to make any claims about the build quality, but I can't imagine that now, they would bother having two conveyor belts to make a difference between the wood and build quality of the cabinet (from the looks of the images it looks identical, just a different varnish color or something). But, am I dissatisfied with the R-speakers? No. I think they sound great. Yes, I have been enjoying them for two years now. Yes, you'll probably take them out of a blind test purely based on sound. Do I think I should have waited? HELL YES. With €5K I could have expanded the HT-system beyond 5.1 by adding some atmos speakers, spend money on a better blu-ray player... idk, ANYTHING else I can think of besides slightly better cabinet design and crossover components (which dealers can easily replace for better results). TL;DR: After the discussion I'm even more convinced: Don't spend money on the R- or Reference line. Just go with Q and save yourself tons of money. If you're a furniture fanatic and can't help it, then spend 300% (R-line) or almost 1000% (Reference) just for nicer looking towers. At the increasingly faster speed KEF is trickling down technology, it's a waste of money to go for the more premium line.
I side by side tested the Kef r3 meta and mofi sp10 at home and yeah the Kef didn’t do anything wrong but it was the sp10 that made me grin so kept it. The most noticeable difference between the two I found was the r3 meta lacked depth and detail at low volume while the sp10 was more consistent throughout, and made drums sound way more real.
Edit. I forgot to mention, I think fomo is your imagination running a bit wild. Andrew is right, go out there and listen or try to do a side by side comparison. If you already have something and want to get rid of it and spend thousands more from watching a 10 or 20 minute review, that can’t be right.
Am just going to touch on 2 things , I remember as a kid every stereo system came with an EQ and even in cars , that so you tone it to what ever you like and that , I guess back in the day they cared less about what the singer or producer wanted you to hear on a recording and they were more focused on giving you every option so you and up loving what they offer . FOMO in this case is hard to control because am going to be honest and straight forward about something a lot of ppl miss a and or don't want to admit , the getting feels waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the having , and that's exacting part that make us think to keep buying and upgrading.
Some feedback for the individuals question "hindsight is always 20/20". The R6 Meta center and R series in general measure "near" flawless at reference volumes with inaudible distortion/compression (see ASR review). There is a legitimate reason for buy R series over the Q series in a larger room or someone who likes to push the volume at or near reference volumes. The Reference Meta takes it a step further with what I would call flawless distortion/compression numbers with legitimate in-room 20hz bass. The individual may not have needed a setup as capable as the R series, which is a valid concern for some. IMO the R Meta or Reference Meta are worth their price tag.
Love you guys channel. Thank yo for the great down to earth reviews. As far as $10k limit on speakers. I found a pair of Klipschorns gen 6 only 7 months old. $9,900. Had to replace my 8060’s for that. Have them hooked to an onkyo rz50 and emotive xpa. LOVE IT!
Hi Guys. The unplugged series and 'general' topic discussions like room correction really help to put the pursuit of musical happiness back into focus. FOMO is inevitable when one listens to music to evaluate gear as opposed to enjoying gear to enjoy music! Many of us so love to 'tinker' that we forget to enjoy; your mantra that 'only you have to enjoy your system' should be engraved on the front of all hi-fi gear. Keep up the great work and thank you from sunny London.
I wanted to thank you two for helping me find the right speakers for me. Awhile back I watched your video for the Concept 50s and decided to give them a try. My setup Marantz AV10, iFi streamer, LAIV DAC and Parasound A21+ 2 channel and 2 SVS PB3000s By far I mainly listen to 2 channel but I also use this system for surround sound. To power those speakers I have an Emotive XPA-5 Gen 3. I've had a few different speakers in this 18x36x10 room (this room also opens up into the Kitchen) so very large room! My Daliquish DQ-20i (love those speakers) were the speakers the Concept 50s replaced. The Concept 50s are such a a pleasure to listen to. Amazing how big these somewhat small speakers sound, Very musical, detailed etc. In one of your videos you were talking about favorite speakers and Kristi said that after listening to a lot speakers she still preferred the Concept 50 sound. I concur! Thanks Kristi! Concept 50s.jpeg Again thank you two for helping to make my music setup so great! Robert
I listened to the Titans (first time) and the R11s in person yesterday, the midrange weight in the Metas is definitely my jam. Wish I could hear Concept 50 at a dealer around here.
@@jjnewbold you may have to take advantage of online dealer return policy. Nearest audio dealers to me are over 3 hours away. Thus far in my journey I’ve been lucky with my gear choices and only returned 1 amp a few years back.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I preferred the Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII G2 bass over the Titan's. But they are double the cost. Lol. But they sounded more coherent, Titans sounded more like speaker + a sub.
Loved the shout out to arguably the greatest car channel on RUclips, Throttle House. They have the ability to make cars I'm not even interested in enjoyable to learn about. Anyway, love the channel, and you are my go-to for research/entertainment for all thing audio.
Good morning A&K. Thanks for answering my question right off the bat. Happy to hear I'm a fav. The feeling is mutual. I definitely agree the up to $5K speaker market today offers tremendous bang for the buck and the diminishing returns really starts to kick in beyond that. Great speaker discussion episode. I'm actually very happy with my Concept 50's but that old affliction of upgraditis is always hanging in the background 🤪. Looking forward to Sunday's show. Enjoy your weekend you two.
woohoo, always a fun day when your question gets picked! I used to have the svs ultra (older) lineup and the one area I wanted more from the towers was in the highs. they did everything else perfectly. i "upgraded" to some nautilus 803 towers with the matching nautilus htm2 center and i finally have the sonic signature i have been craving. and that's partly where my question came from, svs was neutral and great but i always wanted some more highs and refinement at the top end; b&w has more top end and since most of my listening is below reference volume, it actually sounds more balanced to me.
At lower volumes, a speaker with more treble energy will be potentially easier to appreciate than one with roll-off, at least in my experience. So glad you found a speaker set that works for you! Appreciate the question, too!
Good video Mr & Mrs Robinson. I really enjoy this back-n-forth dialogue between you two. I pick up tidbits that help me with buying decisions, and it’s fun. I’ve cleaned up my RUclips subscriptions to audio channels. Way too many. Your’s is one of the few I remained subscribed. A great example of this is your review and follow-up Unplugged discussion of the Wharfedale Super Denton. The Unplugged dialogue helped me feel like I got a better overall picture of the speaker.!Thanks for what you as couple contribute to the audio community. 🎵😎🎶👍🏼
hello! have you guys ever spoken about 2nd hand speakers? What do you think about this subject? f.e. Used B&W 804 Nautilus vs 703 S3? what would you chose?
I just ordered a set of Q-Acoustic Concept 50 largely based on your reviews. Got a nice deal on an open box and look forward to getting them In the system. I agree speakers in the $2k -$5k range are the sweet spot. I could make this argument for amps as well.
For someone who wants to get into speaker building and has a background in woodworking, what are some key aspects in a speaker that I should pay attention too, my first build is planned out woth driver selection, amp and power supply research done. It'll be a 3-way sealed studio monitor style speaker, but I do have intentions on building some tower speakers, and I want to do things the right way ❤
Buy and read: Loudspeaker Design Cookbook - by Vance Dickason Bullock on Boxes is also great - more technical, less handholding Great drivers, good crossovers, solid boxes with extra bracing, damped panel pads, adequate speaker stuffing (not empty, not tightly stuffed, just right) and sealed box - things in about that order of importance… recessed drivers unless you surround all drivers with felt at the driver frame thickness (I think I prefer the felt) Depending on your driver selections - some of the priorities might change
I have to agree with Andrew. I paid $1700 for the Onkyo RZ-50 a couple of years ago and now I’m seeing it For $700 new. But in no way do I regret my purchase. For the past two years my movie room has sounded AMAZING. Saving that money but missing out on two years of phenomenal movie watching wouldn’t have been worth it.
Auditioning speakers is a fraught affair in that what sounds good in a Dealer or Trade Fair demo can sound poor in one's own listening environment. I found this out when in a home demo the Manufacturer's top of the line speaker sounded poor yet the speaker below it sounded superb. Even the dealer running the demo was surprised. 25 years later I'm still using those speakers.
Howdy Andrew & Kristi. Hope you both are well! Finally getting around to catching up on all the things. Size was mentioned in this unplugged episode and it got me thinking. You know what would be great? A cut scene of Andrew standing next to the speakers you guys review so we can get a rough sense of scale. Like, the furniture helps, but given the size of your room, the size of the TV on that wall, etc, I feel like it’s harder to gauge the real size presence of the speakers without a real human in the mix. Just a quick thought. Anyway, another great episode. Looking forward to the next one.
When I was a teen, me and my best friend every week would do our rounds of the stereo Hifi stores and awe, listen where we could. The sales guys all knew us, knew we didn’t have any money, and would celebrate with us when we’d be able to buy our $200 bookshelves etc. That part of the hobby is missing, for one most of those stores have closed as the hobby shrunk, the ones that remain are all appointment only. It’s a shame, another way we are losing the next generation.
Honestly you guys have been the replacement for that. I’m older and would still love to go listen to all this new gear but I’m not making appointments and wasting peoples time.
I'm part of that wider group who enjoys these reviews and videos, but I'm not buying anything new anytime soon. My confusion is in regard to some of the speakers that you really enjoyed. There are towers like the SVS Titan. Standmounts like the Leak 250, Wharfdale Denton, KLH Model 5. Then you have the La Scalas, the Cornwalls, and the Forte IV. Money notwithstanding, how you decide? Is it room size? Not saying the Leak 250 is in the same class as La Scala, just wondering how you decide which speaker size to go after. They all seem like outstanding speakers based on your reviews.
Hey, I love you and Kristi. I don't consider myself an audiophile, but I do love a great sound. I just bought a Denon X4800H AVR (killer deal) to power my JBL L7 towers (from the 90s) (my Denon 3802 died on me). The JBLs are 6 ohms with a 91db sensitivity. These speakers are bi-wired with a 12-inch woofer. I love the overall sound of this speaker but on some music, it can be a bit bright. Since adding the Denon x4800H, I no longer like my Klipsch Center Channel. I would like to know; what speaker would the JBL L7 towers compare with today and what your thoughts on them are? Thanks so much, Andrew and Kristi. (Pop, Jazz, African Beats, Old R&B, Orchestra).
My $10,000 budget system would be a pair of Krix Neuphonix towers with matching Epicentrix centre, Dynamix surrounds, IC-52 ceiling speakers and as many Volcanix subs as the budget would allow. I'm assuming your $10k budget is US which means I get about $20k Australian to play with. 🙃 If you've never heard of Krix before, they are an Australian brand. They make a lot of the speakers in many cinemas across the world but also high end home theatre and Hifi speakers. Definitely look them up - I think there is one distributor in the US.
Hi Andrew and Kristi, I an very intrigued by your comments about the SVS Titans. Would you take a pair of the Titans over a pair of La Scala’s with subs. How would you compare the sound of the two. The reason I ask is I will be building a new house and my music room is going to be smaller. Right now I have a 16x 20x8 height with a 12x20 room opening to the side and rear of my listening space. The new space will be 16x24 10’ high ceilings. Right now I have 1980’s La Scala’s with Crites crossovers, McIntosh c50 pre c352 amp, Sony server, Oppo UDP 203 cd WiiM pro streamer, Denefrips Ares12 DAC, two turntables, VPI Prime with 3D arm and a Denon turntable on custom Plinth and a 2 nd VPI 3D arm on the Denon. I also have a tube amp and fantastic Class D mono amps I built that I actually enjoy listening to the most. I am ready to sell the McIntosh stuff, the turntables, the DAC, and simplify my set up with an Advanced Paris 12 integrated, an Eversolo DMP, six master and a techniques SL 1200 turntable I would still keep my multiple cartridges just for fun and keep the Oppo. The big question is get rid of these huge La Scala‘s and find something smaller footprint that I won’t need subs . What do you think, I really love the open sound of the old La Scala’s . I just don’t know if the SVS could duplicate that largeness I get with the La Scala’s. I think I can get just as good sound out of a 45lb. integrated, I think 105lbs. For an amp is a little ridiculous. What do you think? Advanced Paris because I can’t live with out meters!😊
FOMO combined with Option Paralysis is where I find myself right now. I've had my B&W DM601S3 from new 22 years ago. To say they have served me well is an understatement. I made the switch from 5.1 back to 2.1 last month with a Wiim Ultra connected to an Emotiva Bas 2X and it has transformed the sound. Up until this switch I had been agonising over speaker upgrades but when I demo'd the Wiim/Emotiva combo I realised an electronics upgrade was needed before considering speakers. Having done that and loving the results I am again back to thinking "how much better could this be but what on earth do I choose". Do I splash on newer, broadly equivalent models? Do I hunt down a 2nd hand high end bargain? Is it really worth pushing the boat out a little further? I guess the first step is going to be listening to more of whats on the market before I do anything. The most important thing is that right now I am enjoying and listening more than I have done in a loooong time.
@drichcymru I have the same speakers, I’ve always loved the sound out of them and when feed with some power, they are wonderful! I have an older Rotel RSX-1056 powering them with a WiiM Plus and a Paradigm sub, I’m considering upgrading my amp to a separate system that can double for a home theatre system. I’m curious on buying Marantz Cinema 70 to use as a processor and eventually replacing the Rotel with an Emotiva amp. I’m totally with you on TOMORROW and option paralysis!
Hi Andrew and Kristi, could you please tell me if the KEF R11/R7 Meta with a sub (KC92 or SVS SB-17 Ultra) sound as good as the SVS Titans on its own? The room dimensions are 15W x 17L x10H (in feet). Thank you!
Great comments K and A as always. Love Throttle House too! They are great too. Those two and your are my favs for all the reasons Andrew stated at the end. See ya Sunday!
I got my Polk R100s, SVS subwoofer, NAD 2600 amp, Emotiva DAC preamp, WIIM pro streamer and I'm set. No desire to buy anything new for a long time. I love watching the channel just to see what's new and for entertainment.
As far as listening, audio/trade shows are awesome, if you have one close by. That's how I settled on my Yamaha Ns-2000a. Listened to them two years in a row and absolutely fell in love the first year. The second year, I listened to them again and decided my feelings were similar. It ticked the boxes and the type of sound I liked. Spoke to the dealer and concluded a good deal. Been happy for 6 months now and not looking to change for a long while. Other pieces have been upgraded but you have to be happy with what you have.
Great talk as usual. My frustration with brands right now is it's very hard to demo gear. I have 2 hifi stores within 70 miles of me, probably further. They carry just a handful of brands, and rightfully so. I wish the brands with deeper pockets would setup listening spaces strategicly spaced out around the country, particularly in areas without a wealth of hifi stores. We're left with a few options; but/return from online retailers (which hurts them with credit card processing fees and used gear), or buying blindly based on reviews such as yours. I have made two purchases directly from your reviews (rp8000 II & SU-G700) and I am happy with those purchases, but I will always wonder what I missed.
Move to Seattle, we got tons of places that will demo and they’ll even order you speakers they don’t have and set them up and if you don’t want them no worries. So cool.
Brand level stores placed around the country is not a smart idea. The space is too costly and in the end you'd still complain that you couldn't hear other brands in the same space! Dealers are your best bet.
@@bearclaw5115 I work for a company that does that exact thing. It just requires an intelligent plan. We don't have stores everywhere, but they are strategicly placed in big cities that are driving distance for many people
This is an informative and fun review, with a little philosophy sprinkled in for good measure. One of your best Unpluggeds to date. Thanks Andrew and Kristi!
Buy what you want and get for as cheap as you can. I bought B&W 703 S3 off the floor and an NAD M66 at a “tent sale” - both at a ridiculous discount. I paired those with my 18 year old MF A5 Integrated Amp. Also, buy a good, simple Amp that will last for years.
Your thoughts at the end really resonated with me. My primary speakers in my “audiophile” setup are some 20 year old Paradigm Studio 40’s. I keep thinking I should replace them, but they still give me the fizz whenever I have the opportunity to sit and listen and focus on the music. Are they perfect? Nope. Is there something better? Almost certainly. Is a new speaker likely to change my experience? I’m not so sure it would in a definitive way. My current 40’s do everything well enough that newer stuff seems different, but not necessarily better. A good example is the Paradigm towers I bought for my home theater. I expected to like them better than my older Studios but I don’t. They’re more neutral and accurate, but don’t seem to have the “special sauce” that makes me keep going back to the 40’s. Keep up the great work!
As a long time "Sub" I just wanted to say what a great "Unplugged" episode, I like how you tied in changes for 2025 on episode 25. I'm personally hoping you two will do the occasional episode of the "Audio Bon Vivants" out on the town like you used to! (Maybe a couple times a year?) My heart "Hertz" when I think about it, should you revisit it, my heart would have that "EQ smile" again! I'm certain the "dynamics would appeal to many" now that the channel has grown. While I understand Kristi might want a little "separation" from the camera, the "Imaging" you two create has me all "toed in". Hope your weekend "goes to 11".
Love your video today! I agree about this being a hobby and knowing that just because there is better candy available doesn’t mean I have to have it. I listen to just be informed, I like being able to talk hifi with folks in my travels. My Grampa has a pair Chapman mk 7 from the 80s, they are so awesome, I grew up always dreaming of having a system like his. When I realized I’d need $50k just to buy comparable speakers I was little set back. After listening to your videos I settled on a Sony az5000 es powering a pair of paradigm premier 800f. And a rel mk2 sub woofer, it may not be what I thought I wanted growing up but I am just happy to have a system the brings a smile to my face every time I crank it up. Thanks for you sound advice and hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! Can’t wait for you next video ❤
Loved listening to this week's unplugged! Thanks Andrew & Kristi! Sorry to go on and on about this, but I'd had this question... regarding what you said in Sunday's video at 5:25 about the SVS Titans approaching near subwoofer-like performance. Could you elaborate on that please? What I am trying to understand is more in terms of how different a sub would tackle the same scenario, for example in this case the kick drum? If both the Titans and a sub theoretically handle the same freq, what would the sub do differently that warrants that specific comment? You had replied about noting the question for Friday's unplugged but it didn't come up so was wondering if you'd planned to discuss this on a different video (or if I was being silly)
Sorry for not including your question, hopefully my answer here will give you the info you need. The Titan has a claimed response that goes down to 27Hz +/- 3dB. Based on all my in-room data and measurements I can confirm that SVS's figure is accurate and maybe, with room or boundary compensation, it may be a little lower than that depending on volume. All that said, 27Hz is not full, full-range or subwoofer-like range. While not all subs can even play to 20Hz, in my opinion, a true subwoofer, or a quality one, should. In this respect the Titan nears this ideal, however, if you want a true 20Hz response in-room you likely would still need to use a sub. Adding a sub, especially one placed correctly in your room, can add that last ounce of impact and presence to most bass notes below 100-200Hz. Even though the Titans are pretty full-range, adding the SB17 to the mix definitely elevates their presence, scale and dynamic envelope. Adding the SB17 has proven to be as large of an upgrade as a costlier amplifier in my humble opinion. I'm going to go into more detail in our upcoming SB17 review. Hope this helps!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks so very much for clarifying Andrew! If I read you right, it is not as much about the volume/dB at specific frequencies that a speaker can provide - from what you are saying, a sub is going to be essential with pretty much any speaker provided the listening material requires the ability to play all the way down to 20 Hz!
The volume with which a loudspeaker can "play low" is going to vary. The Titan can hit the mid 20Hz frequencies in-room at volumes up to and maybe exceeding 90-100dB. Conversely the R11 Meta cannot do that despite technically hitting 30Hz in-room at a volume of say 75 to 80dB. With a good sub you can remove that doubt or discrepancy (among other things).
I would likely try out the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers at the under $10grand price or the new Arendal 1528 towers. Enjoying the questions and the banter as always.
@@KristiWright Saw a review Jay did and they look really interesting. And they are absolutely beautiful. Seem to have true full range as well. So no need for subs.
While there are speakers that do not need subwoofers, such speakers should come with a caveat, and that is "provided where you place your speakers isn't in a null". I say this, because unlike a speaker and separate subwoofer, you cannot separate the Arendal's low-end from its mids and highs. If your room is like ours, where, depending on placement, there could be a dip at 40Hz, no amount of "no sub required" accolades are going to overcome acoustic realities. I'm not saying this to pick on you, but I suspect as more units make it into the wild, brace for some of the excitement to change as more and more people complain that the bass is just okay compared to what maybe near field or quasi-anechoic show, and that's not the speaker's fault, it's just the nature of loudspeaker placement --something I wish more people would mention to put certain performance parameters into better perspective.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I have two subs at present in my listening space. So I definitely heed your wisdom. And thanks for the thoughtful response Andrew.
GREAT EPISODE, Kristi and Andrew! I would go for 4 SVS Titans and a more capable Yamaha Aventage receiver for a $10k budget with enough left over for a divorce.
They do look incredible. Two problems for me though. My theater has 13 speakers, I can't afford to upgrade all of them to that line. Secondly the efficiency of the line varies considerably between the different speakers (from 90db to 85db). That's a problem in a cinema because some of the speakers will get way louder than others at times. Wish they did better there. But the line does make a lot of sense in a 2 channel system but it's supposed to go into theaters as well (look at that center!).
I think your listening tastes are very similar to mine. Neutral sounds boring to me. I like the little bump on the mid-high range. Bass is nice but that can always be addressed with a sub. Based on your most current reviews, I think a good compromise between the $4k SVS Titans and the Q11 which might be a little boring sounding for me might be the SVS Towers. My room is not that big at 20'1x14' and opens up to another 20' x 14' room in an L shape. SVS towers + maybe an SB17 might be the sweet spot.
The SB17 plus a smaller speaker is proving very versatile. You need the room for an SB17 and the ability to position it properly. If you can manage that, you could totally get away with a slightly smaller speaker, even in a larger room.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I actually wish I could jump on the clearance deal for the SB16 they have right now but SVS won't ship directly to Hawaii so I have to get it through Best Buy if I want it and they aren't passing on the same deal.
Am I the only elder millennial who uses my dad's hand me down 80s B&W DM330 loudspeakers for my home theater/audio setup? Still looks good with my walnut themed decor in the living space and sounds damn good when cranked up IMO considering it was stored properly for 20 years in my uncle's attic and holds sentimental value for me. Plus I'm a cheap af audio enthusiast and rather not spend $2k+ when these work perfectly fine. 😅
Andrew I agree with the trickle down analysis. I'm lucky to have a Paradigm dealer a mile from my house. I went there with the intention of upgrading my Klipsch RF-3 II's I had for 20+ years (served me well) and purchasing the Premier 700F or 800F. While there I noticed the Monitor SE 6000F and 3000F. I decided to compare the Monitor SE 6000F against the Premier lineup. I spent three full days listening and comparing each of them. To me the soundstage was so close between these models that it changed my mind and I went with the SE 6000F and saved a lot of money. Couldn't be happier, the SE 6000F is an incredible bang for your buck speaker. While there though I had to listen to the Founder 100F before leaving. Talk about an OMG experience, that speaker is incredible though out of my price range unless I violated the WAF. They didn't have any Persona towers on hand but it made me wonder if I would have the same experience between the Founder and Persona lines....
There are differences between the Q and R series. For example,the Q series has broader radiation, the R has better definition. I haven’t heard the Q yet, but given the radiation differences I may prefer the Qs, but who knows until I hear them for myself. As always YMMV. That’s the fun of this hobby!
That last response on stopping the FOMO spoke to me. I am in the middle of renovating our home theater and the upgrade list keeps growing to a point that it stresses me out. All my equipment isn't all that old but yet here I am thinking about upgrading instead of having fun with it and getting the most out of it. Andrew if you read this, I enjoy most of your videos, except when you say that TVs will put the last nail in the coffin when it comes to projectors. Other than that you are okay 😉
My two cents regarding FOMO is that, once you hear a decent stereo system, there is nothing truly transcendental left to experience. Sonic differences in systems are usually minute, but then, it's more a question of look, build quality and convenience.
I have the (financially) disadvantage of also being into electric guitars. It’s amazing how much the look of something can add or detract from the actual sound. 😂
Fear of missing out is an illusion. I remember when I upgraded my speakers and my AVR, I thought it was such an improvement that I figured that the $8,000 Focal 1028BE would have to be better along with the 75lb $5,000 Yamaha TX-RZ1 than my gear which was cheaper. Lucky me, I find a store as I'm driving to another city and I decided to stop and check their inventory. I walk in and there's the 1028 with the Beryllium tweeter sitting with a Yamaha TX-RZ1. I run to my car and get Michael Buble's CD with the bombastic "I feel good" and "Quando Quando Quando" duet. I play it and I'm thinking to myself "Is it really better?". It sounds fantastic but so does my system, which one is more fantastic? Do I really want to spend $13,000 and break my back to just get equally good sound? Moral of the story, my gear was equally good and just an amazing pairing. I could spend $13,000 then ($20,000 today) and I would have seen marginal, if any improvements.
I absolutely love these sessions. Nice to hear some thoughts about hifi in general and in a few products in particular. One thing that's important for me is that I need to be able to clearly hear the attack. Whether it's banging on a cymbal or the sound of a pick on the strings of a guitar. Speakers that can't really pull that off well sound sort of dead to me.
Hey Kristi and Andrew hope you are both well. I love the speakers you are going over ,but the SVS ,Klipsch subs to me don't seem to qualify for a subwoofer for these especially the R11 . Aren't there some better subs you could bring in . I've really loved the speakers you both bring us but I'm thinking what i may be trying to say is aren't there more subs you can bring in as the SVS ,KLIPSCH don't do it for me . Thats just me though. Thanks for all the hard work you guys do i really appreciate it .
I’m demoing Q11 Metas and R3 Metas right next to each other in my space as we speak. Both with plenty of subwoofer supplementation. The R3 Meta hands is the better speaker. Great so now I want to compare the R3 Metas to the R11s. I also bought a pair of Q950s on clearance for $1000 for the pair. I like those better than the Q11s in my other room there in
I’ve recently auditioned for our new house several of the speakers you’ve discussed, including KEF, Martin Logan, B&W, and others and I find that none of them sound anything like real music. Lots of thickness, bloat, and impact, but no air, delicacy, depth, emotion, or complexity. They could never reproduce a piano the least bit convincingly. I sampled a high-end KEF home theater and it sounded troublingly artificial and closed in. I’m 63 and I’ve heard many and still own a few now vintage speakers that are much more engaging. I’ve realized I don’t hear in reviews any reference to “realness”, and I wonder if the chase for linearity has displaced interest in speakers that sound like real instruments and voices. Maybe that’s what Kristie found in the Titans? Can you suggest speakers or lines that seem to reproduce something close to real, live music?
Realism is PSB's founder's desire to improve his designs. You might try to audition PSB. I've never heard them. I'm still rocking a Kabuki speaker from the late 70's
Are inregrateds/receivers with preouts designed to be paired with their matching brands amplifier to produce the best sound? IE: Marrantz Stereo 70S paired with the Marrantz MM7205 amplifier. Or can pairing the Stereo 70s with the Emotiva Basx A2 produce equal or better sound? The question is based on using 8 ohm nominal speakers.
Thankj you for the video!! I loved these unplugged videos!! If I mostly play games but do want to listen to music and watch movies, would something like the sony theatre quad / the new sonos arc ultra be better or just a pair of bookshelf speakers such as the KEF R3 meta/LSXII? does that surround sound/spatial audio be better?
Andrew and Kristi, (and community) I’ve really enjoyed the channel. Started watching a month ago and have watched A LOT of videos since then. I have a circa 2005 system in my office/music room.(11x14) Yamaha HTR-5890 120w into 8ohm. Paired with Energy Connoisseur C7s. With a Velodyne 10” sub. Have an Audio Technica 120LP turntable with an upgraded cartridge. The Yamaha was $600 and the Energy’s were $1200 a pair back in the day. Like the system, use it only for music now. I have it placed on the side wall so my listening distance is about 6 feet. Speakers are 5 foot apart. Wondering if smaller bookshelf would be better for this smaller room. Listened to some BW 603 S3 in shop recently and was really impressed. Long way to get to this question, how does 20 year old gear hold up with similarly priced new gear? Is there a big difference? FYI, if I had nothing today, I would be leaning toward a Marantz 60N and BW603 S3 or maybe 706S3’s. Thanks, Patrick Wilson
First of all: 10K budget, would have to be the B&W 702 Signatures. I’m still an absolute sucker for that sound. Demoed a few different speakers yesterday at a local shop, those signatures, ML XT100, KEF R11 Metas, and have to confess I’m very disappointed with KEF (although I’ve never been a fan of their sound). ML was great, but those Signatures were magical to me. Absolute dream pair of speakers. Thank you for answering my question, it was super helpful and very educational, as is y’all’s entire channel. Great conversation especially when it goes for an hour. I’m still listening to it. It’s always great to see all the different perspectives and experiences, it’s such an amazing and all encompassing hobby! Hope everyone is having a lovely Friday! 🎉
What about the KEF R11 that didn't resonate? I'm not surprised, but I'm curious about what you didn't like. Those Signatures are their own thing, for sure. If you like/love 'em, there isn't anything quite like a B&W. Did you find the Logans to fall somewhere in the middle?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes, in terms of Martin Logan. I’m not sure what happened with KEF, all three speakers were connected to a Marantz Cinema 40. Matting Logan was lovely, but sounded a bit restrained to me and the mid range was nowhere near as clear and articulate as the B&W, KEF by itself was just super dull and maybe not boring sounding, but it was missing everything to me. I’m starting to suspect it just was setup incorrectly. But yeah, it had no mid range basically, the highs were barely there and the bass was just too boomy for me. B&W was just everything I like in a speaker. I have no idea how I’m going to power it without my Rotel, but I’m gonna have to figure something out, cause that sound was just butter, honey and some chili all in one package. Hope you guys are well and enjoying your pool! 🏊
To me kef sounds so much better that those 702 signature. Anyway, I have revel f208 and to me its sound enought good. Salon2 it's my dream, but u don't find those anywhere in Finland 😔
@@Ragnarok20854 everyone has their own taste and ears, so long you enjoy it, the rest doesn’t really matter! I’ve never heard of the Salon2 so can’t say anything. I also never heard Revel speakers aside for one I wouldn’t remember the name of many years ago. I hope you find your dream speaker and get to enjoy it for a long time!
Thank you both for your great educational content. What you said was really true. We don’t have to go out and buy the latest and greatest . because what we have can be great for the room size, listening volume and types of music. When I was looking for an audio set up for my room I went to the local dealer and asked what he could offer. He didn’t even ask for my budget. He asked what was the room size , listening volume and genre of music and made a set up in the show room with a Rotel A11 tribute, B&W book shelfs and a sub from the same brand. At that time I couldn’t afford them but I couldn’t forget the experience so eventually I managed to save some money and buy them after a while and still enjoy to this day. It’s enough for my listening and I have no plans of upgrading but I watch your show just because I am a fan of this hobby.
@@KristiWright love a good hatchback & a good euro station wagon. Stunt wall is a wall of unnecessary amounts of subwoofers in place of a back seat. Great for hearing longevity and impressing sleeping neighbors. 😂
@@fakeklg Oh! I didn't know that had a name. My HS boyfriend had one of those in his Mustang. Yeah, those IMO are a waste of space. LOL. That said, I had a six-disc CD changer in my trunk and an aftermarket detachable car stereo face thing, both of which were stolen in college. Thieves totally f'd up my car in the process. Instead of just breaking a window, they literally tried to crowbar the door open. I never replaced my system after that.
@@KristiWright oh wow. Yea, those are a throwback for sure. You was fancy if you had a six disc. Sucks you got broken in too. And yea, stunt walls are for a type for sure.
@AkinWilliams - No response to my emails, and I know Andrew tagged Arendal in his last Instagram Q&A in response to a similar question from another follower, and no response there either.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews It will be interesting to see your thoughts on them compared to the SVS evolution pinnacle when you get them to review. Anyway keep up the amazing work. I have come to really enjoy your reviews over the past 4+ years!
@@KristiWright Awww I am really looking forwards to hearing if Andrew is still going to be waxing lyrical about the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle. I understand they are in two absolutely different price ranges but still i am intrigued!!
When it comes to speakers, I think we've hit a point where the performance is approaching its peak. No matter how much the technology or design improves, there's only so much you can do before you reach a natural limit in terms of sound quality and efficiency. We've refined materials, tweaked acoustic designs, and enhanced amplification to the point that any further advancements will likely yield diminishing returns. That’s why it's becoming harder to make noticeable improvements at the high end of the market. As a result, manufacturers will likely start incorporating premium features into mid-range models, while phasing out the lower-end options. Prices for mid-to-high-range speakers will need to reflect this shift and, over time, may come down as these features become more mainstream.
Subwoofers are a different story altogether. We're just at the beginning with infrasonic subwoofers starting to make their way into the market, especially from companies like Ascendo. Their latest models have pushed the boundaries of low-frequency performance, and I believe that's what sent SVS back to the drawing board. After seeing Ascendo's subs at the audio shows, SVS likely realized that if they didn’t innovate and release their own infrasonic models, they risked losing a significant share of the market. This new wave of infrasonic technology is going to redefine what we expect from subwoofers, potentially making traditional in a way subs obsolete in a way It's going to step up expectations big time! Sort of like what tactical sound transducers try to do back in the day
Totally disagree, you sound like my dad talking about cars in the late 80’s It seems like every year speakers are getting better and better, you also have innovation on open baffles and integrated powered speakers where the party has literally just started
I would Kindly suggest you go to a dealer and listen to an wide array of speakers. Maybe then you would agree there are several quality classes of speakers.
I've seen some personal home-assembled million dollar plus stereo playback systems (speakers, amps, cables, room acoustics, etc) which make you wonder what the benefit is of having a stereo system that is more expensive than the mastering equipment. Also, in regards to "neutral speakers": Everything in the audiophile market is advertised as having a 'flat' frequency response. Amps, speakers, and everything. Everything is flat except the human ear which is multiple times more sensitive at midrange frequencies. Should equipment be designed with the human ear in mind, or should everything have a flat response??
Great episode, I was pleasantly surprised to hear you’re also a ThrottleHouse viewer :) Now, as for my question, I was wondering what your guys’ opinion on kit speakers is. I’ve always wanted to assemble one, as I’ve heard that DIY speakers usually punch way above their weight, which lead to me considering buying a pair of CSS Criton 1TD-X. I’m in a bit of a predicament though-I’ve watched some RUclips reviews praising them, but I’m unsure about buying speakers that I likely won‘t find anywhere for a demo listen. Any thoughts?
For Polk R700, Andrew mentioned that one only needs to invest a couple hundred dollars more in amplification to get the best out of the speakers. Which amplifier would that be? I am interested if there is something with an HDMI. I currently use R700 with Sonos Amp, which is hooked up to the TV.
I didn't know Sonos had an amp - it claims 125 Watts which is quite a bit but ASR's review wasn't great. If you're using stereo Arc, there are a few units that Andrew has reviewed from Yamaha and other companies but they will set you back quite a bit. AVRs will work but they get very expensive very quickly especially in today's world. Check out the bass on Das boot 2001 DJ Mellow-d remix after the 5th minute. It's the clearest bass demo I know that slams quickly and fades (although Kitaro's Matsuri is good too with the taiko drums). It also throws a lot of high frequencies to see how the unit handles with a combination of low and high frequencies. Does it slam with authority at relatively loud volumes (85-90db)?
@@techsamurai11 I listened to the song at 85db and did not notice anything wrong. Sorry if that does not help much, but I usually don't listen to that high volume. However, there was no distortion and nothing to say the speakers reached their limit. From that point of view, I would say that Sonos AMP can drive R700. Did I enjoy it more then at lower volume? No, but again, I do not enjoy listening to music that loud in general.
@@youngwolfaxl low frequencies require more wattage - high frequencies use much less. I don't listen that loud either. But if you liked the bass with that song, then I have a feeling that Sonos can drive the R700s well especially if it can hit low frequencies at high volumes without sounding strained.
I went through that. At the end, I settled with an AX35 with a Bluesound node, and a pair of Q acoustics 3030i. I didn’t like that match until I moved to a different place. It sounds and looks nice. I’m pretty happy now. My goal now is to make what I have better as much as I can. Maybe get the matching cd player and turntable and take a break. Unfortunately, we humans are never satisfied. But when it comes to Ice cream, I always stay with chocolate ice cream.
The best way to avoid FOMO is to know what you love, with specifics. I’m always waiting for a new speaker that fits what I love. Honestly still haven’t found it. I have mid 80’s Klipsche Forte’s running on a Hitatchi SS receiver, this combo is basically irreplaceable. The live sound and energy is unmatched by even $10k speakers. Still on the hunt! However, in my office which is small I have been delighted by the Sonus Faber Lumina II’s w a NAD M10 v2 and a REL sub. For the space these sound awesome, very live and energetic but even more precise than the Klipsche. Just a much smaller speaker and no horn so totally different ball game but keep me happy while I work.
@@KristiWright Sure will👍🏼 By the way, couple of days ago I watched the departed and couldn’t figure out where I’ve seen the girl playing the girlfriend of Matt Damon before? And then it hit me, I think she looks like Kristi from the recovering audiophile 😊 Hope it doesn’t offend you, since I haven’t seen that much of you. Just a fun little story. All the best from Copenhagen.
G'day Andrew and Kristy, I'm a new sub to you, really enjoying your content, and a quick question for you, here in Australia we get massively shafted with prices EG to go with SVS Evo line it'll cost $25k but for an amateur like me would a Wharfdale 240 set for $6k be a good buy or is there something better for that kind of money as I just can't justify $25k? Cheers!
If that (240) is the same as the Diamonds from Wharfedale, I would not pay $6K for them. Those cost $600/pair here. It's hard to advise you because of how much more you pay in Australia.
@@KristiWright G'day Kristy, Thanks so much for getting back to me and yes it is the Diamond 240 full 5.1 set and I understand that it's hard, I've seen full 5.1 sets for sale on Amazon that they can't send to here, for less money than it costs us just for the centre channel! Sorry I made a mistake too both the prices I quoted included a Denon X3800H which is $2500 here. Making the Whafedale's $4140 even the Jamo 8 series here with 807 towers is $4002 for the full 5.1 set. It's just so frustrating trying to find something half decent that won't completely bankrupt me whilst doing so! Anyway I'm loving your channel and keep up your awesome work!
@@Excalabur50 I think I understand. So these prices include the speakers and the receiver? Can you get Q Acoustics there? Are speakers made in Europe/UK more affordable?
@@KristiWright Hi Kristy Thanks for getting back to me again, yes I can get Q Acoustics here a 5040 set with amp is $7999 and I know how much you like the Q's and this might be a good inbetween of the SVS and the Whafedales whilst being better than the latter, and I might try for these. I was originally going to use a Marantz Cinema 50 after watching your and Andrews review but it's a $1000 more than the Denon, and I'm not sure it's a $1000 better, my other issue is I'm buying speakers unheard, as to hear them I need to drive over 120km or 74 of your miles, some are interstate, so over 1000km away and there's no guarantee they've got them set up for listening.
Hey Andrew and Kristi! I love your conversations and comments. Would love some advice. A year ago I bought QA 3030i and connected them to Denon rcd - m41. Somehow I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of the sound QA can provide. I don't want to change speakers because where would it end😂! I don't want to be FOMO! Although there are certainly better ones. Do you have a recommendation for a $500-$800 amp that would go with the QA? By the way, I live in Croatia, so you know you are everywhere🤣 Thanks for the effort and thoughts you share with us!
Last speakers standing; downsize from far too many speakers (27) to a smaller home and keep one pair or spend out on something different? I would throw in that going forward and not wanting repair bills it has to be recent or new. I love my floor standing speakers but would lean heavily to keeping a pair of Beosound Levels. The software updates have over come the initial short fall to being everything for all situations even if low latency for computer and video watching could still be better/easier to do what I would like (sans getting a Beosound Theatre) they are just so flexible and so close to speakers costing nearly 5 times as much with differences I can accept for the gains of discrete, portable and very high quality audio experience. Not only the last speaker but also the last hi-fi system as separates amplifiers and sources all go as well.
On a seperate topic. Do you have any interest in reviewing the new Klipsch Core 300, with the new surrounds and 12” sub, now that it comes with Dirac which is pretty cool for a sound bar
We were sent the Core when it first launched. After a couple of months, we returned the product because there were several issues that Klipsch had no fix for and no timetable for correcting those issues. Since some of these issues were the same as the ones we raised in our 1200 review, we didn't see the point of covering another Klipsch soundbar that wasn't ready for public sale. We asked them to update us if anything changed, and so far, there has been no communication from the brand about that product.
Best way to avoid FOMO in hifi would be to stop engaging with hifi content. Stop going to your usual social media audio communities. The less exposed you are the better. Just pretend they don't exist anymore. Out of sight, out of mind.
best way to demo them is to go to a convention. There is a convention called Axpona in Schamberg IL every year and it is massive. They take up a hotel and each room is a listening center.
I dont understand why people think that buying something and then learning that something else is either the same or a bit better latter on is a waste. I spent close to $55K setting up a 5.2.4 martin Logan set up anchored by a AV and AMP 10 two years ago and even with newer stuff coming out there is nothing that make me regret my purchase. I could of waited and gotten a Bravia 9 instead of the X95K or spent less and not gone with a AV and AMP 10. After you are happy with a sound its irrelevant what else comes out. Focus on what you enjoy and go from there
I just bought polk r400 and r600's. I have the pioneer lx-305. Im trying to talk myself out of a new reciever. Damn its hard too lol. I know me and im prob gonna fold. I had to buy the polks as the sale right now is incredible. Im not disappointed neither. I also have 2 um18's i built so i didnt need subs.
Team formation duos here I will go as far as to say that Bowers and Wilkins did it first albeit a power speaker with the formations when they integrated other parts into one package
Join the Audio Science Review forum and circlejerk with all the guys that nothing could sound better than your current gear in a double dog blind test.
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Outside of USA(in majority of countries definitely not all) the choice between KEF Q series SVS Ultra Evolution series the choice becomes extremely easy. Because SVS Ultra Evolution is extremely overpriced here. Like I could get KEF R11 Meta and be left with another $1.5k for a really good SUB for the same price of SVS Ultra Evolution Titan. And the Pinacle towers are even more expensive at $11.25k Yep. SVS is insanely expensive. Wish that changed. Because there are other internet direct brands which actually are much smaller in comparison or even be it on par in scale like Emotiva they all offer their products at a reasonable price even with Shipping. Only SVS is odd that way.
Great job at the end of the video about keeping this "hobby" in perspective. I have had some pretty in depth talks with other, older, audio enthusiasts. Discussions about how for some people this quest for better sound or the next best thing is truly a struggle & self consuming. There are deeper psychological issues going on imo..but in general it's just not healthy. I think it's important to remind the masses every once in awhile how unimportant all of this is in the grand scheme of life. Most people don't need this reminder but I know there are some that struggle & probably aren't even aware of it.
Yet even the people that are aware, or are more in tune with themselves, sometimes need a reminder to pump the brakes...& to realize the beauty & good things we already have.
Anyway, I just wanted to say I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the subject & how you did it. You & Kristi are great 👍
How to stop fomo. Buy first what you need then after avoid all content on new releases lol. Ignorance is bliss or something right?
Exactly
But what if you're a fan of channels like this one?
But I assume most people listen to music on multiple systems, either friends or their own, hard to ignore hearing the same music and realizing you just heard something for the first time
@@itshadoukenpower of unintentional and indirect marketing or word of mouth with friends and family who knows how to pull your FOMO strings or convince you like a used car salesman because you share the same interests! It's what I do best as a friend with disposable income...goading each other to spend more when hanging out 😂
Which means don’t watch this channel anymore. lol. But you are correct. Anything that even seems tempting to me, I don’t watch. And I never listen to anything in stores ever. It all sucks compared to what I have. Right…..
It’s really quite simple-you need to accept that there will always be something better out there. However, it’s just as important to recognize when you’ve got something good and appreciate what you have. If your system sounds great to you now, you’ve probably reached the point of diminishing returns. Enjoy it and stop spending more money chasing perfection.
FOMO. There is always going to be something else. There is always another speaker. Another amplifier. Another sale. Finding joy in what you have is the best (and most difficult) part of this hobby. I'm always amazed, that for such a small hobby, there are so many different options to consider. But if it's good, it's good. It doesn't matter if there is another speaker, amp or sale. We can wax poetic and philosophize all we want about this hobby, but the most fun I've had listening to music in the past year is having a dance party with friends at an Airbnb in phoenix, listening to music through the built-in speakers on an iPhone.
Dance party FTW!
That's a great perspective! Thanks for sharing!
The last question, but not the least! I love these life slices and philosophical discussions. Bring ‘em thought pieces next year ❤
Thank you so much for watching and for your support.
If you're constantly buying gear instead of looking for new recordings/artists then that says it all. Lots of people have a "hobby" like that, for example guys that constantly buy golf clubs or guns rather than practice with what they have. For them it's all about the gear and the excitement of buying new stuff. I'm happy to keep what I have for a long time unless I'm truly disappointed with how it performs and need to upgrade because I made a bad purchase.
I agree. A lot of folks like to collect gear and don't really listen (or watch) all that much.
True, cars too, but it’s a lot less doable w sound systems. A lot of setup and takedowns, room matching, installs, etc. golf clubs are easy to abandon by comparison
That’s me. I like constantly rotating new stuff, boats, cars, audio, houses, sometimes wives. There are a few occasions where something really gets my attention and I’ll keep it. Usually, lower priced items. Example, musical fidelity A1, q acoustics 3030i’s, Lintons, 2023 Porsche 911, 2011 ford f150, Boston whaler Montauk 190. Wife #4.
Agree with you on the car analogy. Completely appreciate the entertainment I get from car channels/reviewers without wanting a different vehicle. Your channel brings the same joy with audio though I am happy with my present system.
Harry, I knew I could count on you to get it. Thanks for watching!
Well said Harry. Me too.
HAHA, when I saw the title I KNEW my comment would be featured 🤣 Thanks for discussing my thoughts on the R/Q-Meta. I agree with the statement that if you wait, there will always be something better as everything is evolving while simultaneously becoming cheaper. I just think that a two or three year window is a short timeframe (though three times longer than let's say an iPhone where the issue is far worse), and that the value of the existing R-line today has no relevance anymore. From my point of view, they invalidated the R-line now because the value per dollar is many, MANY times higher that even if your budget allows it, it would be a bad decision to do so because you're not getting all your money's worth out of the cost. In this case, as you said, YES, the R-line does the same to the Reference line. Again, materials, finish and component quality will certainly improve and get better and better, and without accounting anything but the improvement of sound, it's a no-brainer that anyone would pick the Reference or even Blades out of the whole range. But, and with that I answer the question Kristi poses, I now find that the 20% improvement *isn't* worth the money.
You're spending 300%-400% more money for 10%, maybe 15% sound difference and longer-lasting components. My answer after the release of the new Q-line is: NO 🙂
With the older generation of Q/R and R/Reference, there was more reason to go for one or another. Now, not so much. So, yes, I feel like I should have waited. Yes, perhaps the Q-line hadn't turned out to be this good, and then yes I would have been vindicated. Not only did it turn out to be great, but it's practically identical now (based on Eric's measurements as well), so to me it's not that it happened to be 'quite closer', it is basically a replacement at the current price differences, and a no-brainer for anyone that does his research. I even find the Shadow Flare of the Q-meta nicer looking (visually) than the current and old R-line. I should go and check them out at the dealer to make any claims about the build quality, but I can't imagine that now, they would bother having two conveyor belts to make a difference between the wood and build quality of the cabinet (from the looks of the images it looks identical, just a different varnish color or something).
But, am I dissatisfied with the R-speakers? No. I think they sound great. Yes, I have been enjoying them for two years now. Yes, you'll probably take them out of a blind test purely based on sound. Do I think I should have waited? HELL YES. With €5K I could have expanded the HT-system beyond 5.1 by adding some atmos speakers, spend money on a better blu-ray player... idk, ANYTHING else I can think of besides slightly better cabinet design and crossover components (which dealers can easily replace for better results).
TL;DR: After the discussion I'm even more convinced: Don't spend money on the R- or Reference line. Just go with Q and save yourself tons of money. If you're a furniture fanatic and can't help it, then spend 300% (R-line) or almost 1000% (Reference) just for nicer looking towers. At the increasingly faster speed KEF is trickling down technology, it's a waste of money to go for the more premium line.
I side by side tested the Kef r3 meta and mofi sp10 at home and yeah the Kef didn’t do anything wrong but it was the sp10 that made me grin so kept it. The most noticeable difference between the two I found was the r3 meta lacked depth and detail at low volume while the sp10 was more consistent throughout, and made drums sound way more real.
Edit. I forgot to mention, I think fomo is your imagination running a bit wild. Andrew is right, go out there and listen or try to do a side by side comparison. If you already have something and want to get rid of it and spend thousands more from watching a 10 or 20 minute review, that can’t be right.
The last 15 mins was the best advice/ talk I've heard for the hifi hobbyist. Thanks.
Am just going to touch on 2 things , I remember as a kid every stereo system came with an EQ and even in cars , that so you tone it to what ever you like and that , I guess back in the day they cared less about what the singer or producer wanted you to hear on a recording and they were more focused on giving you every option so you and up loving what they offer .
FOMO in this case is hard to control because am going to be honest and straight forward about something a lot of ppl miss a and or don't want to admit , the getting feels waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the having , and that's exacting part that make us think to keep buying and upgrading.
Some feedback for the individuals question "hindsight is always 20/20". The R6 Meta center and R series in general measure "near" flawless at reference volumes with inaudible distortion/compression (see ASR review). There is a legitimate reason for buy R series over the Q series in a larger room or someone who likes to push the volume at or near reference volumes. The Reference Meta takes it a step further with what I would call flawless distortion/compression numbers with legitimate in-room 20hz bass. The individual may not have needed a setup as capable as the R series, which is a valid concern for some. IMO the R Meta or Reference Meta are worth their price tag.
Love you guys channel. Thank yo for the great down to earth reviews. As far as $10k limit on speakers. I found a pair of Klipschorns gen 6 only 7 months old. $9,900. Had to replace my 8060’s for that. Have them hooked to an onkyo rz50 and emotive xpa. LOVE IT!
Hi Guys. The unplugged series and 'general' topic discussions like room correction really help to put the pursuit of musical happiness back into focus. FOMO is inevitable when one listens to music to evaluate gear as opposed to enjoying gear to enjoy music! Many of us so love to 'tinker' that we forget to enjoy; your mantra that 'only you have to enjoy your system' should be engraved on the front of all hi-fi gear. Keep up the great work and thank you from sunny London.
I wanted to thank you two for helping me find the right speakers for me.
Awhile back I watched your video for the Concept 50s and decided to give them a try.
My setup
Marantz AV10, iFi streamer, LAIV DAC and Parasound A21+ 2 channel and 2 SVS PB3000s
By far I mainly listen to 2 channel but I also use this system for surround sound. To power those speakers I have an Emotive XPA-5 Gen 3.
I've had a few different speakers in this 18x36x10 room (this room also opens up into the Kitchen) so very large room! My Daliquish DQ-20i (love those speakers) were the speakers the Concept 50s replaced.
The Concept 50s are such a a pleasure to listen to. Amazing how big these somewhat small speakers sound, Very musical, detailed etc.
In one of your videos you were talking about favorite speakers and Kristi said that after listening to a lot speakers she still preferred the Concept 50 sound.
I concur! Thanks Kristi!
Concept 50s.jpeg
Again thank you two for helping to make my music setup so great!
Robert
@@Nobobs62 this is good to hear. I just ordered a set of Concept 50s based off of Andrew and Christie’s recommendation.
To avoid FOMO simply unsubscribe from all RUclips hifi channels.
I listened to the Titans (first time) and the R11s in person yesterday, the midrange weight in the Metas is definitely my jam. Wish I could hear Concept 50 at a dealer around here.
Sounds like a fun time. Appreciate you sharing!
@@jjnewbold you may have to take advantage of online dealer return policy. Nearest audio dealers to me are over 3 hours away.
Thus far in my journey I’ve been lucky with my gear choices and only returned 1 amp a few years back.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I preferred the Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII G2 bass over the Titan's. But they are double the cost. Lol. But they sounded more coherent, Titans sounded more like speaker + a sub.
Loved the shout out to arguably the greatest car channel on RUclips, Throttle House. They have the ability to make cars I'm not even interested in enjoyable to learn about. Anyway, love the channel, and you are my go-to for research/entertainment for all thing audio.
Even I enjoy Throttle House! Those guys are fun to watch.
+Thank you for the kind words you sent our way.
This is the internet's coolest couple.
🤩
Buy nice or buy twice. Bite the bullet, make the investment and work on the listening room. The room is 90% of it.
Good morning A&K. Thanks for answering my question right off the bat. Happy to hear I'm a fav. The feeling is mutual. I definitely agree the up to $5K speaker market today offers tremendous bang for the buck and the diminishing returns really starts to kick in beyond that. Great speaker discussion episode. I'm actually very happy with my Concept 50's but that old affliction of upgraditis is always hanging in the background 🤪. Looking forward to Sunday's show. Enjoy your weekend you two.
Appreciate you, as always, and your question. See you Sunday!
woohoo, always a fun day when your question gets picked! I used to have the svs ultra (older) lineup and the one area I wanted more from the towers was in the highs. they did everything else perfectly. i "upgraded" to some nautilus 803 towers with the matching nautilus htm2 center and i finally have the sonic signature i have been craving. and that's partly where my question came from, svs was neutral and great but i always wanted some more highs and refinement at the top end; b&w has more top end and since most of my listening is below reference volume, it actually sounds more balanced to me.
At lower volumes, a speaker with more treble energy will be potentially easier to appreciate than one with roll-off, at least in my experience. So glad you found a speaker set that works for you! Appreciate the question, too!
Good video Mr & Mrs Robinson. I really enjoy this back-n-forth dialogue between you two. I pick up tidbits that help me with buying decisions, and it’s fun. I’ve cleaned up my RUclips subscriptions to audio channels. Way too many. Your’s is one of the few I remained subscribed. A great example of this is your review and follow-up Unplugged discussion of the Wharfedale Super Denton. The Unplugged dialogue helped me feel like I got a better overall picture of the speaker.!Thanks for what you as couple contribute to the audio community. 🎵😎🎶👍🏼
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I really appreciate your comment! So glad you're enjoying our videos.
hello!
have you guys ever spoken about 2nd hand speakers? What do you think about this subject?
f.e. Used B&W 804 Nautilus vs 703 S3? what would you chose?
I just ordered a set of Q-Acoustic Concept 50 largely based on your reviews. Got a nice deal on an open box and look forward to getting them
In the system.
I agree speakers in the $2k -$5k range are the sweet spot. I could make this argument for amps as well.
The $2-$5K market is hotter and better than ever! Enjoy your new Concept 50s!
For someone who wants to get into speaker building and has a background in woodworking, what are some key aspects in a speaker that I should pay attention too, my first build is planned out woth driver selection, amp and power supply research done. It'll be a 3-way sealed studio monitor style speaker, but I do have intentions on building some tower speakers, and I want to do things the right way ❤
Buy and read: Loudspeaker Design Cookbook - by Vance Dickason
Bullock on Boxes is also great - more technical, less handholding
Great drivers, good crossovers, solid boxes with extra bracing, damped panel pads, adequate speaker stuffing (not empty, not tightly stuffed, just right) and sealed box - things in about that order of importance… recessed drivers unless you surround all drivers with felt at the driver frame thickness (I think I prefer the felt)
Depending on your driver selections - some of the priorities might change
I have to agree with Andrew. I paid $1700 for the Onkyo RZ-50 a couple of years ago and now I’m seeing it For $700 new. But in no way do I regret my purchase. For the past two years my movie room has sounded AMAZING. Saving that money but missing out on two years of phenomenal movie watching wouldn’t have been worth it.
Auditioning speakers is a fraught affair in that what sounds good in a Dealer or Trade Fair demo can sound poor in one's own listening environment.
I found this out when in a home demo the Manufacturer's top of the line speaker sounded poor yet the speaker below it sounded superb.
Even the dealer running the demo was surprised.
25 years later I'm still using those speakers.
Andrew remember, you're never wrong! Just go with it! All the best you guys
I don't understand what you mean. Appreciate you watching, but I think I'm missing the point or intent of your comment.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Just sticking up for you Andrew.. A husband thing is all. All good..kidding with ya! Take care~ Mike
Howdy Andrew & Kristi. Hope you both are well! Finally getting around to catching up on all the things.
Size was mentioned in this unplugged episode and it got me thinking. You know what would be great? A cut scene of Andrew standing next to the speakers you guys review so we can get a rough sense of scale. Like, the furniture helps, but given the size of your room, the size of the TV on that wall, etc, I feel like it’s harder to gauge the real size presence of the speakers without a real human in the mix.
Just a quick thought. Anyway, another great episode. Looking forward to the next one.
When I was a teen, me and my best friend every week would do our rounds of the stereo Hifi stores and awe, listen where we could. The sales guys all knew us, knew we didn’t have any money, and would celebrate with us when we’d be able to buy our $200 bookshelves etc. That part of the hobby is missing, for one most of those stores have closed as the hobby shrunk, the ones that remain are all appointment only. It’s a shame, another way we are losing the next generation.
Honestly you guys have been the replacement for that. I’m older and would still love to go listen to all this new gear but I’m not making appointments and wasting peoples time.
This ^^^^^
My experience in a nutshell. It’s sad.
I'm part of that wider group who enjoys these reviews and videos, but I'm not buying anything new anytime soon. My confusion is in regard to some of the speakers that you really enjoyed. There are towers like the SVS Titan. Standmounts like the Leak 250, Wharfdale Denton, KLH Model 5. Then you have the La Scalas, the Cornwalls, and the Forte IV. Money notwithstanding, how you decide? Is it room size? Not saying the Leak 250 is in the same class as La Scala, just wondering how you decide which speaker size to go after. They all seem like outstanding speakers based on your reviews.
Hey, I love you and Kristi. I don't consider myself an audiophile, but I do love a great sound. I just bought a Denon X4800H AVR (killer deal) to power my JBL L7 towers (from the 90s) (my Denon 3802 died on me). The JBLs are 6 ohms with a 91db sensitivity. These speakers are bi-wired with a 12-inch woofer. I love the overall sound of this speaker but on some music, it can be a bit bright. Since adding the Denon x4800H, I no longer like my Klipsch Center Channel. I would like to know; what speaker would the JBL L7 towers compare with today and what your thoughts on them are? Thanks so much, Andrew and Kristi. (Pop, Jazz, African Beats, Old R&B, Orchestra).
My $10,000 budget system would be a pair of Krix Neuphonix towers with matching Epicentrix centre, Dynamix surrounds, IC-52 ceiling speakers and as many Volcanix subs as the budget would allow. I'm assuming your $10k budget is US which means I get about $20k Australian to play with. 🙃
If you've never heard of Krix before, they are an Australian brand. They make a lot of the speakers in many cinemas across the world but also high end home theatre and Hifi speakers. Definitely look them up - I think there is one distributor in the US.
Hi Andrew and Kristi, I an very intrigued by your comments about the SVS Titans. Would you take a pair of the Titans over a pair of La Scala’s with subs. How would you compare the sound of the two. The reason I ask is I will be building a new house and my music room is going to be smaller. Right now I have a 16x 20x8 height with a 12x20 room opening to the side and rear of my listening space. The new space will be 16x24 10’ high ceilings. Right now I have 1980’s La Scala’s with Crites crossovers, McIntosh c50 pre c352 amp, Sony server, Oppo UDP 203 cd WiiM pro streamer, Denefrips Ares12 DAC, two turntables, VPI Prime with 3D arm and a Denon turntable on custom Plinth and a 2 nd VPI 3D arm on the Denon. I also have a tube amp and fantastic Class D mono amps I built that I actually enjoy listening to the most. I am ready to sell the McIntosh stuff, the turntables, the DAC, and simplify my set up with an Advanced Paris 12 integrated, an Eversolo DMP, six master and a techniques SL 1200 turntable I would still keep my multiple cartridges just for fun and keep the Oppo. The big question is get rid of these huge La Scala‘s and find something smaller footprint that I won’t need subs . What do you think, I really love the open sound of the old La Scala’s . I just don’t know if the SVS could duplicate that largeness I get with the La Scala’s. I think I can get just as good sound out of a 45lb. integrated, I think 105lbs. For an amp is a little ridiculous. What do you think? Advanced Paris because I can’t live with out meters!😊
FOMO combined with Option Paralysis is where I find myself right now. I've had my B&W DM601S3 from new 22 years ago. To say they have served me well is an understatement. I made the switch from 5.1 back to 2.1 last month with a Wiim Ultra connected to an Emotiva Bas 2X and it has transformed the sound. Up until this switch I had been agonising over speaker upgrades but when I demo'd the Wiim/Emotiva combo I realised an electronics upgrade was needed before considering speakers. Having done that and loving the results I am again back to thinking "how much better could this be but what on earth do I choose". Do I splash on newer, broadly equivalent models? Do I hunt down a 2nd hand high end bargain? Is it really worth pushing the boat out a little further? I guess the first step is going to be listening to more of whats on the market before I do anything. The most important thing is that right now I am enjoying and listening more than I have done in a loooong time.
@drichcymru I have the same speakers, I’ve always loved the sound out of them and when feed with some power, they are wonderful! I have an older Rotel RSX-1056 powering them with a WiiM Plus and a Paradigm sub, I’m considering upgrading my amp to a separate system that can double for a home theatre system. I’m curious on buying Marantz Cinema 70 to use as a processor and eventually replacing the Rotel with an Emotiva amp. I’m totally with you on TOMORROW and option paralysis!
Thank you for addressing my comment! Much appreciated, keep up the good work!
Hi Andrew and Kristi, could you please tell me if the KEF R11/R7 Meta with a sub (KC92 or SVS SB-17 Ultra) sound as good as the SVS Titans on its own? The room dimensions are 15W x 17L x10H (in feet). Thank you!
Great comments K and A as always. Love Throttle House too! They are great too. Those two and your are my favs for all the reasons Andrew stated at the end. See ya Sunday!
I got my Polk R100s, SVS subwoofer, NAD 2600 amp, Emotiva DAC preamp, WIIM pro streamer and I'm set. No desire to buy anything new for a long time.
I love watching the channel just to see what's new and for entertainment.
I wish Kristi came on camera too. She adds loads to the video. And they’re basically having a conversation, so it would be nice to see her
Sometimes I agree, but I kind of like the therapy session vibe I get from just seeing Andrew
As far as listening, audio/trade shows are awesome, if you have one close by. That's how I settled on my Yamaha Ns-2000a. Listened to them two years in a row and absolutely fell in love the first year. The second year, I listened to them again and decided my feelings were similar. It ticked the boxes and the type of sound I liked. Spoke to the dealer and concluded a good deal. Been happy for 6 months now and not looking to change for a long while. Other pieces have been upgraded but you have to be happy with what you have.
Hi Kristi and Andrew, thank you for answering the question about Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G. Appreciated!
Our pleasure!
Great talk as usual. My frustration with brands right now is it's very hard to demo gear. I have 2 hifi stores within 70 miles of me, probably further. They carry just a handful of brands, and rightfully so.
I wish the brands with deeper pockets would setup listening spaces strategicly spaced out around the country, particularly in areas without a wealth of hifi stores. We're left with a few options; but/return from online retailers (which hurts them with credit card processing fees and used gear), or buying blindly based on reviews such as yours.
I have made two purchases directly from your reviews (rp8000 II & SU-G700) and I am happy with those purchases, but I will always wonder what I missed.
Totally agree! All the audio shops are closed around here. All the others are a 90 minute drive away.
@@IanMacDonald-u1v I love the good hifi store owner, he's great. He just doesn't carry the brands I'm interested in right now.
Move to Seattle, we got tons of places that will demo and they’ll even order you speakers they don’t have and set them up and if you don’t want them no worries. So cool.
Brand level stores placed around the country is not a smart idea. The space is too costly and in the end you'd still complain that you couldn't hear other brands in the same space!
Dealers are your best bet.
@@bearclaw5115 I work for a company that does that exact thing. It just requires an intelligent plan. We don't have stores everywhere, but they are strategicly placed in big cities that are driving distance for many people
This is an informative and fun review, with a little philosophy sprinkled in for good measure. One of your best Unpluggeds to date. Thanks Andrew and Kristi!
Buy what you want and get for as cheap as you can. I bought B&W 703 S3 off the floor and an NAD M66 at a “tent sale” - both at a ridiculous discount. I paired those with my 18 year old MF A5 Integrated Amp. Also, buy a good, simple Amp that will last for years.
Thank you Captain Obvious!
Your thoughts at the end really resonated with me. My primary speakers in my “audiophile” setup are some 20 year old Paradigm Studio 40’s. I keep thinking I should replace them, but they still give me the fizz whenever I have the opportunity to sit and listen and focus on the music. Are they perfect? Nope. Is there something better? Almost certainly. Is a new speaker likely to change my experience? I’m not so sure it would in a definitive way. My current 40’s do everything well enough that newer stuff seems different, but not necessarily better. A good example is the Paradigm towers I bought for my home theater. I expected to like them better than my older Studios but I don’t. They’re more neutral and accurate, but don’t seem to have the “special sauce” that makes me keep going back to the 40’s. Keep up the great work!
6:30... B&W is already doing this for quite some time with the 7 series, leveraging tech from the 8 series?
As a long time "Sub" I just wanted to say what a great "Unplugged" episode, I like how you tied in changes for 2025 on episode 25. I'm personally hoping you two will do the occasional episode of the "Audio Bon Vivants" out on the town like you used to! (Maybe a couple times a year?) My heart "Hertz" when I think about it, should you revisit it, my heart would have that "EQ smile" again! I'm certain the "dynamics would appeal to many" now that the channel has grown. While I understand Kristi might want a little "separation" from the camera, the "Imaging" you two create has me all "toed in". Hope your weekend "goes to 11".
Love your video today! I agree about this being a hobby and knowing that just because there is better candy available doesn’t mean I have to have it. I listen to just be informed, I like being able to talk hifi with folks in my travels. My Grampa has a pair Chapman mk 7 from the 80s, they are so awesome, I grew up always dreaming of having a system like his. When I realized I’d need $50k just to buy comparable speakers I was little set back. After listening to your videos I settled on a Sony az5000 es powering a pair of paradigm premier 800f. And a rel mk2 sub woofer, it may not be what I thought I wanted growing up but I am just happy to have a system the brings a smile to my face every time I crank it up. Thanks for you sound advice and hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! Can’t wait for you next video ❤
Loved listening to this week's unplugged! Thanks Andrew & Kristi!
Sorry to go on and on about this, but I'd had this question... regarding what you said in Sunday's video at 5:25 about the SVS Titans approaching near subwoofer-like performance. Could you elaborate on that please?
What I am trying to understand is more in terms of how different a sub would tackle the same scenario, for example in this case the kick drum? If both the Titans and a sub theoretically handle the same freq, what would the sub do differently that warrants that specific comment?
You had replied about noting the question for Friday's unplugged but it didn't come up so was wondering if you'd planned to discuss this on a different video (or if I was being silly)
Sorry for not including your question, hopefully my answer here will give you the info you need. The Titan has a claimed response that goes down to 27Hz +/- 3dB. Based on all my in-room data and measurements I can confirm that SVS's figure is accurate and maybe, with room or boundary compensation, it may be a little lower than that depending on volume. All that said, 27Hz is not full, full-range or subwoofer-like range. While not all subs can even play to 20Hz, in my opinion, a true subwoofer, or a quality one, should. In this respect the Titan nears this ideal, however, if you want a true 20Hz response in-room you likely would still need to use a sub.
Adding a sub, especially one placed correctly in your room, can add that last ounce of impact and presence to most bass notes below 100-200Hz. Even though the Titans are pretty full-range, adding the SB17 to the mix definitely elevates their presence, scale and dynamic envelope. Adding the SB17 has proven to be as large of an upgrade as a costlier amplifier in my humble opinion. I'm going to go into more detail in our upcoming SB17 review. Hope this helps!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks so very much for clarifying Andrew! If I read you right, it is not as much about the volume/dB at specific frequencies that a speaker can provide - from what you are saying, a sub is going to be essential with pretty much any speaker provided the listening material requires the ability to play all the way down to 20 Hz!
The volume with which a loudspeaker can "play low" is going to vary. The Titan can hit the mid 20Hz frequencies in-room at volumes up to and maybe exceeding 90-100dB. Conversely the R11 Meta cannot do that despite technically hitting 30Hz in-room at a volume of say 75 to 80dB. With a good sub you can remove that doubt or discrepancy (among other things).
I would likely try out the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle speakers at the under $10grand price or the new Arendal 1528 towers. Enjoying the questions and the banter as always.
What about the 1528s has caught your attention?
@@KristiWright Saw a review Jay did and they look really interesting. And they are absolutely beautiful. Seem to have true full range as well. So no need for subs.
While there are speakers that do not need subwoofers, such speakers should come with a caveat, and that is "provided where you place your speakers isn't in a null". I say this, because unlike a speaker and separate subwoofer, you cannot separate the Arendal's low-end from its mids and highs. If your room is like ours, where, depending on placement, there could be a dip at 40Hz, no amount of "no sub required" accolades are going to overcome acoustic realities. I'm not saying this to pick on you, but I suspect as more units make it into the wild, brace for some of the excitement to change as more and more people complain that the bass is just okay compared to what maybe near field or quasi-anechoic show, and that's not the speaker's fault, it's just the nature of loudspeaker placement --something I wish more people would mention to put certain performance parameters into better perspective.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I have two subs at present in my listening space. So I definitely heed your wisdom. And thanks for the thoughtful response Andrew.
GREAT EPISODE, Kristi and Andrew! I would go for 4 SVS Titans and a more capable Yamaha Aventage receiver for a $10k budget with enough left over for a divorce.
Please review the Arendal 1528 towers. Now this looks like a true reference speaker under 10k. The crossovers alone speak volumes
For $10K I would hope it would or could be called a "reference".
They do look incredible. Two problems for me though. My theater has 13 speakers, I can't afford to upgrade all of them to that line. Secondly the efficiency of the line varies considerably between the different speakers (from 90db to 85db). That's a problem in a cinema because some of the speakers will get way louder than others at times. Wish they did better there.
But the line does make a lot of sense in a 2 channel system but it's supposed to go into theaters as well (look at that center!).
I think your listening tastes are very similar to mine. Neutral sounds boring to me. I like the little bump on the mid-high range. Bass is nice but that can always be addressed with a sub. Based on your most current reviews, I think a good compromise between the $4k SVS Titans and the Q11 which might be a little boring sounding for me might be the SVS Towers. My room is not that big at 20'1x14' and opens up to another 20' x 14' room in an L shape. SVS towers + maybe an SB17 might be the sweet spot.
The SB17 plus a smaller speaker is proving very versatile. You need the room for an SB17 and the ability to position it properly. If you can manage that, you could totally get away with a slightly smaller speaker, even in a larger room.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I actually wish I could jump on the clearance deal for the SB16 they have right now but SVS won't ship directly to Hawaii so I have to get it through Best Buy if I want it and they aren't passing on the same deal.
Am I the only elder millennial who uses my dad's hand me down 80s B&W DM330 loudspeakers for my home theater/audio setup? Still looks good with my walnut themed decor in the living space and sounds damn good when cranked up IMO considering it was stored properly for 20 years in my uncle's attic and holds sentimental value for me.
Plus I'm a cheap af audio enthusiast and rather not spend $2k+ when these work perfectly fine. 😅
Andrew I agree with the trickle down analysis. I'm lucky to have a Paradigm dealer a mile from my house. I went there with the intention of upgrading my Klipsch RF-3 II's I had for 20+ years (served me well) and purchasing the Premier 700F or 800F. While there I noticed the Monitor SE 6000F and 3000F. I decided to compare the Monitor SE 6000F against the Premier lineup. I spent three full days listening and comparing each of them. To me the soundstage was so close between these models that it changed my mind and I went with the SE 6000F and saved a lot of money. Couldn't be happier, the SE 6000F is an incredible bang for your buck speaker. While there though I had to listen to the Founder 100F before leaving. Talk about an OMG experience, that speaker is incredible though out of my price range unless I violated the WAF. They didn't have any Persona towers on hand but it made me wonder if I would have the same experience between the Founder and Persona lines....
There are differences between the Q and R series. For example,the Q series has broader radiation, the R has better definition. I haven’t heard the Q yet, but given the radiation differences I may prefer the Qs, but who knows until I hear them for myself. As always YMMV. That’s the fun of this hobby!
That last response on stopping the FOMO spoke to me. I am in the middle of renovating our home theater and the upgrade list keeps growing to a point that it stresses me out. All my equipment isn't all that old but yet here I am thinking about upgrading instead of having fun with it and getting the most out of it. Andrew if you read this, I enjoy most of your videos, except when you say that TVs will put the last nail in the coffin when it comes to projectors. Other than that you are okay 😉
My two cents regarding FOMO is that, once you hear a decent stereo system, there is nothing truly transcendental left to experience. Sonic differences in systems are usually minute, but then, it's more a question of look, build quality and convenience.
I have the (financially) disadvantage of also being into electric guitars. It’s amazing how much the look of something can add or detract from the actual sound. 😂
Fear of missing out is an illusion. I remember when I upgraded my speakers and my AVR, I thought it was such an improvement that I figured that the $8,000 Focal 1028BE would have to be better along with the 75lb $5,000 Yamaha TX-RZ1 than my gear which was cheaper.
Lucky me, I find a store as I'm driving to another city and I decided to stop and check their inventory. I walk in and there's the 1028 with the Beryllium tweeter sitting with a Yamaha TX-RZ1. I run to my car and get Michael Buble's CD with the bombastic "I feel good" and "Quando Quando Quando" duet. I play it and I'm thinking to myself "Is it really better?". It sounds fantastic but so does my system, which one is more fantastic? Do I really want to spend $13,000 and break my back to just get equally good sound?
Moral of the story, my gear was equally good and just an amazing pairing. I could spend $13,000 then ($20,000 today) and I would have seen marginal, if any improvements.
I absolutely love these sessions. Nice to hear some thoughts about hifi in general and in a few products in particular. One thing that's important for me is that I need to be able to clearly hear the attack. Whether it's banging on a cymbal or the sound of a pick on the strings of a guitar. Speakers that can't really pull that off well sound sort of dead to me.
Hey Kristi and Andrew hope you are both well. I love the speakers you are going over ,but the SVS ,Klipsch subs to me don't seem to qualify for a subwoofer for these especially the R11 . Aren't there some better subs you could bring in . I've really loved the speakers you both bring us but I'm thinking what i may be trying to say is aren't there more subs you can bring in as the SVS ,KLIPSCH don't do it for me . Thats just me though. Thanks for all the hard work you guys do i really appreciate it .
I’m demoing Q11 Metas and R3 Metas right next to each other in my space as we speak. Both with plenty of subwoofer supplementation. The R3 Meta hands is the better speaker. Great so now I want to compare the R3 Metas to the R11s. I also bought a pair of Q950s on clearance for $1000 for the pair. I like those better than the Q11s in my other room there in
Which would be a better buy kef r3 meta bookshelf or klh model 5 they seem to be price the same
I’ve recently auditioned for our new house several of the speakers you’ve discussed, including KEF, Martin Logan, B&W, and others and I find that none of them sound anything like real music. Lots of thickness, bloat, and impact, but no air, delicacy, depth, emotion, or complexity. They could never reproduce a piano the least bit convincingly. I sampled a high-end KEF home theater and it sounded troublingly artificial and closed in. I’m 63 and I’ve heard many and still own a few now vintage speakers that are much more engaging. I’ve realized I don’t hear in reviews any reference to “realness”, and I wonder if the chase for linearity has displaced interest in speakers that sound like real instruments and voices. Maybe that’s what Kristie found in the Titans? Can you suggest speakers or lines that seem to reproduce something close to real, live music?
Maybe you’d like an open baffle speaker design or something similar to magnepans.
Have you tried Kef Blades ? Or try Martin Logan 15A Speakers there fantastic too....
Did you audition Focal speakers?
Realism is PSB's founder's desire to improve his designs. You might try to audition PSB. I've never heard them. I'm still rocking a Kabuki speaker from the late 70's
@@ivanfilatov7913 I’ve been interested in auditioning Focal. Thanks for that suggestion.
Are inregrateds/receivers with preouts designed to be paired with their matching brands amplifier to produce the best sound? IE: Marrantz Stereo 70S paired with the Marrantz MM7205 amplifier. Or can pairing the Stereo 70s with the Emotiva Basx A2 produce equal or better sound? The question is based on using 8 ohm nominal speakers.
You definitely don't need to use the same brand.
Great discussion, keep up the good work both of ye, great channel , keeps us informed even when a product is not so great or lacking in some way
Thankj you for the video!! I loved these unplugged videos!!
If I mostly play games but do want to listen to music and watch movies, would something like the sony theatre quad / the new sonos arc ultra be better or just a pair of bookshelf speakers such as the KEF R3 meta/LSXII? does that surround sound/spatial audio be better?
I have all of the Polk audio lsim series of speakers and I couldn't be happier. These are my forever speakers !
Andrew and Kristi, (and community)
I’ve really enjoyed the channel. Started watching a month ago and have watched A LOT of videos since then.
I have a circa 2005 system in my office/music room.(11x14) Yamaha HTR-5890 120w into 8ohm. Paired with Energy Connoisseur C7s. With a Velodyne 10” sub. Have an Audio Technica 120LP turntable with an upgraded cartridge. The Yamaha was $600 and the Energy’s were $1200 a pair back in the day.
Like the system, use it only for music now. I have it placed on the side wall so my listening distance is about 6 feet. Speakers are 5 foot apart.
Wondering if smaller bookshelf would be better for this smaller room. Listened to some BW 603 S3 in shop recently and was really impressed.
Long way to get to this question, how does 20 year old gear hold up with similarly priced new gear? Is there a big difference?
FYI, if I had nothing today, I would be leaning toward a Marantz 60N and BW603 S3 or maybe 706S3’s.
Thanks,
Patrick Wilson
Love the “take a step back” comments.
First of all: 10K budget, would have to be the B&W 702 Signatures. I’m still an absolute sucker for that sound. Demoed a few different speakers yesterday at a local shop, those signatures, ML XT100, KEF R11 Metas, and have to confess I’m very disappointed with KEF (although I’ve never been a fan of their sound). ML was great, but those Signatures were magical to me. Absolute dream pair of speakers.
Thank you for answering my question, it was super helpful and very educational, as is y’all’s entire channel. Great conversation especially when it goes for an hour. I’m still listening to it. It’s always great to see all the different perspectives and experiences, it’s such an amazing and all encompassing hobby!
Hope everyone is having a lovely Friday! 🎉
What about the KEF R11 that didn't resonate? I'm not surprised, but I'm curious about what you didn't like. Those Signatures are their own thing, for sure. If you like/love 'em, there isn't anything quite like a B&W. Did you find the Logans to fall somewhere in the middle?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yes, in terms of Martin Logan. I’m not sure what happened with KEF, all three speakers were connected to a Marantz Cinema 40. Matting Logan was lovely, but sounded a bit restrained to me and the mid range was nowhere near as clear and articulate as the B&W, KEF by itself was just super dull and maybe not boring sounding, but it was missing everything to me. I’m starting to suspect it just was setup incorrectly. But yeah, it had no mid range basically, the highs were barely there and the bass was just too boomy for me. B&W was just everything I like in a speaker. I have no idea how I’m going to power it without my Rotel, but I’m gonna have to figure something out, cause that sound was just butter, honey and some chili all in one package.
Hope you guys are well and enjoying your pool! 🏊
To me kef sounds so much better that those 702 signature. Anyway, I have revel f208 and to me its sound enought good. Salon2 it's my dream, but u don't find those anywhere in Finland 😔
@@Ragnarok20854 everyone has their own taste and ears, so long you enjoy it, the rest doesn’t really matter! I’ve never heard of the Salon2 so can’t say anything. I also never heard Revel speakers aside for one I wouldn’t remember the name of many years ago. I hope you find your dream speaker and get to enjoy it for a long time!
Thank you both for your great educational content.
What you said was really true. We don’t have to go out and buy the latest and greatest . because what we have can be great for the room size, listening volume and types of music.
When I was looking for an audio set up for my room I went to the local dealer and asked what he could offer. He didn’t even ask for my budget. He asked what was the room size , listening volume and genre of music and made a set up in the show room with a Rotel A11 tribute, B&W book shelfs and a sub from the same brand.
At that time I couldn’t afford them but I couldn’t forget the experience so eventually I managed to save some money and buy them after a while and still enjoy to this day. It’s enough for my listening and I have no plans of upgrading but I watch your show just because I am a fan of this hobby.
Kristi 💯: you weren’t cruising around with a stunt wall in your civic hatchback? 😂
Love the videos as always. Such an awesome
On-cam chemistry.
What's a stunt wall? I've never owned a Civic, but I love a good hatchback. Car companies don't make enough of them!
@@KristiWright love a good hatchback & a good euro station wagon.
Stunt wall is a wall of unnecessary amounts of subwoofers in place of a back seat. Great for hearing longevity and impressing sleeping neighbors. 😂
@@fakeklg Oh! I didn't know that had a name. My HS boyfriend had one of those in his Mustang. Yeah, those IMO are a waste of space. LOL.
That said, I had a six-disc CD changer in my trunk and an aftermarket detachable car stereo face thing, both of which were stolen in college. Thieves totally f'd up my car in the process. Instead of just breaking a window, they literally tried to crowbar the door open. I never replaced my system after that.
@@KristiWright oh wow. Yea, those are a throwback for sure. You was fancy if you had a six disc. Sucks you got broken in too.
And yea, stunt walls are for a type for sure.
Generally, good advice throughout the video and excellent advice in the FOMO section of the video. Thank you.
Hey Andrew and Christy! I Was wondering what your thoughts are on the Arendal 1528?
Kristi reached out and requested a pair for review, but to the best of my knowledge, Arendal has not returned her email or answered our requests.
@AkinWilliams - No response to my emails, and I know Andrew tagged Arendal in his last Instagram Q&A in response to a similar question from another follower, and no response there either.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews It will be interesting to see your thoughts on them compared to the SVS evolution pinnacle when you get them to review. Anyway keep up the amazing work. I have come to really enjoy your reviews over the past 4+ years!
@@AkinWilliams It would be interesting, but we are no longer pursuing Arendal for review. The proverbial ball is in their court!
@@KristiWright Awww I am really looking forwards to hearing if Andrew is still going to be waxing lyrical about the Ultra Evolution Pinnacle. I understand they are in two absolutely different price ranges but still i am intrigued!!
I have FOMO re: B&O theatre... Andrew with B&O speakers surely its insane?
When it comes to speakers, I think we've hit a point where the performance is approaching its peak. No matter how much the technology or design improves, there's only so much you can do before you reach a natural limit in terms of sound quality and efficiency. We've refined materials, tweaked acoustic designs, and enhanced amplification to the point that any further advancements will likely yield diminishing returns. That’s why it's becoming harder to make noticeable improvements at the high end of the market. As a result, manufacturers will likely start incorporating premium features into mid-range models, while phasing out the lower-end options. Prices for mid-to-high-range speakers will need to reflect this shift and, over time, may come down as these features become more mainstream.
Subwoofers are a different story altogether. We're just at the beginning with infrasonic subwoofers starting to make their way into the market, especially from companies like Ascendo. Their latest models have pushed the boundaries of low-frequency performance, and I believe that's what sent SVS back to the drawing board. After seeing Ascendo's subs at the audio shows, SVS likely realized that if they didn’t innovate and release their own infrasonic models, they risked losing a significant share of the market. This new wave of infrasonic technology is going to redefine what we expect from subwoofers, potentially making traditional in a way subs obsolete in a way It's going to step up expectations big time!
Sort of like what tactical sound transducers try to do back in the day
Totally disagree, you sound like my dad talking about cars in the late 80’s
It seems like every year speakers are getting better and better, you also have innovation on open baffles and integrated powered speakers where the party has literally just started
I would Kindly suggest you go to a dealer and listen to an wide array of speakers. Maybe then you would agree there are several quality classes of speakers.
Gotta (and I didn’t first) say, “comparison is (still) the enemy of contentment”
Andrew and Kristi, any thoughts on the Mofi SP 888? Will you be getting your hands on these?
I've been asking for it since it launched. In fact, I asked about it again today. Not sure why we haven't been sent them.
@@KristiWright hope you guys get them! I know you liked the SP 8
I've seen some personal home-assembled million dollar plus stereo playback systems (speakers, amps, cables, room acoustics, etc) which make you wonder what the benefit is of having a stereo system that is more expensive than the mastering equipment.
Also, in regards to "neutral speakers": Everything in the audiophile market is advertised as having a 'flat' frequency response. Amps, speakers, and everything. Everything is flat except the human ear which is multiple times more sensitive at midrange frequencies. Should equipment be designed with the human ear in mind, or should everything have a flat response??
Great episode, I was pleasantly surprised to hear you’re also a ThrottleHouse viewer :) Now, as for my question, I was wondering what your guys’ opinion on kit speakers is. I’ve always wanted to assemble one, as I’ve heard that DIY speakers usually punch way above their weight, which lead to me considering buying a pair of CSS Criton 1TD-X. I’m in a bit of a predicament though-I’ve watched some RUclips reviews praising them, but I’m unsure about buying speakers that I likely won‘t find anywhere for a demo listen. Any thoughts?
For me, I get bored. Boats, cars, houses, audio, women. Something new is always cool!
For Polk R700, Andrew mentioned that one only needs to invest a couple hundred dollars more in amplification to get the best out of the speakers. Which amplifier would that be? I am interested if there is something with an HDMI. I currently use R700 with Sonos Amp, which is hooked up to the TV.
I didn't know Sonos had an amp - it claims 125 Watts which is quite a bit but ASR's review wasn't great.
If you're using stereo Arc, there are a few units that Andrew has reviewed from Yamaha and other companies but they will set you back quite a bit. AVRs will work but they get very expensive very quickly especially in today's world.
Check out the bass on Das boot 2001 DJ Mellow-d remix after the 5th minute. It's the clearest bass demo I know that slams quickly and fades (although Kitaro's Matsuri is good too with the taiko drums). It also throws a lot of high frequencies to see how the unit handles with a combination of low and high frequencies.
Does it slam with authority at relatively loud volumes (85-90db)?
@@techsamurai11 I listened to the song at 85db and did not notice anything wrong. Sorry if that does not help much, but I usually don't listen to that high volume. However, there was no distortion and nothing to say the speakers reached their limit. From that point of view, I would say that Sonos AMP can drive R700. Did I enjoy it more then at lower volume? No, but again, I do not enjoy listening to music that loud in general.
@@youngwolfaxl low frequencies require more wattage - high frequencies use much less. I don't listen that loud either.
But if you liked the bass with that song, then I have a feeling that Sonos can drive the R700s well especially if it can hit low frequencies at high volumes without sounding strained.
I went through that. At the end, I settled with an AX35 with a Bluesound node, and a pair of Q acoustics 3030i. I didn’t like that match until I moved to a different place. It sounds and looks nice. I’m pretty happy now. My goal now is to make what I have better as much as I can. Maybe get the matching cd player and turntable and take a break. Unfortunately, we humans are never satisfied. But when it comes to Ice cream, I always stay with chocolate ice cream.
The best way to avoid FOMO is to know what you love, with specifics. I’m always waiting for a new speaker that fits what I love. Honestly still haven’t found it. I have mid 80’s Klipsche Forte’s running on a Hitatchi SS receiver, this combo is basically irreplaceable. The live sound and energy is unmatched by even $10k speakers. Still on the hunt! However, in my office which is small I have been delighted by the Sonus Faber Lumina II’s w a NAD M10 v2 and a REL sub. For the space these sound awesome, very live and energetic but even more precise than the Klipsche. Just a much smaller speaker and no horn so totally different ball game but keep me happy while I work.
Good evening. What amp did you use during the a/b comparison of the Kef and Svs?
Yamaha 2000A and Cambridge Audio's new integrated amplifier.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Nice. Thanks 😊
@@Kukkema Be sure to watch the entire KEF review for more info. The link to that video is provided in the description.
@@KristiWright Sure will👍🏼 By the way, couple of days ago I watched the departed and couldn’t figure out where I’ve seen the girl playing the girlfriend of Matt Damon before? And then it hit me, I think she looks like Kristi from the recovering audiophile 😊 Hope it doesn’t offend you, since I haven’t seen that much of you. Just a fun little story.
All the best from Copenhagen.
G'day Andrew and Kristy, I'm a new sub to you, really enjoying your content, and a quick question for you, here in Australia we get massively shafted with prices EG to go with SVS Evo line it'll cost $25k but for an amateur like me would a Wharfdale 240 set for $6k be a good buy or is there something better for that kind of money as I just can't justify $25k? Cheers!
If that (240) is the same as the Diamonds from Wharfedale, I would not pay $6K for them. Those cost $600/pair here. It's hard to advise you because of how much more you pay in Australia.
@@KristiWright G'day Kristy, Thanks so much for getting back to me and yes it is the Diamond 240 full 5.1 set and I understand that it's hard, I've seen full 5.1 sets for sale on Amazon that they can't send to here, for less money than it costs us just for the centre channel! Sorry I made a mistake too both the prices I quoted included a Denon X3800H which is $2500 here. Making the Whafedale's $4140 even the Jamo 8 series here with 807 towers is $4002 for the full 5.1 set.
It's just so frustrating trying to find something half decent that won't completely bankrupt me whilst doing so!
Anyway I'm loving your channel and keep up your awesome work!
@@Excalabur50 I think I understand. So these prices include the speakers and the receiver? Can you get Q Acoustics there? Are speakers made in Europe/UK more affordable?
@@KristiWright Hi Kristy Thanks for getting back to me again, yes I can get Q Acoustics here a 5040 set with amp is $7999 and I know how much you like the Q's and this might be a good inbetween of the SVS and the Whafedales whilst being better than the latter, and I might try for these. I was originally going to use a Marantz Cinema 50 after watching your and Andrews review but it's a $1000 more than the Denon, and I'm not sure it's a $1000 better, my other issue is I'm buying speakers unheard, as to hear them I need to drive over 120km or 74 of your miles, some are interstate, so over 1000km away and there's no guarantee they've got them set up for listening.
THANKS KRISTI, and ANDREW 🤗 I HOPE ALL IS WELL 💚💚💚
Right back at ya!
Hey Andrew and Kristi! I love your conversations and comments. Would love some advice. A year ago I bought QA 3030i and connected them to Denon rcd - m41. Somehow I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of the sound QA can provide. I don't want to change speakers because where would it end😂! I don't want to be FOMO! Although there are certainly better ones. Do you have a recommendation for a $500-$800 amp that would go with the QA? By the way, I live in Croatia, so you know you are everywhere🤣 Thanks for the effort and thoughts you share with us!
Last speakers standing; downsize from far too many speakers (27) to a smaller home and keep one pair or spend out on something different? I would throw in that going forward and not wanting repair bills it has to be recent or new. I love my floor standing speakers but would lean heavily to keeping a pair of Beosound Levels. The software updates have over come the initial short fall to being everything for all situations even if low latency for computer and video watching could still be better/easier to do what I would like (sans getting a Beosound Theatre) they are just so flexible and so close to speakers costing nearly 5 times as much with differences I can accept for the gains of discrete, portable and very high quality audio experience. Not only the last speaker but also the last hi-fi system as separates amplifiers and sources all go as well.
On a seperate topic. Do you have any interest in reviewing the new Klipsch Core 300, with the new surrounds and 12” sub, now that it comes with Dirac which is pretty cool for a sound bar
We were sent the Core when it first launched. After a couple of months, we returned the product because there were several issues that Klipsch had no fix for and no timetable for correcting those issues. Since some of these issues were the same as the ones we raised in our 1200 review, we didn't see the point of covering another Klipsch soundbar that wasn't ready for public sale. We asked them to update us if anything changed, and so far, there has been no communication from the brand about that product.
Best way to avoid FOMO in hifi would be to stop engaging with hifi content. Stop going to your usual social media audio communities. The less exposed you are the better. Just pretend they don't exist anymore. Out of sight, out of mind.
best way to demo them is to go to a convention. There is a convention called Axpona in Schamberg IL every year and it is massive. They take up a hotel and each room is a listening center.
I have always thought kef are a little harsh being knit picky you have to tame them with a sweater amp I do prefer a morel type mid
I dont understand why people think that buying something and then learning that something else is either the same or a bit better latter on is a waste. I spent close to $55K setting up a 5.2.4 martin Logan set up anchored by a AV and AMP 10 two years ago and even with newer stuff coming out there is nothing that make me regret my purchase. I could of waited and gotten a Bravia 9 instead of the X95K or spent less and not gone with a AV and AMP 10. After you are happy with a sound its irrelevant what else comes out. Focus on what you enjoy and go from there
I just bought polk r400 and r600's. I have the pioneer lx-305. Im trying to talk myself out of a new reciever. Damn its hard too lol. I know me and im prob gonna fold. I had to buy the polks as the sale right now is incredible. Im not disappointed neither. I also have 2 um18's i built so i didnt need subs.
Team formation duos here I will go as far as to say that Bowers and Wilkins did it first albeit a power speaker with the formations when they integrated other parts into one package
Very cool video. Nearly an hour & it flew by.
Keep up the good work!
Join the Audio Science Review forum and circlejerk with all the guys that nothing could sound better than your current gear in a double dog blind test.
That and a WiiM pro and room correction. Nyquist theorem jadie jadda. Muh measuremaments!!11