Brand new Spatial Sapphire M4, the 1st 15 Minutes impressions.On Saturday 29.01.2022 I tested positive for COVID. 3 Days after the 1st signs of COVID.
On Monday 31.01.22 Spatial M4 Sapphires delivered to my drive way.
Happily :thumb:I was notified in advance of their arrival by the delivery company. Bravely I fortified my inner person for the auspicious occasion. Munching on 3 Sto-pain tablets which I washed down with a triple espresso. Press on Brave Soldier I stuttered whilst fighting back a sneeze.
Eyes red, rolling like a chameleon in breeding season I appraised the big boxes being offloaded. Thinking to myself, “these things are big and will be difficult to handle”. Soon i found myself sucking on a strepsil to calm the coughs (I sound like a mistuned v8). I set about the sweaty job curtsy my friendly COVID to assemble the pair. Surprisingly easy to unbox for one man with COVID I discovered. In addition easy, really easy to install the footplate (“Suppose maybe I am not that sick after all?”. “Smile Mr”, I murmured to myself. “You had two Vaccines”). With a Huff and a Puff (ok I am lying, make that ten) they were playing with in the hour. A couple of huffs more, and less puffs than previously, I cleared the stage for their moment in the sun. The setup is not ideal at all in my lounge. Half my household goods stashed here due to renovations. Cramped for space etc, TV in-between.) They are not set up in the right spot either. All just make shift to hear the obvious “difference in sound” at start-up.
Quick comparison Sapphire M4 vs Polk lSiM 707“My Eyes can’t see Nobody” Bee Gees, the 1st track on hand.( NUDGE NUDGE WINK WINK) Out of the box the Sapphires sounds a bit smaller in sound, almost like there is less, but for the 1st time I hear voices in the mix I never heard. More airy, more open. Better instrument separation. Percussion sounds less smeared at the end of each strike. But less, like it needs a bit more body.
Treble. More “Bright” but weirdly nor sharp or harsh on the ear, only on certain passages does it seem to err towards too bright. Most people will likely never pick it up but it seems highlighted in certain passages the other areas is most acceptable. I am hypersensitive to bright, sharp or piercing sound. (Nope I am not unique; many/most audiophiles are hypersensitive to it.) The 707’s have silk dome tweeters.
Mids.More defined than the 707’s. Yet the 707’s seem to sport more warmth.
Perhaps a bit less substance than the LSiM 707?
Bass.Less pronounced than the LSIM 707’s, weirdly I do not find them seriously lacking in bass in this situation. Will I want more bass? Yes, oh yes, I want more bass! However the Bass comes over across as more “defined” and “clean” which is good for the male auditory system, Unlike woman we battle a bit with separation and placement within a group of noises. Seems when Noise filters were handed out the guys was playing golf.
Final ThoughtsOverall conclusion at 15 minutes of playing with tintus in the left ear drum and Covid bashing the right? The Overall M4 sound signature gives the impression of more balance, more coherency, yes, more free. Even without proper setup there is more soundstage and better instrument placement.
At 1st the M4 sound is “less of a statement”. It does not mean inferior? Nope, not at all. There just seems to be more meat on the bones with the 707’s Like the one is a medium roast Coffey and the other Dark.
Keep in mind in general the Polks LSiM 707 get quite a bit of love as stereo speakers. They upscale sound particularly well as you improve on front end gear by all accounts.
Anyhow, I realize I am in for a 500 hour plus stint. With up and downs, same a COVID. We ride the wave, and bravely press on, what else?
18h45.
Chris Rea. “You can go your own way” Just noticed the presentation is more get up and dance along compared to how it sounds on the 707’s. And that i like.
Gear usedCurrently Speakers Driven with Aragon Palladium’s 1k. Pre Amp Freya+ Cd Player CEC TL51XR
Waiting for LTA Z40 I Ref +. ETA Feb if production goes well
Lampizator Amber. Present for a couple of months. Have not even opened the box yet.
Anticables 3.1 Present, but not yet connected. The 3.1’s will have their work cut out for them. They are up against a pair of Harmonic Technology Pro-9 Reference External Bi-wire speaker cables. The Harmonic cables floored my jaw the 1st time I heard it. Especially, since I too believed it to be impossible for cable to make much of a difference. Was I wrong?!
Will add some stuff as it gets time to perculate….
