Just a quick word for now, but I wanted to follow up on Laura's comments regarding the AP crossover. I have now taken possession of my second pair of Ulysses speakers, although they are only about 30 hours old here.
I will write again about these incredible speakers, once I have more hours on them, but suffice it to say that my favorite speakers of all time are better and not by a little.
I received my new pair of Maple Ulysses with the AP option yesterday. If you are into natural woods, the look of this particular pair of speakers is stunning with Lou's unique and superlative craftsmanship.
After about 30 hours of breaking in, these loudspeakers, which were the best loudspeaker I had heard before the AP option, have, as Laura said, taken Lou's speakers to a whole new level of performance.
Out of the box, I didn't find them bright, but a little lean and dynamically constrained. They are no longer like that now and this is after only about 30 hours of play.
Compared to the "standard" Ulysses, the AP option allows greater sensitivity, which is now at about 98db, tighter and better defined bass which will have your room growling and your pants or skirts flapping if you listen to the right music loudly enough. They also have a clear and present midrange like I haven't heard since I owned a pair of of Beauhorn's many years ago driven by a Supratek 45/300B amp. Of course, they aren't colored like the horns, but they do have the same clarity, dynamic range and room filling air and presence.
By the way, I use and sell Herron Audio gear, including the VTSP-3A, VTPH-2 and Keith's M1's. TT is a Well tempered Amadeus GTA and Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua, courtesy of Mike Pranka. Digital source is a PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport and DAC. The M1's, with 150 watts a side, sound like 500 watts a side with these speakers. I wish I could be a dealer for Daedalus speakers, but Lou has chosen the correct route for his line, at least for now, and they offer incredible value for what he charges.
The imaging is also more precise, drawing comparisons with the best mini monitors I have ever heard, but with incredible size and scale. Everything I listened to this evening was precise, but with great depth and a wide lateral spread.
Tonality, which is one of the Daedalus calling cards, is still a little on the lean side, but decidedly not lean. Given the great change after just 30 hours and knowing Lou's track record as a speaker builder and guitar player, I am not worried about this. I understand from Lou that the speakers will continue to improve with a lot more hours on them, but if they didn't and stayed right where they are, I would be content with them.
One other thing I want to mention is the incredible beauty of Lou's cabinetry. This is my third pair of Daedalus speakers and I have indeed been taken off of the speaker merry go round, which presents a challenge for someone like myself who sells audio gear. I will try to post pictures soon, but they are so beautiful and each pair is handmade and unique. There are no two Daedalus speakers alike and to me, this and the beautiful, life like sound they produce, makes them a high end audio classic.
More to come later.