Got these up and running and listened for 4 hours last night.
Couple disclaimers:
1. While I am a reviewer and Danny is a friend of mine, nothing was paid or given to me to influence my thoughts or opinions about these speakers. In fact, the only "deal" or discount that was given to me was Danny honoring the same price that Rythmik quoted me for the plate amps. (20% off). Besides this, I did get a small break on the flat packs from Jay and Don but nothing to get excited about.
2. One of the drivers (M165NQ's) was DOA so these impressions are only taking into consideration that 2 of the 4 drivers are wired up and working. The picture is misleading because it appears all the drivers are working.
3. Im using temporary cheap wire right now, nothing is soldered.
4. Keep in mind, I am coming to you with impressions of both the Oticas and the servo subs as a package. I dont think anyone getting the Oticas is planning on using them without subs and that is for a good reason. While the Otticas play pretty low in room and would cover 85% of the entire spectrum, you must have something to help below 60hz.
Listening Impressions:
Treble:
The top end of the Otica's remind me of what I love so much about my Anthony Gallo 3.1s but push the limits to the extreme. Due to the physics involved of the Oticas being 2x taller than the Gallo 3.1s, the top end extension sounds more lively and natural in terms of height. With the Gallos, splashes and crashes can sound somewhat short and these limitations are nowhere to be found with the Oticas. In fact, contrary to what I was worried about with the tweeter being substantially higher than ear level, the cymbal hits and top end of everything was coming straight at me at or just above ear level. This goes to show the dispersion and off axis of those Neo tweeters is no laughing matter. In regards to top end tone, the Oticas make the Gallos sound delicate and polite, almost "toy like" as opposed to the way something should sound. While checking out something aggressive and rocking, cymbals hit with authority and sounded ballsy like I experienced with the Spatial M3s but there is one key difference: forgiveness. Because Danny nailed these drivers/networks, you have little to no stored energy on top so when the strike happens on the cymbal, thats all you get. At no point in the 4 hours did I feel tired of fatigued and this was approaching 87-92db listening levels at times.
Midrange:
The midrange and midband on the Oticas is superbly crafted. Tones and textures of vocals pick fights with anything I have ever heard. With well recorded material, you are rewarded with micro details in the human voice that will freak people out (These Bones - Fairfield Four). Male vocals have meat on the bones when they should and female vocals sound smooth as butter without a trace of grain, grit or edginess. All midband instruments ranging from electric to acoustic guitars will have you convinced you are listening to speakers that cost as much as a car. With the open baffle wedged design, this gives instruments the weight and heft needed to avoid sounding paper thin and presents material with substance that portrays all the benefits of a box speaker without the negative effects of being stuffed inside a box.
Bass:
Simply put, the most musical sounding bass I have ever heard by a country mile. Deep? Uh, yeah... in the teens and with authority! For the knuckleheaded baboons that say Danny is full of himself when he claims these play flat down to 20, allow me to make this perfectly clear. You have no idea what bass is supposed to sound like until you hear these. Yes, they play that low and yes, they play flat (I have measured them). Are there some caveats? Sure, the plate amp settings are confusing as heck and the subs must be pulled into the room 3 feet or more. Other than that, these could be the most realistic sounding subwoofers on the planet. Also, the integration to the Oticas blends better than peanut butter goes with jelly. At no point could I figure out where the subs were located and more important, where they handed over the work to the Oticas.
Ill save the rest for the video review when I cover these but I can say without reservation, I don't know of any loudspeaker at or around $4k that would even come close to what this system is capable of performing. I have heard speakers that cost as much as a car that cant compete.
