[genjamon]

I'd be interested in any thoughts of the strengths and weaknesses of this speaker.  I might have a line on some local ones, but this would be a big step up in cost and performance for me, and I'm trying to weigh whether it's the right direction to go.  I will have a chance to listen in the seller's rig next weekend, but thought I'd ping AC in the meantime.  I've been using Tekton Lores for several years, but I have sufficient amp power in the Ncore 400's to go with lower efficiency and fullrange.  But I do like the immediacy of high efficiency and mostly fullrange transducers, and listen to a significant amount of rock and indie music.  Some small ensemble indie folk, but not very much jazz or classical.  The magazine reviews seem to say these speakers will rock well if asked to, but what do you guys think?

Others I've been pondering would be used Daedalus, GR Research Super V's, or maybe some used Living Voice.

[Letitroll98]

I had a very brief listen at a dealer a few years ago.  They are beyond my price range so I didn't ask to hear them, the store owner wanted to show off what he thought was the most amazing speaker in his shop.  So my comments would be limited to seemingly unrestrained dynamics, definitely full range, and a pleasant tonal balance.  Something akin to the Wilson Audio Sasha, but with a bit more soul.  I seem to remember he said they needed a lot of room to breath, but that was quite a while ago, could have been some other speaker.  In any case way, way different than any full range driver speaker I've ever heard.  You lose the intimacy in exchange for bombast, but in a good way if that what you want.  For that money I'm sure you could arrange for a home audition, which would be my recommendation after the shop visit.       

[genjamon]

Thanks for the feedback.  This is second hand in a guy's home, and a two hour drive from me, but just a few miles from my parents' home.  He'd be giving me a deal to not have to hassle with shipping.  Home audition would be awesome.  Maybe I can get him to give me a trial period.  At least I'll be able to hear them in his system, and I might bring my monoblocks along for the ride.  Bringing the Dude as well would be a bit much, though. 

[genjamon]

Oh, and I do think bombast with the ability to be intimate is what I seek.  That's what immediately attracted me in the Lore over my previous Hornshoppe and Omega speakers.  They simply had scale for rock that the others understandably couldn't muster, but also kept enough of the high efficiency magic in the midrange.  I'm attracted by the reviews that say the Andra has more soul than the Wilson equivalents, which I'm hoping means they retain enough of the midrange magic/immediacy somewhat akin to my experience with the high efficiency crowd.

[shahed]

I've never heard any Eggleston speaker. But last year when I was speaker shopping, it was high on my list. But  decided to not try them as they need quite some space to breathe. But I keep hearing good things about Eggleston speakers.

I mostly listen to indie rock and some classic rock. So, I can tell you to audition Daedalus speakers. I ended up buying a Daedalus Ulysses. Couldn't have been happier. In my opinion, dynamics is a must if you listen to indie/rock. Daedalus has it in spades. I'm sure so does Andra II. But Daedalus has that soul/immediacy to go along with the gut/dynamics. Worth an audition if you can.

[genjamon]

Thanks, Shahed.  Daedalus has definitely been on my "watch list" for good second-hand for a while.  The new Pan model is at the upper end of my price range new, so unfortunately the Athena is a bit beyond what I can afford.  I'm not sure if Pan would be enough for rock in my medium-sized room, though, as it seems more designed as a near-field monitor style.  There were a couple DA-RMa's on Audiogon early in the summer, but I didn't quite have the funds put together at that time.

My room is 12X22X8, with system on short dimension, and listening couch 2/3 of the long dimension.  I can pretty easily allow 3 ft and maybe a bit more to rear wall, but side walls are about 18-24 inches from speakers.  But I have quite a bit of room treatments - bass traps in corners, absorption along front wall, diffusion at first reflection points.  Carpeted room.  Substantial opening at right rear of listening position to dining room.