Bought these speakers, as i wanted to experience what open baffle was about. The sound reminds me of the best attributes of classic British speakers combined with that box-less presentation of Magnepans. A very easy to drive speaker that can work with an 8 wpc tube amp, a low power receiver, or a 200 watt solid state beast of an amp.
The speakers use 2 Sterling Silver co-ax drivers with the optional open back frame, which is a $300 upgrade. Crazy price, but where are you going to get it? This makes the speaker a true di-pole design, as all drivers will have a rear wave. There are two Auggie 10" bass drivers per panel. The co-ax uses the Radian diaphrams for a detailed top end. The crossover network is a custom build package with Alpha Core ribbon wire air core coils, Clarity capacitors, and Millls wire round resistors. The baffles are a modular custom build by Mike Kelley and are works of art.
What you got in this package is $2200 worth of drivers. A custom crossover that would cost $300 in parts if built today. A baffle that Mike built one of, and fire sale priced at $1100 in this package. So this is a legitimate $4000 speaker. You will need a plate amplifier to run the bass drivers, as an electronic crossover is needed for the bass section.
The sound reminds me of what is the best attributes of British speakers, a full and pure midrange, a top end that is clear and smooth, and a full bass that does not boom or lag. The sound stage is just huge, and well focused. The bass from an open baffle speaker is unique and refreshing, as it has an attack and decay that is not present in a traditional box speaker.
Two things to consider. The baffle does have a small crack, as the Wenge wood has a propensity to do this, its an odd wood. This is not a structural issue, as the front baffle is there for basically cosmetics. The drives are mounted to a rear plate that is isolated from the front with Hawthorne's green rope caulk material. You cannot see the flaws from more than a foot away, and you got to be looking for them. But still, I am not a wood worker, and a more talented person could make them disappear. But this is why the speakers are priced so affordably, they are used, and it is a cosmetic flaw.
Secondly, I would give preference to a local sale of some arrangement. These are works of art, and I would hate to see them damaged. But, they are a stackable baffle, and can be disassembled. If you are willing to pay for the materials and time to ship, I may be persuaded to do that. But that is something that cannot happen in a day, it would take a bit of time to source all the materials to do so. Wouldn't be cheap either, as we are talking some big boxes.
Price is $1100 for $4000 speaker system.
