Audio boredom has gained the upper hand and I've decided to do what I never thought I would- I'm relisting the best stand mount I've ever owned. The sound is marvelous and the mahogany burl finish is to die for.
When I bought them I wanted the same quality as my $10k+ floorstanders in a smaller system, and these deliver just that, with diminished low bass and volume capability.
The most popular model ever for the small Nova Scotia company, they are very rarely seen for sale.
This robust stand mount uses a 7" Seas Excel Nextel cone woofer coupled to a side mounted passive radiator, and the latest version of the amazing 50MM wide range driver the late Ted Jordan pioneered, in a time aligned configuration. This is a no compromise 2 way, as each driver is working well within its' optimum range.
Their size is 18hx11dx9w, weight about 30 lbs. ea.
Note on color: the pics are more orange and a bit lighter than the speakers themselves. The speakers are a bit darker, and more brown than the pics show.
Discussion here:
https://forum.audiogon.com/search/index?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=melaWhat do they sound like? The Jordan based drivers have extreme linearity over a huge range, +- 1 db from 150hz. to beyond audibility. They are very fast but also very clean and smooth. They sound like a good 'stat or ribbon. The Seas Excel woofer is also very flat and low distortion. Combined at a very comfortable 1800- 2khz. or so, they are fast, detailed and open, but with engaging midrange body as well. They blend very well. They throw a 3D image well outside the speakers, and are smooth and easy on the ears. System response in the important range where most music lives is +- 1.5 dB from 200 Hz - 7000 Hz. Efficiency is medium at 87.5 dB 1W/1m. I've had good results with 30 WPC in a small to medium room, but with this level of resolution quality counts on the front end.
These were purchase new in 2013. I am the second owner. I've owned these about 4 years, a VERY long time for me - possibly a record for the 275 pairs of quality speakers I've owned. I listen to them nearly every day in my 10x12 foot office and love every minute. They are the finest stand mount speaker I've ever heard in my 51 years in this hobby, and that is saying a lot.
FWIW, as context for that statement, I've used over 30 models of > $1500 stand mounts over the decades in my office. My favorites have been (in order of preference):
LaHave Mela, Selah Tempesta, Volent VL-2, Selah "mini-Verita" Scanspeak/RAAL monitors, Event Opal studio monitors, modded Revel M20, Merlin TSM-MME, Selah SSR, Buggtusel Cingulate, AAD silver and AAD 2001, all very fine speakers I could live with. Many of the others used in this room were very well known expensive models, but which fell below my standards and taste.
They are in near mint condition, with only stand marks on the bottoms and 1 or 2 nearly invisible marks elsewhere.
Used in a non-smoking house at moderate volumes in a small room.
They will ship in the very heavy wooden crate they came in, double boxed, ~ 100 lbs. shipping weight. I will include a pair of small open mesh screens for the tweeters should you wish to protect them, which do not mess with the sound much.
List price was $6500 new, and while expensive it is no more than any true competitor I know of, such as the Dynaudio C1, and this is less than 25% of the new price.
You will consider yourself lucky to own these jewels. I do.
Google LaHave Mela.
Thanks for having a look!
