Gallo Reference III's

JackD · « **on:** 22 May 2004, 07:00 pm »

With my interest peeked by the review 6 Moons, I have a pair of Gallo Reference III's coming in soon for a test drive. It intrigued me when Srajan, a former employee of Soliloquy, Meadowlark, and others and the owner of a ten times more expensive pair of Avant Guards, put the Ref III's in his main system and crated up the Duo's. At $2500 list, I figured they were worth listening to especially since I have an old friend who is a big CEDIA installer who was talking to the rep about the Micro's and Duet's as an alternative for people who like the small "Bose" size with better sound and not the proprietary electronics wizardry. These will be tested in the main dedicated system with the Reynaud Trente's and the Green Mountain Europas, both with and without the pair of Vandersteen 2WQ's. I will be set up similar to Srajan, with tubes on the mains and a solid state Belles on the dedicated sub input ( as opposed to his Bel Canto digital amp). Instead of the F-Mods used in the review, I will use the Vandersteen passive crossovers designed for the 100 ohm input of the Belles. This is a kind of "no risk" situation as the friend can just send them back if he or I don't like them and he can just deal in the smaller stuff. Has anyone else had a chance to listen to the Ref III's at all. Bound For Sound has a review upcoming and Marty has the RM-40's and the Silverline La Folias in house as a comparison.It will be interesting to see how these compare to my recollection of my since sold Reynaud Offrandes and Vandersteen 3A's

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 May 2004, 07:14 pm »

I heard the REF III's in a 7 channel setup yesterday at the Stereophile show. The Gallos were being driven by some Arcam gear (nothing esoteric or expensive) and had tons of slam and dynamics. It really is amazing how much more bass the III's had to my References and the Ref II's.

I had a nice long talk with Anthony Gallo and it sounds like he solved some of the issues that eventually forced me to sell my Gallos after 5 years of enjoyment:

1. Better integration of the tweeter to the midrange/bass.
2. Better overall dynamics.
3. Will fill a room better.
4. Don't need to be played loudly to send their best.

I am going to try and hear the speakers in a 2 channel setup at a local dealer.

If I was looking to spend between $2-5K on speakers, I would absolutely want to hear these before plunking down my money on anything else.

Keep us posted on your eval.

George

DARTH AUDIO · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 May 2004, 07:48 pm »

I heard them @ a store here in Chicago. I found them to be a little thin. The bass was a little weak(I do belive they need to be Bi-amped). I don't think the room set-up was very good in the Gallo's defence. I think I'll stay with the Von Schweikert VR-4jr's.

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 May 2004, 07:58 pm »

The VR 4 jr's were also very good at the show.

I don't believe the Gallos were biamped in the setup I heard yesterday.

I don't think you could go wrong with either speaker. For some though the price difference of almost $1500 might be a big factor.

George

WilliamL · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 May 2004, 08:03 pm »

Guys,

Heard both at the show too!

Those are both great speakers you are talking about! I love both. I wanted to put the VR4jrs in my living room setup but I don't think I have enough room. The Gallo's may be in here early as next week. Their sound and size makes them just perfect for me. (Remember that I am in a small place in NYC)

Best,
Bill

zybar · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 May 2004, 08:07 pm »

Bill,

Since both speakers seemed so small compared ot my RM 40's (definiteky not for most NYC apartments), I was under the impression that the VR 4 jr's weren't much bigger than the Gallos. Is that incorrect?

George

DARTH AUDIO · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 May 2004, 09:07 pm »

Bill, they both have about the same footprint. VR-4jr is 38"H x 8"W x 20"D
the Ref III is 35"H x 8'w x 16"D.. I seems to me that they cover the same footprint. My listening room at the moment is 24' x 17" x 9'.

WilliamL · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 May 2004, 09:47 pm »

Really? For some reasons the Gallos seemed smaller.

Yes. I like the sound of the VR4jrs better, but I am still leaning to getting the Gallos because of the price and fit in my apartment. Also, the Gallo speaks are more baby friendly for a number of reasons. Awww heck...I just don't know. I am still deciding.

Also good at the show were De Vore Audio Speakers, Focus, Totem, Joseph Audio, MBL, Piegas, and a few more. Rooms sounded better that they did at my last show, which was CES.

Best,
Bill

jlupine · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 May 2004, 10:01 pm »

I posted a review in the Critic's Circle.

Jan

DARTH AUDIO · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 May 2004, 10:07 pm »

Bill, the Gallo's give the impression of a smaller speaker when they have their grill cover off. I couldn't belive how small they looked when I saw them w/o their speaker cover. There is a $1500 cost difference. That might help the decision making process

Good Luck.

JackD · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 May 2004, 06:35 pm »

As I said originally the issue of whether or not the bass is a "little thin" with just one amp will not be an issue for me. I can either bi-amp with the Belles on the dedicated "Sub" terminal or high pass them off altogether to the Vandie sub's. I am more interested in the mids and highs as compared to the Reynauds and the Europas. I even high-passed the Offrandes and 3A's to the subs and neither of those speakers could be called bass thin or defficient. Like I said is kind of a no lose proposition for me under the circumstances. Have been wanting to try Bill's products for a while anyhow and this test may give me an excuse. They will be set up in a 15'x19x10' room for the evaluation.

Russtafarian · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 May 2004, 06:44 pm »

For what it's worth, I'm approaching my seven year anniversary with my Gallo Nucleus reference. To this day, I've heard nothing else (that I can afford) that delivers what these speakers do. If the new ones are better, then that is an accomplishment.

zybar · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 May 2004, 06:56 pm »

I had long talk with Anthony Gallo and he absolutely feels the new model addresses some of the short comings over the previous Ref I and II models (both of which I owned and loved).

You should go listen to a pair and see what you think.

I hope to do this very soon (my only listen so far was in a 7 channel HT).

George

WilliamL · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 May 2004, 10:41 pm »

Darth Said...

Quote

There is a $1500 cost difference. That might help the decision making process Good Luck.

[/b]

Yes, but don't forget that I can get dealer cost on either 'cuz I am like 'In the Industry'

(No. I am not a Gallo Dealer. Yet....)

zybar · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 May 2004, 10:58 pm »

Can I be in the industry too?

So I guess VS and Gallo have different markups, otherwise the difference would be the same...

George

DARTH AUDIO · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 May 2004, 12:13 am »

This hobby can drive one to drink

Don't mind if I do

I'm now looking at a custom design from Rick @ Selah? Around the same price as the VR-4jr.

mca · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 May 2004, 06:30 am »

Here's another bit of info on the the Reference 3, should be interesting when the full review comes out.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue13/galloreference.htm

Eric · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 May 2004, 08:07 pm »

Don't the Gallo's have an optional Bass Amp you can buy from them? What does it cost?

Val · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Jun 2004, 01:19 pm »

I got my latest issue of Bound For Sound in the mail this morning and went right away to read Marty's Gallo Reference III review. It wouldn't be fair to reproduce the review here, but he loved the speaker and considers it one of the three or so best he has ever reviewed. The only thing he didn't like about it is --as I had already guessed-- image height.

Val

zybar · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Jun 2004, 03:17 pm »

Val,

What were the other two?

I heard the Ref III's and I believe there is a lot of potential there.

Unfortunately the dealer setup and associated gear wasn't able to let them really shine. As I owned the Ref II's for 5 years I am pretty confident that the III's will be an improvement over the II's (which were no slouch themselves).

George