I was anxious to hook up Zephrin 46 after Newport THE Show, and replace Dream Maker LCS.
Smaller LCS speakers soon replace the first edition/larger LCS...we also work on a "Power Amp/Controller" to sell with separate LCS speakers, to allow owners of any pre-existing speakers to add the LCS speakers and the Power Amp Controller. The 150Wpc Power Amp/Controller includes volume, speaker level inputs, a "Decorrelator" switch (on/bypass) and 3-D Bass Mode Cancelling switch that inverts polarity of L or R ch LCS (or bypass). The LCS delay is so long relative to on-axis output that inverting LCS polarity is inaudible in the mid/treble. But inverting its polarity damps bass modes because of its different geographic location relative to the other three bass sources. No other speaker in the world offers such feature except a Distributed Bass Array. It's very cool, and works as advertised very well.
Back to Zephrin 46 vs. Dream Maker LCS. I can't say for sure, but presume DM LCS is more refined simply because of its more costly drivers. But I'm positive I prefer Zephrin 46 over the front half of DM LCS, also known as Jazz Module 2.0.
Since I set up Z 46 after Newport, I still notice absolutely no negative artifact or signature. I do enjoy the lower cutoff of my Distributed Bass Reflex Array, but could and would live without the subs if I had to.
IMO the two speakers priced around $5k/pr most likely to compete directly with Z 46 are Revel's $5k/pr Performa3 F208 and Sandy Gross' $5k/pr Goldenear Triton One Tower. I plan to hear both of these models at the first opportunity.
I would imagine F208 has slightly deeper bass cutoff, and Triton lower still. Both might have ever so slightly more resolution and/or refinement of fine detail. But till I hear differently, based on my sum total listening experience, I presume Z 46's image and spatial effects outperform both F208 and Triton One.
Over the past couple years, I'm only more and more convinced LCS radiation pattern provides the best image and stage performance, especially vs. regular mono pole pattern in a speaker in the same price range.
Another LCS advantage is that no other stereo speaker system provides this level of phantom center ch performance. As a HT Front array, two Zephrin 46 outperform any known Front LCR array of speakers, because LCS front depth of field and stage size and image height is so much more compelling. HT speaker systems, especially the front array, are generally engineered for almost no reverberant field, relying on side and rear surrounds for depth of field. But think about surround speaker locations. They can increase the front depth of field in front of the Front LCR, but not behind them.
This is the first stereo set to make you actually forget about LCR array for HT.
Even if Triton One has digital bass EQ, I presume Z 46's 3-D bass damping results in smoothest bass throughout the entire listening room, not just at mic locations.
Plus, as a package, adding amplifier cost to the mix, Z 46 comes out ahead vs. both models. Even though Triton One requires amp for only it's mid/treble, I'd bet lunch money it's impedance curve and phase angle requires more current and voltage vs. Z 46.
