[James Romeyn]

Today heard Usher's latest current version (not the earlier version) $15k BE10, maple finish, circa 10" 3-way all dynamic system.  Got to listen for about an hour, my favorite CD's, w/ the circa $4k 60W Genesis tube integrated dual KT88, TRL CDP (tops), Stan Warren recipe interconnect, Pro-Gold treatment applied, unknown speaker cable....space was treated, hard to judge quality of the space but I'm sure it was at least OK....

Short version: Dr. D'Appolito is not gaining on Brian as far as performance is concerned, not even at 4x the cost...nothing to be concerned about....Very good for a dynamic system, but more of the same in comparion to the best ribbon/hybrid systems (read VMPS): hazy, lower resolution, image focus & stability was good, but missing the air around the images, less clarity to the edges of the stage, etc, etc.  How bout this: Far fewer goosebums...some, but not enough!

Enclosures: Usher looks better/ more impressive in the extremely bright full color glossy mags.  I liked the shape of the front baffle & the unique cabinet shapes & horizontal grooves.  This is nutz, but I like my Bud Bailey RM30 piano black cabinets better, at least when the CDW are attached.  The Usher shapes are interesting, but very little grain in the veneers, & lower cost satin or maybe even lower gloss level.

My 2c.  It was fun though, & I'm glad I had the chance.  BTW, the Genesis integrated kicks butt.  Stuning piano black ultra high-gloss finish everywhere...appeared to be manual volume only though, via large detents....

Hey, the guy there was Harry Pearson's ex-equipment manager.  He says using a remote on your equipment decreases sound quality.  Try selecting a cut on your CDP manually on the faceplate, then compare to the remote & tell me what happens.  I know from experience, if you put a CD in pause, the longer you leave it there the better it sounds when you resume play.

[KJ]

Jim,

Which Usher model did you listen to specifically?  Also, what color was the finish?

-KJ

[James Romeyn]

Heck if I know the model, $15k/pr MSRP, they can't have several models at that price can they?  Light cherry veneer, but not a lot of grain happening anywhere....& like I said, kind of a dull satin finish, that does nothing to show off the nice curves & horizontal grooves.  

It's ironic hearing speakers designed by guys like Dr. D'Appolito, his credentials are listed with his picture on a huge color poster at the store, (credentials up the wazoo)....then Brian builds something better for almost exactly 1/4 the cost (at $3900, .26 to be exact), more handsome/smaller cabinet, cabinet built in Asia but otherwise assembled here.  Probably one advantage of the Usher is slightly lower bass cutoff but will tell better when we do a direct A-B later after I get my new MLS  RM30CM-CDW.........Whew!  How's that for a moniker?  The 6.5" Megas are extremely punchy & clean in the midbass, probably better/quicker/cleaner than the Usher.  

You guys will not believe the finish on the latest MLS high-gloss piano black cabinets.  They look like dewdrops, like the cabinets were literally dipped in the blackest black then slowly pulled out like a chocolate dip cone (always thinking of food).   I've seen Steinways up close many times when Sherman Clay sold them, Wilson Audio's best over & over (they were built 15 mins from my home before they moved to UT; my daughter went to school with his son & knew him pretty well, I've helped him at CES a few times).  This is the highest quality piano finish I've seen, & not by a small margin.  

You'd have a tough time getting something to look like this in the USA even if you paid $5k just for the finish.

Oh, my practically free Stan Warren recipe interconnects absolutely made the $200 Tara "Labs" sound like they were, um...broken, like a different performance altogether.  I simply nodded my head when the store employee made his verbal report.

[KJ]

Heck if I know the model, $15k/pr MSRP, they can't have several models at that price can they? Light cherry veneer, but not a lot of grain happening anywhere....& like I said, kind of a dull satin finish, that does nothing to show off the nice curves & horizontal grooves.

Perhaps it was one of the previous generation models from the Dancer line.  The newer Dancers (BE-10 is around that price point) come in maple (very light), birch (medium red hue) and walnut (dark).  They had the prototypes of the BE-10 and BE-20 at CES.  Although they do cost significantly more, I thought the fit and finish was very well done.  YMMV.  Usher does not manufacture a high-gloss finish (in that series) like the MLS piano-black.

I've had the pleasure to audition both manufacturer's speakers.  Out of respect to Brian's circle, I won't comment on the sound since I help a custom dealer who can sell each.  However, I think they are very different sounding speakers.  That said, I believe both are worth gracing someone's audition list.

-KJ

[James Romeyn]

I liked the Usher, nothing wrong with it other than the hazy overall texture IMO vs. the RM30-CDW.  I think the image stabilty is similar, both highly musical but the VMPS more so.  So far, I have not found a cone/dome system I'd prefer to the RM30-CDW, or any system for that matter (as long as a good sub is employed).  

I am very interested to see the dealer's response if/when we get to do a direct A-B of the two systems later.  I won't have mine till about 10 days after they arrive at port.  Will also hopefully do a direct AB of the Lectuer CDP vs. the TRL modified Sony 900 (THAT will be at least as interesting).  The TRL made a $1800 tube output CDP sound like a completely different performance by Stevie Ray Vaughn, like a different venue altogether.  The guy from the store had the exact same response as me, before I said anything.  

Look, I am crystal clear of the audio bias after we invest money in stuff, so I absolutely filled myself with self doubt about all the comparisons.  But when a guy I only met one other time, I don't remember his name, he is Harry's ex-equipment manager, mouths EXACTLY what I hear before I open my mouth, that's encouraging (he's much younger and I'm sure his ears are better).

I'll find out which exact model & vintage it was & post later.

[John Casler]

 But when a guy I only met one other time, I don't remember his name, he is Harry's ex-equipment manager, mouths EXACTLY what I hear before I open my mouth, that's encouraging (he's much younger and I'm sure his ears are better).
...

Harry Pearson's ex-set up man is Scot Markwell.

Last I heard, Scot was working with Michael Hobson and Classic Records in Hollywood.

[James Romeyn]

John
Do you mean to imply that the number of people accurately holding the title of Harry Pearson's ex-equipment manager is a sum total of one?  (Harry's been at this for a half century or so.)  If so, how'd you get that info?

[John Casler]

John
Do you mean to imply that the number of people accurately holding the title of Harry Pearson's ex-equipment manager is a sum total of one?  (Harry's been at this for a half century or so.)  If so, how'd you get that info?

Harry told me, that last time I talked with him.

He certainly has a new guy since Scot, but he said Scot was the master, and knew his preferences best.

[James Romeyn]

Scot just confirmed the source is legit (not that I ever thought differently).  I'm sure I can & will get fooled again, but at age 52 your feelers get working pretty well, if you know what I mean.  

Current model BE10, not the older version, direct from CES, the only pair in the USA according to the source, maple finish (now you know not to ask me to correctly identify a wood veneer).  

So apparently, outside Usher employees & associates, the only persons who have heard that paricular model/vintage are those that heard them at CES &/or persons who heard them at the store they are now located in.

The bass was slightly plump, my guess because of the transformer-coupled tube amp's lower damping factor.  Easily fixed with a larger port (ala more mass on the VMPS pr).  I have no idea how or why boutique manufacturer's of high-end speakers w/ ports can get away without offering at least one optional port length aimed at tube afficianados.  It was refreshing to see Wilson offer different ports for the WATT way back in the late '80s.  He was the first to offer beards too, as far as I know (I think they were $1500 back then!)

[James Romeyn]

I've had the pleasure to audition both manufacturer's speakers.  ...

Was the CDW attached to the RM30, & at least some system retuning performed?  So far, every report I know of from the CDW Beta-testers (including myself), expresses big performance improvements.  In spite of a competing manufacturer's immature sarcasm about John Casler's original emphatic statements about CDW improvements, it turns out John's report was pretty accurate or dead on, at least IMO.

[KJ]

Was the CDW attached to the RM30, & at least some system retuning performed? So far, every report I know of from the CDW Beta-testers (including myself), expresses big performance improvements. In spite of a competing manufacturer's immature sarcasm about John Casler's original emphatic statements about CDW improvements, it turns out John's report was pretty accurate or dead on, at least IMO.

I listened to them at CES with the CDW, so I would have to assume they were tuned appropriately per Brian's instructions.

[James Romeyn]

B mentioned he might have desired a bit more treble output, but kept it as it was in deference to the other two vendors with which he shared the room expenses.  Also there was apparently a 60 Hz room mode (though not too severe by my estimation).  Room modes should & will hopefully be eliminated next show with the Rives or Behringer components.

THE Show vendors won't have the advantage of leaching off CES attendees in '07 because CES moved to a far away venue.  Potentially bad for THE Show vendors who prepaid for '07.