[gooberdude]

In this hobby, what kind of music lover wants a high-pitched sounding speaker?   

I realize a new speaker needs a few months of play before making any sort of rash judgement about its performance...but is this the part of this hobby that's subjective???

"yeah, it sounds thin but i like it that way..."     Do these people exist or are they forced to that line of reasoning because of ill-designed speakers???

Does this fall under the 'Wal-Mart' syndrome whereby we are forced to accept lesser-than-perfect stuff just 'cuz we can afford it?

I can fully understand those who don't want loud tight bass, but not having bass is a completely difft ball of wax in my newbie opinion.

[ctviggen]

In this hobby, what kind of music lover wants a high-pitched sounding speaker?   

The many people who buy B&Ws.  I've never heard a B&W that wasn't ear-piercingly bright to me.  Yet, tons of people like them.

[mcgsxr]

I really believe that presentation of sound is personal, that two people could hear the same gear, and not hear the same sounds.  I believe it, based on the experiences I have with my friends.  They have all heard my system, and not all love it (philistines!), and I have heard all theirs, and love a few of them.

My best friend and I built some speakers for him, with metal dome tweeters, and lovely 6.5 inch mids.  We totally agree on the way the Xover makes excellent bass and mids.  He loves the highs, I am often wishing to leave the room, especially with the stock iPod feeding an old Yamaha amp.  Playing with the variable loudness can create bearable conditions, but it is not a sound I would live with. 

He has loved them for 3+ years now.

So, not to completely stray from the intent of the thread (and thanks for the great insight both on the Blue Ridge and the GR speakers BTW), I think that there are speakers that sound different from others, and it is based on design, and perhaps even marketing.

Thanks again for the posting about a set of speakers I have heard of, but have never heard.

[alotaklipsch]

So anyone else hear these?

I'll admit that I was surfing ebay a week or so ago and found an auction for them.  It was still under reserve and sometimes I like to play "guess that reserve".  So I put in a test bid at well under what I'd been seeing them go for, but surprisingly it met reserve at $700 (+50 shipping).  I just knew someone would snipe me, but somehow it ended with me wining (although the pair over on Audiogon ending just a few minutes before went for over 1k).  I wasn't really planning on buy these specific speakers, but I do need another pair for the gameroom (I was leaning toward high eff though).

The owner was on a trip so it took a while before they shipped, but I'm not that far so I had them the next day.  They were actually packed pretty well (no fancy molded form fitting stuff, but the Styrofoam board was cut very nicely to size).  I was actually surprised with the size.  These are NOT mini-monitors regardless of what they are claiming on their site.  It is easily the biggest stand mount speaker I've had.  The light oak finish actually contrasts nicely to the bronze coloring of the mids and tweeter's accents.  It may be gaudy to some people, but I don't think it'd cause WAF issues for most people.

I first tested them on top of the den's GR Research A/V-3 pair.  Before everyone screams that is too high, the den system isn't about perfect acoustics in the sweet spot, but rather filling the common area (open to the kitchen and most of the ground floor) with music.  It doesn't have any room treatment and there is a very large acrylic tank on the right side, but realize that is common to both speakers.  It was funny seeing them on top A/V-3.  While nowhere near as high they are actually bigger in width and depth.  If it wasn't for an extra wide base I have on the A/V-3 this "monitor" would actually chew more floorspace than the current towers.  They were connected to the ASL MG15 integrated fed with a sb3 (using an elpac ps).  Because we were standing in the kitchen area the tweeters were about the right height (even though on top of the other speakers).  They sounded good, but didn't really blow us away.  Later I hooked up one of each speaker and played the Rives Test CD left and right only tracks.  I did use a RS meter to balance the volume when switching back and forth.  While they do sound good and had good detail, they are very thin compared to the A/V-3.  Apart from the "body" both speakers were pretty much on par.  The A/V-3 claim +/-1.5 dB vs BRSE claim of +/-1 dB.  The BRSE have a metal cone mid so maybe the "softer" cone of the A/V-3 helped out with the body.  If you were a metal cone fan (like Paradigms) then maybe you'd switch their placing.

I did later listen to them up in our bedroom with a SB2 and driven by both a 300b (using sb volume control) and a TVC/UCD400 amp.  The 300b gave them some much needed meat on the bones, but just didn't have enough juice.  The TVC/UCD400 was VERY clean and ultra crisp.  If you were a detail freak and wanted razor sharp note delineation then these BRSE with UCD and a TVC would be amazing.  Others would say it was extremely sterile.  For a short listening session of rock they were great (very punch and very clean/clear), you just would have to stop before listener fatigue sets in.  My son loved them and asked to crank them up again the next night and both of our kids danced around our bedroom.  Of course I won't let them dance and be wild around my Maggies and there isn't room in the den so I'm sure it was as much the "differentness" as liking the speakers.

I've still not put them down in the main system, but since I liked the A/V-3 better its pointless to compare them to my Maggies.  I'll drag them down there later though and run a measurement sweep.  I've got a professionally calibrated IBF-EMM8 measurement mic and ETF (now called R+D).  I know the published measurements have caused a bit of controversy because of the small size for 8" woofers so I'm curious what they will look like.

Overall they aren't a bad speaker if you aren't willing to DIY.  They are most certainly NOT giant killers.  I'd not even consider them at 2k, but the ~1k price on ebay isn't that bad.  I though my A/V-3 were better and they only have ~500 in parts in them so for me the 750 for the BRSE isn't a good call, but if I couldn't build the cabinets myself then it'd have been closer to 1k so that does balance it out some.  If you like a brighter sound then these are worth checking out.  I'm probably going to flip mine, but if I end up keeping them I wouldn't be unhappy with these as the gameroom speakers (brighter sound might work well there).

Sounds to me like you do not have the right amp, I needed power, in fact, with the dodd 120's, they sunded great, even using up the full amps 120 plus watts....go figure, tiny speakers, needing big power.....My 23 watt PP Mactone 300B's sounding shitty with them......for 700 buck's though, they ain't nthing to sneeze about.  I reco a high power tube amp, or hybrid.  OTOH, Danny is a frikin genious with his stuff, so, just, be happy......

[JLM]

Wow, this is a tough crowd!  Feels like (or worse than) audioasylum.

In this sound bite society, you have micro-seconds to grab attention and try to keep it.  One-way methods of communication are tough especially when you're not sure who the audience will be.

I know it fustrates me when audio gear is obviously overpriced.  Maybe I'm not elitist enough to fit in here either.  The frequency response is nearly ruler flat, but now you ask, "Is that all you got?"  Would you expect the vendor to focus on the product weaknesses?

The speakers sounded good, but used ordinary binding posts/caps.  So the answer is to use "audiophile accepted" parts?  To what end?  To reduce profits, increase prices, or meet military grade standards for toughness?  Do you also disagree with his priorities (quality drivers and proper design)?

The workmanship of the cabinets weren't perfect, OK.  But I had a house built in 2005 that cost over 100 times as much and we've had plenty of "issues".

You don't like seeing nice pictures of the mountains?  So should he include images of garbage pits instead or tell you it stinks where he lives?  Would that help convince you that he offers a competitive product?

Oh and someone is offended by the little christian fishy.  Did you complain about Bob from SP Tech who devoted a page to express his faith?  How little attitudes have changed in 2,000 years.  Would you prefer him to be a her, or Jewish, or black, or a wheelchair user, or young, etc.?

I'll admit, these speakers aren't my cup of tea, but I can understand and respect what he's trying to do.  I'd be ready to cut a new guy some slack, but from what I've seen he really does need much help except for just getting off his back.

I'm glad never to have taken the initiative to start a company.  I don't recall the new start vendors that are established here at AC being treated like this.