[Mightyburner]

Anyone own these? 

This weekend I had a chance to demo this unusual looking speaker and was given a more than fair price.  Maybe it was the room but I wasn't completely sucked in as I was with other GMA speakers I've heard in the past.  Again the room was far from perfect with no treatments whatsoever but my room isn't great either.  I also listen to the Totem Mani 2's and really liked these but they need some serious power.  I have a Cayin 100T that I got from PhilNYC but I don't think it would be a good match.  I think I'll move forward with the GMA's especially given the price I was offered but would like to hear some opinions.  If I pass on these I'm back to the drawing board and will likely look at Zu's and the smaller Usher's I heard at the Stereophile NYC show.

One last thing, I'm more of a Jazz Head (Hard-Bop, lots of Vocals mostly female) but I listen to a fair amount of Blues, classic R&B and some Rock.

[Double Ugly]

I don't own them, but I heard them at the 2004 RMAF and thought they were fabulous.  In fact, I thought they were better than the Continuum 3s I heard later in the show.

It's probably safe to say that, to some degree, my preferring the Calypso and your not being "sucked in" were probably the product of speaker/room interaction.  Even so, the Calypso is an excellent speaker IMO, capable of bass extension and definition exceeding that which one should reasonably expect from a relatively small speaker.  I'm a dyed-in-the-wool SP Technology speaker fan, and yet the Calypso exhibited characteristics (seamless driver integration, superb bass performance, detailed yet very musical mids and highs) I've come to expect from my own speakers.  Soundstage and imaging were excellent as well.

I don't recall what supporting equipment was used in Denver, but the sound was excellent.  Perhaps some of what you heard (or didn't) could be the result of less than ideal component matching.  Based on my experience, I suspect the Calypsos are fairly revealing of upstream components.

FWIW...

-Jim

[Mightyburner]

  Perhaps some of what you heard (or didn't) could be the result of less than ideal component matching.  Based on my experience, I suspect the Calypsos are fairly revealing of upstream components.

I used my own amp the Cayin 100T and a Rega Saturn.  When I heard the Pico Executives I used my amp as well and thought it sounded great.  That particular room was similar to mine and had some acoustical treatment.  Given that I can acquire the (slightly used - less than 100 hours) Calypso's for pretty much the same price of new Executives, I think I'm going to take a leap of faith that it was the room and get them.

[Double Ugly]

Given that I can acquire the (slightly used - less than 100 hours) Calypso's for pretty much the same price of new Executives, I think I'm going to take a leap of faith that it was the room and get them.

Probably not a bad move, especially if the price is as good as you imply.  Still, it'd be nice if you could audition them in your own room a couple of days to be sure. 

Getting your money out of them may not prove problematic, but it's best to avoid the whole process if possible.

-Jim

[Mightyburner]

Thanks for the feeback Jim.  136 views and your the only one that appears to have heard these speakers. 

Any other opinions?  I need all the insight I can get.  Thanks!