Economic conditions force this sale.
Meadowlark Heron "i" .......$2500 $2400 $2300 obo.......$7100 list ($6300 + $800 for veneer upgrade)At just over 33%, I feel the price is fair and provides alotta speaker for the $$.
Offers will be considered, but please be reasonable....I'm not gonna give them away!
Will consider trades.
Interested in small to medium floorstanders.
Tell me what you have!
The Heron "i" is rarely seen up for sale, and for good reason.....folks like them and hold onto them! Since this pair lived in a pet, smoke and child free home, the condition is excellent both cosmetically and sonically.
The
Heron "i" is truly a very fine speaker, and I really hope I am not making a mistake in selling them. Do the research. Just because
Meadowlark is out of business does not diminish the sound quality. Pat McGinty made a great product. He employed simple, straightforward, and elegant engineering, and used the highest quality parts. Each speaker is handmade to exacting standards. His cabinets are some of the best in the business. The results? Exact timing and big dynamics; tight bass, delicate highs, and a juicy "organic" sounding midrange; a realistic, coherent and natural presentation. Some say he failed because he did not charge enough. At today's used prices they are a tremendous value, and I dare say will compete, if not beat, at its price point and beyond. I have owned them since 2004....an eternity for me with audio gear!
The "
i" designation is for the improved and upgraded version of the original Heron. Do not mistake it for the original Heron or the "
hot rod" version which appeared briefly before the "
i" was introduced. The Heron i features a redesigned transmission line for better dynamic scaling, and decay in the bass, along with upgraded crossover, caps, coils, and resistors. Additionally, one of the most innovative concepts of this speaker is the user adjustable crossover, allowing it to integrate well into almost any size room. You simply choose from one of three sets of bindings posts to access one of three distinct voicings. It is not a gimmick, it really does work. This feature allows greater flexibility in dealing with room accoustics and room size, and allows it to be used in S M and L rooms.
This three-way design gets down to below 30Hz, with no hint of distortion, or boominess. Whether your taste is rock, jazz, or full orchestral music, this bird delivers truly full-range sound capable of producing that bottom octave. With a footprint of only 10”w x 15”d, this speaker offers rock solid bass extension without the complicated addition of a subwoofer.
Since the bass section is 4 ohm nominal, be sure your amp can drive a 4 ohm load. But because there are no capacitors in the circuit, it is a much easier load to drive than most 4 ohm systems. The 90 db sensitivity makes it a relatively easy speaker to drive. In my experience, they do get better as you add juice. The Heron was designed to be compatible with tube amps. I have run them with both SS and tubes in the 40 to 120wpc range. 85wpc will serve them very nicely. They sound great with my 120wpc EL-34 tubed monos. They produced just the most glorious mids and highs with my 22 wpc SET 845 amp, but the bass was a bit sloppy. I hear that Pat thought Plinius was a good match. And for tubes, I know he liked Music Reference. I think he voiced the Heron line with a Music Reference RM200. The point is, I don't feel they are particularly amp fussy. This speaker will give you back what you feed into it. A big dynamic soundstage, clear image and ample doses of fluidity, refinement, detail and warmth are its trademarks. It errs just a touch to the forgiving side, lending a sense of grace and ease to the presentation.
The beautiful cabinets are a virtually blemish-free Figured Makore, an $800 upcharge. As the pics show, the grain is wonderfully detailed, rich and deep. If it matters, I believe I am the 2nd owner.
Features and Specs:* Tweeter: 3/4" fabric dome Scanspeak (faster than the usual 1" designs)
* Midrange: Audax Aerogel cone (natural sound like paper, but stiffer; fast transparent and open)
* Woofers: dual 7" paper cone, Viva Premium Series (same working area as single 10", but better control)
* Transmission line bass loading produces accurate, tight and brawny bass
* True first order crossover of high quality parts located in a damped chamber for vibration control
* sloped front bafle for phase and time alignment
* overbuilt rock solid cabinet with segmented 2" thick baffle to eliminate energy transfer between drivers
* oversized and flared port to prevent port noise
* solid copper bi-wire cardas binding posts
* Tara RSC wiring
* a pair of "port pucks" allows user to reduce low bass output in 3 steps for room integration flexibility
* adjustable crossover choice for 3 distinct voicings for S, M and Lrooms
* 90 db sensitive
* bass system impedance: 4 ohm
* 44h x 10w x 15d
* 93 lbs each
This speaker outperforms many of the countless transducers I've heard over the years, regardless of price. Along with my Spendor FL9, I prefer them to everything I have personally owned, including some highly regarded names:
Coincident Super Eclipse
Coincident Visionary Reference
Coincident Odyssey
Merlin VSM Gen3 w BAMM <======= (despite their hefty price tag and high acclaim, not even close!)
Gallo Nucleus Reference
Silverline Sonatina II
Proac Response 2.5
Reference 3A MM deCappos
....and the list goes on....and on....
Complete with spikes, manuals, grills, and port pucks. No jumpers.
The boxes are long gone, so local picup preferred: Zipcode 11561.
Delivery w/in a reasonable distance can be discussed.
********* SHIPPING UPDATE!! ***************************
I am now willing to ship through my local UPS Pack and Ship outlet. I investigated their facility and am satisfied that materials and packaging techniques will insure safe arrival. Buyer pays all costs.
Packaging will be about $75......maybe a bit less. Shipping can be estimated on the UPS website calculator.
If you require greater "white glove" treatment for packaging and pallet shipping, I can use Gonavis.com, but cost will be at least double that of UPS.
Delivery w/in a reasonable distance can be discussed.
More pics can be seen in my Gallery.
Auditions are always welcome. Bring your amp over. No pressure, no obligation.
Thanks for your consideration.
~John
