Cerwin Vega XLS-215!!!!! Amazed!

danman · « **on:** 17 Dec 2010, 01:59 pm »

Had a chance to hook up these massive red speakers from another era and all I will say is WOW! Talk about a huge surprise! I thought I was in for a big let down but I was pleasantly surprised at how they were quite incredible! Bryston amps seem to like these things!
Still laughing a little!!!!

About the only thing negative is that the look of them is a little debatable but I will tell you that the sound made up for that!

Very surprised!

James Tanner · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 02:03 pm »

Quote from: danman on 17 Dec 2010, 01:59 pm

Had a chance to hook up these massive red speakers from another era and all I will say is WOW! Talk about a huge surprise! I thought I was in for a big let down but I was pleasantly surprised at how they were quite incredible! Bryston amps seem to like these things!
Still laughing a little!!!!

About the only thing negative is that the look of them is a little debatable but I will tell you that the sound made up for that!

Very surprised!

Hi Dan - picture please then I will tell you an embarassing story.

james

danman · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 02:08 pm »

I did not take a pic James it was just a fluke listen! Believe me, I am not about to change what I have just thought I would comment.

James Tanner · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 02:17 pm »

Quote from: danman on 17 Dec 2010, 02:08 pm

I did not take a pic James it was just a fluke listen! Believe me, I am not about to change what I have just thought I would comment.

Oh sorry - I thought you meant you dragged them out of the basement or something

james

danman · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 02:41 pm »

No. These were new from a guy I know that wants to use them for home theatre setup and I was trying to convince him to buy Bryston.

What is your story you wanted to tell me?

James Tanner · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 03:12 pm »

About 10 years ago when my oldest son was in his teens he wanted a hifi system for his room. I told him I would pay for half if he covered the rest. He already had a Bryston of course - B-60 I think and was use to quality audio throughout the house.

Anyway I took him around to a few of the best hi-fi shops I knew at the time and we auditioned about 10 different speakers which at the time were considered to be on the audiophile desert island list.

About a week later I had just returned from a road trip and he told me he had decided what speakers and they were currently set up in his room - come have a listen Dad

He opens the door and behold the biggest pair of Cerwin Vegas I have ever seen

- they were even covered in carpet in case they fell down the stairs or something.

Anyway they were loud, he liked them and I learned how you have to let people develop at thier own pace and my preferences were not necessarily other peoples preferences. I have to admit though when I showed our dealers and distributors around our house I did stay clear of sonny's room

james

John Casler · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 03:23 pm »

While few audiophiles would consider them anything but a garage speaker, this review is a bit kinder. This review is of the immediate predessessor the CLS-215.

And Bob Greene even gets in a few licks

For a HT only, they can be quite impressive.

I suspect the redline woofer surround would cause epidemic WAF issues.

Since one of my other businesess is equipping GYMS, I have placed a few of these to a good result. Aerobic Studios, Boxing Gyms and Weight Training GYMS seem to like them. I can say Rocky's Theme Gonna Fly Now is spectacular from the opening trumpets to the fade away. It makes you want to MOVE.

danman · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 03:38 pm »

That is pretty funny James but these ones are a step ahead for sure. Like I said, these were beyond what I had expected in my wildest dreams and after he took them back home, I listened to mine after and can tell you that I felt a little empty for a while!
Obviously, I had better detail and speed but there was something about them that just played music pretty well. The bass was amazing and very fast!
I don't know but I may be able to live with them in a home theatre situation!
If any of you have a chance, listen to them and don't be biased based on what you think cause then your brain will convince you they are crap! Just go in with an open mind. I will say that I never heard anything anywhere near close as good at this price ever!

bummrush · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 03:47 pm »

A good amp will always bring out what the speaker has to offer. Be it good or bad

Levi · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 03:51 pm »

John: The grills does a good job hiding them. Surely they are not that bad compared to the big box. I know because I used to own a D-9 with 15" woofers. That was back when Compact Disc were just coming out into the market and dial-up connection (no dsl).

James Tanner · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 03:59 pm »

A big problem with speakers is DYNAMIC COMPRESSION --- horns have a real leg up on that aspect of music.

James

Levi · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 04:08 pm »

+1

Agreed. I also used to own big Klipsch speakers.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 04:36 pm »

That's why I bought Zu Druids.

danman · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 04:36 pm »

Not wanting to start a debate about them here only giving an impression of what I heard!

Like I said, even though I am not really sure how to take my own listening session seriously.......they were miles ahead of what I would of expected!!!!!!!!! Nothing at that price can match it that I can assure you! Take that as you may!

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 04:41 pm »

In college, I was the only one with 'good amplification,' an NAD 304 integrated. It was only 35 watts, but I'd tell people it was 135 because they didn't know any better. A lot of people tried their speakers out on my NAD. One guy had a huge pair of Cerwin Vegas. Those things got so loud, and the bass was insane. Not much detail or subtlety, but that's really not the point of CVs IMO.

After jamming with those for a few hours, my PSB Centuries seemed small and weak.

CVs are a fun speaker for sure. They'll do a thing or two that no audiophile speaker I've heard can do. But, their allure wears off pretty quickly IMO. If I were to buy a pair, they'd probably last a week or 3 before I'd get tired of them.

Great party speakers. Aren't they the official speaker of 'the Canadian Ballet?"

vegasdave · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 11:38 pm »

Yeah, they're supposed to be very good speakers. I would have bought those, but they're made in China.

Then again, my JBL Studio L890s are made in Mexico. *sigh* I didn't know this before I bought them, but @ $800 a pair, the price was just too hard to resist.

Anyway, the JBLs are a good bang for the buck speaker too. You might wanna check those out as well, danman.

danman · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Dec 2010, 11:49 pm »

Oh I don't really want to buy but maybe for home cinema. I still prefer by a mile what I have for music

vegasdave · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Dec 2010, 12:19 am »

Ok, that's cool. What do you have again?

sfraser · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Dec 2010, 12:50 am »

Quote from: James Tanner on 17 Dec 2010, 03:12 pm

About 10 years ago when my oldest son was in his teens he wanted a hifi system for his room. I told him I would pay for half if he covered the rest. He already had a Bryston of course - B-60 I think and was use to quality audio throughout the house.

Anyway I took him around to a few of the best hi-fi shops I knew at the time and we auditioned about 10 different speakers which at the time were considered to be on the audiophile desert island list.

About a week later I had just returned from a road trip and he told me he had decided what speakers and they were currently set up in his room - come have a listen Dad

He opens the door and behold the biggest pair of Cerwin Vegas I have ever seen - they were even covered in carpet in case they fell down the stairs or something.

Anyway they were loud, he liked them and I learned how you have to let people develop at thier own pace and my preferences were not necessarily other peoples preferences. I have to admit though when I showed our dealers and distributors around our house I did stay clear of sonny's room

james

James that story reminded me of a situation when I was a teenager. I had a pair of large CV's (still have them packed away somewhere). THey had 12" drivers with the red foam surround. My buddy was over and we were listening to some stones pretty loud. My mom came down stairs to put a load in the washer and barked at us to "turn it down". when she walked by to back up stairs she muttered " I dont know why you have to listen to it so loud, it can' be good for your ears or your stereo" She then pointed at the speakers which had the grills removed and said " see! the speakers are turning red!" My buddy and I laughed for 15 minutes, apparently she thought they were getting hot .......

Cheers and happy holidays!

danman · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Dec 2010, 12:55 am »

I have the Focal 826 Special Edition 30 year edition. It has the special drivers from the Utopia Series.