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In Reply to: RE: CAS 0214: final thoughts posted by the old school on August 23, 2014 at 21:36:18
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(2) in the Sound Lab room, the sound was dreadful, with little macro dynamics and impact. They were playing at about 70 to 80 dB. Others told me that when the system was played louder it compressed and/or overloaded the small room. IMO, the King speakers are the best electrostatic speakers under current production."
You should read Jason Victor Sernius's review in Stereophile:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/cas-2014-day-1-lift
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I've read it. An extremely surprising review as he listens to music at extremely high SPLs (well over 100 dB). I wonder how much hearing he has left. The "Stolen Moments" track from "Blues and Abstract Truth" via the Sound Labs sounded dull as Muzak! Considering how well recorded that track is, I was stunned at the muffled sound. Halfway through this sensational track, the demonstrator put on a Country and Western tune (also dreadfully dull). Classical music fared no better IMO. The room was way too small for these HUGE speakers. Bass was bloated, and the sound had no life. Check out the King speakers if you are considering electrostatic speakers.
As the exhibitor I had many many attendees state clearly they considered it to be the best room at the show. Many came back again and again, and stayed long periods of time with eyes closed and smiles on their faces. Lovers of planar speakers are said to be a minority in the audiophile community, approximately 15%. Clearly you are not part of that group. Sound Labs are considered by many to be the finest of all electrostatics.JVS's status as a very credible and respected reviewer is undeniable. Accusing him of being deaf is absurd.
I will agree with you that the room was much too small for the Majestics. They would have done far better in a much larger room. Additionally, the almost square dimensions (20X21) are considered awful for good sound reproduction. Placing the speakers on a diagonal, with the seating at the opposite corner helped tame the pronounced slap echo of the room, but still was far from ideal.
Edits: 08/24/14 08/24/14 08/24/14 08/24/14 08/24/14
Well, what do YOU think listening at 100+ dB does for your hearing? Lots of people at the show agreed with me about the dull sound in the Sound Labs room. I suspect that the digital source and horribly small room were responsible for the poor sound. Yes, of course, IMO. Actually, I have always loved planar speakers like the Magnepans and the King electrostatic. I admire the way planar speakers, at their best, can image. BTW, YOU admit that the room was too small and of poor dimensions. I have heard "Stolen Moments" hundreds of times, and it never sounded boring before. I'm sure the Sound Labs can sound vastly better than they did at the show. See my comment above about the necessity of matching room dimensions and associated equipment.
Here is another point of view which should be read:
http://parttimeaudiophile.com/2014/08/23/cas-2014-ayre-and-marantz-join-9-of-sound-lab/
I heard the Sound Labs on Friday and Sunday mornings. The sound was similar: dull, bloated with no touch or impact. Perhaps it was the room, the time of day or the source (were they playing compressed digital?). Whatever, I hated this room. But remember, my second least favorite room at the 2013 CAS was based on an Audio Note E speaker. This year my Favorite room was based on the AN E! The sound in these two rooms could not have been more different. In the 2013 Audio Note room the sound was very similar to what I heard in this year's Sound Lab room. In this year's Music First room, with an AN E speaker, the sound was similar to the Teresonic room at the 2010 CAS (my favorite room at that show). Jack Roberts has said that the Music First people actually reenforced the walls of the room to improve the sound! It goes back to my list of potential problems at audio shows: poor rooms, less than ideal matching of components, and hearing music at widely different SPLs. Add to that less than ideal source material, especially crapy digital. I suspect that the Sound Labs would sound much better given a much bigger room (with better walls) and a good analogue source.
As for what some audio critic says, think about the tiny number of times you read a review that slams a piece of equipment.
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