Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Meadowlark Audio Vireo Hot Rod Speakers by jonbee

Model:	Vireo Hot Rod
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1295
Description:	2 way stand mount-T-line bass loading
Manufacturer URL:	Meadowlark Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by jonbee on November 19, 2012 at 14:39:26
IP Address: 98.225.22.34 Add Your Review
for the Vireo Hot Rod

I saw this pair of Meadowlark Vireo Hot Rods going cheap, and thought they were worth a listen. They are a two way, 5.25 inch Vifa woofer and a commonly used 1 inch Vifa tweeter, in a complex t-line cabinet with front ports. They are designed for bookshelf use. The hot rod version uses auricaps on the tweeters, better wiring and inductors, and costs $300 more than the basic version.
They are quite heavy, at 30 lbs or so, due to the extensive cross members to create the t-line ducting. This also braces the cabinet very well- they are as solid as anything I can recall.
I've owned Kestrel 2s, which I liked pretty well. I felt the t-line bass wasn't as well integrated as I would have liked, but in the Vireo the vents are much closer to the woofer, and the extra extension is seamless. They don't go very deep, limited to around 50 hz., but from the lower midrange down to that point is very clean, smooth, defined and tight- actually the best part of the sound. From the mids down there is very good, clean definition, with good spatial rendering and depth, with much less smearing of the midbass than most speakers.
Troels Gravesen states that the woofer used is the most neutral 5 incher around, and within it's limits it is very well balanced. Pushed too hard and it squawks a bit, but that's not unusual.
The tweeter is an inexpensive unit, and it is here that the sound doesn't hold up quite as well. Detailed and lively, it is a bit rough and forward sounding. Not terrible, but it does detract a bit from the refinement in the lower range. I applied tweeter anti-diffraction rings and that did help noticeably and is recommended. I think choice of cabling can also help this. In this system I use Zu Libtec and anti-ICs, both of which are detailed but a bit bright. This works well with the usual speakers in that system, the $5000 Escalante Juniper speakers, which are laid back on top, but there are better choices for the Vireos.
Other than a bit of forwardness in the mid treble, when compared to the Escalante, or my Volent VL-2s, both 4x the price of the Vireos, there is less separation of the instruments, less "black space" and refinement. To me, this is one of the areas no budget priced speakers do as well as top quality speakers.
Overall, they are more dynamic and lively but less smooth on top than the Ascend Sierra 1, another good small speaker that offers good soundstaging.
That said the Vireos, with proper choice of front end and cabling, are fundamentally honest, dynamic small speakers which serve the music well.
Meadowlark is long gone, and so their products are quite cheap in the used market. The standard Vireos sell for under $400 used, and I think they are very competitive with the best of other used standmounts at that price point.

Product Weakness:	A little hot in the mid-treble, rquiring careful matching. No deep bass, won't play at headbanger levels.
Product Strengths:	Dynamic, detailed, good soundstage depth. Very clean midbass allows good integration with subwoofers if desired. Replacement Vifa drivers not too hard to find.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Magnum Dynalab MD208 receiver
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Oppo DVD to AudioGD NFB-8 DAC
Speakers: see review
Cables/Interconnects: see review
Music Used (Genre/Selections): lots
Room Size (LxWxH): 12 x 10 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: small room- somewhat bright
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): none
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Magnum Dynalab MD208 receiver
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Oppo DVD to AudioGD NFB-8 DAC
Speakers:	see review
Cables/Interconnects:	see review
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	lots
Room Size (LxWxH):	12 x 10 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	small room- somewhat bright
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner