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Original Message

RE: Marten Speakers

Posted by RGA on January 14, 2017 at 18:57:50:

I have tried a lot of speakers over the last 25 years at home, in other people's homes, in dedicated showrooms, at shows, and in several countries. Soundhounds is a pretty good dealer since it is a large brick house converted into commercial dealer. They have carried Acoustat, Martin Logan, Magnepan, Quad, Final Sound. And second hand Apogee.

So it's not like I've never heard panels. I continue to audition them and everything else I come across - that's what the hobby side is about.

I don't plan on being an audio reviewer, I am an audio reviewer. If any one of those panels I felt were better, then one of them would be in my home as my main loudspeaker - I can afford any of them. And if they were the ultimate then every audio reviewer would have as their main speaker a panel - and MOST audio reviewers have boxed speakers - probably a good 95% of them. So if they were peerless then everyone would have them right - I mean the 1.7 is only $2k. King Sound laso has a panel for $2k. ML has affordable panels too.

It's totally fine if someone prefers a panel over the AN's or for that matter any boxed speakers - but I never get why panel guys get so defensive and can't get that some folks prefer boxed speakers.

I have tried the same panels in many rooms with a lot of different gear over 25 years. And I keep trying them. Some guy hears an AN speaker at a show for 5 minutes then concludes they suck. Well jeez at CAS I made up a list of the best sounding rooms and Audio Note didn't hit the top ten. So the idea that I can't be objective is silly.

Right now SOundhounds is selling both Quad and Magnepan 20.7s - ask anyone in the store if they would rather listen to the 20.7 or Quad 2905 or a half the price AN E. Then go to their homes and see what they are using for their personal pleasure.

I have not been a huge fan of Magnepans - but they've been selling for over 40 years so they're obviously a good speaker - they just haven't done it for me. It's a shame you can't recognize that the AN E/Snell E has been selling for 40 years that maybe there is something to them. The sheer number of reviewers who own them might make you think you should bring them home and give them a try - everyone always says but Richard you haven't tried them in your own home and blast me for not giving X panel a fair shake - but none of those people take home an AN E - the word for this is being a hypocrite.

The thing is different speakers have different strengths - and your ear gravitates to one thing over another thing. It's not dissimilar to taste in music - I hear a given rap song and want to stick a fork in my ear. Another person hears the same song on the same stereo and is dancing and happy to listen to it. It's the same with speakers/movies anything else that is somewhat subjective. Some people like brussels sprouts and just smelling them makes me gag.

But remember - just like you noted with your friends 3 way horns - you hated them at first but then liked them a lot better when you heard them with a different amplifier.

Well why don't you hold that thought and apply it to Audio Note. I have heard them sound poor - hated them when I first heard them - indeed, I don't even care for some of their own pairings. AN systems with their Meishu does nothing for me. The next show has different gear and it's a night and day difference.

This is why even 25 years on I continue to sit in front of panels and speakers using metal tweeters with 5 woofers covering the same frequency response that has not worked for me - but I continue to trudge on and listen to them. And I like the fact that I can sit in front of current ML speakers like the Summit X and be impressed that their integration is better than ever and get to choose them as one of the best sounding rooms at a show! I like that something I always rather disliked comes out and surprises me.