REVIEW: ProAc Response 2.5 Speakers

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195.115.40.226

Model: Response 2.5
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $3500?
Description: two-way floor-standing speaker
Manufacturer URL: ProAc
Manufacturer URL: ProAc
Review by ronyweissman@hotmail.com on November 14, 2001 at 07:27:12
IP Address: 195.115.40.226 Add Your Review
for the Response 2.5
Very easy to like this speaker. It plays all types of music well, and the bass, even though only two-way design, sounds right. It is outstanding on Opera, giving relaxed vocal presentation very close to what I hear during live performances(I attend regularly). On Chamber music, very easy to follow the different instruments, cello never disappears, and there is a nice balance of wood/string reflecting the recording acoustics/tecniques. On Sonate form it is excellent, giving you the ability to listen to the musician's nuances and tone.
Symphony can be a bit challenging however. It gets the individual tones of the instruments right(easy to tell oboe/french-horn, different brass, viola/violin etc), but when things get cooking the violins get a little massed and lose some of the sweetness that makes them so beautiful in live performances. Also very difficult/impossible to get them to layer the orchestra properly. Right-to-left and absolute depth of soundstage is very nice, but sometimes the cello is sitting on top of the viola and that's gotta hurt.
Solo Cello is simply outstanding, I have been to five different live performances of Bach's Cello Suites last year in Paris, and I am getting a very real cello sound in my living room. Solo Piano recordings will never convince you that you are at the concert hall however. Not that the sound is bad, but the dynamics, attack/sustain/decay, crystal clear notes and thick harmonic interplay of Steinway Grand is not available on little-old 2.5s.
Jazz trios play extremely well, with upright bass sounding as large as the instrument should sound, and not bloated at all, surprisingly fast and dynamic. Coltrane lines easy to follow, just like on great vocal presentation. Speaker can catch the 'aggressive' beginning of some saxophone players notes(round, full, startling) and breathy bounce of others. High-hat/snares are decent but not extremely accurate, kind of sounds like good Hi-Fi as opposed to real thing(on regular recordings, on Mapleshade recordings sounds fantastic, scary). Passes Diana Krall test with flying kittens(my cat jumped out of the room as the vocals were so realistic it frightened him).
What's left is the fun stuff, Bob Dylan on North Country Fair, Bob Marley on Exodus, Beatles any- and everything and the speakers kick. Try some KebMo and the dobro sounds perfect(I used to play). Really, it's just a little-thing of a speaker but you feel the bass when the music calls for it. I have played as loud as needs be, no problems.
Not your typical review maybe, but I'm not getting paid for this. I'll probably upgrade my speakers in next few years as I really enjoy classical symphony. But in the meantime I'm listening to my system on average three-hours a night, studying differences between Karajan's various recordings of Beethoven's Eroica(for one thing), and these speakers are doing just fine...Pity the salesman when I do decide to audition new speakers, he is going to have a lot of explaining to do.

Product Weakness: Loses it's way on large-scale pieces, massed strings, etc. Treble is not as clear or musical as i've heard.
Product Strengths: Natural vocals with balanced overall musical presentation. No glare or grain, can listen(and do) for hours each and every night.
Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: JRDG Concentra Int Amp(SS)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Audio Aero Capitole 24/192
Speakers: ProAc 2.5
Cables/Interconnects: KimberKable BiFocal-XL/WireworldSilver Eclipse III+(IC)
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical/Opera/Jazz/Rock
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 17 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments: lots of windows, wood floors(area rug)
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1.5-years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PolyCrystal spikes, which after a lot of leveling, have improved sound.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

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Topic - REVIEW: ProAc Response 2.5 Speakers - ronyweissman@hotmail.com 07:27:12 11/14/01 (6)

This was one of... - taC 12:04:21 11/16/01 (0)

ProAc Response 2.5 Speakers - Dr. Philosophy 09:26:49 11/14/01 (4)

Re: ProAc Response 2.5 Speakers - ronyweissman@hotmail.com 02:42:39 11/15/01 (2)

Re: ProAc Response 2.5 Speakers - tomw2 05:13:12 11/15/01 (1)

Re: ProAc Response 2.5 Speakers - Dr. Philosophy 07:53:23 11/19/01 (0)

Re: ProAc Response 2.5 Speakers - meni 21:43:10 11/14/01 (0)

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Model:	Response 2.5
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$3500?
Description:	two-way floor-standing speaker
Manufacturer URL:	ProAc
Manufacturer URL:	ProAc

Product Weakness:	Loses it's way on large-scale pieces, massed strings, etc. Treble is not as clear or musical as i've heard.
Product Strengths:	Natural vocals with balanced overall musical presentation. No glare or grain, can listen(and do) for hours each and every night.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	JRDG Concentra Int Amp(SS)
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Audio Aero Capitole 24/192
Speakers:	ProAc 2.5
Cables/Interconnects:	KimberKable BiFocal-XL/WireworldSilver Eclipse III+(IC)
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical/Opera/Jazz/Rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 17 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	lots of windows, wood floors(area rug)
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1.5-years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PolyCrystal spikes, which after a lot of leveling, have improved sound.
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner