Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Meadowlark Audio Osprey Speakers by Powell

Model:	Osprey
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$3000
Description:	Transmision line, floorstanding
Manufacturer URL:	Meadowlark Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by Powell ( A ) on December 27, 2002 at 20:05:04
IP Address: 65.25.196.185

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Let me start this mini review with a quick background of the speakers I have owned in the past to give you an idea of my listening preferences. Warning!-Please don't be offended by my opinions of different brands of speakers or my comments on the music. It is my opinion only and YMMV.Mirage M3si-Loved them for years,open large sound with decent bass, but wanted more detail of vocals in particular.B & W Nautilus 803-Only owned these for about 3 months-I enjoyed them at first, but after I figured out that they were too forward and slightly on the analytical side for my tastes my dealer allowed me to trade them in for my next speaker.Meadowlark Heron i-These were just right! Detailed enough yet musical, slightly on the warm side of nuetral. Dynamics galore! The music at times seemed to explode out of them. Enjoyed these for a long time until I moved into a new house and a different size listening room. I then found myself wanting to tame the bass using the bass settings on the speakers. There was just a little to much and it could get in the way of the music at times. So after months of trying different cables,placement,room treatments,etc I gave up and sold them.Magnepan 1.6qr-Always wanted to hear a pair in my room, so I bought a used pair for a decent price knowing that I could resell easily if they didn't work out. An awesome product for the $$, but not in the same leauge as the Heron as far as resolution,soundstaging,dynamics, etc.in my opinion. Revel Gem-Got a great deal on a pair with matching stands. Used them with the awesome ACI titan II le sub- A great match and I probably could have lived with
them for a long time. But I just couldn't help but miss the Meadowlark "natural, musical, organic , "close your eyes and you are there sound." Call me crazy but I sold the Gems and ACI Titan II le sub. Meadowlark Osprey-read on.After opening the boxes, the first thing that jumped out at me was the awesome smell of wood! Mine were ordered in a dark ash finish. They also look better in person than the picture for sure. The curved wood baffles are really a sight for sore eyes. Of course I removed the grilles right away for listening. I hooked them up and like a kid in a candy store couldn't wait to listen (before they were broken in), and sure enough they sounded horrible. After a few tracks of the Dave Mathhews Band "Crash" cd, I began to notice a thin character in the midrange and a closed in top end. But most of all the "honky, cupped hand sound" of new not run- in Meadowlarks. So i hauled down my cheap Sony reciever from my 2nd system upstairs and hooked it up and turned on 92 KQRS Rock fm for a 5 day 24 hour burn in process. I did have to answer to the family twice "Honey, why is there music on in the basement this time of night?", and "daddy, what is that noise ?"- so I somehow had to explain to the non-audiophiles in the household that a new speaker with new parts had to be "Broke in". I just recieved a scrunched up in face look as if they were thinking "yeah right, you have lost all your marbles!" After some break in I reattached the ZuCable Wax cables to my trusty EL 34 VTL MB125 monos(always set in 55 watt triode mode) for a serious listen. The fist cd of choice (I always like to start listening with cd,then sacd, then vinyl) was the beautiful voice of Eva Cassiddy on "live at blues alley". On the track "blue skies" I heard some things I have never heard before, and I am very familiar with this disc. I noticed a shimmer from the cymbals that lingered and reminded me of a live performance. I also took note of the wide range of Eva's voice. I would give anything to have seen her perform on stage. I listened to the entire disc. I was truly taken in by Eva and the music, not thinking once about the equipment . I then reached for the new Beck cd 'sea changes' (one of the best albums of 2002 ) and on the song "lost cause" the fingers sliding on the acoustic guitar strings made me smile. This album reminds me of old Pink Floyd. On the track "already dead"-the 2 acoustic guitars playing with each other makes me want the song to last forever.
On to SACD and the fine disc from Doug Macloed titled Unmarked Road-The first thing I noticed with the Sacd was the increased shot of "air" into the music over redbook cd. It has a vinyl like ease to the music without giving up any detail. On track 2 "necessary clothes" the sound of wood drumsticks on a metal drum rim put a grin on my face because it sounds so real. And on the song "Little Songbird" when I closed my eyes I could see Mr. Macloed standing there singing and picking his Taylor guitar strings. What an authoritative voice.
For a change I borrowed a pair of Classe cam-200 solid state mono's for a couple days, but I liked the tubes alot better. I just wasn't captivated and involved as much with the solid state amps in my system. Maybe just not a good match because I know that system synergy is very important.
As you can probably already tell, I have taken quite a liking to these speakers. Pat McGinty is really on to something with this new design for $3 grand. It must be the combination of the 1st order "as few parts as possible Xover network and drivers that make these so special. They seem more alive than the Heron-i was. Don't get me wrong because I absolutely loved the Heron except for the bass problems in my new room. But remember the Heron costs almost double what the Ospreys do. The Osprey bass could be a little in the light department for some listeners taste, but for me it seems close to being just about right. To be perfect they could go lower but they don't quite have the manufacturers recommended 300 hours on them yet and they may get even better with some more time.
Caution to anyone auditiong these or first time purchasers=They have to be the worst sounding speaker I have ever heard for about the first 150 hours. Totally in the box, thin, cupped honky sounding. Most will probably be turned off if they don't know this and assume they are just plain "bad speakers", but given the right amount of burn in they turn in to something special for the $$ and for any amount of $$ in my opinion. I am back again enjoying the music which is the best thing I can say about these Osprey's.
Sorry I didn't get to any vinyl feedback as I was to busy enjoying digital which is a rarity for me!

Product Weakness: Don't go down to the lowest level in the bass.
Product Strengths: Musical,Musical,Musical...Have a lively fun character without ever sounding bright. Price.Looks awesome with the real wood finish. Very easy to drive.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	VTL mb-125 monos in triode 55watts
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	VTL 5.5
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony scd777es with Cal Alpha dac for Redbook-Nottingham Analog Interspace,Benz Glider M2,Shelter 501-2
Speakers:	Meadowlark Osprey
Cables/Interconnects:	Zu wax-Analysis Plus Solo Crystal and Zu Cable Varial interconnects
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Blues,Rock,Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 15 x 9
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Ps Audio p300,Ultimate outlet 20amp
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Don't go down to the lowest level in the bass.
Product Strengths:	Musical,Musical,Musical...Have a lively fun character without ever sounding bright. Price.Looks awesome with the real wood finish. Very easy to drive.