Usher Dancer Mini 2's: IN THE HOUSE!!!

falconcry72

Well, the Usher Dancer Mini 2's are my next stop the search for a perfect 2-channel speaker. I got them about a month ago; I've just been slow to update the community on my progress!:redface::cheesygrin:

Anyway, I'm basically deciding whether I'm going to keep these or keep the Magnepan 3.6's as my main 2-channel speaker. I'm not keeping both, so don't bother.:razz:

What attracted me to these Ushers (and all Ushers for that matter), is their highly-regarded bang-for-your-buck ratio. One reviewer said that the only speaker he knew of with a similar price to performance was the Maggie 3.6, so, naturally, my interest was peaked.

The Maggies and these Ushers retailed for about the same price, they sell for about the same amount on the used market, and they both offer an incredible performance for the price; however, the similarities stop there.

These are two very different designs, and the results are, as expected, very different. You would think that with two speakers that sound this different, I would immediately gravitate to one over the other... not the case. I love both. They both do things that the other can't do. I've been going back and forth for a month now, and I still don't know.:frown:

Here's a slight complication to the decision: I like to have (2) different pairs of speakers (generally a ribbon and a cone) in my 2-channel setup, so I can switch it up. If I keep the Ushers as my main speakers, I will use a pair of Magnepan 1.6's as the backups. If I keep the Magnepan 3.6's as my mains, I will use a pair of SDA-1C's as my backups. Between the 1C's and the 1.6's, whichever speaker does not get used as a backup in the main rig will be used as the main speaker in a secondary rig. Got that?:rolleyes:

I'll figure it out.:cool:

Pics: (oh, note the new ARC CD-1 !!! thanks Santa!!!)

audiocr381ve

Wow, what an AWESOME problem you have on your hands :cheesygrin:

I say keep the ushers. They take up less space and they kick the same amount of ****.

Care to elaborate on your conclusion of both styles of speakers? I really enjoy comparisons like this.

dkg999

I'd let the dog make the decision :cool:

falconcry72

audiocr381ve wrote: »

I say keep the ushers. They take up less space and they kick the same amount of ****.

That is definitely a consideration. My next place probably won't have as much space as my current place, so the Ushers are more future proof. Then again, I've heard those 3.6's in a small room and they sounded great.

These Ushers use the Beryllium composite tweeter (BE). Usher has new Diamond-based tweeter out (DMD). I called a dealer, and he said the DMD is a drop-in replacement, no crossover mods or anything. I'm interested for sure, but they're expensive!:eek:

falconcry72

dkg999 wrote: »

I'd let the dog make the decision :cool:

He'll lay in front of both when I'm jammin', so I think he has mixed feelings too.

Face

falconcry72 wrote: »

These Ushers use the Beryllium composite tweeter (BE). Usher has new Diamond-based tweeter out (DMD). I called a dealer, and he said the DMD is a drop-in replacement, no crossover mods or anything. I'm interested for sure, but they're expensive!:eek:

http://www.avguide.com/forums/the-whole-truth-about-beryllium-diaphragms

falconcry72

Face wrote: »

http://www.avguide.com/forums/the-whole-truth-about-beryllium-diaphragms

Hence the "Beryllium Composite" phrasing.

From Steve Mowry's "The Truth" article:

In short, some of the diaphragms have lower beryllium content than the supplier represented to Usher. Fortunately, all of the diaphragms still exceed Usher’s criteria by a comfortable margin in terms of measured performance.

tonyb

Looks to me like your in a can't lose situation. Either way your in for good sound. Congrats man, but your missing one thing to top it all off............TUBES BRO !!!

falconcry72

tonyb wrote: »

Looks to me like your in a can't lose situation. Either way your in for good sound. Congrats man, but your missing one thing to top it all off............TUBES BRO !!!

Tubes?


What tubes?







OHHHHHHHHHH, THESE tubes!!!!

ARC LS-15 Preamp: (4) 6922's.:biggrin:

tonyb

Ha ha.....see....the older ya get the more blind you become. Nice my man, very nice.

Actualy, it was a secret squirrel tactic to get you to post pics of all your tubes.

falconcry72

tonyb wrote: »

Actualy, it was a secret squirrel tactic to get you to post pics of all your tubes.

Well I guess you were successful!:biggrin:

I've got the Bugle Boys in now. The PQ's are more accurate, but there's something about these BB's that keeps drawing me in.

marvda1

here's the thing, to upgrade the maggies you have to buy new speakers $$$$$, to upgrade the ushers you buy the diamond tweeters $$$

audiocr381ve

falconcry72 wrote: »

That is definitely a consideration. My next place probably won't have as much space as my current place, so the Ushers are more future proof. Then again, I've heard those 3.6's in a small room and they sounded great.

These Ushers use the Beryllium composite tweeter (BE). Usher has new Diamond-based tweeter out (DMD). I called a dealer, and he said the DMD is a drop-in replacement, no crossover mods or anything. I'm interested for sure, but they're expensive!:eek:

I think my old Paradigm Signature S2's had those tweeters. Insanely smooth.

I definitely say save on space in this situation. You already have the 1.6's for crying out loud! (I owned the 1.7's btw). You have so many options in your price range I'm thinking you'll move the Usher's in a few months anyway

steveinaz

Very nice man, beautiful speakers!

Tour2ma

dkg999 wrote: »

I'd let the dog make the decision :cool:

Shhhh... can't you see he's working on it?

falconcry72 wrote: »

The Maggies and these Ushers retailed for about the same price, they sell for about the same amount on the used market, and they both offer an incredible performance for the price; however, the similarities stop there.

These are two very different designs, and the results are, as expected, very different. You would think that with two speakers that sound this different, I would immediately gravitate to one over the other... not the case. I love both. They both do things that the other can't do. I've been going back and forth for a month now, and I still don't know.:frown:

First, you have to love someone who takes his listening so seriously that he sits behind a desk.

That said, what are the differences?

falconcry72

steveinaz wrote: »

Very nice man, beautiful speakers!

Thank you, sir!

Conradicles

Very sweet rig...you are in a win win situation!

falconcry72

Tour2ma wrote: »

That said, what are the differences?

Ushers:

Pros:

- deeper bass extension (flat to 28, but they make serious noise into the low 20's)
- more visceral bass impact. they can pressurize the room, you feel the kick drum in your chest.
- more detailed high frequency range. This attribute surprised me, but it's true.

Cons:

- I'm aware that I'm listening to speakers.
- bass is slightly bloated, or boxy.
- more fatiguing.


Maggies:

Pros:

- I forget I'm listening to speakers because of how their bipolar design fills the space.
- more realistic mid-range.
- bass, though not as low or loud, is more articulate and textural.

Cons:

- not as dynamic.
- not as good at electric guitar.
- bass drops off in the mid 30's.

falconcry72

audiocr381ve wrote: »

...I'm thinking you'll move the Usher's in a few months anyway

You could be right. I love both of these pairs, but I feel like there's somehthing better out there... the problem is that I don't know if it exists at this price range. I'm open to suggestions on alternatives in the 3k range.

I'm tempted by the 3.7's; I think they'd do everything right, but they don't exist on the used market yet, and I can't stomach the price at this point. With tax and Mye Stands, you're looking at 6.5k, which opens up a whole new can of worms on the used market, and I just don't want to go there.

xsmi

Falconcry,

I've gotta ask, do the SDA-1C's keep up with these modern designs in resolution, accuracy and detail? When you gave your scenarios in the OP I was thinking, man those SDA's have got to be outclassed.

Xavier





Spelling

falconcry72

xsmi wrote: »

...do the SDA-1C's keep up with these modern designs in resolution, accuracy and detail?

First of all, keep in mind that my 1C's are unmodded, with the exception of the RD0 tweets.

Resolution, accuracy, and detail? No. They do not keep up; however, there is much more to musical enjoyment than accuracy. As noted above, the Ushers have a more accurate high end than the Maggies, but the Maggies are more pleasing to listen to.

What the SDA's lack in resolution they make up for with a liquidy-velvet envelopment that can transport you to a live venue. I would call the SDA's a whole third class of speakers: you got cones, ribbons, and SDA's.

No other speaker sounds like an SDA, which is why I plan on always having a set handy. If you love the SDA sound, as many do, they can be the final destination for speaker choice.

Generally speaking, the speakers should be the most expensive part of a 2-channel rig, to get the most out of your money, but there are many here who have several times the cost of their SDA's in associated electronics because they love the SDA sound and want to get the most out of them. There are people here who have more money in their cables than in their SDA's. I bet there are people here who have 10 times what they paid for their SDA's in associated electronics. That's a rare thing.


I'm not sure if that answers your question, but, for me, there is life after SDA.

xsmi

Yes it does. I LOVE my SRS 2's as well. Although, I think I'm done buying speakers and want to concentrate on electronics (I'll be in the camp who spends many times more on associated gear), I'm not under the notion that these are the most revealing speaker in the world. But, as you said I LOVE the SDA sound.

steveinaz

Look at the "cons" of each speaker, determine what can be feasably delt with, and what cannot (ie, different placement, etc) then go from there. In other words, which speaker would be easiest to address it's respective cons.

falconcry72

xsmi wrote: »

Yes it does. I LOVE my SRS 2's as well. Although, I think I'm done buying speakers and want to concentrate on electronics (I'll be in the camp who spends many times more on associated gear), I'm not under the notion that these are the most revealing speaker in the world. But, as you said I LOVE the SDA sound.

Nice. I think if I were to get another pair of SDA's it would be the SRS 2's.:cool:

Have you modded them? Are they the pin/blade version and thus TL'able?

falconcry72

steveinaz wrote: »

Look at the "cons" of each speaker, determine what can be feasably delt with, and what cannot (ie, different placement, etc) then go from there. In other words, which speaker would be easiest to address it's respective cons.

That's a good way to look at it.

I could add subs to the Maggies, but to do it right I'd have to spend a couple grand, and at that point I'd rather just get the 3.7's... but that's out of the question for now.

xsmi

They are the B/B which are TL able. I am still collecting all the parts. I hope to be ready to do them this spring.

falconcry72

xsmi wrote: »

They are the B/B which are TL able. I am still collecting all the parts. I hope to be ready to do them this spring.

Ah. b/b, p/b, whatever....Hell yea, man. Good luck on the project.

dkg999

My Magnepan dealer had a single Paradigm Servo-15 sub running with 3.6's on Mye stands and it was outstanding. That system was much better than the 3.7's without a sub.

dorokusai

I'm a big USher fan and have owned the Dancer series. I would go back to a pair with no problems.

falconcry72

dorokusai wrote: »

I'm a big USher fan and have owned the Dancer series. I would go back to a pair with no problems.

Which ones??? Was it the BE-718's? If so, these Mini Two's are very similar... they just have an extra driver and more air space.

audiocr381ve

dkg999 wrote: »

My Magnepan dealer had a single Paradigm Servo-15 sub running with 3.6's on Mye stands and it was outstanding. That system was much better than the 3.7's without a sub.

I've auditioned the 3.7's as well. I think if I heard them with a sub I might have a different opinion of them, or maggies in general (I've auditioned almost every pair and owned 2 pairs, not my faves). I may try a set of MMG's again one day, this time with a nice sub.