Usher Mini Dancer 2 Diamond DMD

DMara
DMara Posts: 1,434
edited April 2012 in Speakers
Well, after last month's HT upgrade from full LSi to LSiM set, today the LSi purge is done: the ebony LSi15 pair I used for my 2-channel setup will be put up for sale as soon as the two Usher Mini Dancer 2 Diamond DMD speakers which I've just took the bait landed at my front door, maybe in a week.
So, whoever got a chance to listen to this Usher model, please let me know your experience. I'm extremely antsy :biggrin: Is this upgrade a major one? I will pair it with my W4S ST-1000 amp / W4S STP-SE pre-amp / W4S DAC-2.
Gears shared to both living room & bedroom:
Integra DHC-80.3 / Oppo BDP-105 / DirecTV HR24 DVR /APC S15blk PC-UPS
Living room:
LSiM707's / LSiM706c / LSiM702 F/X's / dual JL Audio Fathom F113's / Parasound Halo A51 / Panasonic 65" TC-P65VT50
Bedroom:
Usher Dancer Mini 2 Diamond DMD's / Logitech SB Touch / W4S STP-SE / W4S DAC-2 / W4S ST-1000 / Samsung 52" LN52B750
Other rooms:
Audioengine AP4's / GLOW Audio Sub One / audio-gd NFB-3 DAC / Audioengine N22
audio-gd NFB-10.2 / Denon AH-D7000
Post edited by DMara on

Comments

  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited April 2012
    Yeah, great change and you'll be very happy. If anything, I think you find some of the shortcomings of the W4S gear at this point. The amplifiers would be the first to go for me and I'm not going to expound on why.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,782
    edited April 2012
    Those are some beautiful speakers!

    Congrats!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited April 2012
    The finish is gorgeous. Make sure you post some pics.

    Congrats!
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,328
    edited April 2012
    I have visited Stan in Dallas last year, and thats why I will also be picking my pair up during Lone Star Audiofest the first week of May. Marvin has been to see stan many times and Falconcry has a pair in maple.

    They are very dynamic top end and bottom, and beautiful to tote, you will be very happy
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,904
    edited April 2012
    DON'T DO THIS TO ME. i am saving every penny i can and selling off a lot of stuff. just about ready to put my usher 6381's up for sale although i wanted to keep them and put them in my second system but the call of the mini dancer 2 is getting to be too great.:cry:
    i have a pair of dali ikon 8 ($3500 retail) that run rings around the mini dancer 2's i will sell you.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,328
    edited April 2012
    marvda1 wrote: »
    DON'T DO THIS TO ME. i am saving every penny i can and selling off a lot of stuff. just about ready to put my usher 6381's up for sale although i wanted to keep them and put them in my second system but the call of the mini dancer 2 is getting to be too great.:cry:
    i have a pair of dali ikon 8 ($3500 retail) that run rings around the mini dancer 2's i will sell you.

    Tell Stan you recommended us "I won't tell and get a discount"....if I could buy the Dali 8's--I would have gone with the Dynaudio (would look off in the room)...but the wife said build a new house and your own audio room so I settled with (but not disappointed) with the beautiful Ushers as she and I approved the looks and cost me alot less
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
    edited April 2012
    DMara,

    I look forward to your review of the Usher's. I have had the Usher bug for some time now, a long time actually. I have not listened to the Mini Dancers yet, but have a strong feeling that I will in a couple weeks. Usher is only open on the weekday's it seems and work does not permit me the freedom to go and have a listen. How are you liking the LSIM's? By the way, Usher's have some damn nice looking speakers.

    Halen
  • DMara
    DMara Posts: 1,434
    edited April 2012
    Wow, you guys really make me feel confident that this upgrade's really worth it :smile:

    dorokusai wrote: »
    Yeah, great change and you'll be very happy. If anything, I think you find some of the shortcomings of the W4S gear at this point. The amplifiers would be the first to go for me and I'm not going to expound on why.

    Mark, I began to look hard at the Usher brand due to some of your very posts, eventually I succumbed to the urge of trying it. Now you threw the above post at me just like that, geez, what will I do next? Hehe... At least let me know which amp/amps would work great with this Usher pair, will you? Another Parasound Halo, maybe?
    Gears shared to both living room & bedroom:
    Integra DHC-80.3 / Oppo BDP-105 / DirecTV HR24 DVR /APC S15blk PC-UPS
    Living room:
    LSiM707's / LSiM706c / LSiM702 F/X's / dual JL Audio Fathom F113's / Parasound Halo A51 / Panasonic 65" TC-P65VT50
    Bedroom:
    Usher Dancer Mini 2 Diamond DMD's / Logitech SB Touch / W4S STP-SE / W4S DAC-2 / W4S ST-1000 / Samsung 52" LN52B750
    Other rooms:
    Audioengine AP4's / GLOW Audio Sub One / audio-gd NFB-3 DAC / Audioengine N22
    audio-gd NFB-10.2 / Denon AH-D7000
  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,904
    edited April 2012
    i would think maybe an ayon tube integrated amp. halen, it would take a little arm twisting but you might be able to get me to sell you my 6381's. would go great with those yacco speaker cables and let you dip you toes into usher waters.
    txcoastal, are those your red mini dancer 2 at stan's? he said he was holding them while someone was building their home.
    a guy close to me had a week old pair he would let have for $3500 as he wanted to move down to the mini dancer 1 because he thought the size of the 2's overpowered his room not the sound.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,328
    edited April 2012
    marvda1 wrote: »
    txcoastal, are those your red mini dancer 2 at stan's? he said he was holding them while someone was building their home.
    a guy close to me had a week old pair he would let have for $3500 as he wanted to move down to the mini dancer 1 because he thought the size of the 2's overpowered his room not the sound.

    No not the red, went with the traditional walnut...Marvin grab the $3500 pair
    Halen you should have let me help you grab those 8571 (if I remember right for $2800) down here in Sugarland on the 'gon that was a steal
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited April 2012
    I have been an Usher fan for a long time...however yet to get my ears on the mini Dancers. Having said that I was not a big fan of the be 718..tiny dancer. I just assumed the mini 1 and 2 would be similiar.

    Regards,
    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    ...and Falconcry has a pair in maple...

    I sure do! I think they're great. Very detailed and dynamic.

    Congrats!:biggrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,394
    edited April 2012
    Marvin, I am hooked on Silver cables now!
    txcoastal, I would have bought those, the seller never did respond! One hella deal...

    Halen
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    Hey guys, just a couple FYI's:

    1) it's Usher Dancer Mini 2, not Mini Dancer 2:wink:

    2) I will probably be looking to move mine soon. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.:biggrin:


    Ben
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
  • brianle
    brianle Posts: 572
    edited April 2012
    I love my Usher Mini Dancer 2 diamond. I'm using the Ayre AX-7e to power them and love this combo.
  • DMara
    DMara Posts: 1,434
    edited April 2012
    1) it's Usher Dancer Mini 2, not Mini Dancer 2:wink:

    Well you should tell the Usher guys to change their website: http://www.usheraudiousa.com/
    The main page and even the "Dancer series" tab showed it as Mini Dancer 2 while the model page showed it as Dancer Mini 2, so I think either way is OK :biggrin:
    Gears shared to both living room & bedroom:
    Integra DHC-80.3 / Oppo BDP-105 / DirecTV HR24 DVR /APC S15blk PC-UPS
    Living room:
    LSiM707's / LSiM706c / LSiM702 F/X's / dual JL Audio Fathom F113's / Parasound Halo A51 / Panasonic 65" TC-P65VT50
    Bedroom:
    Usher Dancer Mini 2 Diamond DMD's / Logitech SB Touch / W4S STP-SE / W4S DAC-2 / W4S ST-1000 / Samsung 52" LN52B750
    Other rooms:
    Audioengine AP4's / GLOW Audio Sub One / audio-gd NFB-3 DAC / Audioengine N22
    audio-gd NFB-10.2 / Denon AH-D7000
  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited April 2012
    DMara wrote: »
    Well you should tell the Usher guys to change their website: http://www.usheraudiousa.com/
    The main page and even the "Dancer series" tab showed it as Mini Dancer 2 while the model page showed it as Dancer Mini 2, so I think either way is OK :biggrin:

    lol. My shipping cartons say Dancer Mini 2, and the backs of the speakers say Dancer Mini 2. The "Usher" site you refer to is the US version, so it's likely they had problems with the translation.:cheesygrin:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's