Gallo Reference 3 speakers

F1nut
F1nut Posts: 50,546
edited March 2005 in 2 Channel Audio
I decided after being called a snob and other nasties today that I'd go spend some time at the local snob hifi shop and hang out with some other snobs. Actually, some really nice down to earth guys with a ton of gear. Now, I had seen a few pictures of this new Gallo speaker and from the pics I had it in my mind that these were about 5' or 6' tall, in other words on the big side. I walk in the door and there they are only they are short, about 3' tall, so I asked is this them? They laughed and said, "Yep, everybody says the same thing." I couldn't believe it, I thought they were pulling my leg and that they were some sort of mock up ad model. You want to give them a listen, they asked. Of course I do, I respond. We hooked them up to a McCormack 225 amp, a RLD-1 pre amp and a Musical Fidelity A308 cdp. There was a unknown to me blues/jazz cd already in the player, so I just listened to it. I've got to say that these "little" speakers are not bad and sound bigger than they look. Wide soundstage, smooth top end, but the bass was a little boomy although that may have been the recording or how they were set up. I didn't feel like messing with the set up at the time because I was being lazy and knew that I would be coming back with my own music for a serious demo. I'll do a follow up after that. The cool factor of these speakers is off the charts and from what they told me there is a 3 to 4 month back order for them. At about $2600.00 I can see why, effn works of art.
Political Correctness'.........defined

"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

President of Club Polk

Post edited by F1nut on
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,641
    edited March 2005
    Holy Crap....

    You actually go out and demo stuff? Will the 2.3TL be replaced soon? :eek:

    Those really do look cool BTW...lol
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2005
    I've been looking at those recently too. I was floored that the price was that low, given their impressive appearance. I figured they were 10+ grand.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,546
    edited March 2005
    Sure do, it's fun to check out new stuff and talk audio. The other week I checked out Quad, B&W, Polk and Vandersteen bookshelf speakers. The Quad's and the Polk's were easily the better speakers with a slight nod to the Quad's although the Polk's had better bass response. If the Quad's dug a little deeper they might have found a new home in the shop.

    Don't worry Sid, the SDA's aren't going anywhere.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,546
    edited March 2005
    Steve, I agree they look like they should cost more. What did you think about the sound?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,489
    edited March 2005
    I also took a serious look at these a few months ago. My initial reaction was they are great for jazz and vocals and priced about where they should be for build quality. They look cool, but they are small both in size and in the scale of music they reproduce compared to SDAs. The really special thing about the speakers is the tweeter. Although it looks like fly paper behind a mesh grille, its performance is great, almost as open and airy as a Magnepan or Martin Logan top end. There is also no crossover between the tweeter and midrange drivers which makes them very smooth sounding. There was supposed to be a subwoofer amplifier coming available in April this year for around $1000 extra, but I haven't kept track of whether or not the expected delivery has pushed back. The 10 inch driver has two voice coils, with a separate amp required to activate the second coil. I didn't hear the Gallos with the separate subwoofer amp. They were set up with some Musical Fidelity X series gear.

    The overall performance was nowhere close in dynamics and imaging to the 2.3TLs I had. To me, the performance of the Gallos was only marginally better overall than the LSi15s I had. If I was going to try something different myself in this price range, I'd be looking to a new pair of Magnepan 3.6QRs for the same amount of money.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited March 2005
    Looks like a very cool speaker! I couldn't believe the price either when you wrote how much they cost.

    I'd be drooling over the McCormack gear! :D
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited March 2005
    They still haven't released the amp yet. My Uncle Charlie has a set of those, and we listen to them almost every Saturday night. I will say, they take FOREVER to break in.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by F1nut
    Steve, I agree they look like they should cost more. What did you think about the sound?

    I haven't heard them, just read up on them after seeing them in Stereophile and was amazed at the price. Nearest audio boutiques around here are in Phoenix...a good 3.5 hr drive.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by F1nut
    The other week I checked out Quad, B&W, Polk and Vandersteen bookshelf speakers. The Quad's and the Polk's were easily the better speakers with a slight nod to the Quad's although the Polk's had better bass response. If the Quad's dug a little deeper they might have found a new home in the shop.
    Thinking about replacing your SB3s?
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,546
    edited March 2005
    Maybe. First I want to see what a tube pre and new SS amp does for them. I think they could open up a bit more with a better amp and hopefully a tube pre will tame the metal dome tweet.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited March 2005
    Gallo's another displaced Brooklyn boy.

    George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited March 2005
    going by that picture, I'd say yeah, they look about 3' tall. Compare them to the rack next to 'em. Not a lot bigger. But maybe that's just me. :p

    They look good but not sure if I could accept a design like that. To off the wall for me. I'm all about the beautiful sound + beautiful looks.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited March 2005
    I can't figure out the coherence part of these speakers. I mean the tweeter (I guess) is recessed from the drivers which are on a slant. Call me IGNANT but I just don't get it.

    Jesse you have to help a dumb guy over here...

    HBomb and I'm grabbin #2 brew;)
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited March 2005
    Henry, it's not a time alignment issue here, but a dispersion issue. The speakers aren't REAL tall, so that slight kick-back helps put the listen RIGHT on axis.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited March 2005
    Originally posted by RuSsMaN
    Henry, it's not a time alignment issue here, but a dispersion issue. The speakers aren't REAL tall, so that slight kick-back helps put the listen RIGHT on axis.

    Cheers,
    Russ

    Ahhhhh... like uptilt on a floorstander?

    h
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • Crazed
    Crazed Posts: 60
    edited March 2005
    I agree with Russ, the break-in isn't over at 200 hours. Mids are coming into their own. Bass is getting smoother, but more refined. For me, high-end is mixing better, less shrill, but very, very tight.

    Toe-in/out makes some difference, but not as much as with other speakers. Need to get them 3 feet from the back wall (at least). Need to get the front end up -- that's why the spikes are asymetrical -- makes a larger/higher soundstage. Need to try woofs in v. woofs out. Considering the brightstar stands -- endorsed by Gallo.

    Amplification quality makes a big difference, looking to go with the Moon. I've ordered the SA amp. Looking to get rid of the separate sub. Mixes well with other Gallos for HT and a blast for two channel. As I said in another post, they make me smile...
    Main System:
    PreAmp: Rotel 1098 with MF X-10v3
    Amp: Rotel 1090, 1075, 1070
    Source: Pro-Ject RM9 with Blackbird Cart., Denon 2900 with MF X-DACv3
    Speakers: Gallo Ref 3s (LR), Gallo Due (C, SR, SL), Gallo Micro (RR, RL)


    Second System:
    Receiver: H/K AVR 630
    Source: Pioneer 563
    Speakers: Polk RTi10s (LR), CSi5 (C), RTR 200 (SR, SL)
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  • Crazed
    Crazed Posts: 60
    edited March 2005
    For the price... what's to think about?
    Main System:
    PreAmp: Rotel 1098 with MF X-10v3
    Amp: Rotel 1090, 1075, 1070
    Source: Pro-Ject RM9 with Blackbird Cart., Denon 2900 with MF X-DACv3
    Speakers: Gallo Ref 3s (LR), Gallo Due (C, SR, SL), Gallo Micro (RR, RL)


    Second System:
    Receiver: H/K AVR 630
    Source: Pioneer 563
    Speakers: Polk RTi10s (LR), CSi5 (C), RTR 200 (SR, SL)
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  • Crazed
    Crazed Posts: 60
    edited March 2005
    The tweeter switch in gone in the latest version and the price has been adjusted...
    Main System:
    PreAmp: Rotel 1098 with MF X-10v3
    Amp: Rotel 1090, 1075, 1070
    Source: Pro-Ject RM9 with Blackbird Cart., Denon 2900 with MF X-DACv3
    Speakers: Gallo Ref 3s (LR), Gallo Due (C, SR, SL), Gallo Micro (RR, RL)


    Second System:
    Receiver: H/K AVR 630
    Source: Pioneer 563
    Speakers: Polk RTi10s (LR), CSi5 (C), RTR 200 (SR, SL)
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited March 2005
    I saw them at the show last year and I was Impressed. There really nice like there other spekaers.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2005
    Anyone have a USA Dealer locator link? I keep getting routed to a UK site...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • Crazed
    Crazed Posts: 60
    edited March 2005
    www.roundsound.com
    Main System:
    PreAmp: Rotel 1098 with MF X-10v3
    Amp: Rotel 1090, 1075, 1070
    Source: Pro-Ject RM9 with Blackbird Cart., Denon 2900 with MF X-DACv3
    Speakers: Gallo Ref 3s (LR), Gallo Due (C, SR, SL), Gallo Micro (RR, RL)


    Second System:
    Receiver: H/K AVR 630
    Source: Pioneer 563
    Speakers: Polk RTi10s (LR), CSi5 (C), RTR 200 (SR, SL)
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited March 2005
    Thanks for the link. Found one local outfit. They have a kinda weird line up though... including Maytag. Didn't know they made audio equipment... ;)

    I had tried cropping the UK link back to anthonygallo.com.... ended up in pop up hell...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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