Usher, Vandersteen and Magnepans

Ern Dog
Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
edited August 2007 in Speakers
I auditioned the Usher V-604 at a Hi-Fi shop in Portland over the weekend and I was very close to charging a pair and taking them home. They cost $1480 and sounded impressive. Definitely a step up from my Rti10's. Check them out: http://www.usheraudiousa.com/products/loudspeakers/v-series/v-604 Anybody have experience with these?

At a different shop I also auditioned some Vandersteen 2CE Signature Mark II for $2150 and some Manepans MG3.6 for $4750. http://www.magnepan.com/model_MG_36
Overall, the maggies sounded the best. My only complaint is that the low end bass was weak. Their soundstage was HUGE and they sounded totally holographic. They were being powered by a Music Fidelity KW500, 500 wpc amp and a Jolida cdp. They also had the JL Audio Fathom sub hooked up with them. I prefered it with the sub versus without the sub. One more thing, with the ribbons, I missed the visceral impact I feel with drivers, especially with bass. Feeling the music in my body is an important part of the experience.

I'm kicking myself for not jumping on the Ushers. I had a good time auditioning speakers and getting more clear about what I'm looking for and what is important to me.
Post edited by Ern Dog on
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,019
    edited August 2007
    Thats the way to do it,look,listen,open wallet.
    Hope you end up with whats important to you.Good luck.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited August 2007
    Ern,
    If you like the Magnepans, check out the Gallo Reference 3.1's. They have the wide soundstage and holigraphy of the Magnepans, along with the bass and driver punch of conventional speakers.
    V
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2007
    Would love to audition some Gallo's. It's hard finding a shop that sells them. I also really wanted to listen to some Dynaudio speakers, but same problem. May just have to do research and pull the trigger without hearing them first. I hate doing this, but sometimes necessary.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,904
    edited August 2007
    do yourself a favor.........
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1189468597
    or............
    this would be great if you can get him to ship.
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1191704117
    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
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited August 2007
    Ern Dog wrote: »
    Would love to audition some Gallo's. It's hard finding a shop that sells them. I also really wanted to listen to some Dynaudio speakers, but same problem. May just have to do research and pull the trigger without hearing them first. I hate doing this, but sometimes necessary.

    I too would love to hear some Dynaudio's. I have heard some great things about them. I have heard from a few sources that the drivers used in the Gallo Ref 3.1's are Dynaudio drivers, so I guess I am hearing them. :)

    If the Ushers fit the bill then go for it. It took me about 2 years of sitting on the fence and another 6 months of more active searching until I found the speakers and the priced pair I have today. Just wait for your wave...
    V
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited August 2007
    marvda1 wrote: »
    do yourself a favor.........
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1189468597
    or............
    this would be great if you can get him to ship.
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1191704117

    Yeah I saw those too. For a little bit more I can get this Dynaudio 220 Focus for $1700 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1189193089

    Or Better yet these Dynaudio Contour 1.8 MK II's for $1400 obo shipped !!:eek: :eek: :eek: http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1191448200
    Too bad they only take checks or money order:(
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