Usher CP-6371...any opinions

pearsall001

I had the pleasure of getting my ears on them over the weekend. I was very, very impressed with them in all aspects. Not only did they sound incredible, but also the sheer dynamic fit & finish of these is just too much to describe especially at their price point, approx $2100 MSRP.

Stephen is waiting for others to arrive, the CP6371 & I believe a pair fron the Dancer series. I'll be back doing some more listening for sure when they arrive.

I also listened to a few from the V series, the 601, 602, & 604. They too sounded like they should cost 2-3 times their asking price. This Usher gear is really top notch & if you get the chance to listen to them, by all means do so.

dorokusai

Great loudspeakers. The Be series is incredible.

Midnite Mick

I have been a fan of Ushers for some time now. I have heard those particular speakers that you are refering to at an old dealers place. Very, very musical, fast, open, and dynamic is how I would describe them. Although, I do not believe that they go as deep as their published specs say. Maybe if the cavity was filled, I don't know.

My current dealer just picked up Usher as one of his lines the other day. He said he plans on bringing in the S520, X718, Be718, and of course leave it to him to bring in the top Dancer Be20's.

He has some sick ability to get me to buy stuff. I'm scared Phil.

Mike

PS. Also heard some Adagios on some Mac gear and Simaudio Moon source. I loved them too....damnit!

Midnite Mick

Phil judging from the price and the rest of your post I think you heard the 6311's on the weekend. Was it a single mid driver? The 6371's have 2 mid drivers in a MMT configuration (those are the ones that I heard)

Mike

pearsall001

Midnite Mick wrote: »

Phil judging from the price and the rest of your post I think you heard the 6311's on the weekend. Was it a single mid driver? The 6371's have 2 mid drivers in a MMT configuration (those are the ones that I heard)

Mike

Yeah Mike, I heard the 6311's & they were stellar. I believe Stephen's waiting for the 6371's which have the 2 mids & the MMT configuration. I can't wait to hear them & a pair of the Dancers.

Stay clear of your dealers place...you have absolutely no self discipline when it comes to new gear!! Like I have room to talk!!

Midnite Mick

He just picked up Rogue recently as well. Of course with him, he doesn't fool around and brings in there top $7500 pre amp. He then emails me and tells me he found my next preamp. I haven't been there to listen though.

He has so much expensive gear just sitting there in his home. He has a pair of Gamut L7 (20K+ speaker) and now he is getting the big Dancers. Not bad for a cop with a little part time business on the side.....nice life!

Mike

pearsall001

Midnite Mick wrote: »

He just picked up Rogue recently as well. Of course with him, he doesn't fool around and brings in there top $7500 pre amp. He then emails me and tells me he found my next preamp. I haven't been there to listen though.

He has so much expensive gear just sitting there in his home. He has a pair of Gamut L7 (20K+ speaker) and now he is getting the big Dancers. Not bad for a cop with a little part time business on the side.....nice life!

Mike

That whole 6 Series & Dancer Series have me drooling!!! Man they are some awesome speakers. The 6 series is very budget friendly where as the Dancers are a bit of a stretch...or are they!!

beardog03

I have been really wanting to get a listen to some Ushers...

the Be series is something (like Mark said) to be experienced...from what I have read, but I do not know where a retailer might be in my area...

I`m also kinda scared to find out, as I too have no self discipline

treitz3

What, may I ask is stellar and something you have to experience? [Usher's]

Don't get into the technicalities please. What pleased you? Top end? Low end? Balance between the two? Imaging? Sound stage?

Or was it what they were hooked up to that may have impressed you?

pearsall001

treitz3 wrote: »

What, may I ask is stellar and something you have to experience? [Usher's]

Don't get into the technicalities please. What pleased you? Top end? Low end? Balance between the two? Imaging? Sound stage?

Or was it what they were hooked up to that may have impressed you?

To preface let me start by saying that I'm not a technical kind of guy as far as giving reviews on speakers & audio gear. I pretty much call it like I hear it in non-technical words. So here goes.

The pair that I heard was the CP-6311 powered by Granite audio gear (preamp & tube mono block amps). The very first thing about them was their look...damn they are drop dead gorgeous!!! It looks like they just came out of a Mercedes paint shop, the piano black finish was stunning & the wood panels, & tweeter trim was the perfect balance of eye candy. The styling is also different, they're slanted back on an angle that is quite different from other brands.

Now as far as the sound goes, yes the soundstage carried well out into the room & beyond the speakers. The imaging was crystal clear & placed everything in it's proped place within the soundstage. That 's about as technical that I can be. Now for the real review.

The sound just cemented my butt in the chair!!! I didn't want to leave...I just kept playing more music. To me that's what I go by, a sound that just grabs you & doesn't want to let go. I've heard other more expensive speakers that just weren't capable of grabbing me & cementing my butt in the chair. So there you have it, nothing too technical but a review from a cemented butt in a chair.

unc2701

Has anyone heard these compared to Focal's Profile 918 and/or the big Chorus floorstanders? I've heard each individually, but it was months between. Buddy of mine sells Focal, so I can get them at around 60% MSRP, but the Ushers seem to start a lot cheaper.

marvda1

that's why i've had my 6381's so long.

pearsall001

marvda1 wrote: »

that's why i've had my 6381's so long.

Exactly how long has it been & what made you choose the 6381's over the other 6 series? I've only heard the 6311's & hopefully soon I'll have a listen to the others. The 6 series is a nice mix of price points & performance. Something for everyone's listening tastes & budget. Now the Dancer series & the Be10 & Be20...WOW!!!! I'm almost afraid to give them a listen, I just might be tempted. My wife's been ok with all my purchases so far (she really doesn't ask) but if I brought one of those home there's just no way in hell she'd belive me when I say...but dear they were only $500.

dorokusai

You're behind the power curve....and should have listened a long time ago. Don't hate Marvda1, hate the game

Midnite Mick

I am interested in hearing the 8571's. They still have the Beryllium tweeter and something I may be able to manage cost wise.

Mike

treitz3

pearsall001 wrote: »

So there you have it, nothing too technical but a review from a cemented butt in a chair.

Fine enough review for me to get a listen on!

I have heard from some folks that the Usher's are to die for. With your review, now I need to get a listen on. Where? That's the question. I'm in Charlotte, NC. Any shop or member near me? Are they gonna be at the next PF?

Talk to me.

marvda1

i've had the 6381's since march 2004. i had actually purchased the 6371's and had them in my garage still in the box because i was painting my room. i saw them at the distributor's but was told it would overpower my room (12x15x8), the day i was taking the 6371's home i asked to listen to the 6381's. the midrange is what grabbed me, they are fast and very clean sounding. although the specs show only 1 db. difference in the bass frequency, there is a big difference in bass output. i was about to bring the 6371's into my room and unbox them but i just had to call the distributor and see if he would bring the 6381's by to see if they would work in my room plus because they had just come from the show in ny there was only a $300 difference in price, needless to say they did work in my room, wrote him a $300 check and he took the 6371's back with him.

Midnite Mick

I never thought that the 6371's went as deep as the specs stated when I heard them. I remember somebody posting the frequency curve of them on Audio Circle and if my memory serves me correct they started to fall quite quickly at 45Hz.

You could check to confirm.

FWIW I just exchanged pm's with somebody that purchased some amps off me that has the 6371's and he stated that he uses a sub.

Mike

pearsall001

Midnite Mick wrote: »

I never thought that the 6371's went as deep as the specs stated when I heard them. I remember somebody posting the frequency curve of them on Audio Circle and if my memory serves me correct they started to fall quite quickly at 45Hz.

You could check to confirm.

FWIW I just exchanged pm's with somebody that purchased some amps off me that has the 6371's and he stated that he uses a sub.

Mike

The stated specs for the 6371's say that they go to 30 which is pretty darn good...if in fact they truly do. I'l have to give a listen when Stephen gets them in. The pair I listened to were the CP-6311's & not the 6371's. My bad. If he brings in the Be10's or Be20's then I'll be in trouble on finding out a way to finagle them.

Midnite Mick

I think the 8571's may be a better compromise especially if your room isn't huge. They are said to be the best bargain of the Dancer lineup. The specs are still very good and they still have the Beryllium tweeter.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/80219-usher_cp8571mk2_golden_ear_award_floorstander/

I know you are primarily a 2 way guy Phil. The Be718's may be your answer. I think that they list for 3K but I am sure you would get a better deal on them than that. I think Russman has heard them as I believe he was at Danny Ritchie place when he was tweeking the crossover.

I tried to search on the Circle for the frequency curve of the 6371's but it isn't working for me.

Mike

Midnite Mick

Alright, I got my ears on some more Ushers in the last couple of days. All of which have been straight out of the box. I will try to post what I remember...although I think I need to spend more time with them when they also have more time on them, to give a more thorough review.....so these are fairly brief.

Associated gear:

Consonance cd120T tube output cd player (the new one)
Rogue Hera Preamp
Accustic Arts amp II - high performance version
Equi=Tech 2Q

Be718

Very resolving tweeter. It sounded great, although it may sound etchy on lesser gear. Bass sounded deep for such a little speaker with a fair amount of articulation. Midrange was very much Usher sounding.

S520

I have been curious about this little speaker for a long time. The first thing I have to comment on is the finish. The finish is as good as the 6 series. The pair that we had was in Ferrari Red. They are a gorgeous finish for such an inexpensive speaker. We hooked them up, fired everything up, turned up the volume and I just started to laugh. It is like you hear this big sound and you wonder where it is coming from....they just seem so out of proportion. I looked over at my dealer who was hearing them for the first time as well and he was laughing to. What an incredible sounding little speaker. I moved around his room (15 X 30-35) as I like to do and the off axis performance was just as good as if you were sitting in the sweet spot....they filled that big room nicely. Oh btw the tweeter in that speaker is no slouch either. Very realistic, natural sounding.

I would love to have one of those 10 channel receiver home theatres (which I am sure will be the future of HT) with these all the way around. Would be an awesome HT and not much spent in way of speakers.

Also great for a simple little system. I set one up at my sisters this weekend consisting of Usher s520, Consonance cd120 linear, Consonance A120 linear integrated. A very enjoyable little system for not much money.

6381

The version he had was in piano black. I wish there were more wood options like there used to be because I think that a lighter wood panel would look much better against the black. I thought the bass was very good.....articulate, tunefull, and taunt, not at all a single note bass tone. The tweeter was a little more laid back and softer than the Be, which kind of surprised me, although not as resolving.....not sure which tweet I prefer to be honest. I think all the 6 series Ushers have that open midrange sound and these are no different in that regard.

If I had to pick a speaker I would choose the 6381's over the be 718's. Overall, I just find them more musical and sound bigger.

He also had some 6311's there but I did not hear them.

It was some pretty cool time I spent with the 6381's. My dealer who has his business out of his home had to go somewhere with his wife but said that I could stay and listen if I wanted. His wife told me that there was stew on the stove and to help myself if I wanted. So I spent about an hour with them by myself in his showroom. Now that is what I call treating a customer right.

Not the greatest of reviews...but like I said I would like to hear more when everything is broken in.

Thanks,
Mike