I should jolly well hope three 500s and a statement sounded better than a single 500 (with 552?)
The 808s passive/active demo was with the Statement pre only.
My point is that active was of course better but the passive was still incredible. The whole VFM debate is of course ridiculous at these levels of expenditure.
How is ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’ sounding on the 808s?
He’s just saying…lots of options, rabbit holes, fun times😉
Bloody marvellous i would hope.
I can see why you might go 3 x 250dr’s over a 500dr, if the price point is about the same, its just when you start going above this, that for me things become a lot less simple, and i ask myself why.
As lets say you go 3 x 300dr’s on 808 and the rest off the gear you need to make this work as it should, then that is a very serious amount off money, for me i feel that a much better speaker would be a much better way to go on a single amp, lets not even mention 3 x 500dr’s.
The titans are a lovely speaker and the naim amps are also lovely, but once you start getting into this price range then, i am looking at other kit, simply as that really.
But its clever really, as you can buy into it all and add bits, as and when you can, then one day you look at it all and think, my god what have i spent lol, rather than having to spend say £50k plus on a pair off speakers and an amp in one go, that will probably be better
I ‘went active’ with two 200s and that was comfortably trounced by a single 250.
A second 250 was later purchased.
I wonder how the Statement S1 would have fared VS the 3 x 500s?
Claude
When I tried a 500 against 250 … the 500 is vastly better…in everyway. Even separating out the amps to drive certain frequencies will not change the resolving power…it may improve drive … The 500 does not have an earth referenced ground…and is superior…
I know of a couple of sets of people who preferred statement pre and 3x500 to full statement
But there are people who prefer 3x250 to 1x500 on the 808s. I doubt that the improvement is universally agreed and whether or not it is worth the extra cables and shelves is going to be down to individual choice
I came to the conclusion if you could put up with all the cables etc, the S1 and active 500,s is probably the sweet spot with the 808’s. @Darkebear has such a system and i heard this at Signals Kudos active event
Hi all,
What an interesting thread. As always nothing polarises a conversation more than speaker discussion. Black boxes, interconnects & speaker cables seem more forum friendly than speakers. Obviously, this is why a home demo is so so important. Your speakers, your room, your music…your ears that in the end is all that matters. After all, one mans Porsche is another mans Ferrari (please let’s not debate that!!!).
I had Ovators S600s and loved them. I never understood why they got such a bad press. For me, in my room with my system they always sounded a little bass shy. Which again (and let’s not debate that either!!!) flys in the face of everyone else’s opinions. However, like I said, my room, my electronics, my speakers…my ears!!
Then I went to the Signals show a few years back and heard the glorious 505’s. Wow, did they put on a show with a lasting impression. I also followed Polarbears journey with great interest. I then had the opportunity to dem a rather fine pair of 808’s at our old house (we moved July 2019). And the rest as they say is history. I was rather concerned about the 808’s in their new home. After much moving them about and with much good advice from my good friend Peter R , I now have them in a position where the balance of audio reproduction (wow, where did that come from…I mean listening to music!!!) is sublime. I now, have the opportunity as and when funds allow to explore active in the future. Although what gets me out of bed in the morning and motivates me is Statement!!! And that is a journey I hope to take…one day before I get too old…dam too late!
Enjoy Tim, it’s a wonderful speaker! Derek and the team have done an incredible job. You are on an amazing journey, like good food and wine, savour, enjoy and don’t rush…just let the music play!!!
Good to see you post here again and system looks lush, and because of this bloody Covid situation I have yet to hear your system.
But Dusty, was it really necessary to mention the Statement… LALALA. Best Peter
That looks superb and I bet is sounds stunning it does show how speaker finish can integrate well into a room and I doubt that any other finish would complement the room so well.
Ooh yes Peter. You NEED one of those …
Best regards, BF
Simply delicious Dusty. Very tasteful indeed.
Best regards, BF
Wow, thank you guys.
Statement Peter, me never
If that money is weighing you down and pending hyperinflation ahead then getting the Statement Pre while it is a snip of a price makes sense.
It will ease your lock-down cabin fever ahead.
After that Active to dispose of the rest of you funds is the way to go - but the S1 Pre will do more for you for possibly less outlay - if counting 2x NAP500, SNAXO+SCap, SL speaker cables, plus trade-in the 552.
Active is a parallel path that complements things in that it adds immediacy and easy refinement and lots of other good musical things. In fact that is the path I took as the S1 Pre did not then exist and I’d maxed-out with the 552 at the time I went Active 3x500.
I made the mistake of a home-demo of S1 Pre vs 552 in my system - and in that Active system it just came alive and sounded so at ease and happy that…I have one.
Although my speakers are the S800 and not 808 they are excellent Active IMO.
DB.