I spent this afternoon in a event at a local dealer around MBL the audio company from Berlin, well known because of their radial speakers. It was a great and enjoyable event and I will as usual try to reflect it in this report. As usually I might need help given the limitations of publishing.
I had the opportunity to listen to the following setups in also the mentioned order.
Medium stereo setup
Small stereo setup
Surround setup
Top end setup (not the total reference for MBL but a pretty decent setup)
It srtarted with the famous Liberty from Anette Askvik. Bass was very impressive also nice imaging of the song, so a good start.
Christopher Tin - sounds very controlled, bass is again impressive (while now thinking a bit too impressive) on the higher end it sounds a bit edgy - might also be the room…., but difficult to listen to ……
Sara K. - a clean sound, a bit too clean according to my feeling. A bit larger than live sound.
Jessye Norman - the vier Letzte lieder was definitely too clean an missing the emotion and the overtones. The setup or the room is not optimal.
Scetches - a fantastic song to test a system. And boy did this one now dissapoint (have to assume something was wrong in the room or the setup, as I can’t explain it with such a system). Trumpet sound is definitely too edgy, also the overall timing seems to be not perfect.
Rush - this song proofs that the timing is not optimal, a bit a petty as the system does impress in bass and imaging.
Please help me to complete the report by responding once …
Small setup
The small setup, while challenged at high volume by a bit of stress, but was sounding more emotional, better timed and better dimensioned. The setup was this time completed by Audio Physik speakers which fitted well to the setup…
Again the same songs as before with the addition of Sohn, so I will not reattach the pictures.
Scetches - this time no edge. Good imaging, while bass not so impressive as before. But even given the limitations more enjoyable.
Four Last Song with Norman - now we sense the emotions and also hear better the overtones…
Sohn - the system can’t deal so well with it, the volume is clearly to much and it’s the weak point of the smaller setup.
Anette Askvik - is beautiful, very fitting for this system.
We listened to the Symphonie Fantastique with Neset-Seguin… it’s nice to hear classical in a Atmos setup. Sitting for such a big screen with a good setup is a nice immersive setup. The setup was with four radial speakers. A sub, and two top speakers. Electronics and the whole setup was done with Lyngdorf, source was Apple TV. A great screen and also a top Beamer. I liked the experience and how it felt like being there. In case I will move in the coming years I definitely will consider in looking into watching to a projection instead of my current normal TV.
Keith Jarrett - have the feeling that it sounds a bit warmer as I remind, not bad just seems different…
Dire Straits - as expected sounds perfect
Hedegaard - nice atmospheric, bass great no problem with the power when playing loud
Hanne Boel - good system seems to be made for such a system (middle voice)
Metallica - wow, no prisoners taken. Loud definitely works with this system.
Big System (3)
Youn Sun Nah - nice contrast to the original, nice full sound
Wackelstuck - not so much my music, but this type of music works well for this system
Jessye Norman - again four last songs. Unfortunately they switched down the volume as everybody moved on to a different room, but still good impressions where also things seem to come good accross would have liked to hear it at high volume though….
MBL is a respected supplier. Well known by their radial speakers. With their top end system they tend to be in the top five/three of best sound of the show.
I’m a big fan of the MBL Radial speakers Bert. Having heard a pair of the stand mounted 126’sat the Ascot high end Show and been really impressed, I home auditioned the 126’s late last year as a result. Their treble and mid range are maybe the most open and sweet I’ve experienced ( with my 552/500). Sadly, they simply don’t have enough bass to reproduce an airy and realistically proportioned ‘whole’ for me, especially on full Orchestral pieces, so I passed, but I’m still interested in the brand. The dealer is expecting a pair of the 116’s (I believe the white floor standers in your second system above) which should offer more bass and scale hopefully.
I’d love to hear the big ugly 101’s at some point. In the right room I can imagine they could be something really special.
Apropos of nothing, I’m told that Thomas Tuchel has a pair of 101’s in his home system!
The 116’s I belief have been the white ones. I belief it was not properly setup……, but definitely the bass was not the problem. So give it a try.
However if I would consider a change it would need to be the 101’s for me, they are really special…., while I couldn’t obviously test everything. The radial speakers do have some interesting benefits….
It was only used with the CD player which had included a room module as well. Would have been nice to also listen to the turntables. But at thesetype of events you can only listen to what is commonly offered. I did like the event and hometown have opportunities for more of these type of events. It’s focussed and enables you to deep dive on a certain brand.
