Again, back in the 80s I discovered Snell type Ks seated on Foundation stands. Their clarity, speed and sound stage more than compensation for their lack of really deep bass. They just blew me away. I suspect that had modern powered Subs been available then, they’d be perfect. Sadly, 20 years later the drivers just fell apart.
An unexpected wow speaker for me was hearing the brand new Muso for the first time. Whilst it couldn’t compete with a normal system for what it was it sounded amazing. I found it hard to believe that a relatively small box could produce such good sound quality and a very enjoyable listening experience. Would I get one, possibly for the bedroom?
Went out to buy Naim and came back with a pair of Shahinian Compass 25 years ago, have since upgraded the drive units to Mk2 and re-veneered the cabinets.
I have Compasses like that (new-ish drivers) and an Atom on my bedroom, plus the HNE granite stands. Mine look a lot less impressive than yours though - well done on that veneer job!
They look fabulous! Shahinians are on my ‘want to try’ list.
Pear Audio supplied me with a new Mk 2 set of drive units, I got an AV cabinet maker to re-veneer the cabinets in walnut, I re-capped the crossovers and rebuilt the speakers. Was good fun and effectively upgraded to the Mk 2 spec for a fraction of the cost of a new pair. I posted a step by step guide on PF.
Simon
First time in a studio, a Nazareth track being mixed on giant JBL monitors, big teak coloured horn things with 2x15" woofers per channel. With bass guitar and drums in solo mode … the deepest, cleanest, subterranean LF you could dream of - impact felt through every organ with sheer physical brute force … a truly FABULOUS audio experience. Amp was a crate sized american BGW for the woofers and … wait for this … a Naim 250 on HF duties. Wasn’t expecting that AT ALL. I actually owned a NAP250 and Isobarik DMS system at the time and went home that night thinking they were really just dinky toys). Later similar experiences with Eastlake 2x15" monitors in various Eastlake-designed studio control rooms - but oh boy, that first time …
A set of guru juniors I had several years ago stand out as wow speakers at their price point, really enjoyed those. My current speakers are not well known although their maker, Gold Note, are getting some recognition for other products and especially their vinyl preamp but they are easily the best sounding speakers I’ve heard anywhere near their price point and they are beautifully made
What are the Guru Juniors not so good at?
I suppose the quality wasn’t hurt by the first generation 2" (30 ips) multitrack master tape - not hugely different to monitoring the musicians’ live performances through the same system. Snare drum really WHACKING you like a bullet between the eyes. Loved it.
Wish I had the funds to get Dynaudio Heritages but Special 40s are close and probably my next pair of standmounts.
Special 40s are just fab @Romany. The Heritage Specials are S40s but a thousand times more so…
Your wow moments describe the speaker journey I took. Linn Isobarik driven active by a complete Linn system. Replaced in 2004 with NBLs driven active by a complete Naim system. Replaced in 2021 with Kudos 808 driven by a complete Naim system. Each speaker change was a wow moment with a lot of fun listen to well known records and discover thinks I haven’t heard before.
I will always remember my first experience with Naim… probably familiar to many others here, I went for a demo of some other product which was ok, but not really cutting it. Then the dealer suggested I try some equivalently priced amplification from Naim. Back then I ended up walking away a very happy bunny with a 202/200 and thus my Naim journey started. That was in 2005. Whilst I was there though, I got to listen to the dealers ‘statement’ system at that time… CDS3, 252/300 into Neat Ultimatum MF7’s, fettled with some very nice cabling…. Wow.
I will never forget the impression that system and those speakers left on me… a simply awesome sound. The MF7’s are still too big for my room, and they are probably quite few and far between now, but still… maybe one day.
Thanks! I’ve been looking at Dynaudios for a while and your post earlier just reinforced that this is the way to go in partnership with a Naim system.
My dealer took them home as a keeper last i heard…….so many speakers look like plastic even though its s veneer.
I hear you, they were pretty much at the limit of what I could afford and only because I was so completely convinced did I get them. With a lower budget I certainly would have chosen the 40s.
Hi Jason,
That’s pretty much the system I have. Nac52 instead of 252 & fronted by LP12.
I can assure the MF7s sound wonderful!
Prem.
I just moved from Special 40s (which are truly awesome but can’t be fixed to stands) to Contour 20is. They are so refined and have tamed the slightly in your face tendencies of the 282. They are not quite as immediate as the S40s but have a subtleness with detail which is quite spooky I am thrilled with them so far. Dynaudio really are exceptional speaker manufacturers.
Thanks! I have a large Siberian cat at home who is not always careful around a pair of speakers not solidly mounted to the stands. But since I’ve started putting small (and very sticky) sorbothane pucks under the speakers to decouple them from the stands, Oliver (the cat) has stopped being the threat