Post by lurch on Nov 21, 2023 14:49:48 GMT
As many of you have seen from various comments on here, I have fallen out of love with my Summits. This is something I never thought would happen until around 2 months ago when I re-wired my Kef 104ab and spent a lot of time with them in system 2 due to a change in arrangements at Lurch Towers (system 2 daytime, system 1 evenings + when Jack NSM out/away).
This change in the required sound signature from ALL systems has lead me to start trying to find speakers to emulate the Cambridge C50/A50 104ab sound or possibly MORE using a Puresound A30 in the main rig. Another project I had been running for over a year was rebuilding my original system and just before the show I, managed to secure the final part of the puzzle, a pair of Arcam Two Plus speakers, admittedly they were a bit tatty and needed some TLC but were what I needed to complete the set, I've since picked up a 2nd mint pair in Black Ash just like I had.
My replacement speaker search got underway last week with a loaner pair of AN-E LX and then at my BO on Sunday (19/11) several more speakers were brought along for evaluation, the list is as follows:
Peak Consultant Princess (Sir_Franc)
AN-E lx (on loan)
Snell J (Jailbreaker)
Mission Cyrus 782 (Jailbreaker)
104ab
Arcam Two Plus
Each pair of speakers got a turn during the day for around an hour, barring the Snells which never got brought by Brendan (Jailbreaker) in until everyone had gone.
First off were the Arcams as that's what was playing when people arrived for the BO, they shocked a many attendees with their abilities and sound for their size. Next up where the AN-Es which were quite quickly discounted as contenders, I liked these initially when I got them on Tuesday but felt that the sound was a bit too thick the more I listened to them and others commented that they didn't suit the room either being too bass heavy.
Next up were the Peaks, yes, they had a nice fast and open sound but for me slightly lacked the richness and tonality I was after.
In went the 782s, I was expecting big things from these as they had sounded sublime as Snoopdogs BO being fed by my 401/TA-700/Cadenza Blue, BB3 and Puresound A30. The sound from the 782s was really nice, they had warmth, detail a good tonality and certainly the best (to my ears) of the non-owned speakers played at the BO.
After everyone barr Brendan had left (he'd blagged a sofa for the night) in came the Snells. Now that's more like me thinks on initial fire up, and a very pleasant relaxed evening ensued putting them through their paces and chewing the fat with Brendan during which he offered them to me at a very attractive price, finally switching the system off at 23:40 leaving them with me for further evaluation before making a decision.
2 Days on, where am I now?
The Es are awaiting boxing up for return.
The Snells after further listening are out of the system.
I plugged the 104ab back in lunchtime followed after an hour by the Black, mint pair of Arcam Two Plus.
I will have a further play with the Snells over the coming weeks once I rejig the room (Kallex and CD storage moved) to give me a clear front wall and corners. However my current feelings are that whilst the Snells are good there's no cigar and although money is not an issue, I will be sticking with the £0 option of the Arcams with an occasional play of the 104ab.
As for the Summits they're currently in an alcove in my bedroom, hopefully they will eventually find a new home but I fear I will have to let them go for a balls in a vice price to achieve this.
This change in the required sound signature from ALL systems has lead me to start trying to find speakers to emulate the Cambridge C50/A50 104ab sound or possibly MORE using a Puresound A30 in the main rig. Another project I had been running for over a year was rebuilding my original system and just before the show I, managed to secure the final part of the puzzle, a pair of Arcam Two Plus speakers, admittedly they were a bit tatty and needed some TLC but were what I needed to complete the set, I've since picked up a 2nd mint pair in Black Ash just like I had.
My replacement speaker search got underway last week with a loaner pair of AN-E LX and then at my BO on Sunday (19/11) several more speakers were brought along for evaluation, the list is as follows:
Peak Consultant Princess (Sir_Franc)
AN-E lx (on loan)
Snell J (Jailbreaker)
Mission Cyrus 782 (Jailbreaker)
104ab
Arcam Two Plus
Each pair of speakers got a turn during the day for around an hour, barring the Snells which never got brought by Brendan (Jailbreaker) in until everyone had gone.
First off were the Arcams as that's what was playing when people arrived for the BO, they shocked a many attendees with their abilities and sound for their size. Next up where the AN-Es which were quite quickly discounted as contenders, I liked these initially when I got them on Tuesday but felt that the sound was a bit too thick the more I listened to them and others commented that they didn't suit the room either being too bass heavy.
Next up were the Peaks, yes, they had a nice fast and open sound but for me slightly lacked the richness and tonality I was after.
In went the 782s, I was expecting big things from these as they had sounded sublime as Snoopdogs BO being fed by my 401/TA-700/Cadenza Blue, BB3 and Puresound A30. The sound from the 782s was really nice, they had warmth, detail a good tonality and certainly the best (to my ears) of the non-owned speakers played at the BO.
After everyone barr Brendan had left (he'd blagged a sofa for the night) in came the Snells. Now that's more like me thinks on initial fire up, and a very pleasant relaxed evening ensued putting them through their paces and chewing the fat with Brendan during which he offered them to me at a very attractive price, finally switching the system off at 23:40 leaving them with me for further evaluation before making a decision.
2 Days on, where am I now?
The Es are awaiting boxing up for return.
The Snells after further listening are out of the system.
I plugged the 104ab back in lunchtime followed after an hour by the Black, mint pair of Arcam Two Plus.
I will have a further play with the Snells over the coming weeks once I rejig the room (Kallex and CD storage moved) to give me a clear front wall and corners. However my current feelings are that whilst the Snells are good there's no cigar and although money is not an issue, I will be sticking with the £0 option of the Arcams with an occasional play of the 104ab.
As for the Summits they're currently in an alcove in my bedroom, hopefully they will eventually find a new home but I fear I will have to let them go for a balls in a vice price to achieve this.
