Can anyone describe the sound of the Kharma...

While the midrange may be very transparent in both speakers, the Kharma's are much more coherant. There is a more natural and lifelike sound with the Kharma's.

All of the speakers you mention are quite good. I just feel that the Kharma's are more like listening to the real thing. They are faster and more open with greater resolution and detail.

The Tenor's are the best. :) But, if you can find a Lamm ML1, Joule Electra, Audio Aero Capitole, Manley Snapper, or Atma-sphere MA1 MK II.2, they will all work extremely well.

You really do not need much power to drive the Kharma's.

Jtinn,

Won't be able to afford the Tenors unless someone is willing to sell for $7000 in mint condition. Any takers? LOL

You mentioned Joule Electra and I was wondering if you mean the OTL's (eg VZN-100 mono's) or the transformer coupled Stargate Mono's? OTL design intrigues me, but I don't want to miss the midrange magic or get too much on the lean side by doing so. I'm not familiar with the sound of OTL amps. Can you comment?

You might also consider for your short audition list a Berning ZH270 tube OTL, which lists new for $4500, then budget several hundred dollars for NOS Cryo'd tubes (it takes 10 tubes). I have compared this (w/ stock tubes) to the Tenors on a pair of Kharma Exquisites - it drove them easily and sounded great -- it was just missing that last measure of completeness and total coherence that the Tenors bring to the party like no other amp can. It also has a volume control and a switch to select between two inputs, so you can bypass a pre-amp if you wish.

Jordan:

The Kharma's are excellent speakers, as others have noted above. The Amati Hmages have a seductive midrange but the high and low extremes are lacking; IMO, quite unacceptable in a $22,000 speaker.

I also highly recommend the Lumen White Whiteflames though I think they are more expensive than the Kharmas. The Whiteflames have ceramic drivers throughout, and use a revolutionary cabinet design. Rather than being heavily braced like most speakers, it is relatively open on the inside and actually channels the unwanted resonances out a port in the back. They are about the most coherent, balanced and tonally accurate speakers I've heard, and have incredibly tight bass. All in all, highly musical.

Larry

what music is the strong suit of the ceramiques (1.0 in particular).

w/ what i'm reading, i'm thinking they might not do well w/ rock & roll...but great for jazz / vocals.

thanks
rhyno