Final-Audio New Series electrostatics

I concur with others that working with Ravi has been a great experience. Its funny that there are not more biplanar fans out there. Since I first heard Maggies, MartinLogans and especially Acoustat electrostats (35 years ago) it has become difficult to accept regular dynamic speakers as a "disappearing source" that electrostats usually offer. I just hear music reproduced by boxes, with all the flaws that boxes and ports tend to offer. Electrostatic listening is an immersive experience that tends to let me pretend I am in the studio or at the live concert rather than hearing it reproduced. So few showrooms to allow folks this kind of listening experience!

Very pleased to hear from fellow Final owners.  I have been enjoying my M35 since January.  Yes, the diaphragm material does require a long break in period.  Left mine on playing music at normal volume for weeks.  350 hours before serious listening.  Majority of change within the first 190 hours.  I ultimately intend to do a Final Atmos setup.  Have four M1 and a pair of M5.  No center yet.  Seriously considering the Tekton subwoofer towers.  That is a lot of speaker in any room.

Long ago, I owned the Final 0.4’s.   My Carver Research Lightstar Reference amp drove them beautifully.   Powered subs filled in the LF.    The customer service was phenomenal.  During a move, a panel was damaged.  The U.S. distributor quickly sent me a matched pair of replacements. Kudos to Final Audio for their continuing R&D.

I was very curious about these speakers as I really liked their footprint. I have a bit of a narrow room and working with Ravi, who provided great support throughout the process, I was able to get a Model 5 without the bass speaker, which I did not need as I use an active crossover with my distributed bass array. Unfortunately I was not able to really appreciate the speakers as one of them was damaged coming over from the Netherlands and had a constant buzz. From what I could hear though, given the cost, these are high value speakers. 

Since then I was able to get my direct drive set-up working again. This is a pair of panels with the same footprint as the M5, powered by a direct drive amplifier so there is no step up transformer between the amp and speaker. The amplifier puts 5,000 volts directly on the panel. The system was designed by Roger Modjeski and only a handful if that were sold. I own his personal system.

The thing about Final is that they also can be powered by direct drive amplification. Twinstatic Audio in the Netherlands can build such an amplifier to be used with Final, which is an option I was looking into. Eliminating the transformer really enhances the sound and lets you realize what your speakers can really do. 

I too am big fan of Final Audio.  I have the M12+’s.  I received them a few weeks ago and now they have ~150 hours on them and they sound in a word, TERRIFIC !  I have a modest listening space (10ft X 12ft) with the rear (behind my listening position) open into the kitchen area.  I was impressed at first with the bass as they go to 48hz however sound robust right down to that area.  They have opened up nicely in the ~150 hours and the mid-range and treble sound very transparent and fast.  I have to agree with accousticrat34 with his assessment of these speakers.  I also agree that the take a good while to break in.  The distributor says ~350 hours for full break in.  I’m less than 1/2 way there and I can’t think they’s sound any better than they do now.  I have mine paired with an SVS Micro3000 subwoofer which I crossover at 50hz with a 24db/octave slope and -15db volume and it meshes very well with the M12+’s.  For most of my listening I really don’t need a subwoofer to fully enjoy the music.  

Another thing that has impressed me is the subtle nuances in the music that I hadn’t heard prior.  I keep saying, "well I hadn’t heard that before" !  Like for instance instrument decay lasting longer than I’ve ever heard it on my other speakers.  This was one of the best stereo equipment purchases I have made in nearly my whole life in "Audiophileville" (50+ years)  If you have a small to normal size listening room, I believe the Model 12+’s would be just fine !  No need to go to the M15+’s or above, and I’d stick to the single panel ones as I don’t believe you’d need the models with the subwoofer unless you just want them integrated as a package.  One more important thing...  Ravi Velnati, the U.S distributor for Final Audio is a great representative of this product line.  If you’re contemplating the purchase of one of their fine speakers, you should give him a call.  

I am very interested in Final and Potpori.   I currently have been running XStatic full-range electrostats for 30 years and am a total flat-panel dipole fan.   Last year, I updated my old Velodyne subs to Rhythmic and found that to be a superb match.  At one time I toyed with the idea of going to the ML Renaissance 15A, but after comparing them side by side, I elected to stick with my XStatics.

I heard the Potpori at the Florida Audio Fest last spring and was quite impressed.  I've not heard the Final.

I'd be keen to hear form anyone who has heard them compared to the ML.

I have had the Final M12s for about 6 months and love them. They are every bit the "near full range electrostats", meaning transparency, coherency, speed, detail, and sounds great at all volume levels as my old but still working great Acoustat Spectra 22s. They also sound better off-axis so I don't feel the "head in a vice" issue (but maybe its my high frequency hearing reduction, now that I am older!) Thus far I believe that Final Audio is the high value electrostat company that Acoustats were in their day. It took a long time for the M12s to fully break in. Currently paired with SVS 2000 pro subwoofer for low bass. I also have smallish Martin Logan hybrids (Source is the model name) that I like very much in my bedroom system. I am considering the M35s since my listening room is large enough; the M12s do a great job filling the near field space.

The new ps audio speakers have ribbons in thier mids and tweets that sound great.alot of speakers are using flat speakers more and more.

I like my genesis and infinity irs v the best.but they are big and due to size need large rooms.most of the flat speakers need a subwoofer because thier drawback is little low frequency.they are fast  and responsive  start and stop quickly.that is why most ribbons are used in mid and tweet range. Momentum is mass x velocity so the less mass the better fast response to sound. This is why tekton uses his array pattern that sounds great.this is why beryllium is used in tweeters it pushes cone breakup past human hearing >20 db. The final panels are a great bang for the buck.you can fly into Phoenix AZ and listen.most flat speakers require big amps like 1 kw macs bryston 28b3 hegel h30 or d sonic m3 class d.class d is used on almost all base speakers with internal amps on the base. You could try the heil ess  it goes from 600 hz to 20 k. Enjoy the hunt

Can you please share your thoughts on the ones that you have owned/auditioned, as well as your path to where you are currently. Would also love to know what amplification you have driven and are driving your speakers with; the type of music you listen to, and anything else you'd care to share.

I have the 35 with tekton subs and love it.crossed with 40 hz run with krell fpb 700 and rotated with mcintosh 1.25 kw and hegel h 30 a mono blocks .100 db and great sound. I do love the flat thin speakers.like you carver,magnepan,kingsound,infinity,soundlab,acoustat,sanders,emenint,wisdom audio,bohlender graebener,apogee ect.bryston,sublime,dbxand other electronic crossovers.enjoy the music.

Since I'm name dropping, forgot my years with Martin Logan Theos.  Never had the pleasure of ML full electrostatics.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Quad 2812 I've heard a t shows.  And yes, I've been at this for a few years.

Popori Audio, Sanders Sound, King Sound, ER Audio, Audiostatic and Acoustat.  Sound Lab through auditions only.  Dipole panels rule in my world.

I have not but I am looking at them. What other ESL have you experience with??