Gallo Reference 3.1 questions...

So, what was the result?

I'm considering replacing a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel Hot-Rods with these and am interested in your comments. They are driven by the 45 wpc Conrad Johnson MV-55. I'm wondering if anyone knows if this will be a good combination and also if this will be a huge step forward with my system.

We all have to remember that the sound is the result of the total system. If Dannyers's system has a more laid back midrange presentation now than before...he should not necessarily blame the speakers (I personally like them). Danny should have auditioned those speakers in his own system with his own electronics and his own cables, in his own room. Now Danny, you seem to have a wart (the midrange) which will eventually drive you nuts. Now comes the change of cables, amps, etc., etc., etc. to find that midrange again.

It's been a while since I last posted and the Gallos are now fully broken in... and sounding great! But it's not just the break-in that has made them sound better. I also made some key setup and environment changes. Here are the four things I did to bring these speakers up to performance on par with my previous speakers:

1) Z axis + : I went to Home Depot and bought 4 of the heaviest retaining wall stones I could find. At 46 lbs each I placed two under each speaker. This raised the height by 5 inches and provided a more solid base than my thick shag rug. The effect is to expanded and raise the sound stage and further tighten the bass. The tweeter is now slightly above my ear level. So I agree with folks who have replaced the wood base and/or otherwise raised these speakers: It does make the sound stage more realistic.

2) X axis: The speakers are now about 6' feet apart and not towed in at all. Used to be 7' and slightly towed in.

3) Y axis: I'm now sitting 4' back, used to be 5' back. This is closer than I have ever sat to a pair of speakers I've owned. It's almost near field listening, but not quite. I've still playing with this parameter a bit, but love the imaging I get right here right now.

4) WAF: Hung a heavy rug on the wall behind the speakers. This cut some reflections which I suspect was causing mid-range cancellations.

Now the mid-range is dialed in, very present, and if not forward, certainly not laid back I would say the porridge is just right. My mid-range test disks/songs include Sam Cooke's vocals on the live Coppa album and trombone in The Moche on Stereophile's Jazz album. Female vocals (Alison Krause, Eva Cassidy, Jacintha) sound rich and full. All sound as good as I remember the KEFs. Certainly, I am no longer straining to pull out the midrange. That trombone is now totally in my face and Sam is in the room. Sax, trumpets, and pianos all are now sounding great and I'm pulling out albums I haven't listened to in quite some time.

Speaking of older albums, these now sound better, but still not great. For instance, the old Sanborn album Hide Away from the eighties. Love the tunes, but the cymbals still sound very metallic and over processed. I attribute this, as on the KEFs, to excellent detail communication. I've heard this album on lesser speakers (Pardigm 80s) and you don't get that same digital sound. I consider this a loss of information, but YMMV as older albums certainly sound better on the Paridgms.

The imaging is still excellent/exceptional with well placed instruments. Heavy Weather exhibits that all important "wrap around sound" effect on the low synth note mid song. The Gallos and the KEFs are the only two speakers I've heard that can pull this off. I also use Jaco's bass on this album as a good test of articulate expressive bass. For treble I listened to the cymbals on Take Five. The Gallos have great treble and I can clearly hear the wood sticks on the brass plate. Very few speakers I've heard can make cymbals sound like they do live. The Gallos can do this with ease.

So in summary, I made several changes to clear up the recalcitrant mid-range and increase the height of the sound stage. These changes, and a healthy break-in period, have turned these into real keepers that rival the best speakers I have heard.

Danmyers, Great write up on your Gallo experience. I have had mine for about 9 months now and they just get better and better sounding. I have found that they also love to be worked. When playing symphonic music, with all of it's dynamics, I play the music loud and the Gallo's just eat it up. After a good work out with loud symphonic music they just seem to sound better overall. Its like a thoroughbred who loves and needs a good run once in awhile.

You're right Bean, I didn't mention dynamics, but the Gallos do it very well. In my "journey" I've focused on what was different than my KEF 104/2s. Both speakers are very dynamic and I'd call it a tie.

Also agree that they like to be cranked (or I like to crank them :) from time to time. Mostly I listen with the gain at 9 to 10 O'Clock. Haven't taken a db reading but it's a comfortable listening level that is high enough to mask external noises (those with young children know what I'm talking about :). Loud is 11 to 1 O'Clock. I'm more of a jazz, rock, fusion guy, so I really enjoy cranking some of the more well done SACD rock albums (Deep Purple, Dire Straights, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, BOC, etc). Now some have really no dynamics to speak of, they are just brawlers. But the Brother in Arms and Dark Side of the Moon albums do.

Mostly I listen to smallish jazz/fusion ensembles where I focus on the interplay, syncapation, and flow of the group. What classical albums do you recommend to showcase speaker dynamics?