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Hansen Emperor or MBL 101E or Avalon Isis

I have heard these three speakers, but in differents systems, MBL 101E always with MBL electronics, Hansen with CAT electronics and Avalon with spectral electronics, all sounds very well, but which one do you prefers if you have heard them?
MBL 101 , for me, has a problem, you need a lot of power, Avalon sometimes goes to the thin side(sometimes I will wish to be more organic.
Thanks for your opinion
emigene
gerrym5's avatar
gerrym5
286 posts
 
I'm not an owner, but IMHO.

As the server says about the restaurant's menu, "its all good you can't go wrong". Then, "I'll take the Hansen's please", especially if you're looking for organic. I liked them every time I've heard them.
audiokinesis
2,737 posts
 
Bonjour Emigene,

I haven't heard the Hansens, but really like Avalon as well as MBL. I would probably be an Avalon dealer if I wasn't pursuing my own speaker venture.

I have worked with speakers having polydirectional radiation characteristics, conceptually similar to the MBL's as far as room interaction goes. In my opinion the MBL's should be positioned far enough from room boundaries that the extra reverberant energy arrives 10 milliseconds (or more) behind the direct sound. This corresponds to a path length difference of about 11 feet, or 3.4 meters. You see, the ear/brain system tends to interpret early-arriving reflections as colorations, but late-arriving reflections are interpreted as ambience and richness. Given proper setup and proper amplification, the MBLs would be my choice from your list.

But as Gerrym5 says, everything on that menu looks good!

Duke
dealer/manufacturer

p.s. - You may be wondering why I said I'd consider being an Avalon dealer when here I'm picking MBL over Avalon (by a slim margin, and stipulating correct setup and amplification). The reason is, I'm already dealer for a speaker line that (in my opinion) is competitive with MBL in the dipole/bipole/polydirectional/omnidirectional/quasiomnidirectional category.
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
I would go with Avalons, but def with different electronics. I have personally never liked the Avalon/Spectral combo since it always sounded too thin to my ears. I would consider CAT (tube) or Vitus Audio (SS) to go with Avalons.
branimir
236 posts
 
I agree with Elberoth2. Avalon Isis with Vitus SM-101/SL-100 combo would be an excellent choice IMHO.

If money is not an object I would also suggest Rockport Altair speakers http://www.ultraaudio.com/twbas/twbas_20071001.htm.

Regarding electronics Hovland Stratos/HP200 combo is also very good choice for both Isis and Altair.
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