10-11-14: Ctsooner
Funny as stats and panels just have never done if for me. Way too hot when I've heard them and I've heard most of the TOL speakers. They seem to float the soundstage and almost always sound bigger than the actual performance was (yes, I've been in recording studios or recorded live on metal tape and heard the differences). Some folks love that sound, but in real life when you heard music live the panels won't usually sound 'right' for ME...That's just ME and not anyone else, so please don't take it that way. Some speakers are so detailed that they don't sound like live music either as most live music blends and that's what makes it sounds so awesome. We are also tricked by crowd noise as in audio we are the ones sitting on stage, but when you are live you usually are in the audience and hear the crowd noise differently. Just saying...
Cts, I found Infinity's Emit & Semit tweeters could sound a bit hot and generally benefited from some tubes in the mix. Indeed Arnie Nudell & John Ulrich voiced their speakers mostly with Audio Research tube gear. I've owned 3 pairs of classic Infinitys including the Ren 90's & found a happy medium running a Classe power amp & JVC XL-Z1050 as transport and Vimak DS-1800Mk2 dac. Though solid state, the qualities of that gear worked well with the Rens. So it might be partly a question of system matching/synergy. Another challenge you eluded to with panel speakers (as with all dipoles) is setup. True ribbon panels like the TSW Apogee Divas for example are notoriously hard to setup, require a large room & need to be placed well out in the room. Apparently the TSW Duetta Sigs are easier to setup. I haven't heard the resto'd TSW Divas, but my understanding is that Graz's new ribbons solved an issue with the original Diva's midrange power handling which results in smoother, more coherent sound. Whilst the stronger magnets, stiffer frames & better crossovers used today lift the speaker up to a new level. That said, the best dipoles i've ever heard were a pair of Infinity IRS-V's setup with massive Electrocompaniet mono blocks & an analogue front end.
