Wilson Audio, Talon, Rockport and B&W

Thanks to all the responses~

The reasons I ask for opinion from some of you great guys are because for speakers at these price range, it makes matching hard and brings very different results with different gears used... I would like to know how people think and feel if experienced with the different speakers before I could go audition one. That way I know what I am hearing is what "others" are talking about. ( or sometimes not, as matching differently) It will help greatly as a guidline before acturally experience one. So what you "think" really do matter to me. :)

So far, I have audtion the Rockport and B&W briefly in different occations and with different gears. ( Rockport with tube and B&W with SS amp) They tend to go different way but truely very enjoyable. Rockport sound very smooth, detailed and in the warm side. ( might be the tube) B&W sounds more realy/accurate in tone color. Great bass, fast, with less colored in my opinion.
I will try to audtion more and spend more time to know what they "really" am capiable to do. In the mean time, wellcome all the thoughts on what "you" think freely and don't worry about what others might experienced different. After all, this habbit is all about personal preferance.

regards

No one mentioned Eggleston Works Andra II's or Savoy's: they surely worth an audition. I would say that I never heard a better speaker than the Andra II in my house. Egglestons are surely less commercial and known than Wilsons and others mentioned but they sound awesome: dynamics, transparency without edginess, a beautiful midrange, tight but extended bass, a great sense of liveliness... Try to listen them, you will not be disappointed.

I HAVE A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO BOTH WILSON 7S AND B&W 800S I END UP BOUGHT THE TALON FIRBIRD DIAMOND AND I LOVE IT. THE BASS ON THE TALON IS JUST INCREDIBLE. BECAREFUL THE SPEAKER IS VERY REVEALING MATCHING IS VERY CRITIAL,

It will depend on the type of music you listen to, how you listen (loud or low, sitting in the sweet spot etc) and on the remainder of your equipment. I had very good sound w. N801s but changed to WP7s. I changed my entire system to creat a new synergy which I prerfer for low volume listening. There are plus & minuses to both systems but like the WP7s significantly better. I never heard the Talon but I am usre they sound great. I heard the 800s & didn't feel they were broken in @ the dealer & was disappointed. There are so many variables it will be difficult to tell what to do without varied & extensive listening. WP7s are magic, the Rockports definitely have thier own sound as do the Talon. It will be a difficult choice. All are great speakers. I would also listen with your prefered music to make the choice.

Actually the Mira, Merak, Antares, and Hyperion all use custom Audiotechnology drivers with polypropylene cones, and the Sheritan woofer modules use a 12" Eton driver with a kevlar/nomex composite cone.

While it's true that these are all fitted with rubber surrounds, I'm afraid JTinn's remark about the drivers being made of rubber was written in the same spirit that ultimately made Dan Rather so special in his chosen field.

Andrew Payor
President, Rockport Technologies