Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

I heard the granite speaker twice in two different rooms. Didn't do it for me.

I spoke with the T&F dealer. He insists the Isis are too big for my room and the Ra would do me just fine. He says they go down to 25hz without an issue but the web site says 40hz. He seams to think the Ra are the greatest things since sliced bread. I need to look into the Ra more to see how low they go.....

I'm going to try to hear the Nola Metro Grand Reference (which is rear ported unless I look at the only sealed enclosure model which is, I think, too big for my room and almost $75k). But worth listening.

I'm also going to take a ride to Philly to hear the Joseph Pearl 3.

I have heard the Aerial 20 and I thought it was a tad bright. They are coming out with a new 12 or 13T (don't remember which # is it) and it may be bottom ported and it will use a soft some tweeter. About 9-12 months out. I own a pair of 10T's and I love them. They live in my Family Room and I will never given them up.

I just need to decide if a 2.5 hour drive is worth it to get my ears on the Ra and BMC speakers.....

Hi Mike.

I'm sort of honored you are posting. I feel like we've hit the big time if we caught your attention with this thread. Lol. I have to admit I have been following your build since you had the Kharmas in your room, years ago. You are the reason I needed to hear the MM3's and that I was willing to actually buy a pair just to hear them since there was no other realistic way to hear them.

That said, I was not disappointed with their performance and they do everything I wanted. But the size of the speakers and my room size limited my ability to place them properly to get the most out of them. Jon Tinn was amazingly helpful and a true gentlemen; he really helped me and went the extra mile to guide me in placing the speakers properly. In the end, my room ended up requiring their placement in a nearfield setup that sounded absolutely stunning. But I felt like they were headphones considering their size and my proximity to these huge towers.

If I had been able to pull them further off the front wall I would have had way more flexibility in their placement.

So if someone wants a stupid deal on a pair of MM3's let me know.

Matt since you are willing to shell out some, why not these:

http://lumenwhite.com/silverflame_d_uk.html

I know the designer and he is verrrry talented (brilliant, actually)and is a pioneer. A real perfectionist.

Full range! 20-35K
time coherent, phase coherent, resonance coherent

Pretty efficient too and I knw they have won several best in shows.

Even better the White lights

premieres
the "white light anniversary" reference monitor loudspeakers at the munich high-end
show 2015 celebrating 15 years of innovation in high end audio design.

introduced in 2000, lumen white`s original "white light" reference monitors became instant legends, rated "best in class" (audio art, taiwan), "one of the best audio components of all times" (stereo sound, japan), an "ultimate, absolute reference in every category" (fedeltà del suono, italy), and as offering "sonic realism which may prove impossible to surpass" (hörerlebnis, germany).

the "white light" reference monitors featured the world`s first all-ceramic driver array, radically advanced pressure- and flow-dynamics optimized, air-damped, instrumentgrade tone-wood cabinets, purist crossover design and further advancements of the art.

5 years in the making, the latest iteration of flow- and pressure-dynamics modelling, a completely new, custom designed driver array and continuous advancements of our signatory loudspeaker technologies have prepared the stage for lumen white to introduce a new generation of our reference monitor speaker designs, the new technology plattform to be premiered in a special "anniversary" model of the iconic "white light" monitors format.

the "white light anniversary" reference monitors premiered in a mythical white macassar finish at the high end 2015 show in munich, together with the latest generation of lumen white`s acclaimed, limited edition "mystere" air bearing turntable system.

http://lumenwhite.com/news_uk.html

08-03-15: Mattnshilp

I spoke with the T&F dealer. He insists the Isis are too big for my room and the Ra would do me just fine. He says they go down to 25hz without an issue but the web site says 40hz. He seams to think the Ra are the greatest things since sliced bread. I need to look into the Ra more to see how low they go.....

I have heard the Aerial 20 and I thought it was a tad bright. They are coming out with a new 12 or 13T (don't remember which # is it) and it may be bottom ported and it will use a soft some tweeter. About 9-12 months out. I own a pair of 10T's and I love them. They live in my Family Room and I will never given them up.

I just need to decide if a 2.5 hour drive is worth it to get my ears on the Ra and BMC speakers.....

Bob told me they have used the Isis speakers in smallish hotels rooms? I think it may be setup dependent. I am interested in the Ra as well and was actually going to fly down to TX to hear them (Bob has the entire lineup at his home). My MO was finding a speaker for a standard living space. The wife wants to move in the next year or so, and I need a speaker that can be easily used in a normal living room (crammed against a back wall) with small creatures running about. She HATES my current granite monoliths (which are superb speakers but look like sepulchers). I asked about the bass on the Ra as well, and although they measure to 40 Bob claims they spit stuff out in the 20s due to their horn loading. I also like the idea of a high efficiency, wide baffle design with directivity that "limits" the room. I have Viva amps and they often mate those two at shows.

I like Aerial. They are one of the few companies that is able to make ribbons sound tonally correct. Great speakers but I have only heard older models.

I have always liked High Water's rooms at shows. The Cessaro horns are nice as are the Horning stuff....