Gilmore Audio planars revealed


The Gilmore Audio speaker have finally been photographed for the world to see: Gilmore Audio

Disclaimer - I'm a dealer for the Gilmores, though at this point I'm still awaiting my first pair, as they haven't begun shipping yet.

The Gilmores push the edge of the envelope for planar technology in several areas. Innovations include an extremely thin (3 mil) Kapton diaphragm; bass extension to below 20 Hz; easy 8-ohm load combined with 92 dB efficiency (you can drive 'em with Atma-Sphere M-60's!); and maximum output level in the mid to upper 120's.

Designer Mark Gilmore is the webmaster of the Atma-Sphere Owner's Group website, as well as of the Sound Lab Owner's Group site. He's been around for a while, but this is his first commercial loudspeaker design (to the best of my knowledge).

I haven't heard 'em yet so can't comment on the sound (I know, that's all that really matters after all). I'm expecting a pair before the end of the year, and will post comments then.

Duke
audiokinesis
If my data is correct, there will be a demonstration at CES that should put some of this to rest. One of the most recorded bass players (ever) will be playing live through these as part of the show demo, showing what they are capable of.

Abraham said these were superior at reproducing his instrument of any set up he had ever heard, including commercial / studio gear.

In addition, home music performance with LP produced sound closest to live of any home audio system he has ever heard.

Link to this bass player follows, he’s recorded with everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and Johnny Mathis to Gary Burton, Les McCann, Gary Burton and Freddie Hubbard.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70312300302041549&sql=R95904#APPEAR

As already stated, I will reserve comments until I audition them.

Audiogon has tentatively contracted me (as with HE 2003) to cover CES, posting images of all the happenings. I plan on covering this artist as well as the Golden Ear award going to a deserving audio manufacturer who is a dear friend.
Kevin, what you report is quite tantalizing, even if the manufacturer has optimized everything to show off his product in the best possible light (and why wouldn't he), and especially considering that you were listening primarily to the second-tier model. Without any comparison demos of other speakers, in an unknown reference system, of course the results must be taken as preliminary, but they are suggestive. All speakers have tradeoffs and strengths and weaknesses (including the restrictive set-up requirements for large panels), but if these are even close to as good as you seem to have come away thinking they are, I guess Mr. Gilmore will have no trouble getting his asking price for them - too bad that'll still be too rich for my blood if they are. But then at least he might be able to dispense with paying for that model...

One thing though: Are you planning on becoming a dealer?
The sonic attributes that were described match those from a well-designed dipole. Before anyone plunks down the $19K I'd suggest trying to have a listen to the Linkwitz Orion speakers (www.linkwitzlab.com). The reviews there match the one above rather closely. The variation I built made my sell my Wilsons very qickly.

They also don't have the beaming problem described due to the limited vertical dispersion of the ribbon.
Zaikesman, my name is Keith not Kevin (Kevin is my brother in law, heh heh).

Putting the system aside I heard the Gilmore Speakers in, I can say with confidence that I have NEVER heard any speakers sound like the Gilmore speakers driven by ANY electronics.

I have never heard any system sound that I have been more impressed with (on axis) than the system at Gilmore's house. His electronics are very, very good; however, they are not what I would call insanely priced statement pieces. The system was composed of some speaker cables of his own design, two 60wpc Atmasphere OTL monoblocks that were an older Atmasphere chassis, XLR IC that is Gilmore's design, an Atmasphere preamplifier. The front ends we were using was a turntable that I was not familiar with, but it had a Van Den Hul Frog cartridge which I am familiar with. The digital we were using is a product I am working on developing. So far it competes with digital upwards of $20k+ (my target retail price is $3k or so, it will be able to function as a transport, DAC, and preamplifier). I like it better than my reference digital that I have used in the past. I do have a lot of experience with Atmasphere amps (one of my best local audio friends has a pair).

Anyway electronics aside, the Gilmore speakers can be looked at actually as a value. How can they be a value at $12.5k or so retail?
- You do not need an extremely powerful amp to drive them. This can save you a lot of money on an amp.
- No subwoofer needed. This can save you some bucks.
- No aftermarket stands required to get amazing sound. Many speakers require some sort of aftermarket stand to get acceptable performance.
- Shipping price on these speakers should not be too bad. They sure cost less to ship than say a pair of VR-7 speakers.

All of the above taken into account could cut the price of these speakers by about $1000 to upwards of $10k+ depending on any number of variables.

I'll give you an example. Take the Maggie 3.6's. Their base price is around $4k. Add a nice subwoofer for $2k. Add some nice stands for $300 or so. Sink $4k more (than you would spend on an amp for the Gilmore speakers) into nice powerful 600wpc solid state monoblock amps. Total price for this setup: $10.3k. Yeah, this is still about $2k less expensive than Gilmore's Model 3; HOWEVER, you are still going to get sound that only approaches the Gilmore speakers stock. Frankly, IMHO there would be no comparison. I had Maggies for many years, and they sound undynamic and slow compared to the Gilmore speakers. And I do not care what gear you have the Maggies hooked up to. I have heard them driven by $200k reference systems that were DESIGNED for the sole purpose of getting every ouce of performance from them. Still there is not a lot of comparison between that sound and the sound I experienced at Gilmore's house. One more thing... Integrating any sub seemlessly with the Maggie 3.6's is next to impossible. It can be done well... but seemelessly: no way in heck. Even totally rewiring your Maggies and getting a nice external active crossover will not put you in the realm of the Gilmore speakers.

Ok I am starting to sound like an infomercial.

My point is that the first time I heard about these Gilmore speakers, I thought yadda yadda yadda another speaker coming down the pike whose hype is TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

After hearing thse speakers in person, I can safely say their really is not much hype. Fact: yes; hype: nope.

If you like listening on axis, these speakers will probably make your jaw drop. If you like listening in other positions (off axis vertical and/or horizontal), you should audition these speakers first because I think their performance falls off quite a bit off axis. This though is not abnormal thing with many speakers. That is the worst thing I can say about these Gimore speakers.

KF
Sorry Keith (I actually was going back and forth between Keith and Kevin in my mind and thought I remembered right, but I guess I should've just stuck with "KF"). You can call me Alan, Eric, or Alec, which seem to be the most popular corruptions of Alex :-) But, you still haven't addressed whether you're lining up to become a dealer...