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Gallo REfF3's-All their cracked up to be?

Having won award from Absolute Sound,6Moons etc just wondering if how they compare with others in $25r00-$5K range.With Maggie 1.6/3.6's,Spendors,Harbeths,B&W Nautilus 803's etc not to mention used Quad 988.989,Infinity Preludes that have been seen as low as $3500,Gershman RX-20's used,offerings from Audio Physic (again good values used,heard Sparks where I liked low volume dynamics and read the Gallo's need to be pushed to come alive) well it's a crowded market.But seems like the twop speakers that have major buzz factor are the Gallo and NHT Xd system (selling for a bit over $6K).Live in sticks anbd would like to hear from folks who have put the Gallo's up against other speakers with empahsis on accurate midrange.Had as pair of Ref 2's but never got system set up around them nor dialed them in correctly.Was so nervous that tweeters might blow which were irreplacable got me nervous and I got rid of them pretty quickly.Have heard from dealers that Gallo can be unpleasant in cutomer support and lack of back tweeters could have been his resent ment that they did not sell better.But even though that's speculation is does say that they could be beter in support area.Maybe new models and sales might correct this.,They seemed to have great attributes but also weakneeses.Couldn't shake the feeling they were "gimmicky" in some respects but againn perhaps they were not dialed in proprly.Would lkike to run with 40 watt glass but could go 200+ solid state.Any auditions or owners who could give the good ,the bad and the ugly?
Thanks
Chazzbo
chazzbo
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Good grief, Ojgalli, what are you listening to through the Gallos. Mine sure don't sound a bit like that. My last two pairs of speakers cost twice as much, or more, by the way.
photon46
1,088 posts
 
FWIW, I had a rather extended listening session to the 3.1's a couple weeks ago. They were powered by a Cary V12 amp, Cary SL98P preamp, Soundstring cables, and a Arcam CD192 player. I would have to say I was, like Ojgalli, underwhelmed. After all of the glowing reviews and enthusiatic endorsements on the online forums, I was figuratively scratching my head at my reaction. After 30 minutes, I ask my wife her impressions. Ditto, same impression: well extended and airy highs, decent midrange, lack of any bloat in lower/mid bass with a slightly lean sound. While the soundstage was enveloping, it sounded like a small speaker. Now that was our impressions, I don't doubt for a minute that those that sing it's praises really enjoy them. But that audition really drove home the fact that we all must hear things differently and have to make up our own minds.
saki70
907 posts
 
I must echo Photon46's impressions . I too listened to them through the same CDP , CJ PV14 pre and a Cary hybrid amp . Both my wife and I felt that they were nothing to write home about ! They sounded congested and also like small speakers . When we compared them to VS VR4jr's and Usher 6311's (?) it wasn't even a contest . Synergy maybe ?
There are a great many who love them .
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Can't argue with Photon46, whose most serious complaint is their sounding like the small speakers they appear to be. I was using humongous Gallo Nucleus Ultimates when I got the Ref 3s, and playing them side by side, people THOUGHT I was playing the Ultimates. The Ref 3s actually had a bigger sound but looked tiny by comparison. This is in an 18x40' space, BTW.

Saki70 describes Ref 3s that aren't broken in (takes well over 100 hours) and/or are miswired (the bottom pair of binding posts are not for biwiring but for hooking up a subwoofer amp). In any event, the last thing they should sound like is congested. Not disputing what you heard, just a tad puzzled.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
"Well extended and airy highs, decent midrange, lack of any bloat in lower/mid bass with a slightly lean sound...the soundstage was enveloping"

I don't understand, how is Photon46's reaction a "ditto" of Ojgalli's?:

"Highs are good, but not spectacular, midrange smeared, bass very well extented but muddy. Soundstage is like you're sitting in the second balcony"

Hmm, talk about "scratching my head" -- to me, the first quote sounds positively positve!...But I haven't heard the speakers...
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