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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
rolloff
130 posts
 
Dave,
What did you use for the sides of the stands to mount the speaker spikes into? Do you have a part number for the feet too? I didn't see the rounded point models at Parts Express, though I was blown away by their real world prices. How refreshing to have someone sell hardware at hardware store prices, and not jewelry store prices.

Rolloff
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Rolloff, just go to www.partsexpress.com and key in 249-720 under "Quick Search" at the upper left. The speaker spikes attach at the bottom (not the sides) of the stands . Both the brass points and the rubber feet come along with the set.
chazzbo OP
1,007 posts
 
Wow not much in middle ground here.Guess I'll need to hear them which means leaving the sticks for Da Big City!.I think that some speakers elicit this type of no middle ground.The Zu line comes to mind.Maybe I reading to much of www.6moons.com but would like to hear them as much as gallo's and the Hyperion speaker which looks like a Wilson Wat/Puppy.But the double box configuration is geting more and more poular and given it's potantial to reduceresonace makes sense.Used to work at a dealer who sells the little cheap Gallo's as a alternmative to Bose (since most wioves say "doesen't it come any smaller" more often than any other.So my ex-boss is skeptical given he has B&W,Kef,Linn,and a few other options.damn thing about beiong a dealer is oftenm a company makes one or two great products and the rest of their line isn't worth it.Some,especially small companies.allow you to cherry pick but the bigger they are the more they want you to have the whole or a large percentage of the line.but am hinking on looks alone sonmeone would by a sample pair.It's just another dealer I know said his Thiel and B&W would just knock these out of the box and thought the Absolute Sound review was in his words "whack".
Cheers
Chazz
tantra
31 posts
 
I have found a system configuration that sounds really wonderful. In fact, it's the best stereo system I've ever heard anywhere. Modwright 9.0SE tube preamp, pair of Conrad Johnson Premier 12 amps driving Gallo Ref3 speakers. The combination of a warm, liquid tube amp and the Gallo Ref3's is magical, EXCEPT for the bass. Then I added a Gallo SA to drive the second voice coils, and a REL Storm III subwoofer. Now the bass is fast, tight and punchy, but beautifully integrated. I run both the Gallo SA and the REL at 50% gain with both low-pass filters turned all the way down. It's a very versatile system that sounds good with all types of music from chamber music to rock. See "Tantra's Tube Rig" on the A'gon website. Highly recommended!
macrojack
1,303 posts
 
Read about Zu Druids on 6moons. Srajan compares them directly to the Gallo Ref 3's. He had them both on hand at the time.
Further, I know he traded up to bigger Zu's and still has the Gallos. In short, he praised the hell out of both of them.
And I believe he gave them each an award.
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