New versions of Vienna Mahlers, Strauss?

Mahler's are great speakers. I have owned them for 5 years now and only just moved on and still missing that BIG bass sound a little.

First, they have a BIG bass, uncontrollable with almost all tube amps and just big with SS amps. they will always add a certain amount of bass to every recording from 45hz down would be my guess.
They need to be a far out into the room as possible to control the bass output.
the midrange is full and the treble a little subdued, so bad recordings will be tolerable, however you will lose a little transparancy.
The voicing of the speaker is from the uppermids/lower treble and quite laid back.
These speakers crave current and only really come alive at mid to loud volumes. They don't sound that convincing at low volumes, hence their microdynamics are not as good as there macrodynamics.
headroom is no issue and these will play til well over 105db!! very well made, made my old Von Schweikert's look like junk from Wallmart.

overall a great musical speaker.

Thank you Downunder, I would initially power the Mahlers with a pair of Rowland 7M monoblocks, to be replaced at some time possibly with a Rowland 312 or other solid state or class D amp. My listening environment consists of a loft measuring approx 17 x 18 ft with 10-12 coffered ceiling. The Mahlers would back into a half wall, 39 inches high, opening onto the home entrance on the main floor below. The open area behind the half wall has a square footage slightly higher than the loft itself. Walls are textured with the typical 'Monterey knockdown' used in Austin (TX); Ceilings are stippled; floor is carpeted with wall-to-wall berber, and I have an extremely thick 12x9 wool rug in the loft. One side wall is occupied by a wall unit with books and other thinks; A sofa sits opposite the speakers. I would say my acoustics are very controlled--sounding open but with little or no reverberation.

Guidocorona

What speakers do you have now?? I know you also have the ref 3 and the rowland's will drive and control the mahlers very well. the listening area might be a little on the small side, however I am no expert.
Hope raquel chimes in as he has Rowland's and Mahlers.

personally I thought you probably like a little more transparent sound, however with the ref 3, you may well have enough.

cheers Shane

Hi Shane, my current speakers are a pair of Maggie IIIAds. The total area of my listening environment, including loft and open area behind it is perhaps 18 ft wide by 36 deep or so. Yes, I would love to hear Raquel's thoughts on this.

Gentlemen:

I USED to own Mahlers and Rowland amps (and now own different speakers, but still use Rowland preamplification).

Shane is right that the Mahlers will generally only work with big solid-state and that all of those big woofers require some work to eliminate boominess.

I do not know Rowland 7's well, but they will certainly have the grunt. I would recommend top-flight non-Class D amplification with real current. They sounded spectacular with Rowland Model 6's, but perhaps you would want more horsepower.

Hope this helps.