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Reference 3A or Mark & Daniel or...

Well it looks like the wife and I are finally gonna pull the trigger on downsizing, the kids are gone and a five bedroom colonial no longer fits the bill.  As a result it's not looking good for my Ohm Walsh 3's as they're just to big and bulky for our new condo.

I've been investigating smallish monitors and have narrowed (but not settled on) two brands, Mark & Daniel and Reference 3A.  What intrigues me most about these two is that they are considered to be dynamic and fairly full-range.  How they get there couldn't be more different, the 3A's running wide open with a "helper" tweeter with I believe just a single cap,  higher efficiency as a benefit.  The M & D's  on the other hand use their "Dreams" tweeter which is a descendant of the ESS unit to cross over at a very low 800 to 900 cycles depending on the model. with the M & D's being lower in efficiency in the 83-85db range. This shouldn't be an issue for me as I have a fairly powerful Onix MKII integrated amp that will pump about 160 watts out at 4ohms.  As far as models go it would either be the 3A DeCapo or Dulcet and with M&D the Ruby or Diamond.  Anyone with experience with either of these brands or models please feel free to chime in with your thoughts and experiences, thanks!


polarin
saki70
907 posts
 

I have owned the Di Capo i's for about ten years .

I find them to be a very honest and neutral sounding speaker that will let you hear what your upstream equipment sounds like , no colorations .

Good bass and a seamless transition to the tweeter which is quite smooth but extended without anomalies .

I have not heard any Mark & Daniels products .

Good Luck 

smctigue1
53 posts
 
What I love about my De Capo's (original - piano black):
Tranparent but musical - a very direct sound that you need to hear to believe.
remarkably coherent
extremely dynamic & FAST
logic defying bass
soundstaging 

My pair displaced a pair of Audio Physic Virgo II's to give you some idea of how highly I regard this speaker.
polarin OP
73 posts
 
Thanks smctigue I've read that a lot regarding the De Capo's.  I might add that I'm also considering the Sonus Faber Concerto's.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
I've had a pair of the Decapo BE for almost 2.5 years which I fell in love with on first listen which is quite rare for me.  Truly stunning speakers IMHO and the closest I've heard a 2-way come to the cohesive and transparent sound of Quads. The Decapos are as Smctigue1 puts it very direct. Hook them up to 60  or more tube watts and they can amaze with their natural presentation of voice and instrument and retain all the texture, harmonics and spacial information on the recording. The lack of a crossover and only a blocking cap to the tweeter and their ability to produce bass beyond their size has me shaking my head in disbelief on some program material. These speakers are worthy of the best electronics to bring out their intrinsic character.

Having said that it is ALWAYS wise to hear as many speakers as you possibly can polarin as we all have different values and priorities.
racamuti's avatar
racamuti
362 posts
 
    Hi, I had a pair of the piano black De Capo's that I replaced with a pair of Sonist Concerto two's. They are about the same price new.
You should check them out and add them to your must listen to list.
 Just another option, Tish
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