Scoring on Used Thiels here

unsound,

I was big on Dunlavy when they were popular, heard many models, including auditioning some as possible purchases.   The Aletha model (unfortunately not many made as Dunlavy folded not long after introduction) was really something.  It produced one of the most realistic sound I'd heard at that point.   But as you know Dunlavy speakers were always really big, even their "decor-sized" models like the Aletha.
And Dunlavy was a bit more head-in-the-vice in terms of optimizing listener position, Thiels with the coaxial drivers more forgiving.

^Agreed.

^More restricted, but not "head-in-the-vice" restricted like some beamy ESL's. I suspect it might be due at least in part to Dunlavy's preferred angled placement. Perhaps, with a higher and denser soundstage than the Thiel's.

The MBL omnis are peerless for disappearing and creating a 3 dimensional sonic image. Absolutely spooky, and ultimately the most realistic presentation within their frequency range

I've only heard MBLs once, at RMAF. They sounded good to my ears but nothing special. The room set-up was weird, tho', with the speakers along the long wall. Probably not optimal placement.

beetle one has to hear the MBLs set up properly to hear what prof is talking about. I’ve heard it in a showroom but never at a show.

The OHM F5 speakers I have in my main rig are my attempt to capture that at home. They do quite well for a fraction of the cost. Most peoples rooms, including mine, are limited compared to the dealer room I heard the ultimate mbl demo in, often in practice bringing mbl back closer to the pack mainly in terms of soundstage depth and 3-D holographic imaging.

The OHMs do probably have an edge on mbl in terms of coherency of the sound top to bottom, as do Thiels and a handful of others over the rest. I’m used to that very coherent sound top to bottom and tend to levitate to speakers that exceed in that area.