Has anyone compared the Nola Viper IIa's..

I've heard them on the same day in a dealers rooms. I found the Viper IIa's to be competent but not spectacular. They were in the "ok, that's nice but lets move on" category. I agree with you about the Reference, they were wonderful to my ears, everything I find desirable in a speaker. They were on a much higher plane of musical accuracy in every respect. As one who likes well integrated, musical speakers that avoid analytical dissected type reproduction, I found the them near ideal. The dealers rooms weren't ideal, so that may have been a factor. If I'd had the more than $10k, I'd have taken them home.

Your response is quite helpful. I'm a little disappointed with Nola (Alon). Their newer products don't seem to capture the same magic of the music as the older products (Alon I's, II's, IV's and V's), unless you go up much higher in the range with the corresponding cost. Its a shame because I've long been a fan. The old products just had so much more value.

Again, thanks for your thoughts. Looks like I may have to consider a used pair of the Viper references. My other choice of speaker are the Focal 1027be's. I'll need to do some A&B auditioning if I can find a shop which carries both speakers.

You're right, I wouldn't say that the Nola Vipers were a high value product. I've heard any number of speakers at or below their price point that sounded better to my ears. A good pair of References at used prices, that's a different story.

I'm thinking about setting up an audition with a dealer to hear NOLA Viper IIA, but after reading the above, would it be a waste of time? Are the $12,000 Viper Refs, allot better and worth it? I guess by todays prices, 12K might be inline, if the sound is first rate. I own SoundLabs, but don't have that kind of $$$$ anymore, will NOLA be a waste of time to bother with?

I wonder what amps you guys listened with? I bet it was solid state.Probably something like PASS or something. I think NOLA uses ARC as thier house brand ? At least a photo on their web shows ARC amps with the ultra HE speakers. I have read these are great speakers for SETs too, can anyone verify? Welborne Labs lists these as something to check out with SETs.

I'm an interested in a speaker that is under $10,000 USD, but yet won't dissapoint me like almost every speaker I have listen to in the past few years. I don't want to spend 10K on something that should be 2K, or something I could just build myself. I wish Photon46 would give a list of speakers he finds better. The Viper IIA look better built than most in this range, but I have not seen them in person, At least they don't look like a carbon copy of the dozens of mass produced brands.