Hansen Emperor vs......


Hi all,

I'm curious if anyone has ever listened to the Hansen Emperor speakers? How would you rate them against eg. Marten Coltrane, Kharma speakers and the Avalon Eidolon Diamond for instance?

I've heard good things about Hansen but have no experience with them, Could anyone describe the sound?

Thanks a lot
maxx1973
Thank you Wildwildwes, I may be very well wrong on the 2nd count as well, that would not surprise me. I was in the auditorium for over 2 hours during and after the 2007 TAS seminar. I recall asking what electronics was driving the Hansens. . . my recollection of the answer may very well be flawed. . . and when I was 12 my Mom taught me that groping racks uninvited will get my hands slapped. . . and I try to be a good boy. . . I'll call her next Sunday. . . I'll try to remember to ask her what kind of racks she meant.
personally; i'm going with whatever Guido's ears are telling us.....whatever the brand.

i've heard the upper end Hanson's a few times at shows over the last few years.....and i agree they are transparent to the source. a very refined and balanced speaker. i'm not crazy about their aesthetics though.

i think that Hanson with Boulder would be like Kharma, Marten or Avalon on Boulder which is to say on the 'cold' side of neutral and depending on all the other varibles maybe a bit hard and edgy like Guido mentions. is Halcro different than Boulder.....a little. the 'old' Halcro was borderline unlistenable.....the newest Halcro is more similar to Boulder in character. of course my viewpoint is that almost all solid state amps are relatively cold and lacking naturalness. a matter of personal taste.
I have heard Hansen King with Soulution, FM acoustics, Spectral, Viva , ARC electronics and the sound changed with each electronic used, this means, at least for me, that these speakers did not have any own sound, or perhaps that the electronics had too much character?
Newly:
I have heard Hansen King with Soulution, FM acoustics, Spectral, Viva , ARC electronics
...and the verdict is?
What music did you listen to and what were (very) brief characteristics of the electronics? As far as you remember of course.
I've heard them with Boulder electronics in an excellent room. The combo was precise, revealing, powerful and balanced. A bit "cool" for my taste (which runs to tubes, high efficiency speakers, and vinyl), but very, very, very well done for those that like that sound.