Hello all -- thanks for the many interesting perspectives.
helomech, and kosst_amojan, thanks for your thoughts on the comparison with Revel/MA, and on the GE range.
ieales, thanks for the continued input. One thought I did have: I think your perspective is: "If you can't optimize the listening experience, it's not worth buying the audio equipment", or something like that. Here's how I see it: All of the elements that go into an optimized listening experience require resources: tweaking the equipment and its positioning extensively (resources: time, energy; capital for cables/interconnects; acquiring knowhow); modifying the room setting (resources: time, energy, disruption of living arrangements); special listening room (various kinds of resources); acoustic treatments (resources: time, energy; capital; acquiring knowledge). In my case, I do not have any of those resources except some limited ability to upgrade some of the equipment itself (speakers). If that gives me substantially greater enjoyment of the music, even if far from optimized, I would consider that money well spent.
misstl, thanks for the thoughts on the comparison. You mentioned the T Refs being too large for your room (and ieales also mentioned them as being overpowering for his/her space). Do you mean physically too big? Or sonically too big? If the latter, that ties in with something I wondered about at my dealer auditions: whether they were overpowering the rooms (I'd estimate the room were approx 500 sq ft). Also, your description of the Ohm Walsh's has had me looking into those today.
stereo5, the reason I am trying to get a sense of the comparison is because I have the 7's, feel they are lost in my open-floor-plan room (approx 8000 cu ft.) and am looking for something bigger. My ears did not find nearly as much difference as I'd expected between 7s and T Refs in my dealer auditions, so I'm asking for input from much more seasoned listeners. You seem to say that it's invalid to compare speakers at such different price points. Could you explain that a bit more? I don't understand how in that case, it would be possible to figure out big upgrades. Also, may I ask what size room your T Refs are in?
schubert, your point about not moving around at a concert is well taken, and I wish I could listen to music like that! In my case, though, my listening situation is that about the only time I can listen to music is when preparing dinner in the evenings. I wish it weren't, but it is, and so for me it would be listen then, or not at all. (Hope I didn't just get myself banished from audiogon :) That makes misstl's mention of a large sweet spot interesting to me...
helomech, and kosst_amojan, thanks for your thoughts on the comparison with Revel/MA, and on the GE range.
ieales, thanks for the continued input. One thought I did have: I think your perspective is: "If you can't optimize the listening experience, it's not worth buying the audio equipment", or something like that. Here's how I see it: All of the elements that go into an optimized listening experience require resources: tweaking the equipment and its positioning extensively (resources: time, energy; capital for cables/interconnects; acquiring knowhow); modifying the room setting (resources: time, energy, disruption of living arrangements); special listening room (various kinds of resources); acoustic treatments (resources: time, energy; capital; acquiring knowledge). In my case, I do not have any of those resources except some limited ability to upgrade some of the equipment itself (speakers). If that gives me substantially greater enjoyment of the music, even if far from optimized, I would consider that money well spent.
misstl, thanks for the thoughts on the comparison. You mentioned the T Refs being too large for your room (and ieales also mentioned them as being overpowering for his/her space). Do you mean physically too big? Or sonically too big? If the latter, that ties in with something I wondered about at my dealer auditions: whether they were overpowering the rooms (I'd estimate the room were approx 500 sq ft). Also, your description of the Ohm Walsh's has had me looking into those today.
stereo5, the reason I am trying to get a sense of the comparison is because I have the 7's, feel they are lost in my open-floor-plan room (approx 8000 cu ft.) and am looking for something bigger. My ears did not find nearly as much difference as I'd expected between 7s and T Refs in my dealer auditions, so I'm asking for input from much more seasoned listeners. You seem to say that it's invalid to compare speakers at such different price points. Could you explain that a bit more? I don't understand how in that case, it would be possible to figure out big upgrades. Also, may I ask what size room your T Refs are in?
schubert, your point about not moving around at a concert is well taken, and I wish I could listen to music like that! In my case, though, my listening situation is that about the only time I can listen to music is when preparing dinner in the evenings. I wish it weren't, but it is, and so for me it would be listen then, or not at all. (Hope I didn't just get myself banished from audiogon :) That makes misstl's mention of a large sweet spot interesting to me...