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Considering purchasing different speakers

Hi all and thank you ahead of time for any constructive input. I am trying to get some input regarding the sound of Joseph Audio Profile speakers vs Vienna Acoustics Mozarts. I currently own the Mozarts which I enjoy but am considering buying a pair of Profile as a possible upgrade. My amp is a VTA SP-120 and preamplifier is an SP-14. Identical to Don Sachs line stage. I am a tech for Roy Mottram and Bob Latino at Tubes4hifi and Don shared his "recipe" with me for my build. I believe he was using the Joseph Audio rm25xl which he spoke very highly of before having a set of custom The Audio Nirvana ’Classic 15 ALNICO’ single driver speakers built for himself. I use an old Music Hall 25.3 DAC which I modded heavily. Think Underwood HiFi complete aftermarket upgrade. Partsconnexion provided schematics for the unit and I basically upgraded everything that would improve the unit and this has been my DAC for about 5 years. I use JRiver on my custom built HTPC. I listen to all types of music. Classical, jazz, rock, reggae, blues, indie, etc.
I, like most enjoy a wide, deep soundstage with pinpont placement of all instruments and musicians and air between. Holographic is a word I hear used that I feel is relatively accurate in describing this. I want to enjoy listening without fatigue. Just close my eyes and feel like the performance is in the room with me. I also like the music to be very detailed, accurate and layered.
So now that I have tried to explain what I have, what I like, and what I listen to I will get to my questions and hopefully get some help. Has anyone heard both of these speakers? Do you feel the Joseph Audio Profiles would be an upgrade or improvement over the Vienna Acoustic Mozarts or are they similar with each having some strengths over the other in various areas?  I will not have the opportunity to trial the speakers in my listening area with my equipment prior to purchase and have never heard Joseph Audio so I am going into this ear blind. Thanks!
bennihaha812
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
OP, the IMHE, the main differences in the Yggy and Gumby are that the Yggy is a tad better at extracting the last details from complex recordings. That makes it seem a bit more analytical. The Gumby is a bit more organic sounding, a bit warmer, but still able to untangle complex recordings to a great degree. I own a Gumby and would suggest the Yggy as a step up only to those with SOTA very neutral systems. For most, the Gumby will make you very happy and be a little more synergistic if any of your other components have any edge or brightness.

IMHO, the speakers will make the bigger more obvious difference in any system. Optimizing room setup and speakers(properly driven) that suit your preferences are requirements before over-investing in anything else. Cheers,
Spencer
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
To me the VA Baby Grands have a certain magic that the Concert Grands don't have.  Unfortunately, the Concerts have more bass extension that the Baby's don't.  So what to do?  Save up for a pair of used Liszt's, which are superlative.
french_fries
815 posts
 
The best imaging speakers in my experience are Wilson Watt/Puppies.
The last iteration I heard were the WP-7's. I would much prefer the Sashas with the new soft-dome tweeters since Wilsons have always (had a reputation of being) too bright in the treble region. I also heard the Alexandria-I and was pretty impressed. They too have gotten better
but cost as much as a Ferrari.  My point is this- if you want the speakers to "disappear" they do this "thing" where the sound seems to come from everywhere. The system and the room have to be set up properly for this to happen. If you want musicality more than imaging then there are other
less expensive choices. I went with Eggleston speakers and Sonus Faber.  They (to my ears) sound much more like real instruments, and they image well, but Wilson Audio engineers its products for perfectionists. So instruments kind of "shimmer" and shine brightly-
the emphasis is on resolution like turning up all the lights in a room to their brightest setting. You can see more clearly...but your eyes may tire
from the intensity after awhile. Just an example of trade-offs you face when systems get a little "too good". A dull-sounding speaker can be just as annoying and disappointing, and many of those are not necessary cheap either. 
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
I live 20 minutes from Windsor Locks.  Would love to hear those Pulsar's I think you said they were.  IF the Western Ma guy (sorry, I forget the posters names) you are welcome to get in touch and come listen to my system.  Vandy Quatro's (3" granite slabs on the way) top electronics and cords/cables.
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