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New Joseph Audio Pulsar Graphene 2

Just wanted to update my prior thread where this topic may have gotten lost.  As many of you may know by now, Joseph Audio has come out with the new Pulsar Graphene 2. This new iteration of the venerable Pulsars has a graphene coated magnesium midrange-woofer cone, and the drive motor, suspension system, etc., have been revamped. From what I have been told, the upgrade is pretty significant ... the sound is fuller and has greater ease, yet is very resolved. Jeff Joseph advises that an upgrade path will be available for existing owners of the Pulsars, too. Also, note that the price quoted in the Soundstage piece was in Canadian dollars ... Jeff informs me that the price in USD is $8,999 per pair. I am eager to hear the new Pulsars.
rlb61
rlb61 OP
789 posts
 
As I recall, JA did have some reservations about the original Perspectives, but I think it had more to do with the components with which they were tested. The review of the original Pulsars was mostly unequivocal as compared to that of the original Perspectives, which I found to be more in line with the issue of component matching than anything endemic to either speaker. After all, both of them use/used the same tweeter and midrange/bass units. IIRC, Jeff’s "Manufacturer’s Comment" sidestepped JA’s criticisms of the Perspectives almost completely, most likely because there was nothing wrong with them inherently, and it made little sense to make a mountain over a molehill with respect to the use of complementary components.
erik_squires
16,176 posts
 
JA at Stereophile is the last person whose hearing I would trust. He's part of the B&W/Golden Ear cadre, and wouldn't know a neutral speaker if he sat on the plane next to one.


rlb61 OP
789 posts
 
@erik_squires ... LMFAO!
prof
3,474 posts
 
JA at Stereophile is the last person whose hearing I would trust.

Disagree.

I know dissing JA is a hobby horse of yours, but I find him to be quite perceptive.

The measurements of the Perspectives showed characteristics (e.g. rising treble response, bass node at least in his room) that matched his subjective report pretty well.

(He also often hears artifacts, ratified in his measurements, that his other reviewers sometimes miss).


erik_squires
16,176 posts
 
JA is really good at measuring, which makes the fact that he can barely interpret his own measurements more than a little frustrating.


He likes speakers that sound like hearing aids, and he is not above making up shade. If he hears things others miss, it’s probably because he made it up.


Feel free to like or dislike the Pulsars as you see fit, but using JA's opinion as to sound quality is not something I'd ever recommend.
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