Persona 9h vs S3 mk 2

@audiotroy I have heard the T+A 3100 HV several times and I think it is great, actually tremendous gear. Something I am going to look at with my future down stairs big room system (KEF Blades). I was considering getting the T+A clearance units from Sunny's (Covina, CA) for the low price but decided against it. Mainly because I was not going to buy any of the speakers I heard with the T+A gear.

When I heard the Luxman I was even more impressed, though I think the TAD ME1 speaker I heard with them were one of the reasons for my over the top high praise. I even heard a Harbeth ($5K) with the Luxman's and I also liked them with the Luxmans (though not as much as the TAD ME1). My feeling is that ANY speaker will likely sound good with the Luxman 900 series. I have also heard the 800 series extensively with Vivid speakers and they are warmer than the 900 series.

I think the Persona 3F maybe better for me than the TAD ME1 but a home demo will confirm this and having the TAD ME1 as a backup plan is a no lose situation for me. As I mentioned before in many posts getting a small room to sound good is not easy, but it is getting there. Lucky for me my stock investment to buy this gear is getting delayed so I have more time to research.

With regards to cost, I am looking at home demoing the Mola Mola Makua preamp with the DAC board to pair with the Luxman m900u amp. This will save me space and $$ over getting the Luxman c900u preamp. 

@smodtactical If I was smart I would just buy the CODA #8 amp and the Simaudio 390 network player to pair with the Persona 3F or the TAD ME1 and save a lot of dough and get great sound. However, I am not that smart.

I am also going to setup the Sonare SystemOptique fiber optic system ($700) + one of their RENDU models for my digital streaming needs. I like the idea of using a computer for my streaming needs.

@yyzsantabarbara  what do you like more between 3f vs me1 ?

I’d take the 3F over the TAD ME1 any day of the week.  Local dealer had TAD and I think he got rid of them quickly for a reason.  Wasn’t impressed at all.  Nor was I impressed at Axpona.

Contuzzi, their is no doubt in our minds that the Persona 3f is the better value, for one brief shining momment the Me1 was lowered to $10k at that price the speaker was a great deal.

We have heard the Me 1 sounding very good, with a slightly richer midrange response than the 3F.  They still sound more like a monitor on a stand and for $5k less the 3F is just so hard to beat, for $5k you can get yourself a great dac or be half way to a great sounding intergrated amplifier. 

We do think that the ME 1 for a person with a very small room who wants a stand mounted speaker is one of the best of its kinds. 

The reality as we see it is that if you dial in the 3f it is one remarkable loudspeaker that sounds more like a $20k loudspeaker than a $10k one. 

We setup our Persona 3F on a setup of Naim Separates for $13k with the Paradigm SW 1000 a compact subwoofer from Paradigm and the sound was just remarkable and the entire system was more affordable then many reference systems we have heard that were two to three times the price.

The way we see it is that the 3f if used with the right combination of gear does so many things extremely well: a huge soundstage, great image float, superb detail, very tight deep bass response for its price point it is very hard to beat.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Persona dealers

The TAD ME1 is not as detailed as the 3F but rather close in that department. The ME1 maybe better for longer listening sessions. I know with the Luxman system + TAD ME1 demo I was totally satisfied with the sound and wanted to listen all day. I like the TAD ME1 more than the Magico A3 that I liked a lot at one point.

My assumption is that the 3F will have a bit more bass and can play in a small room. I will home demo this with the Luxman amp to see if that is true in my room. I also think that the coherence of the tweeter and mid on the 3F is a little better (one voice). A lot of folks have said to me that I would not like the 3F for long term listening sessions, I think they are wrong and my home demo will clear this up. A lot of folks like a softer top end and not like Persona’s, I am not one of them.

I want to make the 3F work in my small office because I want a floor stander but the ME1 is great and I can live with that speaker if the 3F will not work. I decided I did not want to introduce DSP into my sound chain so I only am relying on acoustic treatments. I went the non-DSP route after I fell for the all Luxman system demo. So I am buying electronics before the speaker. Maybe the Mola Mola pre/dac to lessen the component count.

That $15k - $10K - $15K oscillation in the TAD ME1 price was rather disappointing, I now feel a bit like you are getting less speaker for the price. The Persona 3F price seems to me like you get more for the price compared to some other floor standers I have demoed.

Main issue is my room.