Persona 9h vs S3 mk 2

I listened again to the Personas today - 3F. (Bryston amplification)

Also the B&W 803D3.

I found myself underwhelmed.  The B&Ws sounded more refined (even if they too have a sculpted frequency response), the Persona's sounded somewhat opaque to me, and even though the B&W's upper frequencies actually sounded a bit hotter, I actually found myself getting fatigued faster with the Personas high end.  I found the same when I did a longer audition last year.   I guess I just don't care for those speakers. And they sure didn't sound a competitive as I'd hoped with even the B&Ws.  (And I'm not even much of a fan of the B&W sound at all!).

Ricredi which dealer and what speakers and how were they setup?

Compare how we run our Persona 9H and the equipment we use them with:
https://www.facebook.com/audiodoctor1/photos/a.1114621131944432/2414413985298467/?type=3&theater

You will notice T+A electronics, a Critical Mass Rack, Acoustical Treatment, power conditioning, no other speakers in line, high end cabling, Isoacoustic footers.

Not shown: State of the art digital: T+A PDP 3000, Light Harmonic Davinci, Aqua Hifi Formula XHD, Innous server.


One dealer in another state was showcasing a $17 pair of Persona 5F in a room with many pairs of speakers on all three walls, no room treatment, and the best electronics were a few $3k Musical Fidelity pieces and an Anthem STR intergrated.

Another dealer we visted had three Personas all crammed together on the back wall with many other speakers on top their best electronics an Nad preamp with a Parasound amplifier.

Compare our sound room where we demo the Persona 3F

https://www.facebook.com/audiodoctor1/photos/a.122499441156611/1884269391646265/?type=3&theater

Electronics from $1k Rega, Peachtree, Nad, to $30k Naim stack.
Intergrated amplfiers: Naim, Sythesis, Unsion Research, Krell, Micromega, Cables from $3,400.00 for speaker cables, power conditioning. etc.

Part of this issue is dealers showrooms and not having the care and matching equipment to showcase the Persona to their utmost.

They sound fantastic on warmer electronics: Krell, Naim, Micromega they are not going to sound fanatastic on brighter or leaner electronics.

Please understand we are not trying to say we are better and any other dealers are not good, the issue is how well are some of these dealers setting up their Personas?

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ

A question to Persona 9H owners. I have a room that is 12'W x 21'L x 25'H The short wall is actually 17' wide at the entrance but there is a mostly straight staircase that quickly takes away 5' of space on the right side of the room. So that is why I am stating only 12' wide.

https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/7959 (photos)

1) Minimum distance required between speakers if placed on the short wall near the entrance?
2) Minimum distance from the front wall?
3) Would the staircase be an issue in terms of reflection?
4) I am assuming that the side wall distance can to resolved via toe-in. The closer to the side wall the more toe-in.

I will not acoustically treat this room. I am asking this now so I can prepare the wife for the future big news.

BTW - my kid will share this room with a pair of speakers and 1 integrated amp w/DAC and 1 chair for me. 

@prof As someone who has owned Bryston in the past for about 15 years. Bryston would not be in my 10 ten electronics to use with Persona’s. I recently heard Bryston 4B3 and BP17 cubed with Vandersteen Treo CT and even that combo was not to my liking. Maybe I am getting soft in my old age. I attributed my dislike to the Bryston gear. Just did not like that pairing. 

I have heard Bryston sound good with other speakers, like my old Revel Salon 1 + Bryston 7BSST

Man you guys are making me want the 9H! 

@audiotroy  What other speaker have you heard do you think could compete with the 9H in the same price category?

Ya Mike is a bit weird. Every time you ask him what electronics he used for the 9H he doesn't say anything. 

@ricred1  What brands and models did the dealer prefer?

How does Kef blade and ref 5 compare to 9H ?