These are two great speakers from two great designers with beautifully finished cabinets....I'm thinking you might consider the following questions on your journey....
1. What are your current Legacy models lacking...or what is it you are trying to improve upon?
2. The Focus SE weighs 188lbs per speaker ready to be shipped...that means if you ever want to resell...it will probably be tough....is this an issue for you?
3. People often suggest that the RAAL tweeter is laid back...but when you investigate further it has no zing, presents a massive soundstage, tremendous detail and is tonally beautiful...is it going to be bothersome that it just doesn't "grab you" right out of the box...that instead, you will have a lightbulb moment a couple weeks or months down the road as to how good it is?
4. The Legacy AMTs may have less dispersion than the RAAL...this isn't a good or bad thing...just something to be aware of with respect to the room you are going to put them in and what you are hoping to achieve.
5. The Legacy AMTs are a little less laid back than the RAAL...and in some rooms this is a good thing and in others...not so much.
6. The Legacy is pretty tall...can you sit far enough back so that the tweeter/mid are at the proper ear level.
7. Most would say that the RAAL is safely played below 110db at one meter...so if you want super loud at 5 meters back...then maybe the RAAL isn't the best choice.
As I said, these are two great loudspeakers. Your ears, your music and the nuances that matter to you are critical....as is your room and your ability to position either speaker for its optimal sound.
Full disclosure....I've heard the Legacy (but not in my room with my equipment)..it sounded great. I own the Salk Veracity ST which has the RAAL and a similar Seas midwoofer...it sounds great also.
Finally, I'm not a big believer in the "best speaker I've ever heard" theory. I am more of a believer that our brains somewhat ignore what is sounds good, point out "what is wrong" and keep bugging us to fix it. For me, the Salks get almost everything right...but the key statement here is that I'm hearing them in my room, with my music and my equipment.
1. What are your current Legacy models lacking...or what is it you are trying to improve upon?
2. The Focus SE weighs 188lbs per speaker ready to be shipped...that means if you ever want to resell...it will probably be tough....is this an issue for you?
3. People often suggest that the RAAL tweeter is laid back...but when you investigate further it has no zing, presents a massive soundstage, tremendous detail and is tonally beautiful...is it going to be bothersome that it just doesn't "grab you" right out of the box...that instead, you will have a lightbulb moment a couple weeks or months down the road as to how good it is?
4. The Legacy AMTs may have less dispersion than the RAAL...this isn't a good or bad thing...just something to be aware of with respect to the room you are going to put them in and what you are hoping to achieve.
5. The Legacy AMTs are a little less laid back than the RAAL...and in some rooms this is a good thing and in others...not so much.
6. The Legacy is pretty tall...can you sit far enough back so that the tweeter/mid are at the proper ear level.
7. Most would say that the RAAL is safely played below 110db at one meter...so if you want super loud at 5 meters back...then maybe the RAAL isn't the best choice.
As I said, these are two great loudspeakers. Your ears, your music and the nuances that matter to you are critical....as is your room and your ability to position either speaker for its optimal sound.
Full disclosure....I've heard the Legacy (but not in my room with my equipment)..it sounded great. I own the Salk Veracity ST which has the RAAL and a similar Seas midwoofer...it sounds great also.
Finally, I'm not a big believer in the "best speaker I've ever heard" theory. I am more of a believer that our brains somewhat ignore what is sounds good, point out "what is wrong" and keep bugging us to fix it. For me, the Salks get almost everything right...but the key statement here is that I'm hearing them in my room, with my music and my equipment.