I own the Volent, but haven't heard the MA Platinum (owned the Gold 10 once).
Your spec "very focused, 3 dimensional presentation" fit the VL-2 to a T, but they do 2 other things extraordinarily well. One is the depth and power of the bass. No other small speaker comes close, IMO. Deep, but tight and focused, without any obfuscation at all.
Second, the transparency and transmission of depth and ambient information is as good as I've ever heard, and embarasses most high end speakers, regardless of price or size. And the top end - very extended and detailed, but very smooth. I've found amp matching to be less of a problem than most speakers. That ribbon extends down to 1900 hz., so it handles the upper mids too. The overall sound is very see-into, but sweet and easy at the same time. I'm a dyed in the wool trader, but I can't imagine ever giving these up. To me, they redefine what a small speaker can do.
And BTW, I uses them in my office system, often played quietly late at night. Magical!
My perceptive wife agrees- she has put me on notice that if I'm planning to leave or die, I need to set these up for her first, ahead of any other speakers I've ever owned.
Your spec "very focused, 3 dimensional presentation" fit the VL-2 to a T, but they do 2 other things extraordinarily well. One is the depth and power of the bass. No other small speaker comes close, IMO. Deep, but tight and focused, without any obfuscation at all.
Second, the transparency and transmission of depth and ambient information is as good as I've ever heard, and embarasses most high end speakers, regardless of price or size. And the top end - very extended and detailed, but very smooth. I've found amp matching to be less of a problem than most speakers. That ribbon extends down to 1900 hz., so it handles the upper mids too. The overall sound is very see-into, but sweet and easy at the same time. I'm a dyed in the wool trader, but I can't imagine ever giving these up. To me, they redefine what a small speaker can do.
And BTW, I uses them in my office system, often played quietly late at night. Magical!
My perceptive wife agrees- she has put me on notice that if I'm planning to leave or die, I need to set these up for her first, ahead of any other speakers I've ever owned.