Spatial Audio open baffle speakers, who has them? Worthwhile change from Maggies?

Speaking of open baffle speakers, not only are the Spatials wonderful - heard them @ RMAF 2(?) yrs ago - but I also became interested in Eric Alexander’s Tekton Design Sigma OB (open baffle "hybrid" design). Almost on a whim I ordered a pair of the Sigmas when he offered them at an irresistible price.

I had spent the previous 15 yrs with Apogee Duetta Signatures (driven by a dBX BX1 monster amp because those Duettas demanded real power). I loved them dearly but after having the bass panels re-tensioned 3 times in their lives it became too much of a hassle to keep them "tuned". Apogee folded with the death of its founder and I felt it was time to move on.

I had come to love dipoles though & I was intrigued by the Sigma’s design. Well, they’re still in my system with Hsu Research subs & I am quite pleased! I think the Spatials might well better them though and they may be next on my list!

My Spatials have really opened up over last couple days.
But yesterday I made a small change in my room that has reaped huge rewards.
I bought a new listening chair.
It's a reclining glider and it's so comfortable I could sleep in it.
However the point is that it has raised me approx 3 inch and what a difference!
Soundstage is enormous and deep. Details are everywhere and talk about bass. It felt like cannon shots last night on one particular album I was streaming.

Pretty much in heaven right now.

I just received my X5 speakers this past Friday and have put about ten hours on them so far so I know they will sound even better with breakin.

But I have to agree with others that these speakers are really special.  They have a very large soundstage which is deep and they are very dynamic, effortless and coherent.  They really nail female vocals and the tweeters are very smooth yet detailed.

I have them about 8 feet apart toed in so they point about a half foot outside my seating position which is ten feet from the speakers.  I'll experiment with a little more toe in to see what sounds best.

I've had several green mountain audio speakers in the past fifteen years which were also very transparent and delivered a huge soundstage but these are definitely a level higher and more dynamic and involving even at lower volumes. The Green mountains were one of my favorites up until these surpassed them.

I have two rel storm subs which I'm not even using at the moment as I feel I do not need them with the X5s.  But after they've broken in a bit I'll turn on the rels and decide.  I have the sub level on the X5's at about the 9/10 position and the bass is excellent so not sure what the rels will add but will try them a little later.

I'm driving them with a pathos twin towers 30 watts/channel hybrid class A integrated and at a little over half volume on the indicator it is more than loud and dynamic enough.  The combo of this amp with these speakers and RCA blackplate input tubes is very addictive.  I'm also using audience au 24sx interconnects, ven haus chela speaker cables and a metrum onyx DAC and use a modified wyred for sound sonos connect and play cds as well.  Next update is maybe the Innuous mini streamer.

@uberwaltz and @mrotino  What speakers have you heard in the past, especially boxed/carbinet speakers and how do they compare to the spatials ?

Well I own the X3s and here is a short list of what I've owned in the past few years

Klipschorns
GR Research Super V
Forte IIIs
Wilson Sophias
Reference 3a Grand Veena
Piega P10
Von Schweikert VR4 Gen III HSE
Green Mountain Audio C3
Magnepan 1.6 and 3.5

I would say the Spatials are as good as anything I've owned at most things, and quite a bit better at some. They have the most articulate and pitch correct bass response of any speaker I have owned. They are open and boxless sounding like maggies, but with far superior soundstage depth and dynamics. They most closely resemble the GMA Continuums in tonal balance and transparency. Their dynamics most closely resemble that of the mighty K horns. About 90% of what they do.

Hope that helps.

Oz