Legacy Audio AERIS: RMAF/listening impressions?

Cobraman: I definitely hear what you are saying. My personal opinion is that AERIS is a wake-up call to the high-end audio industry. I think properly staged and cabled, it will make a lot of higher-end ($$$) contenders sit up and take notice (and lose a lot of sleep which is overdue given their much higher prices!!!). Legacy's best work to date without a doubt; more is reported to be on the way as well...

Aeris and Vandy 5ct are the best under 30k speakers I've heard and that's with various amps/cables. As for Stereo Shop, I've done business with Nic over the years, but mostly with his dad when he owned it. They are family with Gordon Gow of Tributaries and formerly of Mac. I've had various experiences there. Some good and some not so good. I know of some poor business practices with them, so I won't spend money there, plus I don't love B&W ;)....and Mac doesn't do it for me either. But that's just me. Glad you had a good experience though as that's what it's all about. The Audio Store in Newington on the Berlin Tpk is a great place to get stuff. I've done business with them over the years too and I like how they are. Good guys just trying to make a living. They have a nice blend of quality stuff and don't try to over sell you. I like Bernie there a lot. I still go all the way to NJ to do business with John at Audio Connection for so many reasons. He just LOVES the music and it comes out. That's when I have fun, when the owner comes in to listen WITH you and just keeps putting music on. Not selling product, as it sells itself. JMHO

Legacy built me a version AERIS with a 6-way binding post terminal plate option. Not only does it give me the flexibility to move up to 4-channels and 6-channels of amplification in the future to externally power the bass
and sub-bass portions of this speaker, it allowed me to externally jumper these sections "now" with SOTA 5-ribbon jumpers matching my existing speaker cables from David Elrod. The difference is NOT subtle at all. The result is so good, I get to hear what the 500 watt ICE amps are truly
capable of (even with stock power cords) and frankly given how the bass and sub-bass now plummet and impact all parts of the anatomy and the
house I may not ever go to the expense of additional amplification as it would be a vanity purchase only given what I now hearing!

Like I said, the Legacy was my second choice, but to ME, I didn't like it as much as I like the Vandy at a similar or less price point. I won't do the DSP thing right now. I hated the last gen driver the Legacy used. I heard it set up at a dealer in a couple of their speakers and it made my ears bleed. The set up was the way the dealer wanted it be shown as they are trying to sell it. The new one sounded great, but that's just me I guess. I was always about cables just sending the music along with way ti's recorded and getting components that don't need taming. IT's just the way I was brought up in audio. I also was taught not to spend too much money on tweeks as I could probably guy the next step up and get more for my money. The thing that pushed the Vandy over the Legacy was how natural the Vandy presentation has become in their new speakers. I'm blown away at how great they do all music and how easy they are to drive overall.

Again, not taking anything away from the NEW Legacy's, but I'm talking about them vs the Treo's.....The Whispers are 18k or so aren't they? You're into the Quattro or even Vandy 5A money and at that point, you've got one heck of a battle on your hands. I'd love to hear them side by side set up properly. That would be an interesting battle for sure.

I'll have to catch up with some listening to the latest Vandys. I'd love to hear them side by side as well. The AERIS in exotic finish weighs in around that price point; the Whisper is a bit more than that but please check with Legacy for official pricing. I've updated my system pics again and continue to be very happy with what I'm hearing...