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Janszen za2.1 vs nola metro grand ref series2

I am contemplating a speaker purchase. I was going to look into either a used vandy 5a or eggleston andra ii. But, I think they would both be too big for my small 12x14 room. I am also married to my 50 w triode monoblocks and I fear they would not provide sufficient power for either choice.

This leads me to the less well known janszen and a pair of demo nola metros. I have always liked the enormous magnepan 3.7 soundstage. I however found them always lacking in image specificity. So as the advice comes, please keep in mind my soundstage reference and goal is along the lines of the big Maggie's. I have read that the raven tweeter and open baffle in the nola result in a giant presentation. I am not as sure about the janszens.

Has anyone heard both of the speakers I am considering? My desire is to improve upon the sound of the Gallo ref 3.5 that I currently have. I would like a larger, taller deeper soundstage with Improved pinpoint proved imaging.

I recognize this may be an odd request, but I am hoping for real world experience as I have no way to hear either prior to purchasing the speakers. The janszens have a trial period going in their favor.

Fwiw David janszen was a pleasure to talk with about his speakers. If congeniality were a sound quality i would tip my hat to janszen.

Regards,
Brad
2out2sea
2out2sea OP
74 posts
 
I know that I seem to be the only one posting replies here, but I thought I would try to further clarify the "headphones" comment.

I remember hearing a similar effect one time while at a private concert of Chris Issac. I was seated center stage not more than 8' from Chris. The speakers for the small auditorium were actually on plane with me to either side. The amplification was not turned up particularly high and I could hear the actual acoustic guitar and his voice in the natural while also hearing the amplified signal from the pa system. When I moved to behind the plane of the speakers the sound became very typical. But the magic returned once I re took my seat.

This is a very similar effect to what I am hearing from the Janszens. Take that for what it is.
janszen_loudspeaker
4 posts
 
I'm sorry if this violates Audiogon convention, but I'd like to weigh in, just to state that the effect is headphone-like, in terms of immediacy, but is not "in the head", like the sound from headphones and some planar speakers is.
2out2sea OP
74 posts
 
I am keeping the Janszens. A great speaker that suits my listening tastes much better than the myriad of other speakers I listened to in comparison. I have yet to hear the Nola, but I will at some point and decide then what differences I hear. Some may find close to 10k for speakers paltry, but I do not find it insignificant. However, I feel like I am getting my money's worth. What sounded like lossy compression on other 15-20k speakers the Janszens revealed as distortion in the crappy quality music files I sometimes listen to for background music.
rcprince
3,068 posts
 
$10K "paltry"?? Hardly. Congratulations on your choice, you made the decision the right way, with your ears and in your room.
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