My new Borresen X3's

I’ve been looking at X3 reviews on YT which of course are great and listening to them insofar as you can in these videos. The one thing that strikes me, in the Borresen ones, why do they insist on using unfamiliar, highly processed synth music- makes it even more impossible to gauge the sound. Who knows what this music should sound like.

That said, I would still like to hear them in person, and will this Fall. I’m moving and would like to update my speakers- B&W 801 S2 Mk III that I bought new 25 yrs ago. Powered by McIntosh and Krell.

I know its diminishing returns, but aesthetics and engineering aside, can I really much of an improvement in dynamics, clarity and sound stage?

As example, I just bought a new DAC. It definitively sounds different, but I can’t say its better that the old one.

I’m not a borresen owner or dealer, but I’ve heard the X3 speakers a couple times, and I was absolutely blown away by them each time.  And that’s saying a lot for me, an old audiophile who’s heard more than his share of great speakers over the years. I must say---I agree wholeheartedly!!!  Over the last few years, Borresen has been just knocking the ball out of the park all over the place, especially with their simply amazingly affordable and super high value X3 speakers. So much so, to my ears, the combo of the X3 speakers, even driven by one of their entry level, all-in-one integrated amps, sounds so incredibly compelling, they could very well and quite easily be quite enough for a many a discriminating audiophiles.  Just one mans opinion.  Yes, I was extremely impressed.  Happy listening.

So the answer for me is always buying the obsolete series just expired and wait to upgrade the release then you can consider buying the next obsolete version staying one gen behind. An upgrade route for 40-60% less than the MSRP…

No, the answer is to buy something great and just be satisfied with it for many years and stop chasing the next shinny penny that's just around to corner.  Happy listening.   

05-17-2024 at 08:51am

@helomech says

"I’m sure the Borresens sound great but the whole R&D and advancements notion is mostly false. The marketing people would like us consumers to believe that’s the case but in reality there exist 30+ year old speaker models that would compete with nearly any speaker in the X3’s price range. Speaker tech has long been more mature than most audiophiles realize. The difference these days is the number of different models that compete at the top echelon, and some at a relatively lower price when adjusting for inflation.

Say What ? 30 yr. old speakers sound as good as any $11K speaker today...That’s quite a statement.....It’s too early in the day to be drinkin’......