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Has anyone seen the new Meadowlark Swift?

I just looked at the Meadowlark web page, and they have a new speaker out called the Swift. It caught my attention right away, because it looks just like a short Voigt Pipe, with a tweeter added. A guy on the Speaker Asylum heard them, and posted that they threw a huge soundstage, and were as good as the Kestrels for only $995.
I think it is interesting that now, after all these years, there are numerous Voigt Pipe designs hitting the market, like the Meadowlark Swift, and the Cain&Cain Abby, BD designs, and of course the original Lowther.
Anyone heard any of these speakers, especially the Meadowlark? What do you think of the sound, particularly the bass response?
twl
cdc
1,826 posts
 
Heard very briefly. Very good sound. I think with tube amps. Definitely "high end" sound quality. I would think Kestrels would give better dynamics and bass since it is bigger. Other than that Swifts might even be better.
I didn't get to really give them a critical listen and find out all their faults but they did not seem fatiguing or too much bass like the bigger Meadowlarks stuff.
sunnyjim
927 posts
 
It is interesting to hear about this new speaker's performance value. I wonder if anyone has heard the Gershman "Cameleon" and compared them to the Swift???(though the "Cameleon's are $1799!!!) It would be, I think a shot in the arm(if not a kick in the ass) for the audio business, if a manufacturer produced a speaker with two-thirds or more of the performance of some of the mega buck speakers on today's market. Finally, those who heard the Swift. what "level" of electronics was driving them?? Are those "bird" feet stable and vibration free?? SJ
franks
151 posts
 
I heard them for quite a long time at the NY show with Rouge tube electronics. They are very impressive and at their price very tough to beat. Additionally, they are fairly efficient and have a benign impedence making them very tube friendly including SET's and OTL's.
cellorover
425 posts
 
As with Frank, I heard them at the show. They were most impressive with the analogue set up, reflecting the quality of the turntable in that room compared to the digital set up. I have also heard them with CJ electronics and the music just flowed. The feet add stability and I believe can be fitted with spikes/cones, etc. Pat McGinty said that the triangular format provided more stability than a four point rectangle. As for Sunnyjim's comments about sound quality versus price, I believe that Meadowlark is on to something interesting with their BassIC technology. I want to hear the next generation Shearwaters that will use the same technology. I think we will see a resurgance of American made speakers that out perform the European products, are highyl affordable and, more important, very desireable.
cdc
1,826 posts
 
Cellorover, I second that - "I think we will see a resurgance of American made speakers that out perform the European products, are highyl affordable and, more important, very desireable."
American speaker mfg'r are really starting to get their stuff together. Thiel 1.6, Revel Gems, Montana, Meadowlark, Polk Lsi series and on and on.
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