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Proac Original Response 2 VS Response 3

I own the original Response 2 and using the R2 Target stands. For the $ I put out for these British Classic Monitors I'm very happy but they do seem a bit thin and harsh/forward at times. Has anyone experienced this.

I have found a pair of Response 3 has anyone compared them..can the 3's image like the little brothers and give you the bottom end. I guess you can't have the best of both worlds unless you spend some serious bucks. Just wondering if it's worth the upgrade.
weaudiocables
rlf
45 posts
 
I've owned the ProAc 2, 3.5, 3.8, and now the D80. You will find that Audio Research tubed amps sound fabulous with ProAcs and an excellent match. The ProAc 2 is a wonderful speaker but care must be made when matching it to one's system. I found that both cable and amplifier choice really make a difference in the sound. If you are interested in better bass I would pass up the 3 and the 3.5 over the 3.8. I found the 3.8s bass to be significally better than that of the 3.5.
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Both the Rseponse 2 and 3 work fabulously well with tubes, IME. My old pair of 2s is now being driven to great success by a friend's 6-watt SET monoblocks. I wouldn't have believed it either. This same amp sounded great with my 3s as well.
sailormike
15 posts
 
RLF;
My friend is trading his 3.8,s for D-80,s and i'm trading my 3.5,s for his 3.8's. any thoughts? Just how good are the new D-80,s?
Thanks, Mike
rlf
45 posts
 
Sailormike,

IMO the 3.8 is better in every regard than the 3.5. Not only is the bass better but the 3.8 has a more refined midrange and upper end. I owned the 3.5 for 3 years before upgrading to the 3.8 which I owned for 5 years. Definitely worth the upgrade. The D80 is in a different league altogether with a significantly better bottom end, more detail, but with a warmer midrange and cleaner top end. Really magnificent sound with Audio Research tubed amp and preamp. A must audition speaker for anyone looking in that price range.
nullgeodesic
2 posts
 
Definitely worth the upgrade! I have owned R2s, R3s and have just got myself R3.8s. I agree with the R2s sounding a bit thin, though you can forgive them when everything is so well imaged. The soundstage developed by R3s is huge and liquid-like in comparison. You don't quite get the pin-point imaging of the R2s but the whole of the music meshes together far more coherently (and realistically) with the R3s.

R3.8s are a totally different beast again and lose a bit of magic of the earlier polyprop cone designs. If you have enjoyed R2s then R3s will be the best of both worlds (and a bit of a new one too).
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