All Open Baffle Speakers

Product Strengths

• Sound resembles a live band performance, unlike typical speakers that sound like they are firing sound at you
• The open baffle design contributes to a more articulate sound because the drivers start and stop quickly due to the absence of a cabinet to slow them down
• Maintains sound quality at high volumes, even in very large rooms (up to 60 meters) without distortion, due to its unlimited power handling and dynamics

Product Considerations

• Cannot be purchased as a standalone speaker, it is part of a complete Steinway Lyngdorf sound system

Takeaway: The LS speaker provides a very high-quality sound for a home cinema system. With its unique design and sound production, the speaker helps to deliver sound like a real live performance.

Product Strengths

• Vivid and lifelike realism in timbre, imaging, transient speed, resolution, physical energy, and dynamics make it sound closer to live music
• Presents a kind of physicality to the sound, not just in bottom-end weight—but in tangibility and presence of instrumental and vocal images
• Extraordinary vividness and tangibility of instrumental and vocal images, with a very present, immediate, and upfront spatial presentation
• Remarkably easy to drive, it will play loudly, and delivers fabulous bass weight and low-end dynamic authority
• Presents a uniform voice, tonally and dynamically, from the bass to the top treble, with zero discontinuity between drivers

Product Considerations

• To realize its full potential, you need to position the speakers away from the backwall, which can be a challenge in many homes
• Moving the speakers back toward the wall behind them slightly diminished the depth and feeling of the soundstage having no boundaries
• Removing the speakers from the flight cases and assembling the base and feet is a delicate and time-consuming process

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Rhapsody room in Dallas was built to house both AlsyVox and the Magico M9

Takeaway: The AlsyVox Caravaggio is a high-end loudspeaker that delivers a thrilling and realistic music experience, unlike any other. If you want amazing sound, this could be the speaker for you

Product Strengths

• Reproduces instruments and pianos as they are, without adding its own sound character
• Open dipole design makes the speaker very transparent and open
• Creates the sensation of a big soundstage
• Delivers music in an effortless way
• Presents music with detail

Product Considerations

• Requires a very big room with lots of space due to its open dipole design
• May not deliver enough energy in the lowest low end, especially when playing very dynamic pieces with a wide dynamic range, like the 1812 Overture
• May not be the best system for playing very loud music or genres heavily driven by bass
• Dipole systems like this require huge amounts of power
• Might feel a bit trapped when reaching very high listening levels

Takeaway: The Model D provides an amazing soundstage and effortlessly renders music, making it a worthwhile investment for those who appreciate detailed and realistic audio in a large space. It offers a unique and immersive listening experience that brings the listener closer to the music.

Product Strengths

• Experienced a 'wall of sound' from the speakers
• These speakers do not need room treatment

Product Considerations

• Extremely well-built, resulting in a thousand-pound shipping weight
• Speakers purchased at Audium come with a service, where if the buyer has issues, someone will fly to the buyer's home and fix them

Takeaway: The Audium speakers offer a phenomenal sound experience without needing extra sound treatment in the room. The build is solid, and the company will even fly to the buyer's house to fix them.

Product Strengths

• Replicates the resonance of live instruments due to open speaker design
• Digital from source to driver, minimizing sound distortion
• Provides audio output so precise you can pinpoint each instrument's location

Product Considerations

• The only weak link might be musical taste

Takeaway: The Model C delivers incredibly precise audio, replicating live instrument resonance with minimal distortion. If pure sound is desired, and taste in music aligns, it is a great pick.

Product Strengths

• Huge and crystal clear soundscape
• Cellar deep, effortless, and authoritative bass
• Very good resolution and precision of instruments in a symphony orchestra
• Formidable dynamic capabilities

Product Considerations

• A heavy speaker, weighing 115 kg
• Price is high

Takeaway: The AlsyVox BOTTICELLI speakers provide a compelling and impressive sound, with great dynamics and fantastic resolution. If you are looking for speakers to convey all details in music, this could be for you.

Product Strengths

• A very convincing and engaging sense of real space, with lifelike and naturally spacious sound
• Clean and open sounding, with great microdynamics and agile sound
• Does a terrific job in blending the top end and midrange with the bottom end
• The sweet spot is quite wide, and the whole tonal balance does not change much within it
• Acoustic tuning via foam inserts allows for fine-tuning the voicing for the room

Product Considerations

• Different 'quality' of sound was perceived between the ribbon array and the bass segment of the speaker, especially in nearer field listening
• Very careful placement is required in a room to find the right balance, and the foam plugs will become indispensable
• May present problems when used with less stable or power shy amplifiers
• The highs may become more rolled-off with distance
• The measured sensitivity was significantly lower than the manufacturer's specification, potentially requiring more powerful amplification

Takeaway: The Piega Master Line Source 3 is a very good speaker that offers a spatial and immersive sound experience. With careful placement and tuning, it can provide clean, open, and agile sound for an engaging listening experience.

Product Strengths

• Plenty of deep, satisfying bass and detail, and could go quite loud, even with just 4.3 watts per channel
• One of the most beautiful speakers
• The construction quality and materials are without compromise
• Seamless from top to bottom, which shouldn't be a surprise for full range drivers
• The dispersion characteristics aren't that unusual, the speakers sounded superb from anywhere in the room

Product Considerations

• The distance from the front wall is important because it determines the wavelengths that are reinforced in the room, so experimentation is useful
• The reflectivity of the front wall surface behind the speaker is important

Takeaway: The Songer Audio S2 loudspeakers have great bass and detail and can play loudly, also they are beautiful speakers. The S2 is special because it sounds good everywhere in the room.

Product Strengths

• Lifelike and realistic sound, especially with acoustic music
• High resolution and detail, presenting recordings with great clarity and honesty
• A vast and immersive soundstage fills the room
• Fast, transparent, and resolving midrange
• Adjustability to match mid-bass output to different listening rooms

Product Considerations

• Requires careful and patient setup to achieve optimal sonic results
• Powerful and high-quality amplification is required to perform at its best
• Size may be daunting
• Image focus may fall off when not in the center listening position
• Does not deliver 'slam' like box speakers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The 30.7s bear a striking sonic resemblance to Magico M Pros
• The 30.7 provides fully 22% more driver surface area than Tympani IVa

Takeaway: The Magnepan 30.7 is a remarkable speaker that offers exceptional realism and detail, making listening feel more like a live performance. With careful setup, it can provide an immersive and captivating listening experience.

Product Strengths

• Headroom and dynamic capability deliver sound in an unrestricted way.
• Immense dimensionality to concert hall recordings creates an intimate and involving experience.
• The system reproduces the original recording space and unleashes its full potential in 2.0 stereo.
• The level of separation and musical authenticity was astonishing, especially in the reproduction of instruments like cymbals and cellos.
• Musical openness was enlightening, and music was placed under a magnifying glass.

Product Considerations

• May not perform as well with 'dirtier stuff' or modern EDM, potentially sounding a bit sterile and restricting the low end.
• The system needs a big room and space behind the speakers.
• Four people are needed to move one speaker.
• During loud drum bursts it can peak at 108dB which is way above normal listening levels and may be a boundary for the headroom available.

Takeaway: The Model is an amazing sounding system with a wonderfully sounding soundstage. It is a safe investment.

Product Strengths

• Seamless and exceptional expanse of sound from top to bottom, offering a smooth, neutral, and grainless presentation
• High-resolution transducer capable of bringing out nuances, with clarity and realism in instrumental and performance-related detail
• Dipole bass sounds very smooth, flat, nimble, tight, and detailed in the bottom octaves, with zero overhang on transients
• Capable of peopling the vast landscape of a recording with naturally sized replicas of performers, giving a wonderful sense of being transported to the venue
• Presents timbres and dynamics differently than direct-radiating loudspeakers, projecting them forward and back with lifelike three-dimensional bloom

Product Considerations

• Requires substantial break-in time—particularly for the bass panel—to achieve optimal sound quality
• Needs a muscular amplifier to achieve high SPLs due to its exceptionally low sensitivity
• The speakers are physically quite large, which won't suit every room
• May tend to flatten dynamic contrasts on the fortississimo side, particularly at low to moderate levels
• Can sound a bit bright in the upper midrange and top treble on certain material at very high volumes

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Raidho C1.1: 20.7 may not quite match in focus and low-level detail but is focused and detailed enough to compete in realism

Takeaway: The Magnepan 20.7 is a high-performing loudspeaker that delivers a realistic and immersive listening experience, transporting you to the recording venue. With its full-range capabilities and detailed sound, it offers exceptional value for those seeking the 'absolute sound'.

Product Strengths

• Voices and instruments are presented precisely in space with an almost three-dimensional quality
• Precise images are produced over a wider sweet spot due to their circular stators and delay lines
• More full-range sound and more capable of producing real bass compared to the ESL-63
• The greatest strength of the Quad ESL series, including the ESL-2912, has been and continues to be its midrange—smooth, revealing without being over-etched, and presenting a virtual open window on the music
• Excels at microdynamics, communicating the subtle ebb and flow of the music, orchestral and vocal

Product Considerations

• There was an attenuation of the extreme highs, most clearly evident with percussion instruments
• With some music, mostly orchestral, the reviewer was at times aware of a kind of drumming sound that wasn't part of the music, possibly due to the stretched polyolefin dustcovers
• Users have noted that the reliability of the made-in-China ESLs is not improved, and that whatever faults or serviceability issues applied to the UK-made units, the products coming from China are not as well made and result in many more issues

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs ESL-63: The ESL-2912 sounded more full-range, and was more capable of producing real bass
• Vs Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 II: The Platinum PL300 II had a more neutral midbass and more extended treble, and less 'speaker sound', but if you listen very closely, you can hear that it has not been entirely eliminated—something the ESL-2912 has an inherent advantage in having no box at all

Takeaway: The ESL-2912 gives a smooth, detailed sound with amazing imaging and a wide sweet spot, making the music sound very real. It is a speaker that carries on a legacy and makes listening to your favorite tunes even more of a joy.

Product Strengths

• Physically the best version of the Quad ESL63 design to date in physical integrity
• Clarity, purity, and coherence, creating an image that floats in the air between the speakers
• Very low distortion levels
• Vocals delivered with plenty of subtlety and focus, and a mass of detail without sounding overtly analytical—just unforced and natural
• A classic of audio design

Product Considerations

• Fussy about positioning and partnering kit
• Requires mains power to work despite being passive speakers, as the power is needed for the stators
• Midrange oriented, with a definite hole that tends to exist between 150 and 500Hz or so
• Damping behind the speakers is really needed for satisfactory results—a lot of damping
• Does not have the broad range of dynamic expression that some conventional speakers do, and simply cannot compete when it comes to sheer air-moving power and strength

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Focal Diablo Utopias: Has a smooth presentation, without perhaps the openness of the Focal
• Vs. Magnepan 3.7i: The sound of the spherically radiating electrostatic technology was the most holographic among speakers experienced, and the degree of spatiality surpassed even that of the Magnepan 3.7i

Takeaway: The Quad ESL-2812 is a speaker that offers a unique listening experience with unparalleled coherence, clarity, and low distortion. If one values insight and unexaggerated smoothness, this speaker could be worth the effort of careful setup and system matching.

Product Strengths

• Wide front soundscape with spot-on timbre, pulsing rhythms, and pinpoint imaging creates holographic magic
• Immersive, tactile, and dynamic presentations create a believable soundstage
• Larger scale and more palpable bass experience than the Trio15
• Additional woofers cause the bass to take on more solidity and punch and bring in more presence in the lower frequencies proportionate to the upper end
• Great flexibility in voicing due to different primary drivers
• Assembly is required, and it can be challenging to figure out which metal piece goes where

Product Considerations

• Wooden baffles are not meant for super tight applications
• Crossover board can appear flimsy or DIY
• Open baffle speakers have less for the sound to reverberate on, which acts as a natural amplifier for lower frequencies
• One of the plastic footers can come loose when moving the speaker on carpeting

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Quintet15 Horn1 exudes qualities of the Trio15 Horn1, but in greater abundance—the Quintet15 Horn1 has twice the effective woofer surface area

Takeaway: The Quintet15 is a modifiable speaker design that allows an individual to experience the beauty, speed, and finesse of an open baffle speaker, and an outstanding presentation can be created by making simple substitutions and adjustments. The modularity allows for great flexibility and different voicing.

Product Strengths

• Music sounds open and extraordinarily dynamic, with often strikingly accurate timbres
• Very resolving, with gobs of inner detail, but never found to be etched or fatiguing
• With the Horn2s installed, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, and other wind instruments sound hyper-realistic
• Both male and female vocals come through in a way that, in terms of intelligibility—approaches headphone listening
• Open-baffle design means that the crossover on each speaker is easily accessible for fine-tuning the sound

Product Considerations

• Owners with inquisitive pets or toddlers might want to keep an eye on the crossovers due to their open mounting
• Audiophiles who resent their own tendency to endlessly futz with the variables in their audio system will find these speakers a challenge due to the ability to tweak the sound
• Massed strings can sound incisive and strident when they move into the higher register
• Not the world's greatest speakers for low-level listening—they like volume and amplifier power to strut their stuff
• They dig more than deep enough for all but reggae, full-bore symphony recordings, and pipe-organ music

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Quintet 10s rendered transients fast enough to rival MartinLogan electrostats

Takeaway: The PureAudioProject Quintet 10 open-baffle speakers are sonic shape-shifters of the highest order. It is a great speaker that produces realistic instrument timbres and sounds good with many types of music.

Product Strengths

• Extended, airy highs with a big soundstage result from the true ribbon tweeter
• Sounds more natural and exquisite than smaller Maggies, combining all the best attributes of the 1.7, .7 and LRS models
• Offers low bass, unlike the smaller Maggies which only hint at it
• Provides an immersive soundstage with highly detailed sound and improves spatial separation
• One of the greatest performers in its price class because it does so many things right and so few things wrong

Product Considerations

• Amplifier sensitive, requiring very good amplification to work properly
• Watch very high levels, because the tweeter is fragile
• Aesthetic considerations due to its tall and wide size may not be acceptable in all homes
• Bass may not satisfy bass heads who want chest-pounding bass, and a subwoofer may be desired
• High-quality SACDs are where the improvements from the 3.7i upgrade really shine, and it needs plenty of resolution from quality source material, revealing any weak links in the system

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to the Magnepan 3.7, the 3.7i keeps all the strengths of the 3.7 while improving spatial separation and widening the soundstage
• Compared to the Martin Logan CLX, the 3.7i has equivalent or better bass, even with a subwoofer
• Compared to smaller Maggies (.7, 1.7, LRS), the 3.7i sounds more natural, exquisite, and supersizes everything that the smaller ones are

Takeaway: The Magnepan 3.7i is a high-performing speaker at a great value that provides realistic soundstage scale and excellent resolution for an immersive listening experience. With the right amplification, this speaker can bring a sense of live music into your home.

Product Strengths

• Wide and deep soundstage, providing a feeling of being there
• Offers the ability to tailor the sound through the interchangeability of crossover components
• Combines the open presentation of planars with the dynamics of traditional horns
• Reveals subtle musical cues and nuances that are often buried in the mix
• Open baffle design integrates well with the room acoustics, requiring less specific room treatment

Product Considerations

• Can be visually dominant due to their size
• Placement can be tricky because open baffle speakers interact with the room
• Dynamics, while excellent—are not quite at the level of traditional box speakers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Reminds one reviewer of aspects of Magnepan Tympanis, Klipsch LaScalas, and great mini monitors
• Horn1 is more compelling than most panel speakers that they have reviewed
• Vs previous Trio15 versions with full range drivers: The Horn1 represents a sea change in performance—with great dynamics
• Vs Magnepan .7: Trio15 vastly superior
• Vs Legacy Focus SE: PAP Horn 1 is most like the Focus SE in terms of its ability to present the scale of the music—the chief difference between them all is the presence of a cabinet versus the PAP being open baffle
• Compared to the Voxativ AC-1.6 driver in the Trio15, the Horn1 hardens and solidifies the center image, making it excellent for chamber music, solo instruments, and voice

Takeaway: The Trio15 offers a unique and engaging listening experience by combining open baffle design with customizable components, producing detailed and dynamic sound. It's a speaker system that allows listeners to experiment and find the perfect sound to match preferences and equipment.

Product Strengths

• Energizes the room in a completely different way than smaller speakers due to the power of four 15-inch drivers
• Open baffle design provides a more open and spacious sound with more depth in the soundstage
• Handles vocals exceptionally well, delivering fullness and naturalness
• Very easy to drive, with high sensitivity
• Offers the ability to fine-tune with different components, optimizing for individual preferences and room acoustics

Product Considerations

• Might not be ideal for late-night, very quiet listening
• High frequencies are relaxed and restrained
• Assembled speakers are difficult to freight without disassembling or custom boxes

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Klipsch Cornwall's visceral intensity was even higher than the Trio15
• The Cornwall's bass was markedly slower
• The Trio15 is spatially way ahead of the Cornwall
• Klipsch delivers more sparkle and snap in high frequencies

Takeaway: The Trio15 Classic delivers an immersive and engaging musical experience with a big, spacious sound, especially in the midrange and vocals. It is a speaker that lets one connect with their music on an emotional level.

Product Strengths

• Natural, open sound reproduction, free from colorations and compression effects found in traditional box designs
• Very detailed and immersive soundstage with great depth
• Superb dynamics and impulse accuracy, resulting in a fresh and lively sound
• Deep, powerful, and well-defined bass that maintains clarity and control without being muddy
• Appealing, open design and is manufactured in Germany

Product Considerations

• Careful placement is required to achieve optimal bass response, as it is an open baffle design

Takeaway: The Spatial Europe MC Series No.3 offers a very immersive sound with a deep and controlled bass thanks to its open design. It combines high-quality audio performance with a visually appealing design.

Product Strengths

• Very obvious increase in bass compared to the .7 or the LRS
• Incredible soundstage
• Unparalleled holographic soundstage
• The placement and spacing of performers in the venue were truly remarkable
• Clear, detailed, and enjoyably realistic

Product Considerations

• The amplifier is critical—driving them correctly is essential for true fidelity
• Some sonic damping material on the walls behind the speakers can reduce the ratio of reflected-to-direct sound
• More room is needed than the LRS or the 0.7
• Significant break-in time is required before certain sonic constraints gradually melt away, leaving a far better transducer

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to the Dahlquist DQ-10—the bottom end of the Maggies was the best, quick, clean, and had exemplary pitch definition
• Compared to the Harbeth M40.1—Harbeths can definitely make poorer and brighter recordings easier on the ear, whereas, Maggies have a lot less mercy

Takeaway: The Magnepan 1.7i is a highly detailed speaker that realistically reproduces the soundstage and spacing of instruments, especially for live music. It is an exceptional choice for those who appreciate the beauty of live music.

Product Strengths

• Sounds very similar to the Magnepan 3.7 floorstander in detail, resolution, purity, freedom from grain, soundstage width and depth, and coherence
• Realistic and convincing spatial properties, producing huge, spacious, and precisely defined soundstages
• Lifelike reproduction of musical textures, timbres, and low-level details, conveying a terrific sense of focus
• Expressive dynamics with terrific speed, energy, and nuance, making the presentation sound believable and alive
• Smooth and evenly balanced sound from mid-bass frequencies up, with terrific levels of transparency, openness, and transient speed

Product Considerations

• Requires careful setup due to significant interaction with the room acoustics
• Needs an amp that can drive 4-ohm loads in a muscular way
• Less deeply extended bass and a less expansive dynamic envelope compared to larger Magnepan speakers
• Limited image scale, especially image height, in whole-room applications
• May require a second DWM mid/bass module for adequate bass performance and optimal tonal balance in whole-room applications

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to Magnepan 3.7, the Mini Maggie package offers less deeply extended bass, a less expansive dynamic envelope, and shows somewhat less ability to convey image height, but is otherwise very similar
• Compared to Magnepan 1.7, the Mini Maggie rig is capable of higher levels of resolution and freedom from grain

Takeaway: The Mini Maggie system is a high-end desktop speaker system that delivers a big, life-like sound with exceptional detail, resolution, and spatial coherence, and works best in desktop configuration, but can also be used as a sat/woofer system. With proper setup, these speakers bring a new dimension to recorded music, making it sound very realistic.

Product Strengths

• Transparent, immediate, open, and relaxed sound, which is a signature of Magnepan speakers
• Capable of a more natural and full-range sound, and present the music with ease
• Produce a spacious and natural soundstage, with good imaging even off-axis, giving the impression of being in a concert hall
• Smooth and refined treble without harshness, and mids with laser-beam focus and razor-sharp details
• Small size and weight (12kg–27lbs) for easy placement and integration into a room, and are more mobile and flexible than larger models

Product Considerations

• Require serious power (high current) from the amplifier to perform well, as underpowering can result in flabby bass, a congealed sound, and a shrunken soundstage
• Need room to breathe (placement at least 3 feet from the front wall) to avoid bass issues
• Bass is not earth-shattering, and the speaker may need a subwoofer to get the full experience of top-to-bottom extension
• Accurate sound may reveal tonal imbalances in source material or amplification
• Some reviewers did not like the optional plexiglass stands

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The .7 gives a little bit more than the Magnepan LRS
• The .7 is designed for smaller rooms than the Magnepan MG1.7

Takeaway: The Magnepan .7 speakers offer a smooth, accurate, and spacious sound experience, especially with acoustic music, and can give the feeling of being at a live performance. These speakers are a good value.

Product Strengths

• Balanced, detailed, and musically lithe performance, creating a sense of real space and making the room come alive
• Remarkably open, liquid, and detailed sound with low levels of coloration, free from boxy colorations
• Unobtrusive design, with a hinged bracket system for wall-mounting, allowing it to be positioned flush against the wall when not in use
• The speakers work symbiotically with the wall for spectral balance when used as a surround speaker
• Remarkably forgiving of electronics, elevating moderately priced electronics to new levels of transparency and musicality

Product Considerations

• Limited bass response and a subwoofer is required, even when used as a stereo pair
• Requires close proximity to a wall for bass reinforcement
• Inefficiency means some gain is needed, and the volume control will likely need to be advanced further than usual
• A powerful amplifier is required

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to larger Magneplanar Speakers—The MGMC1s are not quite the equal of the larger speakers in the Magneplanar line, but offer similar transparency, low coloration, and smoothness to monitors at multiples of their price

Takeaway: The Magnepan MGMC1 is an affordable and unobtrusive speaker system that provides a balanced, detailed, and spacious sound experience. It's a great option for elevating the enjoyment of multichannel audio and video content.

Product Strengths

• Creates a very open and transparent soundstage, which crosses the threshold of believability in a small to medium-sized room
• Low distortion, especially in the midrange and upper bass, making listeners realize how imperfectly transparent many speakers are
• Highly resolving, with impressive performance on acoustical instruments and vocal reproduction
• Offers a unique and remarkable experience due to the story and love behind the speaker's creation
• Presents a challenge, helping users understand speaker positions as the sound changes completely with movement
• Considered 'eminently affordable' and provides incredible sound for the price

Product Considerations

• Requires significant time to install, tweak, and dial in due to its dipole design, making positioning critical
• Bass is not powerful—it doesn't do pounding bass, and listeners won't feel the bass pounding on their chest, so a subwoofer might be needed, especially for rock, pop, dance, and electronic music
• Needs good power and high current to sound clean and not cause fatigue, it is not a powerful-sounding speaker
• The stand included is considered subpar and not very versatile

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs the original LRS, the LRS+ has ameliorated treble, has smoother upper mids, and has a reduced nosedive in the power range and midbass

Takeaway: The Magnepan LRS+ is a special speaker with an open soundstage, great details, and makes music sound real and enjoyable. Though not perfect, it is well worth buying because it offers an excellent way to experience a panel speaker without spending too much.

Product Strengths

• Incredible bass
• Excellent imaging and soundstage

Product Considerations

• It may not suit everyone's taste due to its unique sound signature

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Beats the Blackjack at soundstage
• Not an inferior DAC to Gordon

Takeaway: It has incredible bass and excellent imaging, but it might not be for everyone.

Product Strengths

• Exquisitely detailed sound with texture and resolution
• Exceptional imaging, creating a precise phantom center for dialogue
• Excellent bass for a dipole planar speaker
• Modern aesthetics with a stylish, flat, minimalist design
• Clean, pure sound with no cabinet or horn coloration

Product Considerations

• Pricey
• Power hungry, requiring a robust amplifier
• Dipole design is not suitable for placement against walls
• Limited optimal listening area due to dipole dispersion pattern
• Could use a subwoofer for some applications to extend bass response

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Reviewer suggests that the Magnepan LRS, with the addition of a sub, could be a cheaper alternative

Takeaway: The Diptyque DP 115 speakers offer an amazing listening experience with clarity and responsiveness, and are visually appealing. They would be a great addition to any high-end audio setup to enjoy music, movies, and games.

Product Strengths

• Excellent soundstage with tremendous width and depth, and excellent image specificity within that soundstage
• Balanced and unbiased sound across various genres, accurately differentiating between subtle tonal variations and providing precise positional and imaging information
• Rich, tuneful bass extends well, contributing to its ability to express power and provide a foundation for the music
• Balanced radiation pattern throughout the audible spectrum means the tonal balance and soundstage are similar regardless of the listener's position in the room
• Seamlessly blends with the room without drawing attention to itself, achieving an even off-axis polar response

Product Considerations

• Accurate reproduction means the LX521.4 will accurately reproduce how the recording was done, so poorly recorded music will not sound good
• Requires specific placement, with the manual recommending initially setting up the system in an 'ideal position' and requiring speakers to be at least 3-4 feet out from the front wall and 2-3 feet from the side walls
• Some listeners may find the detail retrieval not state of the art, with the sensation of not being one foot from the orchestra
• Class D amplification may be a turn-off for some, however—the Linkwitz amplifiers perform their intended function without drawing attention to themselves or interfering with the music

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to Kharma speakers with LCH subwoofers, the Linkwitz bass was not quite as resolved, though stronger
• Raises the bar on open baffle dipole design compared to PureAudioProject speakers
• The soundstage of the Diptyque DP140 MkII is comparable to the LX521.4

Takeaway: The LX521.4 is a unique speaker system that offers a different listening experience with exceptional soundstage and balanced sound. It is a good choice for those who want to enjoy music without complicated equipment tweaking.

Product Strengths

• A true ribbon tweeter delivers clean, accurate, and detailed high frequencies
• See-through quality with a big three-dimensional soundstage and exceptional presentation of image depth, disappearing sonically
• Strikingly spacious sound and a strong sense of envelopment by the music
• Revealing in the good sense—audiophiles will clearly hear differences in gear and recordings
• Controlled dispersion means fewer sidewall and ceiling reflections to mess up the sound

Product Considerations

• Big and needs lots of space behind it
• May not be the most sonically neutral speaker on the market, with a mild coloration in some rooms
• Like most panel speakers, has a rather narrow sweet spot
• For true full-range sound, needs a subwoofer or two
• Magnepan recommends that a powerful and/or high current amplifier(s) is best

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL X, the Martin Logan ESL X offers curved electrostatic main driver and two eight-inch cones to handle the bass

Takeaway: The MG2.7i offers a spacious and detailed sound that audiophiles will appreciate, especially with the addition of a subwoofer. It's a great option for those seeking a high-resolution speaker for focused listening and who appreciate a 'they are here' experience.

Product Strengths

• Expansive and natural sound due to its open baffle (dipole) design
• Excellent resolution exposes the uniqueness of every recording
• Midrange is a highlight, resolving detail while remaining smooth and musical
• High transparency and excellent integration of the two drivers
• Fast woofer packs quite a visceral punch

Product Considerations

• Requires significant break-in time (approximately 200 hours)
• Requires breathing space and careful positioning for optimal tonal balance
• Needs to be at least 3 feet away from the front wall, slightly delaying the back wave bouncing off the front wall
• Loses a bit of dynamic contrast at very low listening levels

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Vandersteen VR-35s—Duet 15 Prelude has more enveloping bass than the tightly controlled bass impact

Takeaway: The PureAudioProject Duet 15 Prelude is a first-rate loudspeaker that offers an expansive sound with excellent detail and is terrific fun when played loud. It will fill the heart with joy while deepening one's understanding of the importance of music.