Day at the Audio Store

[wpines]

MC352 (Chuck) and I took the afternoon off from work and met at a nearby retailer, Take 5 Audio in New Haven CT. for an afternoon of audio hookey. Listened to McIntosh, Audio Research and Ayre electronics and PSB, Wilson, Revel, and Magnepan speakers.

Saw and heard the new McIntosh 302 and 601's, Wilson Duette Sasha and Sophia, Ayre KX-R and MX-R and C-5xe, Revel Ultima Salon2, PSB Synchrony one and Imagine T and Magnepan 1.7.

Left us alone with the remotes and we were two happy class cutters.
Support your local dealer!

[jdandy]

Brad.......Sounds like you and Chuck had a righteous good time. Any impressions of gear or speakers you'd like to share?

[Still-One]

Those are fun days. What did you like?

Jim

[Ritmo]

Brad - I wish I had a store nearby to do the same...so, what did guys you like?

Thanks,
Mike

[KMC45]

Nice to read that you are out and about.

[MC352]

It was a fun afternoon. It felt good to get into a real audio store. That store has been there since the 1970's. There used to be 2 or 3 other stores just likes his in that city, he is the sole survivor.

The PSB Imagine T speakers were really amazing for the price and size, connected to the MCD301 and MCintosh Integrated Amp ( forget the model). The larger Synchrony model's bass sounded muddy, but we couldn't move them out of the corner they were squeezed into to see if that would make a difference, so that may require another visit. We listened to the Magenpans on the same setup.

The nice surprise were the Magnepans. They really fill a room with sound. I've never heard them before. If my room was set up differently I'd try them, but since they have to come out away from the wall further than the speakers I have now, it just won't work.


The 601 meters are amazing, the 302 looks like the twin to my MC352.

The Wilson's connected to the Mc gear, and the AR gear, really didn't do it for me, as I thought they would. Maybe the requires more listening time.

Thinking about it now, I came away most impressed with the least expensive models of speakers we listened to.

The best thing about it was, like Brad mentioned, " hear are the remotes, come get me if you need help". I love that. Leave me alone, don't try to push the item with the biggest commission. Answer my questions when they come up. PERFECT!

All in all a good way to spend an afternoon.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by MC352

The best thing about it was, like Brad mentioned, " hear are the remotes, come get me if you need help". I love that. Leave me alone, don't try to push the item with the biggest commission. Answer my questions when they come up. PERFECT!

Chuck...that is a sign of a good dealer. That is exactly how my dealer in the Boston area is. If you guys ever decide to drive up a few hrs from CT, they are a must visit/audition. Great listening rooms. You call in advance and ask to set up a time to audition whichever gear you want and they will be set up optimally for you when you arrive. If you want to hear more than one set up, they will come in midway and change out the equipment to the new set up (again placing the speakers where they will sound best). 2-3 hours of uniterrupted solitary listening. Only way to do it.

[wpines]

We heard the Magnepan 1.7's driven by the McIntosh MA6600 integrated weighing in with 200 watts. We lit up the powerguard lights quite a few times but those Maggies have a soundstage and a midrange to die for. They need make no apologies for their low end performance either. The surprise of the day was the PSB Imagine T's driven by an Audio Research DSi200 integrated. Well matched little system, wonderfully coherent speaker, played well beyond it's size and price range, Beautiful fit and finish. At $2,000 they stole the show.

The Wilsons were a surprising disappointment. Sasha's drivne by Audio Research tubes and Sophia's driven by the 601's. It could've been a placement issue but there was blue painters tape indicating quite a bit of placement consideration was given.

The front room of the store was Paradigm and PSB, Peachtree, NAD and Music Hall.

The salesman said that their has been an upswing in high end 2 channel purchases trend. IMO, this recession, along with manufacturers expanding their "value lines" and computer audio will converge to save 2 channel audio.
I think HT has come.... and gone.
A hi-end audio repair shop here in CT is getting calls from hi-end Home Theater homeowners wanting him to "just make their home theater so they can turn on a switch and watch tv or listen to music". They bought into the whole HT experience without knowing what they were buying and are buying out of it.

[jdandy]

Brad.......Sounds like the Maggie 1.7 stole the show. Too bad they are such plain Jane looking monoliths.

[wpines]

The Magnepan 1.7's did in fact steal the show..... So much so that I bought a pair. They are not hard to look at in dark cherry and black fabric and the 1.7's are still small enough that they don't dominate the room.

It was interesting that 3 of 5 rooms were 2 channel. Three short years ago,one room was 2 channel and 4 of 5 rooms were HT.