New XRT 2.1K

[Charles]

Ivan, I apologize for the confusing sentence "I believe it means that technology has caught up with the 2K, allowing Mac to introduce a statement loudspeaker they believe to be better than the 2K that is a ported design." It should be, ............to introduce a statement loudspeaker that is a ported design to be better than the 2K."

Ivan, have you heard the 2K's in similar settings with similar gear compared to the 2.1K's? I would suspect that with your incredible tri-amped configuration almost nothing would match your 2K's.

This remains a thorny problem when choosing super expensive systems: the inability to make genuinely fair comparisons. My own feeling about the 2.1K is that it being ported will be easier to drive and comparable to the 2K.

Remember, Mac has an anechoic chamber, one of the few audio manufacturers that does. Mac has the incredible ability to A/B its loudspeakers using Urei's amps in a tri-amped configuration, i.e., the ultimate both in an AC and in their listening room, fine tuning the 2.1K against the 2K. Some folks are distrustful of Mac. I'm not. I believe they genuinely believe the 2.1K a superior speaker.

I have often wondered how other speaker manufacturers use their measuring gear to design their speakers. I believe that either speaker is incredible. But I do believe that technology has caught up to sealed systems. It is truly difficult to create a full range sealed system, much less so with a ported design and now ported designs sound really good in the bass.

I hope Urei might reply about the differences he heard in the two speakers.

Best

Charles

[Masterlu]

Charles… I have heard the XRT2.1Ks right along side of my XRT2K’s; for me the winner was clear.

FYI, there are other reasons the XRT2K was discontinued. One of which was the inability to produce the cabinets anymore; I’ll just leave it at that.

[urei]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Charles… I have heard the XRT2.1Ks right along side of my XRT2K’s; for me the winner was clear.

FYI, there are other reasons the XRT2K was discontinued. One of which was the inability to produce the cabinets anymore; I’ll just leave it at that.

I am with Ivan on this one. I have also heard both at the dealer I purchased them from and purchased the 2K.

He is also on point about the cabinets - they are made from extruded aluminum NOT mdf like the new speakers.

They are not outdated - all drivers made by Aura with underhung NEO motors with the use of Aluminum and Titanium. Aura was ahead of their time in mid 2005 and most of the industry has caught up to them.

[urei]

Originally Posted by Charles

Ivan, I apologize for the confusing sentence "I believe it means that technology has caught up with the 2K, allowing Mac to introduce a statement loudspeaker they believe to be better than the 2K that is a ported design." It should be, ............to introduce a statement loudspeaker that is a ported design to be better than the 2K."

Ivan, have you heard the 2K's in similar settings with similar gear compared to the 2.1K's? I would suspect that with your incredible tri-amped configuration almost nothing would match your 2K's.

This remains a thorny problem when choosing super expensive systems: the inability to make genuinely fair comparisons. My own feeling about the 2.1K is that it being ported will be easier to drive and comparable to the 2K.

Remember, Mac has an anechoic chamber, one of the few audio manufacturers that does. Mac has the incredible ability to A/B its loudspeakers using Urei's amps in a tri-amped configuration, i.e., the ultimate both in an AC and in their listening room, fine tuning the 2.1K against the 2K. Some folks are distrustful of Mac. I'm not. I believe they genuinely believe the 2.1K a superior speaker.

I have often wondered how other speaker manufacturers use their measuring gear to design their speakers. I believe that either speaker is incredible. But I do believe that technology has caught up to sealed systems. It is truly difficult to create a full range sealed system, much less so with a ported design and now ported designs sound really good in the bass.

I hope Urei might reply about the differences he heard in the two speakers.

Best

Charles

Charles you made a lot of good points. However, I will tell you that for me - there is no comparison in the low end response. I just go by my ears and low end response is very important to me. The 12" Aura's used in the sealed enclosures are very special to the design. This speaker to me, is one of the only full range designs that I would say needs nothing else. The tight accurate slam they provide is something I have only heard on my friends Genesis 1.2 which also utilizes 6 12" woofers. They NEED to be powered with the 2kw for the woofers at min and nothing less......

I will not get too much into comparing but, for example: We used Led Zeppelin I and II original Ludwig hot pressings. Bonham's drum kit sounded like it was in the room and Plant came alive with dynamics......

Tri-amping either with the 2kw would be interesting to hear. The old faithfull C1000 has the outputs for it. My money would be on the 2.1k crying uncle before the 2K.