I just love your grounded, no drama, reviewing style. It’s refreshing to see a successful UA-cam channel that doesn’t try to scream louder than everybody else 👍 As far as my forever gear is concerned, my Rogers LS 3/5a from 1989 - bought them when I was 16 and although they have been bested objectively by dozens of speakers I have heard since, I keep going back. For the last decade, the Ocellia Caliope 21 signature are the foundation of my system and despite all their quirks, they create magic and I don’t see myself parting with them ever as long as I have the space for them. And in the last year, I may very well have found my forever amp… the Enleum Amp 23R… it’s 99% of the character of the best SET with 95% of the best solid state - you just need to be able to make 25 watts work, and both the Rogers and Ocelias love that amp. Time will tell but I haven’t stopped smiling since it arrived.
congrats about the Enleum. I think Tarun's style makes all of us followers nicer too somehow. He brings out our love and respect for the British audio industry and products.👍👍👍 Thank you Tarun🙏🙏🙏 I have my Rogers (15 Ohms) from about the same time too.😍😍😍
Tarun you are simply the best fluent audiophile critic. The one who can describe the indescribable things in sound world in scientific and poetic deep way. Kind regards and best wishes.
These are great speakers. I own a pair now and I can honestly say they blow me away. Sound stage is huge!! I’m hearing details in recordings I had no idea were even there. The bass, well, definitely no requirement for a subwoofer.
Will never get rid of my Heybrook HB1 speakers. Like most British speakers they do voices so natural you will think artists are in the room. Love from Sweden.
Hey Tarun, great review as always. Twenty years ago I committed the cardinal sin of letting my Linn LP12 go, along with all my records, in favour of a CD player. Just under two years ago, I replaced it with the same model. Having lovingly lavished many upgrades on it since, I won’t be making the same mistake again. It’s here to stay!
One day I arrived at my favorite Hi-fi haunt and had to stop and sit down to listen. The sound that was filling the room was to my ear so engaging. It was a pair of Alyssa hooked up to a modest Rogue Conus Magnum III integrated. After 40 minutes, I had to have more. So, I went and auditioned the Adam paired with the Trilogy 925. That was a really fun afternoon, for a little mini tower they could do so much, I thought I was listening to a 3 way. if you get the chance, I would strongly encourage you to try them out. They Adam takes about the same amount of space as the Alyssa with stands, most likely wider at the bottom. However, the greater sense of scale they can project is very impressive.
When I heard Alta Audio speakers at Toronto Audiofest 2022 and 2023, I was just blown away by how natural and room-filling they are. There's no doubt their stand-mounts are just as great.
Thank you. Those early videos are shot on my iPad with no mic or lighting. Watching those requires a strong constitution 🤣 I appreciate your support 😊👍
What a wonderful review. Thank you Tarun. To answer your question, I don't think that I will ever give up my Magnepan LRSs or KEF LS50s. I may upgrade them to the latest versions at some point but I have a soft spot for them in my audiophile journey and they shall remain. Thanks again. Cheers!
From the same period as the Response 1SC's I personally love the less pricey, lower-range Studio 100's. They had that quality of being speakers that never got irritating and always pleasing to listen to while still having a tonne of dynamic output. You could really beat them up and they just kept on going without strain. You really got the sense that they made the source and amp shine wihtout smearing anything. But both models were great.
I’ve had my cherry 100s for almost 30 years - still love them. During COVID I had the crossovers rebuilt. I don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon.
Transmission Line speakers seem to be emerging as a theme of this channel. Understandably so,as a TL speaker once heard is not forgotten . TL and their strengths seem also to be appreciated in other quarters . My cherished piece of equipment ? An Hitachi FT-5000 II FM tuner bought in 1988/89 . With some modifications and a minor repair it still produces a clear, detailed,atmospheric sound from a good broadcast . Much loved .
So you ve got a speaker that bests your faithful Proacs! Another fine review. The way you present the technical details and merge it with the comparisons gives so much insight and thats how I ended up owning a Hegel h160, which I am very much thankful to your reviews. The hifi gear thats most loved is my Sonus Faber Sonettos. Its a beauty to look at and so is the mid range to my ears. Thanks again Tarun for your amazing work.
Great to see you finally found a speaker to best your 'Old Faithfuls'. The hifi I cannot bear to part with are my 20yr old Quad 11L bookshelves, in jaw droppingly beautiful Birdseye Maple piano lacquered veneer. I've replaced them with Monitor Audio silver 100 7g that sound considerably better but they still hold a place in my heart.
I have a similar relationship with my Quad 12L bookshelf speakers (when they were still made in the UK). Just love the quality and piano finish and sound, although there are many speakers that best them in terms of the clarity of midrange, even though I still love their tonality and top end.
Totally get what you say about the 11Ls. I went (in the wonderful pre-COVID days) to the audio store to change my amplifier but came back with 11Ls instead, as the improvement they brought made the benefit from upgrading the amp seem insignificant.
Dear Tarun, one of the reasons I liked your tests that you always compared the new equipments to your own. I.e., there was always a firm basis your opinion was resting on. This probably will change now but I will still expect your reviews. The other reason was that you never "fell on the other side of the horse": finally it is all about music and not about pure technical parameters. Best wishes and keep going! Gyula
Thank you. That is the primary reason I use them as a common point of reference. People can then extrapolate how various components compare to each other 😊👍
Hi Tarun. The product I hold most dear is the ProAc Response D2 (that you recommended). I am going to find it hard to describe why except to say the music sounds amazing. It’s good at low volumes as well as medium and high. The music is dynamic and exciting. The music has definition in starting and stopping of notes. It feels like there is rhythm and timing, all separated for you to hear. The music is big. I’m not a detail freak but they can deliver that too when I added my Chord Hugo. Thanks for recommending them. I’m glad you have found your new forever speaker x
It's good to see Alta speakers getting some love. I heard the Alec's at Axpona two years ago and I thought their sound was the best in show - including some exotic speakers an order of magnitude more expensive.
Hi Tarun, great review and really chuffed for you to have (finally 😂) found a pair able to knock the Proacs off their perch. Personally I’m a great transmission line fan, which your new babies have implemented in their design. I’ve run a pair of PMC Fact 12s for over a decade and can never see myself replacing them. There just is something about the bass clarity and overall transparency I couldn’t live without! Enjoy and all the best Peter
I got to hear the Alta Audio Adam speaker at the first Pacific Audio Fest in Seattle and felt it was the best in the show. I am interested in hearing the Alec or Alyssa but fo not have access to a dealer in my area. The clarity and overall presentation of the Adam really fit my taste. I love bass and this speaker delivers. Thanks again for another great review
Very well done. A very nice loudspeaker. High praise from you. 25 year reference loudspeakers. I get it. I have gear from 1990, Adcom, Nad, Polk Audio. I just won’t let them go.
Like you, I am sitting here with a pair of speakers in my main system that are now 26 years old. They are the Platinum Audio Solos that I purchased around 1998 at a cost of just under US$3,000 including their integrated stands. I've recently upgraded my entire system except for the speakers. I have not been able to convince myself that I can do much better in my listening space without spending significantly more money. The Solos have that rare ability to make the room disappear. The speakers were designed by Phil Jones (no relation to Andrew) and the company, based in New Hampshire, USA, only survived a few years. Their speakers were highly regarded at the time, but I suspect that after the success of the Solos, they tried to expand upmarket too quickly with too many new products and ran into financial difficulties.
Going to lesser known brands can give you a real jump in soundquality compared to more comercial brands.. I changed my reference Proac DB1's out with Egglestonworks Nico Evo's and i would put the Nico's up against speakers 2-3times the price any day of the week. Eggleston are used in many studios and multiple grammy winners this year where mixed on eggleston. And it's easy to hear why. So The Nico's are clearly reference worthy. Fun Fact is that the Nico's also use Morel drivers. And it's a big boy so it diggs deep. All i All an insane speaker. Neutral sounding, endless soundstage and depth, and insane capabilities :) So yes, Eggleston is my new love and will stay for now :) For me i have a pair of DIY Proac respons 2.5 clones that i built 25years ago.. to much higher specs than the original and the diy plans. They will live with me forever and are good fun to take out now and then and play on. They started my love of Proac and the proac sound. So i might chase another pair of Proac's.. i know they have something new coming soon :)
Great review as always, I'm glad you found a possible replacement for your trusty ProAc speakers. As for the product that will always have a place in my heart, it's my current speakers, the Rogers LS4A that I bought in '89 and I am still using to this day. I know they are nowhere near the quality of the stuff you usually review but at the time of purchase they were an excellent bargain and sounded better to me than anything in the same price range and even some more expensive ones. Eventually I will replace them with something better but I will never sell them
Hi Tarun, i couldn't help but note you said you would never sell your 1SC's maybe you could consider upgrading the capacitors for higher quality ones and also the resistors and wiring. I did it with mine and noticed significant improvements to the sound. It took a short while for the upgrades to burn in. But the improvement was worth the cost and time installing the upgrades.
Yes, Tarun, but those caps are aging. Ferrofluid has also probably dried out of the tweeters too. Sorry to hear Stuart is no more. I very much enjoyed my 25 years with my Tablettes. My love of pinpoint imaging started with them. Replaced with Kef LS50s. Bigger sound across the soundstage instead of trauncated at outer edges. Tonally neutral. Budget Reference. Would have loved to try the Acoustic AE1, but the Ls50s fit the stands well. I'm satisfied;-)
@@20CycleMonger I asked Stewart the exact same question shortly before he passed away. He said the electrolyte should be good for about 40 to 50 years in the application it is being used in 😊
I think it’s very smart and commendable that you have kept your Proacs and the Exposure gear for so long. It makes sense that what sounded great then should still sound great in 2024. This got me thinking of some older hifi gear that I used to own. When I was around 17, during the late 90s, I bought a system that for me at the time felt very expensive, especially for a teenager. I sometimes wonder how would it sound if I heard it now. The system was comprised of the B&W CDM 7, Yamaha Ax-592 amp and the Pioneer PD-S06 cd player. I loved it dearly. I especially loved the cd player. I remember buying it after a comprehensive blind testing and picking it almost every time. Eventually, around 20 years ago, I ended up selling the system. But lately, I have been wanting to get back to playing cd’s, and I started thinking about that old Pioneer cd player, its gold color and sturdy tray. So I checked eBay, found the same player, in mint condition. I bought it right away, and probably paid too much, especially for a 27 years old player. My wife probably thought I was crazy but didn’t say anything. I’m having a lot of fun using it! It’s funny, how the familiar sound of the tray opening immediately took me back. Sure, the dac sounds pretty rough, but after hooking it to an external dac, it sounds great! Good times…
Nice review TARUN, as usual. A few years ago I purchased a pair of the Alta Audio ‘Solo’s’ , now discontinued. They were a single driver design in the XTL cabinet, their cheapest speaker in the early days. For the $$ they were quite amazing, with outstanding tight, deep, fast bass. Their cabinet design really works. They were perhaps the only small speaker I’ve owned where they actually didn’t have enough high end energy for me…I’m usually very sensitive to excessive high frequency information. I sold them but remember how good they were. Mr Levy makes good speakers :)
Thank you for this excellent review of equipment I will only dream of owning, but by your expertise and hard work to share this with us all, I can at least appreciate it vicariously. Thank you as always, Sir. Stay well and have a wonderful weekend.
Like some other viewers, I give this channel an ”Outstanding”. Furthermore, it's nice that you have found a new favorite among bookshelf speakers! I just wonder what a refined music lover as yourself would think of the new Wharfedale Super Denton loudspeaker? Anyway, best regards and God bless you!
Another excellent review of a unique hybrid ported TL speaker system ~ As for your query of treasured gear ... my vintage ADS L300C 4Ω satellites w/ ADS 7" powered subwoofer garners my attention like you to your Proac's. After updating the crossover parts, they sound fresh and open, not slightly dark and closeted. Always look forward to your reviews ~ your pre-emptive technical explanations of the unfamiliar always seem to answer uninformed questions :)
Tarun, to answer your question I really like my proacs studio 148 , they are dynamic and have a huge soundstage and are very efficient. A perfect match to low watts tube amps. Thanks for another great review been watching you for years and cant get bored :)
Great speakers that manage to do everything well. Anything I've heard that sounded all around better (not just one aspect, or slightly different) has been out of my price range. I have mine paired with low watt Class A solid state.
Thank you multiple times for giving the price of this speaker up-front in your review. Shows you know a little about journalism. (Well, more than a little, probably.)
Good day Tarun, congrats to your channel, always a pleasure following up. You did ask what people think about the ProAc 1SC, and owning a pair for the last 15 years I can whole heartedly say that you are spot on when it comes to the qualities (or the lack of such) of this little titan. Yes they sound superb even at low levels, they do have a midrange to die for plus they do sound just right. But what more, they are emotionally more engaging than any other speaker I have listened to. They have the magic to open another window into the music and allow you to see through the clouds right into the heart of an artist. That is their real virtue. I have gone to extraordinary length to get the setup to my liking, solid stands, plenty of air around them, high quality Kimber speaker cable and Leema amp and spinner. These just work perfectly in harmony. A tear in your eye when listening means we are talking real business….. Looking back and having owned the greats of Quad ESL 57, KEF Reference 104AB, Mission 780/782, PMCs, Leak and Heybrooks among some others there is only one pairing, which came close or even surpassed the ProAc’s, especially when listening to a certain type of music (Blues and rock) at high volume, e.g. Jimi Hendrix’s Red House or Eric Burdon’s Tobacco Road. And that was the famous and inexpensive Heybrook HB1. Paired with Quad 34/306 pre/power and Missions highly regarded Dad/Dac 5 spinner, that was also a match from heaven, although not in the same league in extracting fine details as the ProAc is able to. Anyway, I hope you keep going and tell us more about all those beauties of speaker nirvana now and in the future, kind regards Mikk, Perth
I def agree with the guy that said this channel is outstanding! That review was terrific. I recently purchased Mofi Sourcepoint 8 speakers which pressed up against my financial limits. I think they’re fantastic. But, to answer your question, I have a pair of ADS L710 from the late 70s that are still in service. I still listen to them several times a week. Their midrange and balance are still to die for. I can’t bring myself to retire them.
Great review thanks Tarun! I inherited my Dad’s Technics SL1200 (1976) and I love it because I think it looks so much better than the Mk2 + versions. I have added some upgrades such as the Origin Live Zephyr tonearm, Funk Firm APM Acromat, and new wiring, which has enhanced the looks and sound. I love TL speakers so will consider this speaker when I next upgrade. Thanks again
Tarun, you had me going there. I began to convince myself that THIS was the day you'd finally sell me your ProACs. Oh well. I understand. I can't part with my Spica TC 50s either. They haven't been my main stereo pair for over 25 years, but I'm never letting them go. (They serve as front and rear center speakers in my HT setup.)
32Hz, wow! That's impressive. There's plenty of floor standers that can't do that. I'd use a sub anyway, allow the stand mount to do the mid base and above, as I do with the ATC 19s, but sounds like a great design.
I have the PROAC Tablette Reference 8 Signatures which I recall were the one just below the 1SC. I think they are absolutely wonderful driven by my Naim SN3 and nDAC. However I hope one day to be able to move up to speakers at this kind of price point as my final speaker purchase. If that doesn't happen, the baby proac's are still great.
Thanks for another review of a brand I am unfamiliar with. To answer your question, I’m keeping my Arendal 1723 tower speakers. I auditioned 6 other pairs of towers and stand-mounted speakers before selecting the Arendals. Besides at 111 lbs. a piece I’d need help getting them out of my listening room. To riff off of your Star Wars reference they each look like the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Peace, love and music.
Hello Tarun, an interesting and confirming review for me. Thank You. I have been listening to you for a few years now and do very much like your reviews and comments. As for the Alyssa's ... I purchased a pair over a year ago and have enjoyed them greatly. They were selected as a good paring with my Odyssey Khartago SE+ power amp. Though I was using a low end Emotiva preamp the sound was very good, but when I replaced the Emotiva with a Quicksilver Line Stage preamplifier the Alyssa's became glorius. Mids and Vocals are outstanding while bass is strong but not booming. Though my electronics are not "hi-end expensive" components I believe they are hi-end components in quality and sound, and as you say, when you pair the Alyssa's with quality electronics the sound is outstanding! Thanks again for the review and please continue to review products that are entry point products for hi-end/high price audiohile manufacturers.
You could not resist The Alta Force Young Skywalker! I am excited for you, Tarun! I am still thrilled with my DynAudio Contour 20s….but I don't get out much. Tomorrow, I am breaking that trend with a trip into SOHO, NYC to Devon Turnbull's OJAS Listening Room, featured on Steve Guttenberg's The Audiophiliac UA-cam Channel! Can't wait! 😀
Very nice review, as always. Though out of my price range, it's good to know that there are still glorious sounding speakers available. My old favorites would be my first system consisting of a Sansui 2000 receiver, Wharfedale bookshelf speakers in teak, and an Elac turntable. All units with solid wood casing. I'm dating myself now.
Great review!! Thanks!! Would you ever consider reviewing the arendal 1723 tower s? I bought them, am extremely happy and very anxious to hear your thoughts!
👎🤣 but more serious, they offer exceptionel value and in my Book very high quality. I was expecting a step up from my monitor audio silver 300 7g, but it was actually a LOT bigger than I thought it would be. I run them on an Atoll IN200 (very familiar to you I know) and it just a dream come true, for me anyway 🤣
Thanks Tarun ' I finally got some days off work to finish the massive crossovers that Danny from GR research built for Polk Lsim 703 . CROSSOVERS are almost 15 pounds each ' Danny measured me 703s and results had Danny in disbelief ! I told him that their overly built And very well balanced with very low spectral decay ' reason for allowing speakers to disappear in the room ' and bass is very good as well ' they don't go as low as my Dynaudio towers but polks aren't far off either ' man I have a job ahead of me each speaker has 3 speaker inputs dedicated to each driver ! Very excited wasn't cheap though ! I told Danny no limit on funds so he went all out crossover so big I have to mount on the stock of the speaker stand lol Danny claimed their better speakers than the $15k Wilson audio standmounts he been working on and they compete right along side his own x series speakers I knew he would be impressed those 703 flew under the radar !! Thanks Tarun
@abritishaudiophile7314 yeah I most likely shouldn't post such a long comment ' Those speakers getting down that low is impressive just reminded me how low my polks go down , Polks are so underated if you get time check out Danny's videos on 703
@@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120 post as long as you like buddy. Apologies if my replies are short sometimes. I still try to respond to every comment that is posted ( apart from the ones that don’t warrant a response). Not sure how long I can keep that up but means I tend to be succinct 👍
Another fantastic review of what appears to be an outstanding product. I really appreciate the way you deliver, informative, yet not too dry. Finally a reason to retire your long standing references eh? Special equipment to me? I have a Roksan xerxes record player from the 80's, in rosewood and with roksans own stand which was my first serious hi fi investment. I dont play vynal anymore, but Ill never get rid of it. My much more recent Wharfdale Elysian3 floorstanders in walnut are my new treasures and represent an investment I'm not likely to make again. They are my end game units which should well outlast this old audiophile, and Ive not heard a better speaker for my tastes. Thanks again for your continued excellent videos, always a pleasure to watch.
Tarun, your question is rather cruel - what I held dear is gone after watching your channel and upgrading. But what I now have, thanks to you, I love. So ask again after a few years.
Maybe one day I will win the lottery, but in the meanwhile, it is always fun to dream. I don't have any particular piece of equipement dear to my heart because they are only devices to an end : the enjoyement of music. So, you could say I'm always open to new avenues of discovery. Maybe you have reached a point where you are ready for a new level of excitement in your life, you certainly deserve it. Outstanding review ! Thanks !
Back in the day I can remember auditioning you're ProAc's sc1 at Stereo Exchange in NYC. The proac really introduce me to the mid-range. Absolutely adored those speakers couldn't afford them unfortunately. I think the additional cost of stands, just wasn't feasible at that time or justifiable. Another great sounding speaker which I auditioned were the entry level Thiel 1.6 not purchasing those, was a huge mistake, they look skinny with that triangular shape and a huge slit going down the middle really weird looking. After that I just got bogged down confused too many good looking speakers. I do remember auditioning a McCormack amplifiers sweet!
Per your request for favorite ProAc models: I have been a ProAc owner / listener since 1992 and have owned a long list of models (Response 2, 1sc, Future.5, Tab Ref 8, Super Tablette, D25, Tab Anniversary, original D30R) paired with an equally long list of electronics ... For perspective: I listen to a lot (30+ shows / year) of live un / minimally amplified music (acoustic, singer song-writer, jazz, classical chamber, etc ...) and sit in the front row(s) For my self / ear, no other speaker brand helps me to connect to the music / provides the cues and clues to what I hear when listening to live music better, than a pair of ProAcs ~ and I have listened to many, many other brands in the last 30+ years ... And to answer your question, for as long as they are functioning / repairable, the original D30R (with the carbon fibre woofer) will remain my favorite ProAc and the pair of speakers I plan to have in my system ... They provide enough scale while retaining speed and the magic which is "the ProAc midrange" ... They are the culmination of all of what I love about ProAc speakers (in my price range ... though I would love to have a pair of K6 Signature if price was no object) I hope you are happy with the Alta Audio Alyssa, but frankly I am surprised that as big a fan you are of ProAc, you have not at least listened to the ProAc K1 in the price range before plunking down hard earned cash ... Keep up the good work with your channel Happy listening
I think if you can Tarun you should try and get a pair of Borresen X1 Standmounts in for review. They are the entry level speaker of the brand at about $5500usd and many people are saying they may be setting new standards at that sort of price. I'd love to hear your opinion on them. Another great review by the way mate.
I heard Borresen stand mount and tower speakers at an audio show. Their top level standmount was unbelievably good. I could not understand how they got exceptional performance from a small speaker.
I recently heard the Borreson X1's , X2's & X3's at AXPONA. Although I felt that although they were very fast, open and detailed, I felt they lacked soul or musicality. Although I completely understand how many people would love that sound, I felt they were too clinical and I (personally) grew tired of the sound very quickly. I also spent considerable time in the Alta Audio rooms at AXPONA as well - even revisiting all 3 days. The Alta Audio Alyssa impressed me so much I placed an order with the local dealer. Although not as hyper detailed as the Borreson, they were still very detailed and clean sounding, and played lower than the X1's. But more important, they were extremely musical and felt they had soul to them. It was like listening to music vs listening to (or for) every detail.
@@mhegerman1977 Thats a good perspective, appreciate that! I have kind of got that impression from listening to demos online too. The X series are obviously technically extremely capable at the price, but long term enjoyment might be another thing. Maybe different partnering equipment might sway the X1's into a better overall listening experience too. Lucky we have so many great choices.
I have a Kenwood KD 550 TT I bought the year of the introduction in the USA, almost new, it was a demonstrator. It's getting a new tone arm this year. I liked the KD 550 so much I bought the 500 a couple years ago from the used market. It came with a decent arm, but this looks like the year for arms. I've had a pair of KRIX Euphonix floor stand speakers for a very long time. I keep thinking they should get retired, but somehow they hang on. ABA is one of my favorite channels for reviews, thank you!
It is great you have found a new reference! My dilemma is loving it all, so I have to use an A/V and speakers sensitive enough to keep 100W/channel with 11 channels driven in a one unit amp. A tough bill to fill but the room is 450 sq ft.
As always, a really well constructed video. The product I never thought I would sell was my beloved Aura VA100 Evolution amplifier, with its beautifully warm sound and low-slung good looks. But then when we moved abroad four years ago and most of what we owned got sold, and the left channel had been dropping in and out despite my efforts to clean up the innards, it had to go. I still regret that to some extent. Our rather nomadic lifestyle as we move from one country to another every couple of years means I have invested more in my headphone rig now, and if there is one product I own that I imagine I will keep forever it is my Meze Empyrean houdphones - beautiful in every way.
The product I hold dear was the ESS AMT1b's I had back in the mid - late 1970's. With Pink Floyd's, Time, track(Dark Side of the Moon) the alarm clock, was an alarm clock, no matter where you were in the - house. All other music I played on them, sounded superb. Unlike a set of Apogee full range ribbons, I was listening to where the sound disappeared when only slightly out of the sweet spot. I put this down to the fact the ESS' produced a, di-polar sound pattern. A point lost with so many loudspeaker designers today. Some time after I lost the ESS'(along with other prized possessions) in a fiasco of a domestic situation, I went to the door of a new customer of my Toolmaking business. When he opened the door, I could hear music coming down the hallway, with such a familiar presence to it. I asked him if they were ESS speakers. He was amazed I picked them from such a distance.
I love my Linn Kan mk4's,I know they're the less fashionable version but they are wonderfully musical speakers.Love your channel Tarun keep up the great work!
Excellent stuff as always, Tarun. These must be good if they have finally displaced your ProAcs after all this time! You're right: there's definitely an air of the Vader helmet about them. I can see why they haven't made them in purple 😉 Good to see you have some Kerr Acoustics in for review as their stuff has a stellar reputation. You raise a good point of discussion as to whether it's better to buy the TOTL of a more bread & butter brand or the "entry-level" of a higher end brand; I think this is something you could ask of pretty much all components in addition to speakers. Have you heard of Alchris Audio and I wonder if you'd ever get any of their speakers in for review.... 🤔
Well I not sure if it as special as your ProAc are but I only had my Sugden amp for a year now. And I got it based on your review. Its the A21 in blue. Its stunning to look at and wow the authority it produces is outstanding. As for speakers I have them playing on a set of Paradigm Founders 80's Those are great for that amp. 8 ohms and 91-93 db. The Sugden give them a weight just not found is some setting. So for right now I have a few amps including the H190... That can go if I had to part with it, the sugden, not so much.
My vintage ProAc 1sc also hold a special place in my heart (and ears). Currently on long-term loan to my son-in-law, I sometimes long to hear them again. Currently listening to Sonus Faber Serafino G1 floorstanders: also great mid-range but more bass (obviously)
I've clung on to my CSS 1TDX DIY kit speakers (with superior crossovers) despite having some tonal reservations about it (it doesn't have the sparkle and air of some speakers like KEF despite its spectacular imaging). I realized the advantages of DIY - I can experiment improving it easily as I know how I put it together. And so went ahead upgrading it in stages - Cardas copper binding posts, NES 3002 UPOCC speaker wire from the posts to my crossover and then to the woofer, pure 5N+ silver twisted pair hook up wire for the tweeters, and finally putting a pair of Aperion super tweeters in bipole configuration facing backwards. This roughly ~$800 upgrade pretty much removed any desire to change speakers and gave me everything I was looking for including tonal richness, spectacular imaging, and clarity.
Another outstanding review! My IMF RSPM IV are long term keepers, they are the best value speaker I have listened to or owned that have a wonderful full range sound and never get fatiguing a true all rounder I would have to spend considerably more to match or upgrade the sound
I bought my Apogee Centaurus Minors in the early 90s. What they do well, no other loudspeakers (which I could then afford) came close to. I have had several pairs of loudspeakers since then, some of which cost multiples of the Minors, but the Minors just kept getting better and better the higher up the quality amplification ladder I moved up to. After a switch of listening rooms to one much smaller than I had previously, and customising some stands/pedestals for them, they have now become my main loudspeakers again.
..and everyone is frothing over the Borreson X series affordable high-end range.. their bookshelf and smallest tower is very similarly priced to the Alta Audio's.. ..baa so many shiny things.. 👌🤖
The one component I think will be a keeper, is actually two: my speaker towers, Linn Akurate 242 mk. I, in maple veneer, which I bought second hand nearly a decade ago. Love their looks. And however I upgrade upstream, they follow up and keep growing in the sound expression. Marvellous.
😮😮🥰Wow, I did not want to hear this. I have the Dali Epicon and love them now I know there is something better at a cheaper price😮😮😮😮😂😂❤❤❤ PS thank you so much for this beautiful review you handsome British audiofile man I will never give up my dolly minuet SE that I bought from your recommendation and love them or my Macintosh gear, amplifier and preamp
Thank you Stephen. The Epicon is a great speaker. You bought very well and the Menuet SE is still the best nearfield monitor that I have heard for the money 😊👍
For me, it is the Rectilinear 10a speaker, I think, maybe 11a. I bought them in 1972, when I was 21. I was living with a Radio Shack system that cost me $40. I think the Rectilinears cost me about 2 weeks wages, and I got a Sherwood receiver for power. I loved them. Music was the most important thing in my life. They went with me to Berkeley; to Santa Ana, CA; to Topeka, KS; back to Santa Ana; to Lawrence, KS; and to Washington, D.C. I have no idea how they would sound to me now, but to my 21-year-old years, they were orgasmic.
No idea what a Rectilinear speaker sounds or looks like, but if orgasmic I fully understand your infatuation. At 21 though, the ass end of a bus was erotic.
I looked up the dealer network and there just so happened to be a guy selling them just a few miles, uhhh kilometers from my house. Id love to see if these are as good as you say they are.
25 years with your speakers, that's a relationship, not just ownership :). I keep thinking would a more modern speaker sound better than my Tannoy's and TDL's, but the thought of not having them sends a shiver down my spine. Will you keep the ProAc's, or bite the bullet?
This channel gets an ”Outstanding” from this viewer.
Same here!:))
That is very kind 😊👍
Agreed 👍
'Bah-humbug'
Agree!
Wow. This is a huge milestone in your audiophile journey.
Those Alta Audios must be something special.
They are 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I'll wait for your review on the Kerr's. The best so far, but do you love them?🤣🤣🤣
I just love your grounded, no drama, reviewing style. It’s refreshing to see a successful UA-cam channel that doesn’t try to scream louder than everybody else 👍 As far as my forever gear is concerned, my Rogers LS 3/5a from 1989 - bought them when I was 16 and although they have been bested objectively by dozens of speakers I have heard since, I keep going back. For the last decade, the Ocellia Caliope 21 signature are the foundation of my system and despite all their quirks, they create magic and I don’t see myself parting with them ever as long as I have the space for them. And in the last year, I may very well have found my forever amp… the Enleum Amp 23R… it’s 99% of the character of the best SET with 95% of the best solid state - you just need to be able to make 25 watts work, and both the Rogers and Ocelias love that amp. Time will tell but I haven’t stopped smiling since it arrived.
Much appreciated. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍
congrats about the Enleum. I think Tarun's style makes all of us followers nicer too somehow. He brings out our love and respect for the British audio industry and products.👍👍👍 Thank you Tarun🙏🙏🙏 I have my Rogers (15 Ohms) from about the same time too.😍😍😍
🤪 Once you did the Darth Vader ref I can't unsee it...
My first reaction was more Spaceballs than Star Wars 😂
Unpacking AA Alysa : heavy breathing
When you see them : NUOOOOOOOOO!!!
Sorry about that 😉
@@timleelim9930Same - Dark Helmet
@@RennieAsh don't they come with a mask? I mean grilles😆
I must say I always enjoy your reviews, well structured, informative and entertaining. Thank you Tarun.
Much appreciated 👍
Tarun you are simply the best fluent audiophile critic.
The one who can describe the indescribable things in sound world in scientific and poetic deep way.
Kind regards and best wishes.
Thank you Mohammed 😊👍
These are great speakers. I own a pair now and I can honestly say they blow me away. Sound stage is huge!! I’m hearing details in recordings I had no idea were even there. The bass, well, definitely no requirement for a subwoofer.
Thx for sharing your experiences 😊
Will never get rid of my Heybrook HB1 speakers. Like most British speakers they do voices so natural you will think artists are in the room. Love from Sweden.
Superb old warhorses those HB1s.
Thx 😊
We're they designed by Peter Comeau, or am I talking nonsense? I really like his design philosophy.
@@jimfarrell4635 I think you are right. I don’t remember
@@brainache555 the HB1s are a Peter Comeau design 😊
I can't imagine life without my Hugo TT2. It's a DAC, preamp and headphone amp: now the core of my system.
Cool 😎
An excellent review offering a great deal of hope for audiophiles feeling it's all going backwards.
Thank you. Good point 👍
Good information about the difference between true ribbons and amt tweeters.
Thx 😊
Very happy for you! I know you invested much time and effort to find the successor to the Proacs, and appropriately so. Very exciting!
Thank you kindly 😊👍
Hey Tarun, great review as always. Twenty years ago I committed the cardinal sin of letting my Linn LP12 go, along with all my records, in favour of a CD player. Just under two years ago, I replaced it with the same model. Having lovingly lavished many upgrades on it since, I won’t be making the same mistake again. It’s here to stay!
Thank Mark. I bet the LP12 has never sounded better 😊👍
One day I arrived at my favorite Hi-fi haunt and had to stop and sit down to listen. The sound that was filling the room was to my ear so engaging. It was a pair of Alyssa hooked up to a modest Rogue Conus Magnum III integrated. After 40 minutes, I had to have more. So, I went and auditioned the Adam paired with the Trilogy 925. That was a really fun afternoon, for a little mini tower they could do so much, I thought I was listening to a 3 way. if you get the chance, I would strongly encourage you to try them out. They Adam takes about the same amount of space as the Alyssa with stands, most likely wider at the bottom. However, the greater sense of scale they can project is very impressive.
Great to learn about your experiences 👍
When I heard Alta Audio speakers at Toronto Audiofest 2022 and 2023, I was just blown away by how natural and room-filling they are. There's no doubt their stand-mounts are just as great.
Thx for sharing 😊
I enjoyed watching your first video from 4 years ago this morning. Cool. Very cool. It’s been quite a journey 😊
Thank you. Those early videos are shot on my iPad with no mic or lighting. Watching those requires a strong constitution 🤣 I appreciate your support 😊👍
What a wonderful review. Thank you Tarun. To answer your question, I don't think that I will ever give up my Magnepan LRSs or KEF LS50s. I may upgrade them to the latest versions at some point but I have a soft spot for them in my audiophile journey and they shall remain. Thanks again. Cheers!
Thank you 👍
From the same period as the Response 1SC's I personally love the less pricey, lower-range Studio 100's. They had that quality of being speakers that never got irritating and always pleasing to listen to while still having a tonne of dynamic output. You could really beat them up and they just kept on going without strain. You really got the sense that they made the source and amp shine wihtout smearing anything.
But both models were great.
I’ve had my cherry 100s for almost 30 years - still love them. During COVID I had the crossovers rebuilt. I don’t see them going anywhere anytime soon.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Transmission Line speakers seem to be emerging as a theme of this channel. Understandably so,as a TL speaker once heard is not forgotten . TL and their strengths seem also to be appreciated in other quarters . My cherished piece of equipment ? An Hitachi FT-5000 II FM tuner bought in 1988/89 . With some modifications and a minor repair it still produces a clear, detailed,atmospheric sound from a good broadcast . Much loved .
Thank you 😊
Bravo Tarun. Your reviews are now officially my favorite on UA-cam. This one is among the best since I subscribed. Top man.
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Regards from Cape Town, South Africa.
So you ve got a speaker that bests your faithful Proacs! Another fine review. The way you present the technical details and merge it with the comparisons gives so much insight and thats how I ended up owning a Hegel h160, which I am very much thankful to your reviews. The hifi gear thats most loved is my Sonus Faber Sonettos. Its a beauty to look at and so is the mid range to my ears. Thanks again Tarun for your amazing work.
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Great to see you finally found a speaker to best your 'Old Faithfuls'.
The hifi I cannot bear to part with are my 20yr old Quad 11L bookshelves, in jaw droppingly beautiful Birdseye Maple piano lacquered veneer. I've replaced them with Monitor Audio silver 100 7g that sound considerably better but they still hold a place in my heart.
I have a similar relationship with my Quad 12L bookshelf speakers (when they were still made in the UK). Just love the quality and piano finish and sound, although there are many speakers that best them in terms of the clarity of midrange, even though I still love their tonality and top end.
Thank you 😊
Totally get what you say about the 11Ls. I went (in the wonderful pre-COVID days) to the audio store to change my amplifier but came back with 11Ls instead, as the improvement they brought made the benefit from upgrading the amp seem insignificant.
Dear Tarun, one of the reasons I liked your tests that you always compared the new equipments to your own. I.e., there was always a firm basis your opinion was resting on. This probably will change now but I will still expect your reviews. The other reason was that you never "fell on the other side of the horse": finally it is all about music and not about pure technical parameters. Best wishes and keep going! Gyula
Thank you. That is the primary reason I use them as a common point of reference. People can then extrapolate how various components compare to each other 😊👍
Hi Tarun. The product I hold most dear is the ProAc Response D2 (that you recommended). I am going to find it hard to describe why except to say the music sounds amazing. It’s good at low volumes as well as medium and high. The music is dynamic and exciting. The music has definition in starting and stopping of notes. It feels like there is rhythm and timing, all separated for you to hear. The music is big. I’m not a detail freak but they can deliver that too when I added my Chord Hugo. Thanks for recommending them. I’m glad you have found your new forever speaker x
@@johnseddon2955 thank you John. Always a pleasure to hear from you 👍
It's good to see Alta speakers getting some love. I heard the Alec's at Axpona two years ago and I thought their sound was the best in show - including some exotic speakers an order of magnitude more expensive.
Thx for sharing 😊
We're glad you love what you do, Tarun! It shows in your work, and we love what you do too. A great review, thank you.
That is much appreciated 😊👍
Glad to see you love the Alta Audio Alyssa. They are so musical
Thx 👍
My long time favourite speakers are ProAc Response 2.5, still sounding great after all these years.
I’m not surprised 👍
I have these also (keepers), and it took the Wison Benesch ACT for me to change in my main system... that's how good those 2.5's are.
What an excellent audio channel and excellent presentation of everything, greetings from Greece 👏👏👏🇬🇷
Thank you very much 😊👍
Hi Tarun, great review and really chuffed for you to have (finally 😂) found a pair able to knock the Proacs off their perch. Personally I’m a great transmission line fan, which your new babies have implemented in their design. I’ve run a pair of PMC Fact 12s for over a decade and can never see myself replacing them. There just is something about the bass clarity and overall transparency I couldn’t live without! Enjoy and all the best Peter
I’m really stoked whenever “chuffed” appears!
Thank you Peter 👍
I got to hear the Alta Audio Adam speaker at the first Pacific Audio Fest in Seattle and felt it was the best in the show. I am interested in hearing the Alec or Alyssa but fo not have access to a dealer in my area.
The clarity and overall presentation of the Adam really fit my taste. I love bass and this speaker delivers. Thanks again for another great review
Thank you 👍
Very well done. A very nice loudspeaker. High praise from you. 25 year reference loudspeakers. I get it. I have gear from 1990, Adcom, Nad, Polk Audio. I just won’t let them go.
Thank you 👍
Like you, I am sitting here with a pair of speakers in my main system that are now 26 years old. They are the Platinum Audio Solos that I purchased around 1998 at a cost of just under US$3,000 including their integrated stands. I've recently upgraded my entire system except for the speakers. I have not been able to convince myself that I can do much better in my listening space without spending significantly more money. The Solos have that rare ability to make the room disappear. The speakers were designed by Phil Jones (no relation to Andrew) and the company, based in New Hampshire, USA, only survived a few years. Their speakers were highly regarded at the time, but I suspect that after the success of the Solos, they tried to expand upmarket too quickly with too many new products and ran into financial difficulties.
Thx for sharing 😊
Going to lesser known brands can give you a real jump in soundquality compared to more comercial brands.. I changed my reference Proac DB1's out with Egglestonworks Nico Evo's and i would put the Nico's up against speakers 2-3times the price any day of the week. Eggleston are used in many studios and multiple grammy winners this year where mixed on eggleston. And it's easy to hear why.
So The Nico's are clearly reference worthy. Fun Fact is that the Nico's also use Morel drivers. And it's a big boy so it diggs deep.
All i All an insane speaker. Neutral sounding, endless soundstage and depth, and insane capabilities :)
So yes, Eggleston is my new love and will stay for now :)
For me i have a pair of DIY Proac respons 2.5 clones that i built 25years ago.. to much higher specs than the original and the diy plans. They will live with me forever and are good fun to take out now and then and play on. They started my love of Proac and the proac sound. So i might chase another pair of Proac's.. i know they have something new coming soon :)
Great to learn about your experiences 😊
Great review as always, I'm glad you found a possible replacement for your trusty ProAc speakers. As for the product that will always have a place in my heart, it's my current speakers, the Rogers LS4A that I bought in '89 and I am still using to this day. I know they are nowhere near the quality of the stuff you usually review but at the time of purchase they were an excellent bargain and sounded better to me than anything in the same price range and even some more expensive ones. Eventually I will replace them with something better but I will never sell them
Great 👍 Thank you for sharing 😊
Hi Tarun, i couldn't help but note you said you would never sell your 1SC's maybe you could consider upgrading the capacitors for higher quality ones and also the resistors and wiring. I did it with mine and noticed significant improvements to the sound. It took a short while for the upgrades to burn in. But the improvement was worth the cost and time installing the upgrades.
I am a bit sentimental about keeping my 1SCs as the late Stewart Tyler (ProAc founder) intended. It is a good idea though 😊
Yes, Tarun, but those caps are aging.
Ferrofluid has also probably dried out of the tweeters too.
Sorry to hear Stuart is no more.
I very much enjoyed my 25 years with my Tablettes.
My love of pinpoint imaging started with them.
Replaced with Kef LS50s.
Bigger sound across the soundstage instead of trauncated at outer edges. Tonally neutral. Budget Reference.
Would have loved to try the Acoustic AE1, but the Ls50s fit the stands well. I'm satisfied;-)
@@20CycleMonger I asked Stewart the exact same question shortly before he passed away. He said the electrolyte should be good for about 40 to 50 years in the application it is being used in 😊
One of the best voices on youtube. I hope you dont mind that we sampled a few snippets from one of your latest videos.
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Thanks Tarun, great review, as always you cover all the salient points and keep the review to just the right length.
Much appreciated 😊👍
I think it’s very smart and commendable that you have kept your Proacs and the Exposure gear for so long. It makes sense that what sounded great then should still sound great in 2024. This got me thinking of some older hifi gear that I used to own. When I was around 17, during the late 90s, I bought a system that for me at the time felt very expensive, especially for a teenager. I sometimes wonder how would it sound if I heard it now. The system was comprised of the B&W CDM 7, Yamaha Ax-592 amp and the Pioneer PD-S06 cd player. I loved it dearly. I especially loved the cd player. I remember buying it after a comprehensive blind testing and picking it almost every time. Eventually, around 20 years ago, I ended up selling the system.
But lately, I have been wanting to get back to playing cd’s, and I started thinking about that old Pioneer cd player, its gold color and sturdy tray. So I checked eBay, found the same player, in mint condition. I bought it right away, and probably paid too much, especially for a 27 years old player. My wife probably thought I was crazy but didn’t say anything. I’m having a lot of fun using it! It’s funny, how the familiar sound of the tray opening immediately took me back. Sure, the dac sounds pretty rough, but after hooking it to an external dac, it sounds great! Good times…
Great gear from the 90’s still sounds great today 😊
Nice review TARUN, as usual.
A few years ago I purchased a pair of the Alta Audio ‘Solo’s’ , now discontinued. They were a single driver design in the XTL cabinet, their cheapest speaker in the early days. For the $$ they were quite amazing, with outstanding tight, deep, fast bass. Their cabinet design really works. They were perhaps the only small speaker I’ve owned where they actually didn’t have enough high end energy for me…I’m usually very sensitive to excessive high frequency information.
I sold them but remember how good they were. Mr Levy makes good speakers :)
Great to learn about your experiences 👍
Hi Taran, Nice review, thank you. My most loved speakers were Proac D2 Refference. Detail, heft in the base and a mid range to die for🙂
Thank you 😊
Thank you for this excellent review of equipment I will only dream of owning, but by your expertise and hard work to share this with us all, I can at least appreciate it vicariously. Thank you as always, Sir. Stay well and have a wonderful weekend.
Much appreciated 😊👍
Like some other viewers, I give this channel an ”Outstanding”. Furthermore, it's nice that you have found a new favorite among bookshelf speakers! I just wonder what a refined music lover as yourself would think of the new Wharfedale Super Denton loudspeaker? Anyway, best regards and God bless you!
Another excellent review of a unique hybrid ported TL speaker system ~ As for your query of treasured gear ... my vintage ADS L300C 4Ω satellites w/ ADS 7" powered subwoofer garners my attention like you to your Proac's. After updating the crossover parts, they sound fresh and open, not slightly dark and closeted. Always look forward to your reviews ~ your pre-emptive technical explanations of the unfamiliar always seem to answer uninformed questions :)
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
I’m an ADS guy myself. L710, L780..
Tarun, to answer your question I really like my proacs studio 148 , they are dynamic and have a huge soundstage and are very efficient. A perfect match to low watts tube amps. Thanks for another great review been watching you for years and cant get bored :)
Great speakers that manage to do everything well. Anything I've heard that sounded all around better (not just one aspect, or slightly different) has been out of my price range. I have mine paired with low watt Class A solid state.
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Thank you multiple times for giving the price of this speaker up-front in your review. Shows you know a little about journalism. (Well, more than a little, probably.)
Good day Tarun,
congrats to your channel, always a pleasure following up.
You did ask what people think about the ProAc 1SC, and owning a pair for the last 15 years I can whole heartedly say that you are spot on when it comes to the qualities (or the lack of such) of this little titan. Yes they sound superb even at low levels, they do have a midrange to die for plus they do sound just right.
But what more, they are emotionally more engaging than any other speaker I have listened to. They have the magic to open another window into the music and allow you to see through the clouds right into the heart of an artist. That is their real virtue. I have gone to extraordinary length to get the setup to my liking, solid stands, plenty of air around them, high quality Kimber speaker cable and Leema amp and spinner. These just work perfectly in harmony. A tear in your eye when listening means we are talking real business…..
Looking back and having owned the greats of Quad ESL 57, KEF Reference 104AB, Mission 780/782, PMCs, Leak and Heybrooks among some others there is only one pairing, which came close or even surpassed the ProAc’s, especially when listening to a certain type of music (Blues and rock) at high volume, e.g. Jimi Hendrix’s Red House or Eric Burdon’s Tobacco Road. And that was the famous and inexpensive Heybrook HB1. Paired with Quad 34/306 pre/power and Missions highly regarded Dad/Dac 5 spinner, that was also a match from heaven, although not in the same league in extracting fine details as the ProAc is able to.
Anyway, I hope you keep going and tell us more about all those beauties of speaker nirvana now and in the future,
kind regards Mikk, Perth
Thx. Great to learn about your experiences 😊
Hi Tarun, are you going to review ProAc K1 as well as D2R? Thanks Mikk
@@MikkFelix unfortunately, ProAc politely declined to send me product to review 😊
VERY HAPPY TARUN…🤗 YOU HAVE FOUND SPEAKERS TO HELP YOU START A NEW CHAPTER 😎🎼💚💚💚
Thank you 👍
I def agree with the guy that said this channel is outstanding! That review was terrific. I recently purchased Mofi Sourcepoint 8 speakers which pressed up against my financial limits. I think they’re fantastic. But, to answer your question, I have a pair of ADS L710 from the late 70s that are still in service. I still listen to them several times a week. Their midrange and balance are still to die for. I can’t bring myself to retire them.
Thank you Steve. Very kind 😊👍
Great review thanks Tarun! I inherited my Dad’s Technics SL1200 (1976) and I love it because I think it looks so much better than the Mk2 + versions. I have added some upgrades such as the Origin Live Zephyr tonearm, Funk Firm APM Acromat, and new wiring, which has enhanced the looks and sound. I love TL speakers so will consider this speaker when I next upgrade. Thanks again
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Tarun, you had me going there. I began to convince myself that THIS was the day you'd finally sell me your ProACs. Oh well. I understand. I can't part with my Spica TC 50s either. They haven't been my main stereo pair for over 25 years, but I'm never letting them go. (They serve as front and rear center speakers in my HT setup.)
Thx. I doubt they will get sold in my lifetime 😊
32Hz, wow! That's impressive. There's plenty of floor standers that can't do that. I'd use a sub anyway, allow the stand mount to do the mid base and above, as I do with the ATC 19s, but sounds like a great design.
It is worth checking out Will. Especially for USA consumers where availability should be greater 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 There's several online vendors. A head to head comparison to the Quads you just reviewed would be interesting. I'm tempted!
I have the PROAC Tablette Reference 8 Signatures which I recall were the one just below the 1SC. I think they are absolutely wonderful driven by my Naim SN3 and nDAC. However I hope one day to be able to move up to speakers at this kind of price point as my final speaker purchase. If that doesn't happen, the baby proac's are still great.
The Tablettes are great speakers 👍
Thanks for another review of a brand I am unfamiliar with. To answer your question, I’m keeping my Arendal 1723 tower speakers. I auditioned 6 other pairs of towers and stand-mounted speakers before selecting the Arendals. Besides at 111 lbs. a piece I’d need help getting them out of my listening room. To riff off of your Star Wars reference they each look like the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Peace, love and music.
Thx 😊
Amazing insight into these speakers. When describing the AMT that was easy for you to say .
Wonderful review as always .
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Hello Tarun, an interesting and confirming review for me. Thank You. I have been listening to you for a few years now and do very much like your reviews and comments.
As for the Alyssa's ...
I purchased a pair over a year ago and have enjoyed them greatly. They were selected as a good paring with my Odyssey Khartago SE+ power amp. Though I was using a low end Emotiva preamp the sound was very good, but when I replaced the Emotiva with a Quicksilver Line Stage preamplifier the Alyssa's became glorius. Mids and Vocals are outstanding while bass is strong but not booming.
Though my electronics are not "hi-end expensive" components I believe they are hi-end components in quality and sound, and as you say, when you pair the Alyssa's with quality electronics the sound is outstanding!
Thanks again for the review and please continue to review products that are entry point products for hi-end/high price audiohile manufacturers.
Great review.
Still have my B&W 601s and a Sony 911E cd player, which I bought in 1996
Great 😊
Thank you Tarun,, 👍😎👍
You're welcome 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 💞💖💖💖
You could not resist The Alta Force Young Skywalker! I am excited for you, Tarun!
I am still thrilled with my DynAudio Contour 20s….but I don't get out much. Tomorrow, I am breaking that trend with a trip into SOHO, NYC to Devon Turnbull's OJAS Listening Room, featured on Steve Guttenberg's The Audiophiliac UA-cam Channel! Can't wait! 😀
Thank you. It hope had a great trip 😊👍
Very nice review, as always. Though out of my price range, it's good to know that there are still glorious sounding speakers available. My old favorites would be my first system consisting of a Sansui 2000 receiver, Wharfedale bookshelf speakers in teak, and an Elac turntable. All units with solid wood casing. I'm dating myself now.
Well, you should see my entry above.
Great review!! Thanks!! Would you ever consider reviewing the arendal 1723 tower s? I bought them, am extremely happy and very anxious to hear your thoughts!
Thank you. No plans as yet 😊
👎🤣 but more serious, they offer exceptionel value and in my Book very high quality. I was expecting a step up from my monitor audio silver 300 7g, but it was actually a LOT bigger than I thought it would be. I run them on an Atoll IN200 (very familiar to you I know) and it just a dream come true, for me anyway 🤣
I have the same Arendal Tower S speakers. They really are superb.
Thanks Tarun ' I finally got some days off work to finish the massive crossovers that Danny from GR research built for Polk Lsim 703 . CROSSOVERS are almost 15 pounds each ' Danny measured me 703s and results had Danny in disbelief ! I told him that their overly built
And very well balanced with very low spectral decay ' reason for allowing speakers to disappear in the room ' and bass is very good as well ' they don't go as low as my Dynaudio towers but polks aren't far off either ' man I have a job ahead of me each speaker has 3 speaker inputs dedicated to each driver ! Very excited wasn't cheap though !
I told Danny no limit on funds so he went all out crossover so big I have to mount on the stock of the speaker stand lol
Danny claimed their better speakers than the $15k Wilson audio standmounts he been working on and they compete right along side his own x series speakers I knew he would be impressed those 703 flew under the radar !! Thanks Tarun
Thx for sharing 😊
@abritishaudiophile7314 yeah I most likely shouldn't post such a long comment '
Those speakers getting down that low is impressive just reminded me how low my polks go down , Polks are so underated if you get time check out Danny's videos on 703
@@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120 post as long as you like buddy. Apologies if my replies are short sometimes. I still try to respond to every comment that is posted ( apart from the ones that don’t warrant a response). Not sure how long I can keep that up but means I tend to be succinct 👍
Another fantastic review of what appears to be an outstanding product. I really appreciate the way you deliver, informative, yet not too dry. Finally a reason to retire your long standing references eh?
Special equipment to me? I have a Roksan xerxes record player from the 80's, in rosewood and with roksans own stand which was my first serious hi fi investment. I dont play vynal anymore, but Ill never get rid of it. My much more recent Wharfdale Elysian3 floorstanders in walnut are my new treasures and represent an investment I'm not likely to make again. They are my end game units which should well outlast this old audiophile, and Ive not heard a better speaker for my tastes.
Thanks again for your continued excellent videos, always a pleasure to watch.
Thank you kindly my friend. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍
Tarun, your question is rather cruel - what I held dear is gone after watching your channel and upgrading. But what I now have, thanks to you, I love. So ask again after a few years.
Will do 😉
As usual, a wonderful Tarun. I’m sure the SC1’s will always be in the background.
Thank you Ajay. You are probably right 😊👍
Maybe one day I will win the lottery, but in the meanwhile, it is always fun to dream. I don't have any particular piece of equipement dear to my heart because they are only devices to an end : the enjoyement of music. So, you could say I'm always open to new avenues of discovery. Maybe you have reached a point where you are ready for a new level of excitement in your life, you certainly deserve it. Outstanding review ! Thanks !
Thank you my friend 😊👍
Back in the day I can remember auditioning you're ProAc's sc1 at Stereo Exchange in NYC. The proac really introduce me to the mid-range. Absolutely adored those speakers couldn't afford them unfortunately. I think the additional cost of stands, just wasn't feasible at that time or justifiable. Another great sounding speaker which I auditioned were the entry level Thiel 1.6 not purchasing those, was a huge mistake, they look skinny with that triangular shape and a huge slit going down the middle really weird looking. After that I just got bogged down confused too many good looking speakers. I do remember auditioning a McCormack amplifiers sweet!
Thx for sharing 😊
Hello from Norway🤗
If you wanna lift the Proac's change the components in the crossover to new good ones and be suprised onse again.
Great review
Thx 😊
Wow, Tarun, a new reference for you very exciting, I'm sure.👍🎧🙂
Thx 👍
Another informative and enjoyable review, loved the details on the tweeter design too! I hope I will listen to these sometime.
Thank you 😊
Per your request for favorite ProAc models: I have been a ProAc owner / listener since 1992 and have owned a long list of models (Response 2, 1sc, Future.5, Tab Ref 8, Super Tablette, D25, Tab Anniversary, original D30R) paired with an equally long list of electronics ...
For perspective: I listen to a lot (30+ shows / year) of live un / minimally amplified music (acoustic, singer song-writer, jazz, classical chamber, etc ...) and sit in the front row(s)
For my self / ear, no other speaker brand helps me to connect to the music / provides the cues and clues to what I hear when listening to live music better, than a pair of ProAcs
~ and I have listened to many, many other brands in the last 30+ years ...
And to answer your question, for as long as they are functioning / repairable, the original D30R (with the carbon fibre woofer) will remain my favorite ProAc and the pair of speakers I plan to have in my system ... They provide enough scale while retaining speed and the magic which is "the ProAc midrange" ... They are the culmination of all of what I love about ProAc speakers (in my price range ... though I would love to have a pair of K6 Signature if price was no object)
I hope you are happy with the Alta Audio Alyssa, but frankly I am surprised that as big a fan you are of ProAc, you have not at least listened to the ProAc K1 in the price range before plunking down hard earned cash ...
Keep up the good work with your channel
Happy listening
Great to learn about your experiences 😊
I think if you can Tarun you should try and get a pair of Borresen X1 Standmounts in for review. They are the entry level speaker of the brand at about $5500usd and many people are saying they may be setting new standards at that sort of price. I'd love to hear your opinion on them. Another great review by the way mate.
I heard Borresen stand mount and tower speakers at an audio show. Their top level standmount was unbelievably good. I could not understand how they got exceptional performance from a small speaker.
Thank you 👍
I recently heard the Borreson X1's , X2's & X3's at AXPONA. Although I felt that although they were very fast, open and detailed, I felt they lacked soul or musicality. Although I completely understand how many people would love that sound, I felt they were too clinical and I (personally) grew tired of the sound very quickly.
I also spent considerable time in the Alta Audio rooms at AXPONA as well - even revisiting all 3 days. The Alta Audio Alyssa impressed me so much I placed an order with the local dealer. Although not as hyper detailed as the Borreson, they were still very detailed and clean sounding, and played lower than the X1's. But more important, they were extremely musical and felt they had soul to them. It was like listening to music vs listening to (or for) every detail.
@@mhegerman1977 Thats a good perspective, appreciate that! I have kind of got that impression from listening to demos online too. The X series are obviously technically extremely capable at the price, but long term enjoyment might be another thing. Maybe different partnering equipment might sway the X1's into a better overall listening experience too. Lucky we have so many great choices.
@@mhegerman1977 thx for sharing your experience 😊
I have a Kenwood KD 550 TT I bought the year of the introduction in the USA, almost new, it was a demonstrator. It's getting a new tone arm this year. I liked the KD 550 so much I bought the 500 a couple years ago from the used market. It came with a decent arm, but this looks like the year for arms. I've had a pair of KRIX Euphonix floor stand speakers for a very long time. I keep thinking they should get retired, but somehow they hang on. ABA is one of my favorite channels for reviews, thank you!
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
It is great you have found a new reference! My dilemma is loving it all, so I have to use an A/V and speakers sensitive enough to keep 100W/channel with 11 channels driven in a one unit amp. A tough bill to fill but the room is 450 sq ft.
Thx 😊
As always, a really well constructed video. The product I never thought I would sell was my beloved Aura VA100 Evolution amplifier, with its beautifully warm sound and low-slung good looks. But then when we moved abroad four years ago and most of what we owned got sold, and the left channel had been dropping in and out despite my efforts to clean up the innards, it had to go. I still regret that to some extent. Our rather nomadic lifestyle as we move from one country to another every couple of years means I have invested more in my headphone rig now, and if there is one product I own that I imagine I will keep forever it is my Meze Empyrean houdphones - beautiful in every way.
Thank you 👍
The product I hold dear was the ESS AMT1b's I had back in the mid - late 1970's. With Pink Floyd's, Time, track(Dark Side of the Moon) the alarm clock, was an alarm clock, no matter where you were in the - house. All other music I played on them, sounded superb. Unlike a set of Apogee full range ribbons, I was listening to where the sound disappeared when only slightly out of the sweet spot. I put this down to the fact the ESS' produced a, di-polar sound pattern. A point lost with so many loudspeaker designers today.
Some time after I lost the ESS'(along with other prized possessions) in a fiasco of a domestic situation, I went to the door of a new customer of my Toolmaking business. When he opened the door, I could hear music coming down the hallway, with such a familiar presence to it. I asked him if they were ESS speakers. He was amazed I picked them from such a distance.
Thx for sharing your experiences 😊
Tarun, great review as always! Another choice to seriously consider if finances should make themselves available in the future! 🙂
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
I love my Linn Kan mk4's,I know they're the less fashionable version but they are wonderfully musical speakers.Love your channel Tarun keep up the great work!
Thank you kindly 😊👍
I have the DB1s, and I really, really like them.
Excellent stuff as always, Tarun. These must be good if they have finally displaced your ProAcs after all this time! You're right: there's definitely an air of the Vader helmet about them. I can see why they haven't made them in purple 😉 Good to see you have some Kerr Acoustics in for review as their stuff has a stellar reputation. You raise a good point of discussion as to whether it's better to buy the TOTL of a more bread & butter brand or the "entry-level" of a higher end brand; I think this is something you could ask of pretty much all components in addition to speakers. Have you heard of Alchris Audio and I wonder if you'd ever get any of their speakers in for review.... 🤔
Thank you. I am familiar with Alchris Audio 😊👍
You may enjoy the Alta Audio Alec because it's the Alyssa speaker plus a transmission like that you enjoyed from the Sibelius.
TL speakers can have great bass and clean mids if designed right 😊
Tarun,it's time to reviewing the Revela speaker from great british company QUAD
Agree! Have the z3 floorstander myself and wonder if its time to upgrade to new revela 2 floorstander
Well I not sure if it as special as your ProAc are but I only had my Sugden amp for a year now. And I got it based on your review. Its the A21 in blue. Its stunning to look at and wow the authority it produces is outstanding. As for speakers I have them playing on a set of Paradigm Founders 80's Those are great for that amp. 8 ohms and 91-93 db. The Sugden give them a weight just not found is some setting. So for right now I have a few amps including the H190... That can go if I had to part with it, the sugden, not so much.
Splendid review as always. Such a treat.
My vintage ProAc 1sc also hold a special place in my heart (and ears). Currently on long-term loan to my son-in-law, I sometimes long to hear them again. Currently listening to Sonus Faber Serafino G1 floorstanders: also great mid-range but more bass (obviously)
That is awesome. Lucky son-in-law 👍
I've clung on to my CSS 1TDX DIY kit speakers (with superior crossovers) despite having some tonal reservations about it (it doesn't have the sparkle and air of some speakers like KEF despite its spectacular imaging). I realized the advantages of DIY - I can experiment improving it easily as I know how I put it together. And so went ahead upgrading it in stages - Cardas copper binding posts, NES 3002 UPOCC speaker wire from the posts to my crossover and then to the woofer, pure 5N+ silver twisted pair hook up wire for the tweeters, and finally putting a pair of Aperion super tweeters in bipole configuration facing backwards. This roughly ~$800 upgrade pretty much removed any desire to change speakers and gave me everything I was looking for including tonal richness, spectacular imaging, and clarity.
Loving the coverage of obscure brands
Excellent review. Thanks Tarun 🎉
Thank you 👍
Another outstanding review! My IMF RSPM IV are long term keepers, they are the best value speaker I have listened to or owned that have a wonderful full range sound and never get fatiguing a true all rounder I would have to spend considerably more to match or upgrade the sound
Thank you kindly. Those IMF are keepers 😊👍
I bought my Apogee Centaurus Minors in the early 90s. What they do well, no other loudspeakers (which I could then afford) came close to. I have had several pairs of loudspeakers since then, some of which cost multiples of the Minors, but the Minors just kept getting better and better the higher up the quality amplification ladder I moved up to. After a switch of listening rooms to one much smaller than I had previously, and customising some stands/pedestals for them, they have now become my main loudspeakers again.
Thx for sharing 😊
I am saving up for the Alta Alec.
They have wonderful speakers.
Cool 😎
Another great review, love your channel
Much appreciated 😊👍
Would be cool to know how they compare to big brand Wharfedale Elysian 2's also around 5k... Those things are beautiful 😍
That would be cool 😎
..and everyone is frothing over the Borreson X series affordable high-end range.. their bookshelf and smallest tower is very similarly priced to the Alta Audio's.. ..baa so many shiny things.. 👌🤖
The one component I think will be a keeper, is actually two: my speaker towers, Linn Akurate 242 mk. I, in maple veneer, which I bought second hand nearly a decade ago. Love their looks. And however I upgrade upstream, they follow up and keep growing in the sound expression. Marvellous.
Thx 😊
Great review, as usual!
Thank you 😊👍
😮😮🥰Wow, I did not want to hear this. I have the Dali Epicon and love them now I know there is something better at a cheaper price😮😮😮😮😂😂❤❤❤ PS thank you so much for this beautiful review you handsome British audiofile man I will never give up my dolly minuet SE that I bought from your recommendation and love them or my Macintosh gear, amplifier and preamp
Thank you Stephen. The Epicon is a great speaker. You bought very well and the Menuet SE is still the best nearfield monitor that I have heard for the money 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you I truly love music coming from excellent crafted gear truly does make me happy
I just heard these at axpona 2024 and am seriously considering these speakers.
Cool 😎
For me, it is the Rectilinear 10a speaker, I think, maybe 11a. I bought them in 1972, when I was 21. I was living with a Radio Shack system that cost me $40. I think the Rectilinears cost me about 2 weeks wages, and I got a Sherwood receiver for power. I loved them. Music was the most important thing in my life. They went with me to Berkeley; to Santa Ana, CA; to Topeka, KS; back to Santa Ana; to Lawrence, KS; and to Washington, D.C. I have no idea how they would sound to me now, but to my 21-year-old years, they were orgasmic.
No idea what a Rectilinear speaker sounds or looks like, but if orgasmic I fully understand your infatuation. At 21 though, the ass end of a bus was erotic.
Thx 😊
I looked up the dealer network and there just so happened to be a guy selling them just a few miles, uhhh kilometers from my house. Id love to see if these are as good as you say they are.
Please let me know how you get on 😊
25 years with your speakers, that's a relationship, not just ownership :). I keep thinking would a more modern speaker sound better than my Tannoy's and TDL's, but the thought of not having them sends a shiver down my spine. Will you keep the ProAc's, or bite the bullet?
@@donk1822 thx. The ProAc will be staying. There is something special about how they connect me to the music 😊