I'm not quite the wordsmith that others are when it comes to describing demos, so wil try and keep this short and to the point.
Had an interesting morning yesterday demoing Cyrus One, Rega Elex-R, and standmounts from Pro-Ac, Dali, and B&W.
The Pro-Acs were used to discriminate between the amps. Sources were a Planar 3, and a Marantz Streamer (8005) fed by Apple Music AirPlayed from my iPhone.
It was very quickly apparent that the Rega is a different class to the Cyrus - so much control and clarity. Songs I am very familiar with made to sound new. The Cyrus was lovely - just uninvolving.
Next came the speaker rotations. To cut a long story short, the Dali then showed just how much bass had been missing in the Pro-Acs. Such a wram and rounded sound. I iniatially liked them very much indeed.
However, the B&W 705 S2 are something else. That unusual tweeter design clearly works - I don't think I've ever heard such clarity and precision. Cymbals that pierced the air, vocals that just sounded "there". I don't really know how else to describe the sound. Stunning. Literally hair-raising.
For reference, music played was a mix of old vinyl (Dylan/Roxy Music), new vinyl (Placebo, The XX) and Apple Music - various stuff including The Doors, Dire Straits, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The War on Drugs, Ian Brown, Eels, Hannah Wicklund & The Stepping Stones.
So, now I need to start saving pennies.
Unless I get hit by a musical sledgehammer, the Elex-R and 705 S2 will be the way I go as soon as I can!
Had an interesting morning yesterday demoing Cyrus One, Rega Elex-R, and standmounts from Pro-Ac, Dali, and B&W.
The Pro-Acs were used to discriminate between the amps. Sources were a Planar 3, and a Marantz Streamer (8005) fed by Apple Music AirPlayed from my iPhone.
It was very quickly apparent that the Rega is a different class to the Cyrus - so much control and clarity. Songs I am very familiar with made to sound new. The Cyrus was lovely - just uninvolving.
Next came the speaker rotations. To cut a long story short, the Dali then showed just how much bass had been missing in the Pro-Acs. Such a wram and rounded sound. I iniatially liked them very much indeed.
However, the B&W 705 S2 are something else. That unusual tweeter design clearly works - I don't think I've ever heard such clarity and precision. Cymbals that pierced the air, vocals that just sounded "there". I don't really know how else to describe the sound. Stunning. Literally hair-raising.
For reference, music played was a mix of old vinyl (Dylan/Roxy Music), new vinyl (Placebo, The XX) and Apple Music - various stuff including The Doors, Dire Straits, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The War on Drugs, Ian Brown, Eels, Hannah Wicklund & The Stepping Stones.
So, now I need to start saving pennies.
Unless I get hit by a musical sledgehammer, the Elex-R and 705 S2 will be the way I go as soon as I can!