In the beginning….
Having had fairly extensive experience with DB1is, whether it was shop dems with Naim gear or at home with the Arcam and Leema, they are a staggering little speaker, and not too fussed about amplification. However, it's fair to say that a budget amp may struggle to make the most of these pocket rockets. The only reason why I didn't snap up the DB1s before now is two-fold: Firstly, Totem Arros and, secondly, because I'm so used to floorstanders the DB1i slightly lacked (obviously) when it came to bass crunch with DVDs, but music in general was balanced.
Impressed by the Totem Arros presentation, they were odds on for long periods to replace the RS6s, however, Mrs. P noticed that their tykey dimensions could become a liability --- great if you haven't any nippers or a marauding, slobbering Rottweiler to contend with (luckily we don't have the latter). After months of gnawing the cat's ear decided - correctly - the Totems wouldn't be a practical choice.
Broken principles[/b]
Well, well, well... I've always preached on this forum that stick to the rulebook and 'demo before parting with your hard earned money'. Nevertherless, this self-confessed lunacy tumbled head first through the double glazing when it came to the PMCs. Actually there is madness to my method: Looking at these TB2is logically, I sagely thought, "if the tonal qualities and crisp top-end mirrors that of the DB1is, with deeper bass blah blah blah..." there shouldn't be any real issues, except, perhaps, for speaker positioning. That was my corkscrew thinking in the whole process.
Going by my own staid principles I should've commandeered myself for the six o'clock walk for not hearing them first. This is somewhat a mixed metaphor but I'm sure you'll catch my drift.
To the meaty stuff
The first day after lugging them home they weren't a disappointment but, somehow, I expected the DB1's larger siblings to grab me by the short and curlies... but they didn't! They are an improvement over the Monitor Audios but not quite as much as originally thought. Had I made a mistake? Already the RS6s were purchased and I started to come out in a cold sweat for a while.
I needn't have concerned myself; for years I've always had tram line thinking: If it ain't broke... and subconsciously this must've been eating away like I've swallowed a malnurished piranha.
After a few days they were really showing their sonic mettle: The soundstage is big and textured with staggering imaging. The high frequencies are crisp but smooth, mirroring the midrange and bottom end. Ahhh... the bass is so tuneful, yet taut and fast without the slight portly attention-grabbing note exhibited by the RS6s. They have a natural ease with music playback. Regadless of musical styles they just seem at home with themselves - and play them really loud and the dynamic headroom is breathtaking: Crank up a good quality record, CD or DVD and they sound like they are playing for you; add these traits to the Leema's slightly honest (raw) presentation and it's the closest I've heard to a live performance, minus the ear piercing bellow of a my old Silver speakers.
To sum up the TB2is: Blistering. You really can go from silver to gold.
Having had fairly extensive experience with DB1is, whether it was shop dems with Naim gear or at home with the Arcam and Leema, they are a staggering little speaker, and not too fussed about amplification. However, it's fair to say that a budget amp may struggle to make the most of these pocket rockets. The only reason why I didn't snap up the DB1s before now is two-fold: Firstly, Totem Arros and, secondly, because I'm so used to floorstanders the DB1i slightly lacked (obviously) when it came to bass crunch with DVDs, but music in general was balanced.
Impressed by the Totem Arros presentation, they were odds on for long periods to replace the RS6s, however, Mrs. P noticed that their tykey dimensions could become a liability --- great if you haven't any nippers or a marauding, slobbering Rottweiler to contend with (luckily we don't have the latter). After months of gnawing the cat's ear decided - correctly - the Totems wouldn't be a practical choice.
Broken principles[/b]
Well, well, well... I've always preached on this forum that stick to the rulebook and 'demo before parting with your hard earned money'. Nevertherless, this self-confessed lunacy tumbled head first through the double glazing when it came to the PMCs. Actually there is madness to my method: Looking at these TB2is logically, I sagely thought, "if the tonal qualities and crisp top-end mirrors that of the DB1is, with deeper bass blah blah blah..." there shouldn't be any real issues, except, perhaps, for speaker positioning. That was my corkscrew thinking in the whole process.
Going by my own staid principles I should've commandeered myself for the six o'clock walk for not hearing them first. This is somewhat a mixed metaphor but I'm sure you'll catch my drift.
To the meaty stuff
The first day after lugging them home they weren't a disappointment but, somehow, I expected the DB1's larger siblings to grab me by the short and curlies... but they didn't! They are an improvement over the Monitor Audios but not quite as much as originally thought. Had I made a mistake? Already the RS6s were purchased and I started to come out in a cold sweat for a while.
I needn't have concerned myself; for years I've always had tram line thinking: If it ain't broke... and subconsciously this must've been eating away like I've swallowed a malnurished piranha.
After a few days they were really showing their sonic mettle: The soundstage is big and textured with staggering imaging. The high frequencies are crisp but smooth, mirroring the midrange and bottom end. Ahhh... the bass is so tuneful, yet taut and fast without the slight portly attention-grabbing note exhibited by the RS6s. They have a natural ease with music playback. Regadless of musical styles they just seem at home with themselves - and play them really loud and the dynamic headroom is breathtaking: Crank up a good quality record, CD or DVD and they sound like they are playing for you; add these traits to the Leema's slightly honest (raw) presentation and it's the closest I've heard to a live performance, minus the ear piercing bellow of a my old Silver speakers.
To sum up the TB2is: Blistering. You really can go from silver to gold.
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