Short version: I've been actively re-engaged over ABOUT the last year and a half, after having given up for several years. The long version is in the footnote below, and you may or may not want to read it.

--Bill

FOOTNOTE:

Long version: I really started back in my teens (late 70's,) listening to such things as Allison and AR90 loudspeakers, and persisted until I had my first decent system in the late 80's, which included a Parasound Receiver with preamp outputs, a B&K ST140, an Onkyo Integra CD changer, and Paradigm 9SE speakers.

I really liked that system, but still continued to look around. I never found anything that compelled me to upgrade. Then, one day I went to several stores in the Chicago area where my sister lives. I heard a LOT of expensive speakers, but one stood head and shoulders above the rest: The Audio Physic Calderas, which retailed at the time for 20,000 dollars but were offered for "only" $10,000, which I still couldn't afford, plus I'd have needed to upgrade all my electronics.

The Calderas continued to be my "holy grail", except for the price. I listened to a lot of other speakers, and some sounded nice, but none blew me away like the Calderas had. I gave up for several years because I couldn't find a speaker that imaged as well as the Audio Physic Calderas had, and I thought that the huge entertainment center (which suddenly was present one day after I got home from work......) would ruin the imaging anyway. To this day, I still don't remember saying "yes" to that huge "thing......

Anyway, my curiosity was finally piqued by some of the listings on Audiogon. I finally ended up with Paradigm Studio 100 V 3's and a Rel Storm 3, driven by the B&K ST 140 amplifier, and initially, the Parasound as a preamp. The dealer was meticulous in setting up the system and actually got them to image to the center fairly well. The upgrade path continued from that point until now, a point where it would be extremely expensive to get improvements in already phenomenal sound. I'm at Audiophile Nirvanna, and the only reason to upgrade now would be to "push the envelope" to see what's possible sonically. I never thought that I'd get to this level of sound at the overall price I paid, even though it's still a lot of money in absolute terms.

The speakers were the biggest steal, even at 5,000 dollars. I know that sounds like a crock of sh--, but they're just amazing. I wrote a review about the loudspeakers because I love them so much, and felt others should at least be TOLD about them. I think they're probably even better than the Calderas were, even about a decade later and at one fourth the price. I sure as hell wouldn't trade them straight up for a pair of mint Calderas unless I did a LOT of extended listening, A/B, and the Calderas were somehow to end up on top, which I doubt would happen.

mdhoover February 03, 2006 16:35

Correction: In that last post, near the end, where I say "Not that only the TOP part in the picture is the speaker!", the word "Not" was supposed to be "Note".

So, it was SUPPOSED to read like this:

"Note that only the TOP part in the picture is the speaker!"

(Please make a "note" of it.)
-Bill

mdhoover February 03, 2006 12:36

Here's a cut and paste from my very long-winded review of them here on Audiogon:

Dimensions and weights, etc. (Rounded off):
Speakers: 19 ½ x 13 ½ x 11 inches, gross shipping weight=84 lbs (each) with boxes
Path Stands: 18 x 13 x 11 ¼ inches, gross shipping weight=92 lbs (each) with boxes,
but without the sand poured in
Overall, in our room (see photo with 4 foot “yard”stick): height is 43 ½ inches
Distance from back wall is between 26 and 28 inches to the BACK of each speaker
Room dimensions: 20 ft 10 in x 15 ½ ft x 9 ft (ceiling height)
Speakers are parallel to the longer wall.

Not that only the TOP part in the picture is the speaker! The bottom part is the STAND, and the weight given above is when they are HOLLOW(!), without the sand poured into them. Mine do have sand poured into them, and the VERY bottom part is the granite surface plate.

-BIll

mdhoover February 02, 2006 21:06

Justin,
I'm not the best guy to ask about room treatments. Check out the photos on my review of the Intuitive Design Summit and you'll see why. Here's a link to one of them: Photo with the massive entertainment center

In my opinion, the system I own sounds so excellent (to me, at least) IN SPITE of the room, certainly not because of it.

mdhoover February 01, 2006 18:41

"Just posting to say that im absolutely in love with my gear now. Thoughts of upgrading have dissappeared(for now).

A VERY good sign, in my opinion!! :))))

Congrats!

Bill

mdhoover January 31, 2006 23:27

Justin:

You said:

Im heading in the two channel only direction.

If I may be so bold as to comment, I would have to agree that that's the RIGHT direction. Just my opinion.

Bill

mdhoover January 14, 2006 20:01