I found some Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands, what do you think?

[kevinc666]

After hours of critical listening and relentless comparison between the two I am ready to give my short reviews.
The Sony are some of the most detailed and accurate speakers I have ever heard, They're quick and the dynamics are great. There are details I hear in music I simply have not heard before. On Alice in Chains Unplugged (one of my reference CD’s) I can hear some stray fret buzzing on the guitar, I have never heard it before and it comes through so clearly on these, I can even hear mumbling conversation between band members during intros to songs. And just about everything I listen to its the same thing, just minor details other speakers left out. Sound stage is huge and accurate, you can pinpoint every instrument on stage they simply disappear when you start listening. Mids and highs just simply shine, bass response is good, tight, punchy, it just does not go all the way to the bottom but hey that's what subs are for.
The only minor drawback is when listening to these at high volume the mids can get a bit fatiguing on some passages, I have read some other reviews where the same thing was observed, even on the M9’s. I might try and see if there is a fix for this in the future but really not a big deal, their attention to detail and accuracy more than make up for it and I don't really listen that loudly anymore.
The Viennas are also a great speaker that not much escapes getting reproduced with up most accuracy. These don't have the same details as the Sony but superb nonetheless. The sound stage is wide and full. These are just an easy to listen to speaker with no fatigue. These are also a very transparent speaker as well, they too also just disappear. Highs are shimmering mids are full and since I am a drummer the snare sound particularly excellent, Every ghost note and every subtle ride cymbal tap hi hat sizzle comes through accurately and completely just like they were right there. Vocals sound natural and come through clearly. bass response on these are great as well, surprising considering their size, tight, responsive, natural and a touch more substantial than the Sonys. As with the Sonys though, they sound better with a sub. The only drawback on these are that some albums are mildly laid back in the mids. I am guessing that's why they made the ES line as I hear they addressed this issue. It does not really bother me and they sound fantastic.
Both of these are excellent speakers and I enjoy listening to both immensely. Both are fussy about set up but not really too bad. In the end I have to give it to the Sonys just for details I don't hear on the Viennas, and that's about it, they are different but both have their own unique magic and I can highly recommend either to any serious music fanatics.

[harley .guy07]

I got to see those Sony's one time in passing at someones home but was not able to hear them, they do look pretty cool though and seem to be built well. I don't know who makes their drivers for that speaker but their newest ES speaker use mostly Scan-Speak drivers I believe and they receive very good reviews. It is kind of odd how companies like Yamaha and Sony which make mostly mid-fi products will every once in a while come out with a out of this world speaker. It makes me wonder why they can do that but can't seem to make preamps and amps that can run them to their best. Where did you find the Sony's at. I have not seen them in a while anywhere for sale?

[kevinc666]

I found them on C List, Their ES stuff was pretty good I am using a Sony STR DA2 ES as a pre amp with them and it does sound damn good, I did have a Adcom 5.1 theater pre and to me it does a better job than that. The 2/2.1 channel is uncolored and pure. When I get a bigger place I intend to put these in a 2.1 set up with a better pre amp.

[frenchmon]

I got to see those Sony's one time in passing at someones home but was not able to hear them, they do look pretty cool though and seem to be built well. I don't know who makes their drivers for that speaker but their newest ES speaker use mostly Scan-Speak drivers I believe and they receive very good reviews. It is kind of odd how companies like Yamaha and Sony which make mostly mid-fi products will every once in a while come out with a out of this world speaker. It makes me wonder why they can do that but can't seem to make preamps and amps that can run them to their best. Where did you find the Sony's at. I have not seen them in a while anywhere for sale?

Both companies make some nice hi end audio amps....but Sonys high end stuff never makes it to the states.

[kevinc666]

I picked up a new to me amp yesterday and it made these Sonys absolutely sing! Its a ATI AT1502. I have not tried it on the Viennas yet but will soon. The guy I got it from had a ton of high end gear, Bryston, Quad, Lexicon, Edge, Threshold, Moon, not using it, just stacked up everywhere, and its all for sale, well thats the impression I got anyway. He was a speaker designer/ engineer for Green Mountain Audio and knows his stuff.
Anyway ecstatically happy for the time being.

[IMG][/IMG]

[harley .guy07]

ATI are good amps from what I hear from the owners of them. That was one brand of amp I kept my eyes on when I was shopping for amps before I lucked onto my Pass. It seems like ATI likes to build upgrade ability with their stuff seeing how they offer amps that have "modules" that can take the amp from a two channel up to a seven channel or 9 channel amp. Pretty cool idea. The 1502 is one of their 2 channel only amps I believe but still they are built very well.

[kevinc666]

The thing is built extremely well, zero noise between songs or on pause. It it shallow but really heavy, Huge Heat sinks but just gets lukewarm even after hours of play. I am extremely happy and impressed with it!

[kevinc666]

Kind of funny and strange story, I posted this same thread on another forum and got told by 2 different people now that all amps sound the same and that "there is no scientific proof that different amps make a difference in sound, watts are watts". I guess no one told all these different amp manufactures not to waste their time in researching and developing all these amps. Or prestigious electronics engineers not to waste their time because in the end they will all sound the same. Why use different configurations, designs, components, if in the end it will sound the same as your competitors amp? just kind of a ignorant statement to me.
All I did was change out the amp and messed with nothing else and got a different sound, I was really baffled that they said this. Kind of like saying all speakers sound the same to me. I guess if that's what they have to tell themselves to get out of experimenting with different amps then more power to them. One guy said he had four ATI amps and said they run dead silent. well that implies that you have had experience with others and they do not, hence they do not all sound alike. And unless you bought all four at the same time why waste your time tracking 4 of the same brand if they all sound alike? oh just wanted them to match in looks?
I just had the mods close the thread and if this turns into a useless debate then I will close this as well, thanks.
Thoughts anyone?