New Mordaunt Short speakers on the way....

[LeRoy]

http://www.needledoctor.com/

I found a forum thread that discusses a few models of M.S. products and user opinions.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1051655

[frenchmon]

http://www.needledoctor.com/

I found a forum thread that discusses a few models of M.S. products and user opinions.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1051655

Over at the needle doctor??? wow.

I am a member over at AVS forum. I actually visit there pretty much. I've read the reviews on the M.S. and participate in the Canton forum as well as a few other forums over there. The guys over there like to argue a lots if you disagree with them, and most of the guys over there have a hearing problem because they believe all cable is the same, and will take you to the wood shed if you disagree with them...different breed over there.

frenchmon

[LeRoy]

I took all of my gear over to my audio dealer's home about a week and 1/2 ago. I wanted to walk into a different listening environment and listen for any changes in SQ or presentation.

In a nutshell, the MS 902i's continue to be my favorite speaker. I held this opinion of them over the Nola Mini's $695/pr and still hold the same opinion over the M.S. Aviano 2 at $435/pr.

The 902's are immediately engaging and draw me in to the music instantly. The 902's are punchy, pace just right, always remain composed even a higher volumes, and are simply fun to listen to music through. Positioned properly and in the right room...they can sound like small floorstanders.

The AV2's are tonally darker...as best as I can try to give you an idea as to how much darker in tone....like a octave darker. The AV2's are slower too. If you have ever listened to Monitor Audio Bronze speakers then that's the closest example I can give with regard to pace. The only way I can get some snap into the AV2 bass note is to only play reference type recordings. It did not matter which amp I play them through..if the recording is not a benchmark type then the AV2 will sound disengaged and the bass SQ will sound rolled and a little tubby.

While listening to the same exact CD and switching speakers as fast as possible...it was always more exciting and enjoyable to listen to the music through the 902's! The one thing I must give the AV2 their proper respect is with regard to the wave guide for the tweeter. It really makes for a wider/taller soundstage over the 902's.

Concluding....I find the M.S 902i's and the Cambridge Audio S30's preferable to the M.S. AV2's.

[frenchmon]

Who would have ever thought?

Thanks for the review. I thought the AV2's where the upraded version of the 902's? No?

frenchmon

[frenchmon]

Boy...im really tempted to get the 902's to do a shoot out with the Canton 403's.

frenchmon

[LeRoy]

Boy...im really tempted to get the 902's to do a shoot out with the Canton 403's.

frenchmon

Yep, my preconceived notion was the AV2 was a bigger and better 902. While they are certainly bigger I don't think they are better.

The 902's are keepers and if you do get a pair give them 6-8 weeks to fully break in. You might find you prefer the 902's. They are quite remarkable and for so little $$ they will amaze you with the SQ and fun presentation.

LeRoy

[audio amateur]

Thanks for the write up LeRoy, I may be checking out MS in the future. Care to post some pics of the setup(s)?

[frenchmon]

When you say dark, what do you mean? It can mean different things.Are you saying the sound has no sparkle? Or do you mean it has a rich, mellow sound? Are the AV2's just a aid back speker? And perhaps the 902's a bright speaker? Im assuming by pace you mean the temp or speed a which the speaker produce the sound?

Just trying to get a feel.

frenchmon

[frenchmon]

I think I saw a place online where the 902's where going for about $215.

frenchmon

[LeRoy]

Thanks for the write up LeRoy, I may be checking out MS in the future. Care to post some pics of the setup(s)?

If I had a digital camera I most certainly would but I don't have one yet....so, no pics to post at this time

[LeRoy]

When you say dark, what do you mean? It can mean different things.Are you saying the sound has no sparkle? Or do you mean it has a rich, mellow sound? Are the AV2's just a aid back speker? And perhaps the 902's a bright speaker? Im assuming by pace you mean the temp or speed a which the speaker produce the sound?

Just trying to get a feel.

frenchmon

By darker I mean the overall sound has a lower tone and more subdued delivery in their presentation of the music. I suppose it's true to say that 902's have a brighter and livelier overall presentation to the music.

Simply for the sake of an attempt to clarify/explain/contrast.....the tone of a Def Tech or Vienna Acoustics speaker is lower/darker than the tone of a Totem Acoustics speaker or Rega speaker, IMHO.

With regard to pace, the 902s have better speed and rhythmic drive. I think this is due to the smaller driver being easier to drive in the 902's ?!?.

Yes, I think it would be fair to say the AV2 is a laid back speaker that requires only the best recordings to sound it's best and even so...it still remains tonally dark and slower paced in comparison to the 902's

[LeRoy]

I did not yet want to throw the towel on these speakers simply because I think the 902's are better.....so, once the Stello Transport CDT100 (approx$1K retail) and Stello DA 100 Signature DAC (appox $1K retail) arrived of course the AV2s had to get another long listen. In addition to the Stello ( FYI I don't yet own the Stello DAC...I do own the transport though)...there was a big upgrade to the connectivity as well....custom made speaker wire and digital coax cable too....approx value of $800.....

And that's what it took to make the AV2's sound cohesive....bass notes are now on time, the pace is not quite as slow as before but it certainly improved and the overall they still sound tonally dark but now the sonic signature is "intact". I can live with this.

So, how many audio dudes out there would or could justify spending $2K on a digital source, $800.00 for speaker wire and coax cable, plus $700.00 (retail price on Rega Brio 3 Integrated) all for a speaker whose retail price is $595.00/pr... ?

I can't justify spending that much $$ to get the best out of a speaker that costs under $600.00 but it's certainly possible to do so.

I bought the Rega Brio 3 gently used at $453.00, and the speaker wire and coax were gifted to me otherwise I would never have known or experienced the AV2's transformation into a performance category they apparently are capable of IF you are willing to put a higher $$ source and cabling to extract that performance. I am going to have to give the Musical Fidelity VDAC some play time as I still have to compare the VDAC to the Stello DAC.

Here are the prices I paid: Rega Brio 3 $453.00, Morduant-Short Aviano 2 $435/pr, Musical Fidelity V-DAC $299.00, Stello CDT 100 Transport $850.00, IC's and speaker wire were gifted to me. Total system price, $2037.00

[frenchmon]

LeRoy Thats what part of this hobby is all about. Thats part of the fun in my opinion. I sit here everyday wondering what certain gear will sound like in my system. To bad i am not a bachelor. How is the Stello outfit compared to the XRay. I don't think there is nothing wrong with dark speakers as long as you mate them with brighter gear.

Just for your information, The Musical Fidelity X-CAN V8P has a very interesting write up in the latest issue of Stereophile. It seems that the latter versions of the X-CAN, the X-CAN V8P headphone amp/DAC is also a tubed preamp. You can run it as a dedicated preamp or run it with your preamp amp combination. Im trying to get more information over at the head-fi forum. It seems a few over there have been running it as an preamp. Its not clear if it passes through the tube stage while running as an preamp. I called over to Upscale audio and they have no more X-Cans in stock as they are discontinued with a new version coming out in June or July and they have one open box X-Ray V8 DAC at $1050 if you are interested. I think I want to see what the new X-CAN is like...im sure its going to be a improvement over the discontinued X-CAN. Their is a new Musical Fidelity supplier to the States apparently making it difficult to get the newer stock in to the stores. Upscale is not sure if they will carry Musical Fidelity any more and I've noticed that stores like Music Direct and Acoustic sounds really don't have stock any more as well.

frenchmon

[LeRoy]

How is the Stello outfit compared to the XRay. I don't think there is nothing wrong with dark speakers as long as you mate them with brighter gear.

Just for your information, they have one open box X-Ray V8 DAC at $1050 if you are interested..... Upscale is not sure if they will carry Musical Fidelity any more and I've noticed that stores like Music Direct and Acoustic sounds really don't have stock any more as well.

frenchmon

Hi Frenchmon, you're right ....nothing wrong with tonally dark speakers as long as they are matched with compatible equipment and it seems rather by accidental discovery that the Rega, Stello, and Blue Marble Audio speaker wire and I.C. are quite a matching system.

I do like the Stello quite a lot but have not had an opportunity to do a direct comparison to the XRAY yet. I will eventually do so and give a mini write up once I get all the gear back home.

Thanks for the info on the V8. I am no longer going to pursue the possibility of the V8 since I got the Stello Transport already. Besides, after listening to the Naim DAC for the last week I already know what any other DAC is up against... so....might as well just strive for compatibility.

Have a nice day