...or I have no life.
I buy new speakers and listen to them and never directly compare them. So I brought out the Monitor Audio RS6's, Mobile Fidelity OML 1's and the JBL Studio 530's. I did not include the Ascend CBM 170SE's since they are single wire and I planned on using the Rocket 44's. The 44's having banana plugs are quick to switch out. I kept the speaker stands where they had been for the JBL's and switched the JBL's with the OML1's. When it was the RS6's turn I simply placed them in front of the speaker stands.
I listened to a song one time through each speaker. I only did this for 3 cycles. I did not worry about level matching since I was doing this for fun. The Krell S-300i has a numeric display for volume levels so level matching would have been fairly easy once levels were determined.
The Monitor Audio RS6's were the big losers in my room with my system. They have good bass but not much else to recommend. The tweeters are bright and there is no warmth in the music. Cold and sterile in quick comparison with the other speakers. I think someone with an overly warm tube amp would like these speakers.
The Mobile Fidelity OML 1's were placed on the stands and I did not change the toe-in. I had never used as much toe-in with the OML 1's as I do with the Studio 530's. That much toe-in was not a bad thing. The competition was now between the two stand mount models.
Imaging was better with the Studio 530's.
Soundstaging was deeper with the OML 1's.
Treble was more open with the OML 1's and a little sweeter.
Instrumental textures were best through the 530's.
Vocal's had more clarity with the 530's but more musical when played by the OML 1's.
Bass was a little deeper with the OML 1's but quicker with more texture to the instruments from the JBL's.
The OML 1's play louder. Not as loud as the RS6's.
We have a tie for first place. The OML 1's are just beautiful sounding speakers. The JBL's are very analytical speakers that entertain with information about the recording. The OML 1's trade some inner detail for a very musical overall presentation. Currently I am enjoying the beauty of the OML 1's.
The Monitor Audio RS6's hold no interest for me any longer. I need to figure a way to unload them. I am thinking of selling the speakers with the Onkyo A-9555 and the Marantz CD5001.