I did not hear everything at Axpona, and had not intended to, but MBL was the best sounding room for my ears. What was the best part of it was the sound of the MBL system featuring the Radialstrahler 126. The system featured the N31 CD player, all in one Transport/DAC, and N51 integrated amplifier, with MBL power cords, and WireWorld Eclipse 8 speaker cables. I was surprised at the inclusion of the WW Eclipse 8, based on the sound as I expected something “pricier”. The MBL “compact” system had a proper sense of scale and balanced sound for a typical listening space that most audiophiles may have. I was not the only one who felt this way on that Friday. Many were shaking their heads in disbelief stating, unbelievable!. Yes the Radialstrahler sounded better, but would require a larger space, and greater investment across the board. Thus possibly the N31 CD player is the solution. The N31 is built like the proverbial brick S**%-house.
That said, Axpona was biased towards streaming as a primary playback option followed by vinyl. Many exhibitors I met with pivoted when asked for a digital CD based system, recommended I ditch the idea and with streaming. Great option if one is starting out in this hobby with only a handful of CDs. My CD collection exceeds 3,500 and includes 50% that are one-off limited releases and rather obscure. Most titles are not available on streaming services, Tidal and Qobuz specifically. So overall Axpona didn’t offer an obvious single solution, let alone multiple meaningful options. Esoteric, SimAudio, Playback Design, were meh. I investigated Pro-ject’s newest transport the RS2-T, and couldn’t get meaningful answers from the rep, so it is no longer being considered. Apparently there was a Jays CDT2 on display, but I missed that opportunity. I like the idea of a Grimm MU-1 but that does not address my immediate need. Basically an option in search of a DAC. What got weird was my conversation with INNUOS. I had asked for options to upgrade my ZENITH Mk III as the drive is full. We went the whole gamut, with no real answer. Discussions of a possible upgrade program that couldn’t be confirmed, sending the unit back to Portugal, engaging or not engaging a local dealer, and working direct with INNUOS. Ultimately, I’ll need to follow-up with the US INNUOS rep and the Mothership post Axpona.
Regarding speakers offered at Axpona, I’ll add this, at the price point future PS Audio speakers will need to beat the Radialstrahler 126, or 120 IMO. I heard others that also offer stiff competition, but my final impression was these are it.
The N21 seems like a great possible solution to two problems at once much like Al’s Ethos player/DAC. As to the Wireworld speaker cables, if my memory serves me Mike at Suncoast didn’t carry them even though they are “local” to him until he picked up MBL and the US distributor encouraged him to do so. I’ve always thought that David’s company made very good cables and have owned them for 20 years though I only stick with the OCC based cables.
As to the Jays, my CDT3 was delivered in Greenville on Friday and the Holo Spring 3 KTE should show up either today or Tuesday.
Look forward to hearing more regarding your CDT3 Holo Spring 3 KTE experience. Yes the MBL rep indicated WWE8 were used to voice the system and recommended them highly with MBL gear. My experience with WW has been positive as well. BTW my understanding is the MBL N21 is an amplifier, the N31 being the CD transport.
Correct, I recall Al saying that. My point wasn’t clear, Al is ahead of the three prospective customers, and I doubt they produce more than one or two pair a month, maybe less, given there is a 30 month wait. I wouldn’t be surprised if the third person has to wait three years!
I agree with your assessment on physical discs, I have about 3000 and they aren’t going anywhere. I have been buying less mainly because I’m running out of space to store them (I actually have that same problem in the rest of the house …). I did buy about eight CDs at AXPONA so not done yet. Streaming is nice and it’s really easy to check out others suggestions, but unless I download it I don’t own it and I’m hesitant to accept that for music I know I will play again. I just hope the PST has a long functional life.
With regard to speakers, one thing I’ve found is I seem to be more sensitive to lower frequency performance. Lots of folks talk about high frequency delicacy and detail and I hear it, but not to the same degree. But with bass, I noticed many rooms where the bass was just wrong to my ears. The Vivid Spirits being a glaring example since they are an expensive and well-regarded speaker. It is quite likely the room was part, maybe all, of the problem. I will say when I heard the FR30 at PS Audio I was really impressed with the bass, tight, clean and very well articulated, something I don’t hear very often. The Estelon’s (I think they were the Forza?) most certainly are exceptional in the bass, but the Forza are absolutely not the speaker for me. Hopefully I will get to hear the small ones, the YB is the one for my small room, in the near future.
The Forzas require a big big room. But they are less than half the cost of the Extremes. They do only make one pair of Extremes a month. They test the tweeters after they build them and they reject 66% of them. They test all the drivers but the tweeters are the hardest to get perfect. They are quite fussy. Hence the cost.
Does that tweeter carry on down the line to the 101e, 120, & 126 as well. I can imagine the tweeter is quite delicate, assembly difficult and thus a high reject rate.
I hope you mean Alta and not Alto (both companies exist, and both make speakers). I was quite impressed with the Alta speakers. They were playing in 3 different rooms and sounded fantastic with both Infigo Class A solid state monoblocks and with a Rogers stereo tube amp. I can’t remember what was powering them in the 3rd room, but they sounded fantastic there as well.
The top part of the MBL above the radialstrahler and woofer section is the same on every MBL speaker from 126 to the Extremes with the exception the extremes have 4 instead of 2.
The tweeter and midrange drivers are the same on each model. This makes it possible to get a high percentage of the MBL sound no matter which you choose.
If you setup an appointment with Kyomi you can hear the Extremes in an excellent environment. It is dangerous though.
In a week or two you should be able to hear the 101s as well. And the Vivid Spirits with PROPER amplification. I am so sad how they sounded at the show. It was abysmal to say the least.
I was looking forward to hearing the Vivid Spirits at the show as well and share your disappointment. When I spoke with George we had discussed a follow-up at Kyomi after things settle down a bit following Axpona.
The last time I heard MBL Radialstrahler speakers was a very early version powered by Symphonic Line Kraft mono block amplifiers at Salon One in Marshfield, Wisconsin. It was a long time ago. They impressed me then and have evolved into something truly special from what I heard at Axpona.
I think George may have sold two or three pairs of Extremes Saturday night. One of my friends walked in and sat down. I snuck out to stupidly pollute my lungs and after five minutes he burst out the front door laughing loudly.
“Nothing is supposed to sound that good!”
I tend to agree.
One of the purchasers is already working to have a space built specifically for the Extremes. But he waited a day before starting that project.
They sound pretty good in a bad room I’d guess. But those Estelon Forzas sound excellent at half the price while being way more menacing in appearance.
For me I cannot imagine anything topping the MBL Extremes.
I hope not at any rate.
