The reasoning behind Chris’s comment is that B&W speakers are brighter sounding speakers. So a speaker that is NOT bright (and also not dull) will, at first, sound dull in direct comparison. Your ears are used to a brighter sound, even though you have complained about that brighter sound, your ears are still used to it.
Ears adjust over time, so speakers that might sound dull at first could sound more normal over time.
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Exactly… I’m glad you understand what I was rambling on about. Funny part is at first I had a pair of Bose 501’s, enjoyed them, upgraded to a pair of Infinity SM-150, terrible speakers. Got rid of them and got a pair of Boston Acoustics T1000’s, still remember them as a nice speaker. Upgraded again to a pair of massive Polk SRS SDA 1.2tl, huge sound, muddy sound. Then went to a pair of Thiel 2.3 speakers. Terrible sibilence. Upgraded again to the B&W N802…liked them. But decided to go back to the Thiel 3.7. Just never liked how bright they were. Finally in 2005 went back to B&W, but now they only made the 802D’s. First impression was, wow they sound brighter than the N802’s. So you can see i’m confused on how to upgrade next.
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Interesting discussion! Like @onehorsepony, I’ve had a complicated relationship with Thiel speakers over the years. If you can find the right gear to tame their tendency toward brightness, it’s possible to obtain holographic imaging with Thiel speakers. I had a pair of CS-2.2 floorstanders from 1992 to 2025, but they have now been replaced by the Aspen FR10.
The FR20 is a great speaker choice that uses the same tweeter and midrange drivers as the FR30, and those planar drivers are amazing. The late Tony Cordesman, a highly respected audio reviewer, reviewed the FR30 in TAS in 2022 and made the following comment: “the FR30’s midrange and high-frequency sound quality was the best I’ve heard from any speaker to date.” So that means that after reviewing scores of speakers over many decades, Tony discovered that the FR30 produced the best sound he’d ever heard in the upper frequencies. I figured that an endorsement like that made the purchase of a speaker with the planar drivers of the Aspen range a pretty safe bet - so I bought the FR10s. The FR20s should be even better.
The great thing about the Aspen planars is that they are clear and revealing without being harsh or edgy. Even in the FR10, the imaging is great and the soundstage is wide and deep. They are so open and transparent that I have had to learn not to be afraid of a speaker that sounds this revealing because they don’t bring any unnatural exaggeration to the high end (like Thiels and B&Ws too often do). Instead, the music just sounds more real, and even studio recordings sound more “live.”
Before I purchased my FR10s, I asked PS Audio what the cost would be to ship them back if I decided not to keep them. They said it would likely cost a little less than $200 for the pair of FR10s, but I’m sure the FR20s would cost substantially more, given their size and weight. With my FR10s, though, I decided to keep them within the first few minutes of listening to them. With a nod to Tony Cordesman’s observations about his Aspens, my Aspen speakers produce the best mid and high frequencies I’ve ever heard in my home audio system.
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I used to own a pair of Thiel speakers (do not remember the model) three decades ago, and I only kept them for a couple of years because they never sounded right to me. I had all Krell electronics and then changed CD playback to the topline Wadia transport/DAC. Still, I only listened to music a couple of hours per day then lost interest. It was too long ago to discuss details. But I remember brightness was only one factor, they did not produce a realistic image as I remembered. I never liked B&W floor standing speakers either, I have demoed a couple pairs and promptly returned them to the dealer.
Silverline Monte Cristo (their flagship back then) opened my eyes to how great a pair of speakers could sound, and I kept them for the next 20 years. I have not heard anything better from any show yet. But as I got older these monsters are too big for me to handle (300+ lbs each, 7’ tall).
Finally, I tried out PSA FR30. Oh yeah, this pair will be here for another 20 years easily!
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@onehorsepony where in NJ are you? I’d love to hear the FR 20 if you ever get them in, or find a place in the tri state area to hear them.
I actually added some ‘stat supertweeters to my TAD CR1’s for a slightly better sense of air. You’re welcome to come hear them if you are ever in Manhattan. I’ll PM you.
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Anyone in South Jersey that has a pair of FR20’s that I could hear?
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