You just don’t understand their size until you see them in person. They dwarf the FR10.
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In addition to sounding nice, the FR20’s have a visual impact that one needs to see in person. They are visually stunning. The FR30’s even moreso.
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Initial impressions are very good. Midrange is much more detailed and refined with the FR20. Bass doesn’t seem as punchy as it did on the FR10, but the overall balance is improved. ‘Wow’ and some expletives were the first things out of my mouth listening to the FR20 for the first time and I consider that a good sign. I expect time is on their side. Imaging is more three dimensional and sound-staging wider with the 20 as well.
I haven’t listened to the 802D3s in a couple years and audio memory is garbage, but my gut tells me the FR20 is as refined and a better overall balance. I always struggled to get usable low frequency out of the 802s and that isn’t a real problem with the FR20. I do notice that they need to be driven a little louder to really get the most from them. At very low volume (background music) they are much thinner than the FR10.
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The “need to be driven louder” is not the speakers themselves. That changes based on amplifiers. With the M1200’s driving my FR20’s, I have tons of magic at low volume levels. With my Conrad Johnson tube amp, on the other hand, the volume actually needs to be a little louder to achieve magic.
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IME the cj’s in general don’t push a lot of current. Case in point driving my SabrinaX speakers. Adequate but more volume was best as you say. It is all about synergy.
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The point is that the CJ’s excel in magic, yet the M1200’s have more magic at lesser volume levels, and that the amp has something to do with a speaker having magic at various volume levels.
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I have noticed a similar situation when using my HiFi Rose RA180 vs the Michi S5. The Rose tends to have a bit more punch at very low volume. That said, the Michi runs circles around the Rose at moderate listening levels.
I do wonder if the real culprit is the P5 pre-amp and the gain stage out to the amp. The Rose is an integrated so not really comparing apples-to-apples.
Additionally, I think some of the ‘thinness’ I am experiencing is also in direct relation to the tuning of the speaker as compared to the much more bass forward FR10. I also don’t think it is a problem per se either. Just different.
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I assume you are talking Parasound P5 preamp?
No, sorry, Michi P5 pre-amp.
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Maybe the more refinement is due to the bigger ribbons compared to the FR10. From what I’ve heard from various reports is the FR10 is a bit more bassy and the FR20 has a more natural treatment in the bass. Would you agree with that assessment?
I would agree with that assessment.
I second that. This is one of the main reasons that I do not want to replace the M1200. If I ever change amp, I need to make sure the new amp can do the same magic at lower volume.
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Going to upgrade to the Michi P5 Series 2 preamp and see if that gives me a little more bang at lower volumes. Overall, the FR20 are absolutely fantastic. Still breaking them in, but they are so dynamic. Chocolate Chip Trip cranked up is a spectacle to behold. I have never experienced it as fully on another speaker.
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There’s a series 2 pre on Audiogon.
Thanks for the heads up. I just bought the series 1 from a local store that had it as a demo unit. They are going to let me trade up with no restock fee. Otherwise I would just have to sale the series 1 and probably come out in worse shape.
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So I changed the DAC volume out from 80 to 100 and noticed a big improvement. Probably should have tried that first 
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Yes, with a big, clean sounding amp and front end like that, you are going to love dynamic material and things with deep bass.
If you want to flap your pant legs, I have a few tracks to recommend.
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Sure Chris… send me what you got! I’m wearing shorts, but that’ll just make the effect that much more fun…
Oh, and btw, fantastic job on the FR20… they are killer speakers!
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I’m glad you’re enjoying them so far. They seem to smooth out and improve a good deal over the first couple hundred hours or more and so I hope you like them even more over time.
Classical music:
Felix Hell, Organ Sensation - track 7 - prelude & fugue on the name BACH
Kodo Mondohead - Daraijin
I have a bunch of EDM tracks to recommend if you are into that. Some of them are a little wild. An example of that would be:
Yheti - Dissolve
I also mentioned a few high impact things on our AXPONA show demo list like:
Vital Techtones - drums stop, no good
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something tells me you like the FR20 
they have dynamics and finesse, tons of finesse, and magic
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