Having just acquired these and listening to them for the last few weeks, I agree entirely with Steve’s review. I would add that they have the rare ability to sound great with good recordings and to even sound very good with poor/mediocre material. I’ve downsized from a home with a dedicated home theater to a small condo, so now I’m doing 2 channel home theater and these image so well I don’t feel a center channel is either necessary or desired. I’ve also come to realize how little all the surround channels contribute to the movie watching experience on most films. With a good pair of front speakers such as these, it’s possible to have a very satisfying home theater experience.
Mark Fontaine thanks for the info...I’m about to downsize from Focal floor standers and seriously considering these with a center channel and 2 subs for home theater/2 channel. I have a pair of GoldenEar SuperSat 50s on the bedroom tv and I love the ribbon tweeter.
I'll vouch for the effectiveness of passive radiators! I picked up a mint condition pair of early-1990s Klipsch KG 3.2s the March day that we all went into quarantine. They are the best sounding speakers I have ever owned, and I've been an audiophile since the 1960s! 96 dB sensitivity and a smooth, rich sound all the way through their range. Their bass and low-midrange is most impressive to me, even at low to medium listening levels, offering a tactility that I have not experienced before now, even with the larger speakers that I have previously owned.
A high pass might help, but the trouble with passive radiators, and even ported speakers to a smaller degree, is that low frequency info will still be produced in the radiators (or ports) unless you pass pretty darned high. It probably won’t be much and may even be welcomed, but it won’t be “accurate”. Sealed and planar designs would work better when high-passed. Great review though, Steve. Sounds like a real winner at reasonable volumes, where most of us do our real listening.
GREAT REVIEW Steve! I just purchased the Aon2s and am VERY impressed! They have many of the qualities of the magnepan speakers with the sensitivity/dynamics of box speakers. These are keepers.
When watching a speaker review I find it interesting when the reviewer compares it with two other similiar speakers. That way I can better understand what the high points really are.
I just rewatched the interview you had with Billy Drummond yesterday. That was one of my favourite interviews of yours. He seems like such a great guy (and lawdy, lawdy does he ever own a lot of gear!).
Hey Steve here’s a few requests for future speaker reviews 1) brand new iteration of 2ce Sig Vandy’s 2) Spatial s (ribbon tweeter powered woofer model or passive dome ) 3) interested to see if u are a fan of newVolti’s Razz (esp in comparison to your Klipschs ) Thank you
No !!!!! another bookshelf speaker. Keep them coming.😀 let's see if we can get to 10,000 new bookshelf speaker by the end of the year. Oh and keep them DACs coming to.
Thank you Steve for your reviews, and have purchased products based on your spot on product reviews. Never disappointed. Any coffee mugs or Audiophiliac t-shirts to help support your work? Will sign up for the $3 Patreon.
Thanks for another great review. I've been excited about these speakers since they were announced at CEDIA, happy to finally see some reviews. I'll probably be considering these against the Revel M16 and Kef Q350 (and maybe the Klipsch RP600M). Any thoughts on how they compare? Thanks again!
I'm not a big fan of passive radiators. The bass is considerably slower than bass reflex or front ported. I don't know if all of them have it but a pair of speakers I had and then a subwoofer with passive radiator, both showed some bass bloating.
I kept wondering how low these went after seeing them on youtube in several videos but at 45hz being the lowest it goes and the price that these are at I think my Ascend Acoustic Seirra 2EX pair. Anyone heard both extensively?
Also i think the best affordable speakers are : Wharfedale Diamond 11 series , EVO series and Elysian series designed by Peter Comeau. They sound and look like speakers that cost 3 or 4 times more , they are unique and very good built. I HAVE SPOKEN :D
I just got my first ribbon tweeter in an Adam Audio studio monitor. Think I'm a convert and the next time I upgrade my main speakers that's going to be a requirement.
Hey Steve do you really think goldenear is as much as amazing brand as they get praised? Especially their triton reference speakers are they really like best for less money(relatively comparing to 100k pair speakers?)
PMC and ATC speakers are way much better than any Focal. Passive with Transmission line is beyond epic. Passive is better than ported., but even very difficult is Transmission line, due to resources and funding and money. Very rare companies use passive TL, . I owned a RTL TDL3 in the 90s, which I still have.
Hey Steve, any chance you ever had a chance to listen to Sandy's earlier work with Definitive technology. I have been using the bp7002 for the last 10 years and I am still enjoying them. Would love to hear your thoughts if any. Great shirt!!
Hey Steve, have you had a chance to listen to the Martin Logan 35xti? I think they're comparable to the BRX, 6.5 Driver, and ribbon tweeter. Similarly priced as well. Trying to decide between these two. Currently have a pair of Emotiva b1+ and really loving the ribbon tweeter, i just want more mid bass so looking for an upgrade.
@steve I am new to the audiophile world, but love the sound of these speakers. What would you recommend for an integrated amp to power these? I am looking at the Marantz PM 7000M. Really would like to wire it to my desktop PC, but love the ease of use with Airplay technology. Thanks.
Great shirt great review...waiting for my buchardts s 300s...almost thought...um...until the very end of your review...don't want a sub...hope the buchies deliver as reviewed by you and others...thank you!!!☮🕊✌☮🕊✌
I have a pair. I love them but didn’t know how good they were until I connected them to 30 watts of pure class A Luxman m600. They bloomed, turning well defined black and white to technicolor. Like Steve’s shirt? Play fairly load, not fussy on placement either. Definitely not a competitor of golden ear products.
Thank you Steve. I went and listened to these speakers and bought them. The sound was magnificent as you said. Obvious they had a great amplifier. Now I don’t yet own an amplifier and I am looking to buy one soon. Would you be so kind as to recommend one great budget amp that would be a perfect match for these speakers?
Man, now that Sandy is retired, maybe ya can get him on and do an interview on his life in audio. It'll be great now that the gloves are off and he can speak freely.
How can so many bookshelf speakers sound so different? Physics allows only so many variances and permutations... Still looking for the true ABX blind tests...lol
Lip is too small to cause diffraction on woofer the AMT has a radiation pattern that again will not be affected much if at all by the lip and its location.
That’s a good question, the BRX makes a hell of a lot more bass, has much cleaner treble. The P3 is more musical and downright seductive. Both are great in their own ways
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac thanks for the clarification...sounds like an audition is in order. Luckily, I’ve found a dealer with both not far from London!
If there is ONE thing I really hate it is companies who don't mention the PRICE of their products on their website. Such weird and fake 'exclusivity'.... I stopped browsing after that.
Why didn't you listen with a sub so that you could let us know how "BIG" and loud it sounds in that case? I suspect that not too many of your subscribers would consider these without a sub. What do you think?
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac - But didn’t you make the point that these little speakers might be more successful at playing loudly if they were accompanied by a subwoofer?
The blue speakers behind me are Tekton 2-10 Perfect SET, review coming soon
Love the philosophy behind the Tekton
speakers. Look forward to your review 👍
Excellent Show... i got it-t.y.
They are #1 on my list can't wait to hear your review.
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac I’m thinking on getting a pair so looking forward to it
Thanks Steve ! Love your passion for audio !
Having just acquired these and listening to them for the last few weeks, I agree entirely with Steve’s review. I would add that they have the rare ability to sound great with good recordings and to even sound very good with poor/mediocre material. I’ve downsized from a home with a dedicated home theater to a small condo, so now I’m doing 2 channel home theater and these image so well I don’t feel a center channel is either necessary or desired. I’ve also come to realize how little all the surround channels contribute to the movie watching experience on most films. With a good pair of front speakers such as these, it’s possible to have a very satisfying home theater experience.
Mark Fontaine thanks for the info...I’m about to downsize from Focal floor standers and seriously considering these with a center channel and 2 subs for home theater/2 channel. I have a pair of GoldenEar SuperSat 50s on the bedroom tv and I love the ribbon tweeter.
I am simply amazed by your passion. You are so descriptive about things.
Appreciate you very much 🙏
You get a like just for that awesome shirt Steve!
GrandmasterAJ Nice.
Steve . Question ......is it possible to test and review loudspeakers and
Amps. Combinations that suited the best to each other.....
I've owned mine from the first dealer shipments. Once broken in these are just incredible to listen deep into the music, like a headphone deep !
I'll vouch for the effectiveness of passive radiators! I picked up a mint condition pair of early-1990s Klipsch KG 3.2s the March day that we all went into quarantine. They are the best sounding speakers I have ever owned, and I've been an audiophile since the 1960s! 96 dB sensitivity and a smooth, rich sound all the way through their range. Their bass and low-midrange is most impressive to me, even at low to medium listening levels, offering a tactility that I have not experienced before now, even with the larger speakers that I have previously owned.
I had a pair for over 15 years, and they are so great. Be sure and get some Kimber 4VS or better and thank me later. :)
Thanks for the tip @@nigel7880 🔥 I will look into the Kimbers!
Golden ear BRX or Buchardt s400 mk2?
I'm happy to listen to your review about GoldenEar, because here in Italy they are not known very much and I always wondered how they sound: thanks!
Great little speakers! Hey get the Tekton speakers reviewed sooon! They should br fabulous.
A high pass might help, but the trouble with passive radiators, and even ported speakers to a smaller degree, is that low frequency info will still be produced in the radiators (or ports) unless you pass pretty darned high. It probably won’t be much and may even be welcomed, but it won’t be “accurate”. Sealed and planar designs would work better when high-passed.
Great review though, Steve. Sounds like a real winner at reasonable volumes, where most of us do our real listening.
GREAT REVIEW Steve! I just purchased the Aon2s and am VERY impressed! They have many of the qualities of the magnepan speakers with the sensitivity/dynamics of box speakers. These are keepers.
“That wood just came through so well” oh my!😂😂😂
How does this compare with the Martin Logan 35XT? Especially the detail and high end of the AMT ribbons in both?
wonder how these would compare to the Elac Carina?
Liked the review, bit distracted by Tektons & Tshirt!
yes...hoping something to rub some of the magic on the tektons
😎
When watching a speaker review I find it interesting when the reviewer compares it with two other similiar speakers.
That way I can better understand what the high points really are.
Has anyone had a chance to compare the BRX to the Martin Logan Motion 35xti?
Thank you Steve.. excellent..
Many of us still want to see a TRUE abx blind test for a variety of products..
Thank you
I just rewatched the interview you had with Billy Drummond yesterday. That was one of my favourite interviews of yours. He seems like such a great guy (and lawdy, lawdy does he ever own a lot of gear!).
Just got lucky and was able to pick up a pair for $760, I am ecstatic!
Hey Steve
here’s a few requests for future speaker reviews
1) brand new iteration of 2ce Sig Vandy’s
2) Spatial s (ribbon tweeter powered woofer model or passive dome )
3) interested to see if u are a fan of newVolti’s Razz (esp in comparison to your Klipschs )
Thank you
A like just for "don't give me no lip". Great review anyway, so I wish I could give you two likes.
Thanks!
Those ribbon tweeters look like they may have been sourced from the same folks that make the folded tweeter in my Adam T5V's.
Yes AMT tweeters. In Adam or HEDD.
More Spinach and Eve Audio.
Emotiva also offers this folded ribbon Heil design, although I doubt theses firms all source from the same factory.
No !!!!! another bookshelf speaker. Keep them coming.😀 let's see if we can get to 10,000 new bookshelf speaker by the end of the year. Oh and keep them DACs coming to.
So happy you are back on the grind. Small speakers help a lot with room boundaries
Damn that Pass Class A amp you've got there Steve. I have always been a fan of Nelson Pass amps. Thanks for the review.
You can purchase the BRX (or Aon series GoldenEars) as well as the Amp Camp (pass kits) amps and you will have a semblance of his set up.
Reminded me of my Definitive Technology SM65 speakers. No wonder since the bloodline is the same.
Steve, I really like the way you can discribe the sound from everything you got going on :-) I’m new to this channel and love to see more from you 👍🏻
Welcome to the channel, there’s over 900 videos already posted here, plenty to see
My first thought is, are these 3 times better than the Emovita Airmotiv B1+ that everybody was raving about in the very recent past.
Absolutely phenomenal mods and highs. Bass is like you're missing half a speaker
Thank you Steve for your reviews, and have purchased products based on your spot on product reviews. Never disappointed. Any coffee mugs or Audiophiliac t-shirts to help support your work? Will sign up for the $3 Patreon.
Thanks for another great review. I've been excited about these speakers since they were announced at CEDIA, happy to finally see some reviews. I'll probably be considering these against the Revel M16 and Kef Q350 (and maybe the Klipsch RP600M). Any thoughts on how they compare? Thanks again!
Happy NewYear Steve ! Please stay healthy🙏🏼
Thank you for this, Steve. I'm a ribbon guy in general and I've been intrigued by the idea of trying one of the GoldenEar monitors on the desktop.
I'm not a big fan of passive radiators. The bass is considerably slower than bass reflex or front ported. I don't know if all of them have it but a pair of speakers I had and then a subwoofer with passive radiator, both showed some bass bloating.
how would these sound with a Rega Brio? how would the compare with the Elac Carina?
I kept wondering how low these went after seeing them on youtube in several videos but at 45hz being the lowest it goes and the price that these are at I think my Ascend Acoustic Seirra 2EX pair. Anyone heard both extensively?
Also i think the best affordable speakers are : Wharfedale Diamond 11 series , EVO series and Elysian series designed by Peter Comeau. They sound and look like speakers that cost 3 or 4 times more , they are unique and very good built. I HAVE SPOKEN :D
I'd like to see a review of it compared to the Living Sound similarly sized speaker with similar but different drive system for bass.
I just got my first ribbon tweeter in an Adam Audio studio monitor. Think I'm a convert and the next time I upgrade my main speakers that's going to be a requirement.
The word I would use (condensing what you used into one word) is they sound natural
Please explain how passive radiator works.
Passive radiators when implemented well are amazing
Close enough for Rock and Roll. Next Question: Close enough for Classical or Heaviest Metal?
Romantic period Music>
The Heaviest??
I think that lip/tray is there to provide a place for spare change, paper clips, keys, etc. (LOL)
calll it a chin. paint it white to match Mr. Gross' beard, makes it sound more like SET.
Here’s hoping that the big magnets on drivers don’t suck up those metal things.
Hey Steve do you really think goldenear is as much as amazing brand as they get praised? Especially their triton reference speakers are they really like best for less money(relatively comparing to 100k pair speakers?)
An AMT tweeter not a ribbon not like a ribbon in any way shape or form. It's a pleated bellows style diaphragm, not a thin metal ribbon.
Those Tektons.
Yeah, also looking forward. Super SET with 2x 10"
It feels like that yellow folded-ribbon tweeter is in every budget speaker these days.
Sir Circus Cattle
Not a bad thing.
Think of all the shrill entry-level tweeters prevalent last Century!
Enjoy.
PMC and ATC speakers are way much better than any Focal.
Passive with Transmission line is beyond epic.
Passive is better than ported., but even very difficult is Transmission line, due to resources and funding and money. Very rare companies use passive TL, .
I owned a RTL TDL3 in the 90s, which I still have.
Do you like Prodigy 1?
Mr Guttenberg have you ever reviewed the JBL 4412 Monitors?
Wonder how these BRX would pair with my Hegel H90. I just wanted to order a pair of KEF R3. But this review stoped me a little.
Happens all the time.
Hey Steve, any chance you ever had a chance to listen to Sandy's earlier work with Definitive technology. I have been using the bp7002 for the last 10 years and I am still enjoying them. Would love to hear your thoughts if any. Great shirt!!
Alessandro Paladino same here. Same model. 7002’s. Outstanding speakers!
I thought I was the only one. I am using them in a 2 channel set up. What are you using for amp and pre?? L.p. or digital or both?
Hey Steve, have you had a chance to listen to the Martin Logan 35xti? I think they're comparable to the BRX, 6.5 Driver, and ribbon tweeter. Similarly priced as well. Trying to decide between these two. Currently have a pair of Emotiva b1+ and really loving the ribbon tweeter, i just want more mid bass so looking for an upgrade.
@steve I am new to the audiophile world, but love the sound of these speakers. What would you recommend for an integrated amp to power these? I am looking at the Marantz PM 7000M. Really would like to wire it to my desktop PC, but love the ease of use with Airplay technology. Thanks.
Ribbon horns & Unity Horn Designs
Are the future , (so are PWM Transformerless daisy Chain SET ) -
As a synergistic pairing
I just got the Aon 3 last year. Any point in upgrading?
What would you rather own, this or the LS-50 Meta (both are the same price)?
as far as price goes...and yes I'm a noobie...I'm sure they are twice as good as my Emo B1+'s, but 8x better?
Hi Steve. Please tell the price in the start of the vd? It could be nice :-) Thx
10:12 is the price
“Definitive proof “ good one!
How are these compared to the G three, Genelec?
Please review some Marten Design speakers.
How would you compare this to Kef R3? Thx.
Wow 133rd view🙏🎧🎶😘 beautiful Steve . Golden Steven 🎧🙏🎵😉
Great shirt great review...waiting for my buchardts s 300s...almost thought...um...until the very end of your review...don't want a sub...hope the buchies deliver as reviewed by you and others...thank you!!!☮🕊✌☮🕊✌
I hope you pair those tektons with the decware se84 Steve.
Is that a copy of John Lennon's, "A Spaniard in the Works" in the background?
So if you have to choose between evoke 10 and this?which is the winner
So basically a definitive technology with a ribbon?
Diggin the Tie Dye !!
Sp which one you like the most between this and the evoke 10, thanks
What do you recommend for a norm setup to get a high pass to passive speaker?
Great review Steve!👍😊
Steve can you do a review of Boenicke w5 ‘s
I have a pair. I love them but didn’t know how good they were until I connected them to 30 watts of pure class A Luxman m600. They bloomed, turning well defined black and white to technicolor. Like Steve’s shirt? Play fairly load, not fussy on placement either. Definitely not a competitor of golden ear products.
Thank you Steve. I went and listened to these speakers and bought them. The sound was magnificent as you said. Obvious they had a great amplifier. Now I don’t yet own an amplifier and I am looking to buy one soon. Would you be so kind as to recommend one great budget amp that would be a perfect match for these speakers?
Philharmonic BMR monitors. By Philharmonic. Or Salk Audio version. Please review!
Nice tie dye!
Man, now that Sandy is retired, maybe ya can get him on and do an interview on his life in audio. It'll be great now that the gloves are off and he can speak freely.
What are those blue speakers in the background?
Tekton 2-10 Perfect Set, review to come.
Thank you Steve from Dublin Ireland. The passion is in the music 🎶🎶🎶it shows in your review s👍
How can so many bookshelf speakers sound so different?
Physics allows only so many variances and permutations...
Still looking for the true ABX blind tests...lol
Again, the AMT is not operationally a ribbon transducer regardless of how many times the golden eared ones claim it is.
Yes but their implementation of the tweeter sounds fantastic in their designs.
Have you reviewed the aon 3s Steve ?
I did for CNET
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac thanks for reply much appreciated💪
HSU CCB-8
I wanna hear about dem Tektons:)
Budget speakers , costing more than I earn in a month, am I in the wrong store ??
No, last week I reviewed a $100 Sennheiser headphone and $400/pair Emotiva towers. I cover all price ranges. Thanks for watching!
Lip is too small to cause diffraction on woofer the AMT has a radiation pattern that again will not be affected much if at all by the lip and its location.
I'm curious about the Tektons in the background.
WTH are those blue boxes behind you?!
Tekton's. www.tektondesign.com/
Fat Rat um, I’ve put Luxie aside for the mo and I’m running a NAD/Advance Acoustic preamp-amp combo. Lots of headroom lol...
Those look kick-ass !! gO steve-O-!! 😆
Can the speaker play musik i want? My klipsch stadium are better.
"YO BRO!!!!!" DON'T GIVE ME NO LIP"
...As in port noise complaint?
Yes. Lot's of machinery, cranes and horns blowing all day and night.
Anyone know how it compares to the Harbeth P3ESR XD/40th anniversary?
That’s a good question, the BRX makes a hell of a lot more bass, has much cleaner treble. The P3 is more musical and downright seductive. Both are great in their own ways
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac thanks for the clarification...sounds like an audition is in order. Luckily, I’ve found a dealer with both not far from London!
Steve, which speaker do you prefer, BRX or LS50 Meta?
Both great, if I had to pick Meta
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thanks Steve
Merci, vous solutionnez mon problème de choix !
If there is ONE thing I really hate it is companies who don't mention the PRICE of their products on their website.
Such weird and fake 'exclusivity'.... I stopped browsing after that.
Hey Steve, are these powered?
No
But Goldenear is working on powered bookshelf streaming speaker. Last I heard it should be out sometime next year
The tweeter looks nominally similar to the Emotiva unit - are they sourced from the same company?
Totally different! The AMT in the GoldenEar sounds much more natural and crosses over properly in these speakers.
Why didn't you listen with a sub so that you could let us know how "BIG" and loud it sounds in that case? I suspect that not too many of your subscribers would consider these without a sub. What do you think?
Gee, I think I made the point these little speakers have remarkable deep bass, 45 Hz, in my room. Most two channel buyers will have no need for a sub.
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac - But didn’t you make the point that these little speakers might be more successful at playing loudly if they were accompanied by a subwoofer?
Good morning cool shit