Price Paid:  $180.00 from RAS Audio/Used Hi-Fi

Summary:
I decided to set up my first hi-fi system based on PC. I already owned a Audiotrak Maya44 professional sound board, Kenwood KAF-3030RS amplifier and was thinking about the speakers. I've read all the reviews about the ALR/JORDAN Entry 2M and decided to take the pair - yet I've heard nothing about this label ever before. I can asy I'm not disappointed at all! Entry 2M sound a lot like a studio monitor - analytically, not in a straight Hi-Fi manner. Very clear sound, but the bass is not powerful enough, the mids are somewhat oppressed; Entry 2M are ideal for acoustic bands (ie Radiohead). Electronic music, especially house, are played without sparkles.

Strengths:
Clear detailed sound

Weaknesses:
not 100%-compatible with electronic music

Similar Products Used:
M-Audio SP-%B active studio monitors

Price Paid:  $199.00 from eBay

Summary:
I bought these largely because of the rave reviews here on AudioReview.com, and I have not been disappointed! At their original suggested list price of $600 they might be a bit overpriced, but at $199 they were a HUGE bargain. Overall, these are the best "bookshelf" speakers I've ever owned: smooth, yet detailed, with amazing bass for their compact size (13" high, 8" wide, 11.25" deep). Because they are ported in back, they need to be positioned away from the wall at least 6" and preferebly 12" or more, so it's not really accurate to call them "bookshelf" speakers; plan on buying or building a solid pair of stands. Like any speakers, the ALR/Jordan Entry 2M's have their limits. They won't play ear-bleed loud, and their sound is a bit on the "mellow" or "laid-back" side. Personally, I prefer that; if you like a lot of "presence" in a speaker, these may not be the ones for you. But if you're looking for a compact speaker with an easy-going, musical sound, these are among the very best you'll find. Highly recommended!

Strengths:
Smooth yet detailed. Bass extension to 45-50Hz. Musical. Not at all fatiguing.

Weaknesses:
Plain-jane appearance. Requires large, solid speaker stands.

Similar Products Used:
JBL, Technics, Sony, Celestion, DCM, Klipsch

Price Paid:  $225.00 from ebay

Summary:
These are as good sounding as any $1000 speaker you can buy. My Soliloquy 5.0 was the reigning champ, at $1100 retail, but these are as good. They are a true bargain. The cabinets are plastic finish, however, where the Sols are real wood veneeer, at more than 2x cost. These are razor quick and detailed, but with a nicely controlled high end. Also excellent, very tight and detailed bass without boom. Add a good subwoofer and you have a contender in the $2-3 k class. The midrance has an uncolored presence that is almost spooky! Buy 'em; it's a no brainer if you like clean deatiled sound.

Strengths:
Speed, clarity, lack of coloration, openness

Weaknesses:
This level of sound should have better cabinets at least as an option!

Similar Products Used:
Over 100 high end speakers over 35 years. Soliloquy 5.0 Paradigm active 20, NHT 1.5,Sound Dynamics rt3,Silverline sr12, Paragon Jubilee, Kef 102 LS3/5a, plus many pair of larger speakers.

Price Paid:  $300.00

Summary:
After I'd auditoned these I decided to try them at home just to be sure, but the box was heavy and I missed the train. Instead of waiting 1/2 hour sitting on a wooden bench with a big box on my lap, I set course to the nearest B&W retailer. I thougt I migth as well compare them to the similar prized 601 S2 model which I listened to some month earlier and liked alot.

There's no doubt the ALRs where the better speakers. The two (or four) sounded quiet alike tonally, but while the B&Ws had a slight more soft treble the ALRs had a more convincing sound with deeper and better bass combined with a clearer and cleaner midrange.

The B&Ws seemed to have a boomy midbass character though, which combined with the missing lows could be the result of a misstuned cabinet. Due to their deep, tight bass the ALRs is very good with drum'n'bass and twostep-garage. The bass is very "equalized" in my room: 2,5x4 meters. Voices and acoustic instruments are very organic and open. It's probably their fluid and true reproduction of voices that made me buy them.

Simply HiFi-speakers.

Strengths:
Low distortion, deep bass from size, overall tight and detailed sound.

Weaknesses:
Sound a bit bright.

Similar Products Used:
Dali 808, B&W 601 S2

Price Paid:  $600.00 from Northside Hi Fi (Aspley)

Summary:
I'm a pianist and not an audiophile... for me, these speakers provide an accurate reproduction of a piano sound. They also do a quite good harpsichord !!!

Apart from overall musicality, I find the following features really easy on my ears...
(i) They do not get 'confused' when the piano is being accompanied by different instruments (such as orchestral brass), at the same pitch - ie. it's possible to hear each instrument quite clearly.
(ii) They communicate musical nuance very well
(iii) They don't get 'confused' with a number of heavily syncopated rhythms occurring in different instruments at the same time (ie. in the music of Bartok or Stravinsky).

I use these speakers with a NAD 340 amp and a Cambridge Audio D500 CD player.

Strengths:
Fabulous reproduction of piano, both solo and with chamber or orchestral accompaniment

Weaknesses:
Not as flash looking as some other brands

Similar Products Used:
Similarly priced speakers from B&W, Magnat, Castle, etc.