Price Paid:  $800.00 from used

Summary:
Wow is all I can say when listening to these speakers. I have had some pretty mighty contenders through my living room. Spica TC-50, NHT 2.5i, Vandersteen 2ce signature, JM lab Electra 906. The NHT and Vandersteen make more bass, but adding a sub made this the best speaker I have ever had in my home. It makes listening to speakers with tweeters seem obsolete. The transparency, depth, dynamic range and most obvious, clarity are all amazing. I will not get rid of these speakers. Ribbons are still available from a third party source and the woofers are a still-in-production VIFA. If you can find a pair of these, or the even better Slant-8, GET THEM!

Strengths:
pinpoint imaging, liquid midrange, fast tight dynamic range, PRICE!

Weaknesses:
Placement is critical. A difference can be heard with just 1/2" of adjustment. They need to be 3+ feet from the wall. Bass is a little weak.

Similar Products Used:
Vandersteen 2CE sig(great, but not resolute), NHT 2.5i(musical, but boxy sound), Spica TC-50(imaging heaven), JM lab Electra 906(harsh and bright. Yuck). I have heard just about every mass produced speaker out there. 20 years of Hi-fi!

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Audiogon

Summary:
For the price you can score these used they are simply an amazing bargian. A very well designed cabinet helps blend the seem between dynamic woofer and ribbon tweeter (shared baffle space, driver centered to ribbon etc). Features the imaging and dynamics of a 26" ribbon with the slam and attack of a 8" woofer you get the best of both worlds. Off axis response is typical of all ribbon and planar speakers, small sweet spot, and requires proper setup like all dipole speakers (though less sensative than FR Apogees or Magnepans). But if you have the room for them and you enjoy the pinpoint imaging and liquid resolution that a small sweet spot can afford this speaker cannot be touched by conventional cones.

Strengths:
3D holography, amazing dynamics, resolution only a ribbon can provide. Excellent value on the used market, replacement ribbons readily available at very reasonable cost.

Weaknesses:
small sweet spot, low efficiency, needs a bit of room for setup.

Similar Products Used:
Magnepans

Price Paid:  $150.00 from A speaker repairer in Qld Australia

Summary:
Nice speakers, bought from a speaker repairer that had them in his workshop for 2 years. I make very high quality ribbon spares for people with Apogee speakers, and picked these up with two dead ribbons for a steal!!! Replaced and singing soon after!

If you have a smallish room and a "sit down" listening spot I would rate theses speakers higher. I had to move to Duetta Signatures to retain their midband, and improve on their weaknesses.

Many pairs are coming up for sale now in need of ribbons - do not hesitate to get a good deal! Ribbons needed?

graz@graz.com.au

Strengths:
Nice midband - good voices

Weaknesses:
Off axis listening awful

Similar Products Used:
All Apogee/Perigee

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from used

Summary:
I actually have the Majors, but the overall sound is pretty much the same. It used to be a Stereophile B class spker, and still can out do most other high end speakers when it comes to voice and other acoustic instruments. I disagree that they are missing any band of frequencies, I too have tested and found them VERY accurate. I usually add equilization and feel it would hurt more than help. They are electronics sensitive, can be a bit bright, as well as tough to set up properly, you need a few feet open behind and to the sides, and proper angles. But once set up well, I've loved them for about 7 years. Not for video/super dynamic, or loud rock. But if you like classical, acoustic jazz, or Sarah Mclaughlin, unreal.

Strengths:
Amazing reproduction of human voices and natural instruments.

Weaknesses:
Need a sub woofer and don't handle electronic/rock/loud music that well.

Price Paid:  $1600.00 from Audio/Video Systems

Summary:
I have owned these speakers for over 7 years now. Money doesn't allow me to buy anything new but I wish I could. If you never (I repeat NEVER) listen to POP, LATIN, DISCO, RAP, DANCE, ROCK, METAL, or CLASSICAL at anything other than soft, background levels than these speakers may be for you. They are pathetic around a few hundred Hz. I have a 90-band parametric EQ with adjustable slopes and could not get the speakers to light up in that range.

Please make sure your musical tastes do not change as mine did. I used to listen to only strings and winds so the speakers were fine. Now I am disappointed that the 1812 overture almost split my left ribbon in half at only "moderate" listening levels.

A better design would be to raise the crossover point and use a smaller bass/mid cone driver which can make a drum hit actually audible. Hmmm. Maybe the Centaur Minors are actually a better way to go... You can always add a sub, but there is no way to "wedge" a driver into the middle of the frequency response of a loudspeaker.

Apogee, you were so close on this one.

Strengths:
Gorgeous mid-range, unlimited high-end. Bass is almost hard to believe it's so tight and deep (after break-in)

Weaknesses:
Absolutely unacceptable upper bass and lower mids.