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Review 1 of 2
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Finally ! Jeff Joseph opted for a large demo room at the 2002 audio show in Manhattan. He's been pushing his model 33 for the last two years. The 33 itself is a breakthrough product. With the right amplification and so forth, it was, and is, an awesomely holographic speaker. The 33 is a cool, but not cold speaker in the Miles Davis sense of cool. I.E. totally composed, focused, subtly tilted towards the intellectual. At last JJ has the Pearl up and running as more than a concept product. It seems that you can now buy one if you'd like to. he matched it up with Manley tube amps, a major departure from his former Classe all the way setups. JJ also says he has a redesigned so-called low energy storage crossover that can be retrofitted in the 33 well as an upgrade. Some variables to consider. Big demo room versus the small rooms of yore, tubes vs. solid state, new
crossover vs. old crossover. JJ himself was the same mellow buddah self he always is, even when his sacd player locked up, and forced him to play all an all analog demo for the assembled audience. From the get go, the Pearl is obviously a quantum leap beyond the 33, or could be that the Pearl with lots of tube power behind it is. This is a top drawer audiophile statement product. Somewhat Wilsonian in inspiration, but you'd never confuse the two in a hundred years. As fate would have it, the new Wilson Watt/Puppy series 7 was also demo'd right down the hall. IMHO, considering all the flaws and inherent difficulties of show conditions, the Pearl in many respects blows the Watt/Puppy off into the weeds somewhere outside of Toledo. The WP tweeter sounded a little harsh and barky by comparison, especially when the listener is off axis. The Pearl uses a silk dome tweeter, and the Wilson still has the inverted titanium dome, which I never have liked. The high frequency ringing in the metal dome is an unavoidable fact of life and frankly, it sounds nasty and obtrusive. Joseph wisely chose the a silk dome that looks as if it has been doped with a plum colored polymer. This gives the Pearl a really luxe open high end that never gets raspy or zingy. My one caveat is a mild criticism. The metal cones JJ has employed for his midrage and low frequency drivers have the subtlest residue of tin in their sound. Only the teensyest hint, but it is there. Strengths:
incredibly, unbelievable dynamic and holographic. A space time transporter device if there ever was one. Weaknesses:
aside from being very expensive and a tad Hugh Hefneresque tastewise, a micro degree of metal cone coloration.However, in realation to the breathtaking strengths of this design, you probably won't care. Similar Products Used:
Wilson W/P combination from version 3 through the present version 7, Monitor Audio, also a metal cone design with greater metallic coloration, Sonus Faber Electa Amators, which are the romantic antith
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