Price Paid:  $1695.00 from Audio Studio

Summary:
I have owned these speakers since February of this year. I also owned a pair of the Morel Duets which are also a great speaker in there own right. The Prelude is actually a floor standing version of the Duet. It took a few weeks or so to break these speakers in as it does all good speakers. Once they are broken in they really do sound special. If you are looking for a speaker for acoustic music or one that will take your breath away on vocals then don't hesitate to buy these. These use the top of the line Morel drivers including the mdt33 tweeter which is exremely open and airy. Morel drivers are used in the Merlin Tsm's and the Eggelston speakers which are much more expensive than the Preludes.They are very efficient at 92db into an 8ohm load and my Quicksilver tube amps are a perfect match for the Preludes. Will they give you the utmost in the bass department? Definitely No! Will it be very natural sounding? Yes! These speakers are basically a two-way floor standing monitor that deliver a very natural, musical, presentation. They are non-fatiguing and basically a lot of fun to listen to. I actually traded my Spendors which I owned for 3yrs for the Morels and have never looked back. I still own the B&W7se's which are extremely analytical sounding in comparison with a very harsh, fatiguing treble. Better bass mind you , but what good is it if you can't listen to it for extended periods of time! I recommend the Preludes to any one looking for a speaker in the under 3000.00 range for all types of music from Pink Floyd to James Taylor. You won't be dissappointed! Definitely 5 stars

Strengths:
Great midrange, Open airy highs, natural sounding, Superb with female voices, very fast drivers

Weaknesses:
Doesn't have great deep bass, but what it does have is very articulate.

Similar Products Used:
Spendor1.5 monitors,Snell,B&W,Martin Logan,Audio Physic,etc.

Summary:
Associated equip:
EAD Ultradisc 2000

Nordost Red Dawn

Classe CP-30

Cardas Quadlink 5-C

Counterpoint NPS 100 mkII

Cardas Quadlink 5-C speaker cables



The Morel speakers sound beautiful in this system. It is a 2-way, floorstanding transmission-line design, with Morel drivers (what else?). The transmission line allows more bass than usual with one 6.5 inch mid-woofer, yet very well-controlled. Down to 34Hz says the literature. However, the thing to listen to here is the midrange, absolutely seductive. There is a slight lower-mid upper-bass emphasis/coloration but overall it is transparent and beautiful sounding. (the speakers may be demanding too much of the amp in this frequency range). Highs are totally non-fatiguing (the front end, and amplifier help here).



They need a good dose of power (though not necessarily a huge amp) to take control of the double magnet driver. I think less than 40w might not do it. But in my mid-sized room there is plenty of sound from the 65 watt Counterpoint (tuned input stage, solid state output stage). NEVER fatiguing, beautiful, voices especially, and a subjectively very well-rounded sound. This is the kind of product that will bring lasting satisfaction. At about $1,400, I can't think of a more well-rounded speaker that also gets the midrange right. For example the NHT 2.5 are detailed, perhaps more so analytically than the Morels, but the midrange is not NEARLY as good. Also the bass booms compared to the Morels. Monitors may image better but it is not satisfying in the long run to listen to small box bass, in my opinion.



I don't know any dealers outside of Brookline, MA (Audio Studio); Morel Acoustics USA there. I am in no way affiliated with the dealer, except that I bought these from him. I hope these get wider distribution, this is the kind of very-musical audio that I suspect Europeans have been enjoying longer than we have. At least 4.5 stars!