Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Vin's TV and Applian

Summary:
Quite by accident, when looking to listen to some Wharfedales at a store called Vin's TV and Appliance (not a name to inspire confidence in high end audio!), I came upon System Audio speakers http://www.system-audio.com/. I was quite taken with them in the listening room, but it was the fact that I couldn't get them out of my mind for the next couple of weeks that drew me back.

I couldn't afford the 1750s I wanted, (and the SA7Ks were amazing!) but I am quite happy with my pair of 1550s. It has been nearly six months and I play music through them every day. I absolutely love them. Voices, in particular, sound completely real and alive. The soundstage, in our somewhat cluttered apartment, is broad and deep and musicians are nicely placed within it. I also love the sound of the treble--so many of the speakers I listened to, which at first seemed "detailed", over time just became tiresome. The 1550s have plenty of "sizzle" but I never feel assaulted by the tweeter. I can listen to these speakers for hours.

For the price, I think they are absolutely wonderful. The complete saga, should you be stuck inside on a rainy day with nothing to do, is at my blog: http://homepage.mac.com/rwcjaz/iblog/B712460200/index.html

I'm a professor with a modest salary and finding speakers that could reproduce classical music satisfactorily within my budget proved to be extremely difficult. The 1550s fit the bill. ( . . . but oh, how I wanted those 1750s!)

Furthermore, they look great!

Strengths:
Excellent soundstage, both breadth and depth
Quick, accurate bass
Believable, non-fatiguing treble
Excellent integration of drivers (D'Appolito array)--very smooth
Incredible midrange--voices are stunning
Slim and atractive cabinets and design
Extra set of clips on the back to store the grilles when they are off(!)
Least fussy about room position among the speakers I auditioned.

Weaknesses:
Grilles are a little flimsy

Similar Products Used:
Energy, B&W, KEF, PSB, Paradigm

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