harryjmic

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $1450.00 from Audio Consultants

Summary:
I wanted a speaker that would be an improvement over the Magnapan 1.6qr without the large size (wife factor). The first speakers I auditioned were the Vienna Acoustic Beethovens, Strausses and Mozarts which were being discontinued at Tweeter. When I listened to the Beethovens at $2700 down from $4300, I really couldn't tell if they would be better than the 1.6qr's, it seemed like, "well they might be but I don't know". The strauss speakers blew the Beethovens away but they were $4300, down from $6400. So I figured how could I swing the Strauss's, a lot of dough. Then I decided to check Audio Consultants web page(the place I bought my Magnepans just to see if they had anything interesting). In the used equipment they had the jm lab 915 electras. I visited the store and had them hook up the speakers along with the 1.6qr and a pair of Revel M20. I first listened to the 1.6qr to establish a reference, then went to the jm lab's. The difference was immediate, I didn't have to second guess whether it was better or not, they were clearly better than the maggies. I know I was comparing a $3800 speaker to a $1700 speaker and it should sound better. When I auditioned the Vienna Beethovens' I had a hard time telling if it was better, considering it sells for new at $4300. I figure if you have to get yourself to like it or make something up to justify it, then it's a bad purchase. After, I listened to the Revels', nice but a little compressed and not as dynamic as the jm lab's. I took the speakers home and hooked them up, the difference was amazing, much better bass response, greater depth, more separation of the individual instruments. Where the maganpan grouped closely pitched instruments as one, the jm lab separates each instrument adding layer upon layer of depth. This speaker sounds better with more complex orchestral music and really makes classical recordings stand out. Not that it doesn't rock but it seems as if it was made to define recordings and extract all the details from the source. I noticed greater details in the highs. Now I can here clearly when the drummer plays on different parts of the cymbol very, very, nice. Overall, I would have spent more and was willing to do so. I am glad that I found these speakers used because I don't think I would have been happy with the Vienna Acoustics.

Strengths:
Good Bass, not bloated. Great high end detail without wearing you out. Greater depth to the soundstage. More efficient, good when I plan to upgrade my amp.

Weaknesses:
The only thing would be the weight, they are a heartattack waiting to happen.

Similar Products Used:
Magnepan 1.6qr, Revel M20, Vienna Acoustic,Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss, Thiel 1.5. Just a list some speakers I have listened to, so it's not a slight on the less expensive stuff.

Price Paid:  $900.00 from used

Summary:
great sounding and looking

Strengths:
sound stage.dinamics base

Weaknesses:
to big not light

Similar Products Used:
b&w nautilius 804.paradigm studio 100.revel f30

Price Paid:  $669.00 from Renesaince Audio

Summary:
Its a very briliant musical interconect.The best one i used till now.Needs 250 hours to run in.After its geting more and more beautiful.

Strengths:
EVRYTHING!!!

Weaknesses:
EXPENSIEF!!!

Similar Products Used:
Nordost bluehaven,monstercabel,siltech.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This goes for the electra 926 which is a mindblowing speaker. I can say I am dragged to my system these days after shifting 915.1 with 926. 926 is so much better. You can listen for houers without fatigouing. At the same time you have the greatest dynamics, details, air, and a big body whithout fat at all. My system: CD player: Meridian 588 Preamplifire: Meridian 502 Amplifire: Meridian 557 Speakers: Jmlab electra 926 Cables: Philosophy cables from Chapter audio.

Strengths:
The bass is deep textured, stagedept, the mids are just great with female vokals and the new tweeter is more detailed and easylistening than 915.1

Weaknesses:
None

Summary:
The only speakers that beat the hell out of the E.915's are the Kharma Exquisite's, but these cost $80,000.
Bought them as a demo pair, these have a gorgeus large and sweet sound once they are broken in.

Equipment used:
-Linn Axis TT, with Itook LVll Plus arm & K9 Cartridge, EAR 834P Phono preamp with Telefunken 12AX7 tubes.
-C.E.C. TL1X CD Transport and Museatex Bidat DAC.
-Lamm L1 Preamplifier (the best)
-Quicksilver Silver Sixty Amps (with EL34), Quad ll 40 (with KT88) Lamm ML1 tube amps.
-All Harmonic Technologies Pro-Silway Interconnects,
-Harmonic Technologies Pro-9 Speaker wire (biwired)
-All electronics connected directly to the wall outlets with The Absolute Power Cords(awesome).

I spend about 12 hrs per week listening to mostly world traditional and popular acoustic music, jazz, blues, classic, opera and some rock music.

Strengths:
Tight bass, glorious midrange, holographic feel and sound, beautiful cherry finish side panels, excellent drivers (same as in the Utopia line).

Weaknesses:
Takes a long time to break in.

Similar Products Used:
Wilson Watt Puppies, Avalon , Proac, Quad, Kharma Exquisite, Dynaudio, Medowlark, Vandersteens.etc.