Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I HAVE SOME PROAC TABLETTE REFERENCE 8 SPEAKERS AND SOME REFERENCE 8 SIGNATURE SPEAKERS. I ACTUALLY PREFER THE ORIGINAL REFERENCE 8s. THE SIGNATURES ARE CLEARLY ACCOMPLISHED SPEAKERS BUT THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THEM IS THAT THEY'RE VERY FUSSY ABOUT POSITIONING AND PARTNERING EQUIPMENT. I HAVE USED A SOLID STATE AND TUBE/SOLID STATE HYBRID WITH THEM AND FOUND THEM TO BE AGGRESSIVE SOUNDING AND A BIT TREBLE HAPPY. I AGREE TOTALLY WITH ONE OF THE OTHER REVIEWERS WHO STATED THAT THEY LOVE TUBE AMPLIFIERS. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO LISTEN TO THEM WITH A DEDICATED TUBE AMPLIFIER BUT I CAN TELL THAT THEY'RE QUALITY SPEAKERS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT. IN TERMS OF DETAIL, DYNAMICS AND BASS PUNCH THEY BEAT THE ORIGINALS HANDS DOWN. IN TERMS OF MUSICALITY AND OPENNESS I FIRMLY PREFER THE ORIGINALS. IN MY SYSTEM, WHICH CONSISTS OF A PRIMARE I30, COPLAND CDA823 AND CHORD CABLES, WHEN I LISTEN TO THE SIGNATURES I LISTEN TO THE SOUND, WHEN I LISTEN TO THE ORIGINAL REFERENCE 8s, I LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. ONE WORD OF WARNING THOUGH, THE OTHER GUY WHO RECOMMENDED PAIRING THE REFERENCE 8s WITH AN ARCAM SOLO - DONT DO IT! I TRIED THAT BASED ON HIS ADVICE AND I DONT THINK THE SOLO IS ANYWHERE NEAR GOOD ENOUGH FOR THESE SPEAKERS.

IN FAIRNESS I THINK THE SIGNATURES, IN THE RIGHT SYSTEM, WILL WHIP THE ORIGINALS BUT IF YOU DON'T GET IT RIGHT THEY GRATE.

IN CONCLUSION, THESE ARE BOTH VERY DECENT SPEAKERS. I'D GIVE THEM BOTH 5 STARS FOR VALUE AND OVERALL. HOWEVER, DON'T BUY THE SIGNATURES UNLESS THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAIRED WITH A TUBE AMPLIFIER. NOT UNLESS YOU'RE AFTER A FAST, EDGY, EXCITING (PERHAPS TOO EXCITING) SOUND ANYWAY.

Price Paid:  $900.00

Summary:
I own the Ref Signatue version of this speaker. Wide open soundstage plenty of attack and detail without sound harsh or foward. Demands the best amplification and source components one can afford, otherwise they will sound dreadful!

Although I listen to jazz fusion, and classical music this speaker is best suited to the latter. Many say the Tablettes need a sub-woofer? I dissagree. Properly set up this speaker has plenty of bass., of course they are suited to small to medium size rooms.

In my opinion the Tablettes sound their best with valve/tube gear. I drive mine with PSE 300B amplifer giving 20watts per channel connected to Chord mains cable, chord epic speaker cable, chord signature Interconnect, and Marantz SA11-S1 CD player. Speaker stands are the fabulous Partington Dreadnought Broadsides. These speakers require very good stands.

The result is stunning, the speakers completely dissapear as one is encapsulated in music.

If you choose to use a turntable, again the ProAcs need a quality product. Attaching anything less the limitations will be ruthlessly revealed. I use Clearaudio Emothion turntable with Graham Slee phono amp2 . I only have 150 LPs and have over 1500 CDs so didn't want to spent more for my table but the results are extremely good better than CD.

Be prepared to allow the speakers a long run-in and placement to a rear wall 12 to 15inches shoud suit. Dont forget use high quality speaker cable its worth it.

Hope this helps
Michaeleigh

Strengths:

Wide open soundstage with plenty of detail and depth. With the right source and ancillary equipment the ProAcs with amaze.

Weaknesses:

None, providing the user sets up the speaker correctly as mentioned.

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from SoundFX KC

Summary:
A healthy tax return afforded us the ability to buy new kit, replacing 20+ year old gear. We dumped all, except my Klipsch Forte II speakers, which now grace my library. We first auditioned the Arcam Solo, and were sold on the ability to combine all into one (we are wanting to simplify items). Next we auditioned several sets of speakers, including the Arcam Alto's (nice, but fairly laid-back, and nothing special), Paradigm Reference Studio 20's (VERY wonderful speakers, which would be gracing our home, except...), Triangle (model illudes me), and finally the ProAc Tablette 8's. What an incredible little speaker! I equate this speaker to a stock looking but supercharged Miata that can take all but the most expensive sports cars, subtle while allowing the actions to speak louder that the looks.

The Paradigms are wonderful sounding, but when we put the ProAc's on, the difference was amazing. We did not even bother to ask the price, my wife and I knew that these were the speakers for us. We added a Paradigm PW-2100 subwoofer, and the system was complete.

The soundstage of the ProAc's is simply amazing. I have never heard a speaker with this much depth, in this size, in my life. I would love to spend $10,000 on a pair of speakers, but after hearing these, I am content for the next twenty years. I am not an esoteric listener, who MUST have the best, most expensive kit around, but do know a good deal when presented. This speaker, when aligned with a proper sub will give YEARS of fine listening pleasure.

I am also a voracious reader of reiews, and read everything I could about these little gems after purchase. I can definately agree that placement is of critical importance, but the current placement is closer to the wall than anything I read. The speaker simply disappears when asked, which is all one can ask of a quality speaker. Let me listen to the music, and this speaker fills the bill. The bass, while minimal, is surprisingly good, but I do think that the Paradigm "throws" the bass into the next room (the two are set in different rooms), covering the lack of truly low-end nicely. Everything I read about this speaker, states that a LONG run-in time was necessary. I now leave the speakers on all day, and the sound simply gets better, each day.

Run through Kimber Kable ATC4 speaker cables, simply make this speaker shine!

Strengths:
Soundstage is simply cavernous, the "liveliness" is a true selling point. Jimmy Buffett has never sounded so good. I truly feel as if I am on St. Barts, listening to him sing live. Mid-range is the definite high point of this speaker. The sound is true: out front if you desire, laid-back if the music calls for. How a two-way speaker can fill the mid-range is simply a marvel.

Imaging is another strong point, as I can sit anywhere, whithin my range, and simply enjoy the full benefit. The speaker does as I ask, what else can be said.

The speakers literally sounded better twenty minutes into my home set up, incredible. Simply an incredible little speaker, that deserves attention, and at least a listen!

Weaknesses:
Vocals can sound very forward on some pasages, including Bob Marley, and certain Jimmy Buffett or Van Morrison songs, something I can deal with, due to the overall fantastic quality of the kit.

Lack of bass make a sub almost a necessity.

Cost is a little high, but when you look at how long I will own these, cost is secondary.

Similar Products Used:
Paradigm Reference Studio 20's, Wharfsdale Evo 8's, Paradigm Atoms, Triangle.

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Technology factory

Summary:
I also own the Signature version of this speaker. I use this speaker in a stereo setup in my living room. This room is L shaped and they are placed against the long wall. After a considerable time (weeks!) the speakers really opened up.
I use a modest amplifier, the Nad c320bee combined with an Ah Njoe Ttoeb cd4000 (fully upgraded) The speaker cable is from Siltech. Plus a Rel Quake sub. The Rel is almost set to the lowest volume possible but is still able to boost the low frequencies. In this setup the Proacs really shine. Giving a very open and lively presentation of music, withe a large sound stage (considering they are in a small room) with beautiful mids and plenty bass response. They don't come cheap but if you are a music lover looking for a small speaker then you should audition this. My next upgrade is place them on really good stands...

Strengths:
Very open, light sound.
Easy to drive .
Very involving.

Weaknesses:
A little bit bass shy (in large rooms)
otherwise nothing!

Similar Products Used:
proac tr8
Atc sm12
Sonus Faber Concertino

Price Paid:  $1500.00

Summary:
This is for the Signature version. Not especially impressive or striking at first listen. In fact the gains over my ancient Cyrus 780 appear mainly those of refinement rather than that of a quantum jump. However, I Have been listening for two weeks now on my 25 watt Lyrita valve integrated and slowly the speaker's stengths are coming out. Infact the strenghts of the Lyrita amp are coming out. I had thought the amp to be a little rough in the high frequencies, but now no more. There is little that is offensive about this speaker. The treble does not grate. Even Stravinsky's Rite of Spring is listenable at relatively loud volumes as it is surely meant to be heard. Its a well balanced speaker on the whole. Human voice such as Ella comes across powerfully when played a little loudly. Massed Choir eg Verdi has impact and presence, but you need to turn the volume. To begin with the speakers were bass shy, there was very little of it. Now the bass has begun to open up, but its not very well controlled. In fact with the Deep Purple classic, Smoke on Water it goes out of control, and thuds around at high volume. At low volume its not there strongly enough to have an impact. With more sophisticated and subtle bass eg Mingus, the speaker is more impressive. With Indian classical music the speakers are trouble free. It is early days with this speaker. My guess is that it will open up and improve incrementally rather than dramatically. Other than its bass (remember its a tiny speaker) and the need to crank up the volume, I dont have much to complain. At the same time I cant honestly pretend to be thrilled, not as yet at any rate.

Associated Kit
Shure Cartridge
Project Xpression Turntable
Lyrita Solid State Phono
Sony ES 333 CD player
Lyrita 25 Watt Valve Integra
Apollo Stands

Strengths:
Excellent Treble, Impressive midrange, well balanced. Will not offend majorly in any way.

Weaknesses:
Bass Shy, Goes out of control at high volumes. Probably needs more extended running in.

Similar Products Used:
Cyrus 780

View Comments (1)

Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.