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Review 1 of 2
Price Paid:
$275.00
from Loyalty and Sound Summary:
When I was first interested in the Ara's I looked in the usual places for a review and was surprised at how little review info there is on these. I was interested because I loved Rega's original Ela speaker and these looked to use the same bass driver.
I ended up buying them and am pleased I did. When I listened to them in the store they were hooked up to a Chinese solid state amp and I was impressed enough there to take them home. The pair were the last ones they had and were the floor model so I got a $500 pr for $275 CAN with tax!
As it turns out I have a Rega Brio (Original Super Version) amp. I thought it would be a natural combination. I was right. Once they were set up and hooked to the Brio these little babies shined.
It seams that these speakers are really sensitive to which amp they are matched to. On the Chines (Cayin) amp they were good. But on the Brio they are great.
They are clear with great detail (I can tell when the different tracks are edited in and out on a recording!) and the mids are dead on with rather good bass and P.R.A.T.. If I had to describe them in a word it would be they are a 'Live' sounding speaker.
However they do not do everything. The one thing they trade for all their strong points is that they really do not have a great front-to-back sound stage. (Some one suggested this is my CD player however.) That having been said I have never been to any live gig from Jazz, Rock or Classical that has a great sound stage. If this is something you really want, try the Epos in this price range.
If you want a great little speaker that sounds 'Live',upfront and will not strain your ear, give the Ara a listen. Strengths:
Very clean and easy to listen to 'Live' sound. Great fit-&-finish. Weaknesses:
Needs good matching with other equipment/amp. Similar Products Used:
Epos, Mordaunt-Short, Castle Richmond's, Warfdale. (Anything <$501.00)
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