I recently had the chance to audition this speaker the other day. Don't have any local dealers but was in Dallas, TX. I was very impressed with them. The ScanSpeak tweeter has a more laid back presentation than my B&W bookshelves, but still has good detail. The most noteworthy thing to me is both the integration of the drivers and the great soundstage that is not of the "head in the vise" variety. I usually prefer a metal dome tweeter(like my B&W's, Thiel 1.5, and Platinum Solo) but could live with this speaker for its other strengths. The bass was incredible! This transmission line has to be heard to be believed. Down to 35-40 hz, I think, with a well defined slam. Much cleaner than the midbass of the Paradigm Silver (old version) I heard the same day. Hard to find good midbass! Also, the 7" driver barely moved at moderate levels providing this bass, unlike the B&W N805's I heard, which slightly disturbed me with its driver's huge excursions! Still undecided-like the above mentioned speakers, also Ruark Prologue. Anybody heard the new Thiel SCS3? Please let me know if you have. Overall, Four and a half stars.

I purchased mine after a 'chance encounter' at an audio store where I was selling my old Naim Nait 3. So it became a trade against a demo pair of Shearwaters. Luckily for me they had been broken in for a while, I suppose. Anyway 15 months later I'm still v.happy with them (my first floorstanders!)
Bass (determined by recording) can be immense. They sound most un-speaker-like
and natural. As I inferred, I wasn't intending to buy these - give 'em a try.

Just came back from auditioning these speakers for a couple hours and wanted to share my thoughts while they're fresh.
I was listening only to the hot rod version, so I can't speak to the base model. The first thing I noticed was the unbelievable rigidity of the cabinet structure. I don't know what they use in there, but I felt like I was knocking on a solid slab of marble. So going in I was optimistic there would be no cabinet resonances intruding into the music. Turns out I was right, and it held for the drivers too. I found this speaker to be very uncolored and natural sounding.

Unfortunately I did not find the rest of the speaker's characteristics to build on this promising base. The overall sound came across as kind of flat and uninvolving. Not bad, just not anything special. Specifically, there was a noticeable lack of bass. But what was worse was a kind of veiling that kept the subtle details of the music from coming through. It just didn't sound very clear. The imaging was ok, but instruments did not take on that 3-dimensional characteristic and sense of air that really lets you sit back and forget you're listening to audio equipment. By the way, the source components were Cambridge Audio CD4se and the new D500 coupled to I believe a Rega integrated amp.

When I mentioned my lack of enthusiasm, the dealer recommended I listen to a set of just broken in ProAc 1.5. Apparently this speaker has just come out, and as soon as they were fired up the veil was lifted and the music once again became clear and involving. Not exactly earth-shattering bass, but a well-balanced speaker overall and very enjoyable. The dealer and I agreed that in comparison the Shearwaters fell well short.

I also much prefer the Thiel CS1.5, which brings transparancy and soundstage depth to another level relative to the Shearwaters, although they are lacking in the lower octaves. Also, typical of first-order crossovers, if you move out of the sweet spot the impressive soundstage collapses rapidly.

In this class/price range my highest recommendation by far still goes to the JosephAudio RM22si. Simply unbelievable. You can read my review of that speaker if you want more details. As for the Shearwaters, despite doing some things right there are just too many superior competitors in this category.

As the writer(two below mine) stated, these speakers can be a bit lean. A good SET amp will fix this problem as will any warm sounding amp. Remember, it's all about system synergy!!! By the way, I CAN'T stand reviewers who don't list associated equipment!!! How else are we to judge the comments?? (i.e. using a lean amp like the Symphonia is probably NOT a good idea!!

Wow, I am surprised at these reveiws! I have to wonder if people go to live performances or listen to real instruments! You know, the sound of music in a natural, REAL space. No one seems to know what that is anymore (maybe Bob below does). By space, I am not talking about an acoustically perfect room or the sound staging of $50,000 electronics. I am refering to what sound does in a real space, like a theatre, club, or grassy hill. Sound reflects. Sound disperses. Sound changes. What that means is that in the real world, whether we like it or not sound is colored. And that is what moves us. That, my freinds, is what I am looking for in my stereo system. I think it is fine to use precise electronics and speakers for live shows, becuase what the audience hears is a colored version of that. In the home, however, the space is too small to colorize the sound. So the sound is left flat, cold, thin and some what lacking. Yes, you might have great articulation, imaging, and dynamics, but none of that does you any good if you do not like what you are hearing. So needless to say, I did not like the Shearwaters, but then again, I do not like any of them other speakers people have mentioned in these reviews, all for the same reason. For some reason, I thought buying expensive, high end equipment would farther my enjoyment of music, I was wrong! I can not wait to sell all this high tech junk and build a low tech stereo out of antique tube radios. I think that will be closer to what I am looking for.

And what is with all this treble, folks. People are complaining about how laid back the treble is on these Shearwaters, as far as I am concerned, they have way too much treble - a lot of speakers this day and age do. I noticed the more money you spend, the more treble you get - mids and bass seem to be secondary. I am sorry, live, un-miced intruments do not sound like that in a real space. We all might hear diferently, but we all can compare the real world to what we are hearing through our stereos. If you like to articulate music, then go ahead - spend all your money and please be sure to upgrade when you can - contact me, I have a lot of high end stuff I what to get rid of. As for me, I am resigning from the audiophile rat race and buying myself a caneo!

Associated equipment
McIntosh C-22 Reissue tube pre-amp
McIntosh MC-150 solid state power amp
Meadowlark Shearwaters (standard model)
B & W Matrix 805
Martin Logan SL-3
Velodyne UDL-12 subwoofer
MIT T2 innerconnects
MIT T2 bi-wirable speaker cable
Adcom GCD-600
Pioneer laser disk player (keeping this)
Tescam Reel to Reel (I am keeping this)

For use at a live performance, I give the shearwaters a five star rating.
For use in the home, however, I give them a one. It is all dependent on your intent.

Very precise imaging and soundstage. Great pace and rhythm. Very involving. Easy to drive (even a small solid state integrated will do). Very clear and unfatiguing treble, rich midbass, extension to all but the lowest bass.

Midrange a tad hyper

These are a fine pair of floor-standing transmission line speakers. Two-ways with a first order cross-over and time-aligned drivers ensure a great sense of pace and rhythm. These speakers are as musical as you could desire. They are much richer and present MORE of the music than their little brothers, the Kestrels. I have owned both for significant amounts of time and KNOW.

The Shearwaters are a tad harder to drive than the Kestrels. Still, they mate well with most any amplifier except the lowest powered SET's and perhaps some moderately powered puch pull designs. For example, the woofers really need a little power behind them to control them. They were too much speaker for the Jolida SJ 302A. However, the similarly powered Audio Refinement Complete is a perfect match. Highly recommended combination.

This speaker will play fairly loud, but when stressed, the midrange has a tendency to become a tad shouty. If you want to do head banging look elsewhere. If you like to listen to the music rather than have it assult you, this is your speaker. You will be tapping your toes. No doubt. If you like classical, chamber, instrumental, vocals (WOW!), acoustic, jazz, blues, step right up.

Not for a tiny room. You should be at least 7 feet away from these drivers... and the speakers should sit out in the room.

I've gotta agree with Joe's assessment of this speaker. I've been in the market for speakers in the 2 to 3K price range for over a year, and I've tried many, including Thiels, Dynaudio's, B & W's and Vandersteen's. Don't get me wrong - these are all great speakers, but it all depends on your listening tastes. To me, the Shearwater's just got it right. They offer clean, transparent highs, a life like midrange that's scary, and solid, but not overdone - bass, and mostly importantly, a sense of musical rightness. These speakers sing like a bird, and I believe you will have to spend close to twice as much to get so much musical enjoyment. If music is your thing, buy em. You won't be dissappointed. I bought a pair of Shearwater "Hot Rods", which have upgraded parts for an additional $500. I love em", and they are attactive to look at too!

beautiful vocals and terrific imaging

non-fatiguing sound makes me want to stay at my friend's home and just keep listening for hours and hours!

I do not own these speakers, but have listened to them extensively at a friend's home. I agree with John's review below. I would just like to add that these speakers sound absolutely awesome with Annie Lennox and The Grateful Dead!

Similar Products Used:

B&W N804 and Dynaudio 1.8 mkII

imaging (stays within the speakers mostly), coherence of sound, detailed bass, non-fatiguing highs, details, midrange

takes some power to sound best (I am using a Jolida 60 watt per channel integrated, which I would say is a minimum), a bigger solid state amp would give more bass, long time before really sounding good

I almost didn't buy the Shearwaters Hot Rods. The first couple of times I heard the speakers (they were not broken in), I was thoroughly unimpressed. I thought the Kestrels sounded much better, but didn't have enough detail for me. I ultimately heard them fully broken in being driven by a Cary integrated tube amp. There was finally bass that you could feel; there was a coherence to the sound from the top to the bottom; there was detail throughout the soundstage. When you audition the speakers, make sure they are broken in to hear them at its best. Tube amplifiers give a glorious midrange; solid state gives a deeper bass; you can tell the difference between upstream components readily (including wire, nordost works well for me). Highly recomended for jazz, blues, classical; a little too clean for grunge, but led zep and sabbath works well.

Similar Products Used:

thiell 1.5, thiell 2.3, b & w 805, b & w 804, dynaudio audience 70, dunaudio 1.8 mkII, platinum solo (auditioned)

While in a local audio shop that I have frequented for the past several years (though haven't been back much since because I haven't had the funds), I thought I'd check out their new speaker lines to see what sounded good. They had a pair of Meadowlark Kestrals set up next to some Hales revelations 2s, several Castle speakers, energy, and some old Thiels. As we flipped through the speakers, the Kestrals were the only ones that snapped my head. They sounded GOOD for such a small speaker. Where was all the bass coming from? The speaker! I had to check to make sure the energy subwoofer wasn't on. Whoa! I really started to get excited.
So I auditioned the Meadowlark Shearwaters in the next room that were hooked up to some high end conrad johnson gear. I was simply amazed! My initial impression of the piano/accoustic guitar music I was listening too was that the mid-range didn't have the pristine clarity of say my proacs or even some of the Castles that I listened too, but then again my Response 2's Never snapped my head like these babies. I learned right then and there that I'm fooling myself if I think the best in midrange presentation or imaging in a speaker is the best speaker for me. I like dynamics in my music and the meadowlarks showed me what I'm missing. These babies made me want to dance!

So I'll admit, I have been charmed by 2-way speakers (like proac or higher end castles) that have stunning midrange presentation that make james taylor or patricia barber sound pure, wonderful, and real. But that pure, wonderful, and real has come at the cost of musical drama to me. My ears tell me that the shearwaters may not top these speakers in mid-range, but they will come close enough and then excel in other areas wonderfully well. I've read the other reviews below and some comments stated that these speakers added "Drama" "overwhelming clarity", "taught bass", "wonderful bass", or "spaciousness". Well my impression is exactly the same. I can probably find some flaw in these speakers, buy as a whole, they make my blood flow and make me feel entirely passionate about music again. They eveloped the room and brought life to the music. That to me, is a great speaker.

As an ending note, I've spend time with NHTs (all models), vandersteins, B&W CDM7s, Krix, PSB Golds, Aerial Acoustics, Thiels in various different stores. I plan to audition others in this price range, and would love to listen to Legacy just to make sure I'm spending my money as wisely as possible. However in my current experience in auditioning speakers, the meadowlarks are the only speaker that have affected me as stated above. Who knows, maybe another one is out there that will affect me the same. The PSBs sounded pretty good also for the price. I actually liked them better than some of the lower end martin logans. So I've learned that overall dynamic presenation is most important to me. I don't have to hear every position that a musician sits at and every precise snare hit on a drum set to love music. First of all, I can't see pursuing this "audio nirvana" unless I acoustically treat my room also or have a dedicated listening area. This is a no go for my house. If your the same way, and you may possibly use these as a duel hometheater/stereo role, you must absolutely demo these speakers. I plan on selling my current ones and trying to get some shearwaters later this year after I get the cash. Of course I will go back to demo the meadowlarks with some other jazz, classical, and alternative to see if my excitement wasn't just a freak incident, but I very, very much doubt it.......