I have two pair of this model, and I have found them to be a great match for any of the Pass Aleph series. Treble and midrange are sensational. Plenty of detail but still relaxed. The bass is probably a little better than average for a monitor of this type--not as deep as say Dynaudio. For a small to midsize room, I honestly don't think you can do much better. I sold my Dynaudios. These are simply more musical and more fun.

I would say that they probably favor classical, jazz, and singer/songwriter stuff over rock. These things are like well aged scotch...smooth and rich.

soundstage, imaging, clarity, dynamics, midrange

missing low bass, lacks the power necessary for roomfilling sound, may not be appropriate for listeners who enjoy a "laid back" sound (imagine SF concertino with muscles), however tubes should make the sound more polite (i'm powering them with the Plinius 8150 solid state integrated)

absolutely the best monitor for under $2000, bar none. I've listened to Joseph Audio, B&W, and SF Concertinos, and I found the SR15 to have the best balance of all of them while keeping its price under $2000. Best of all, they're not picky about which amps you used. The character of the speaker itself is balanced to forward depending on your components. I power it with a Plinius 8150 (the Krell integrated was too forward for my tastes). The rosewood veneer is perfect and the binding posts are strong. The bass doesnt go superlow like some of the Totems, but what is there is very strong and controlled. Voices are rendered beautifully. Most of the music i listen to range from pop/rock to musicals and miles davis. Obviously, this is not the speaker for those who hope to experience the grand sound of orchestra/opera, because it simply does not have the power and force of a full range speaker. However, for those in small apartments and confined spaces, this is a great speaker.

obviously, MSRP of $1800 is a little steep for a monitor, but if you are in the market for the best monitor money can buy at that price range, then the SR15 easily performs well against monitors costing twice as much.

highly recommended!

Similar Products Used:

B&W CDM, Sonus Faber Concertino