Speaker Porn

[faust3d]

Has anyone heard the MBL 101E? I'd be very curious as to how they would sound with their onmi directional dispersion. I think they look like art.

They do have one of the most unique designs I've ever seen.

I wonder what those flower-bud looking things on their speakers actually do?

The voice coils are on the bottom, pointing upward. The tops are fixed. When sound is applied, the voice coils move (literally) up and down, which squeezes the "leaves", forcing them to move inwards and outwards. There are 12 of them for each driver.

Read the bottom half of this page.

Yeah, if I ever win the lottery, the first thing I do (after moving to a new abode) is to get a pair of MBL's. Not sure which ones, though. Probably either the 101's or the 111's.

When I was in Hamburg many years ago I heard several MBL speaker models with Burmester amps and with big $ MBL amps. I was totally underwhelmed, but I also dislike big B&W and Wilson speakers

Symphonic Line with smaller German Physiks speakers on the other had was an incredible combo.

I know you really like your pair. What are driving them with? MBL amps?

[skullguise]

There was a dealer in Simsbury, CT who carried MBL. Ted Lindblad was HIS name, forgot the dealership name. Great guy....carried some beaucoup dolores gear, like this MBL, Karma, 47 Labs (heard the PiTracer), Lamm.....

I had met my in-laws there one time, we stayed at a nice inn nearby. I stopped in Ted's to audition some 47 Lab's gear and he was playing an MBL system with these 101's. I was VERY pleasantly surprised at their coherency, very "together" top to bottom, with tight bass extension and great detail. No harshness at all. Pretty much immersed me in the music.

And as one might guess from their design, they imaged like the Dickens. Some of the musician placement was downright spooky.

[crappyjones123]

im surprised by how well regarded they are. i mean i doubt ill be able to afford them in my lifetime but compared to other "uber high end" speakers their price is relatively tame. again, not saying that the mbl's are cheap - they arent but some other stuff is just silly expensive.

usually moar moneys = moar bettah seems to hold once you go off the deep end.

really hope to hear them someday.

[Deadneddz]

Although their price may be "relatively tame," its most likely the associated equipment to drive/complete the system that will kill you, as well as having a room large enough to accommodate some of the speakers posted here. Regardless of that thought, this thread is a good reason to sway me into never having children. Wayne owning the MBL101e's is all the proof I need for that theory.

[deepak]

im surprised by how well regarded they are. i mean i doubt ill be able to afford them in my lifetime but compared to other "uber high end" speakers their price is relatively tame. again, not saying that the mbl's are cheap - they arent but some other stuff is just silly expensive.

usually moar moneys = moar bettah seems to hold once you go off the deep end.

really hope to hear them someday.

Ummm not really.

Sound Lab's top of the line models are between $30k-35k I would put them against any speaker made regardless of cost.

[Dusty Chalk]

usually moar moneys = moar bettah seems to hold once you go off the deep end.

What?!?!? No. Incorrect. If there's nothing else you should learn here, it's that once you get beyond a certain threshold, you get into the realm of personal taste more than "more" or "less" better.

[Deadneddz]

Magico's new Q5

[Dusty Chalk]

Unholy carp!

[Hopstretch]

Gryphon Poseidon (single speaker) in Congo Walnut Fantasy Burl.

[swt61]

Hmmm, do you think those would be able to fill my 10' x 10' room with enough volume Hoppy?

[Fitz]

Yes, the speakers will fill the room with plenty of physical volume.

[Dusty Chalk]

I used to live in a smaller room than that, and it had a 7 foot ceiling (rather than the traditional 8 ) -- these are only 6.5 feet tall, they'd fit. And the line array should make them sound half decent.

You just wouldn't be able to do anything else.

[swt61]

That might be a deal breaker, because I'd definitely need enough room to dry hump those speakers!

[crappyjones123]

What?!?!? No. Incorrect. If there's nothing else you should learn here, it's that once you get beyond a certain threshold, you get into the realm of personal taste more than "more" or "less" better.

i was talking from the marketing point of view. but i understand your point.

[Dusty Chalk]

Context sure seemed to imply otherwise, wrongboy.

[Deadneddz]

New Avantgarde G2 speaker line pron for Deepak:

[Deadneddz]

Yeah, if I ever win the lottery, the first thing I do (after moving to a new abode) is to get a pair of MBL's.

Forget the CLX and the rubbish audiophile talk:D, the MBL 101s are at 2:16 on this clip. My god, you can hear the insane dynamics through the microphone. I wish I could be there to listen.

[nattonrice]

Good god.

They look the part if anything else.

[Wmcmanus]

Although their price may be "relatively tame," its most likely the associated equipment to drive/complete the system that will kill you, as well as having a room large enough to accommodate some of the speakers posted here.

My system is all MBL at this point, other than the analog front end which is a VPI-HRX with a Lyra Titan cart and RSA XR-10B phono preamp. I bought the MBL stuff in 3 stages as I could afford it. First the 101E speakers, then a pair of 9008A monoblocks and 6010D preamp, and then finally the digital front end (1622 SACD transport and 1611F dac) which I think outperforms that VPI is some respects.

Regardless of that thought, this thread is a good reason to sway me into never having children. Wayne owning the MBL101e's is all the proof I need for that theory.

Uhhh... let me get back to you in a couple of months on that note.

[Hopstretch]

Oh snap!

Congratulations?

[spritzer]

Oh snap indeed!

[swt61]

Holy cow!

[n_maher]

Papa Santa?

If so, congrats Wayne.

[manaox2]

Congrats papa claus!!!

[Deadneddz]

Uhhh... let me get back to you in a couple of months on that note.

Touche. Congratulations sir!