This same Combo platter received my hands up and down "Best of Show" at AXPONA 2012 in Jacksonville. Here it sounded almost as good. The music on a recording of Shelley Manne was lusciously warm and well-extended on bottom. Elvis' recording of "Fever" on Elvis is Back was even more so. The detail was delicious, the ability to feel up and personal with the great one a rare experience.
No matter what we played, sound staging was breathtaking, and the tonality warm. The only drawback was due to what MBL's Jeremy Bryan had to do to tame the room. When I mentioned that I was missing the lowest undertones on Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's mezzo-soprano, Jeremy brought my attention to the mattresses that he had used to fill the rear alcoves in the room. Without them, the sound would have been boomy; with them, just a bit too much bass was absorbed. I wonder what would have happened if the mattresses had been extra firm.
When all is said and done, I feel blessed to have had another opportunity to enjoy the sound of MBL. Hopefully a better room awaits when MBL comes to the California Audio Show in Burlingame August 1–3. Last year, I could hardly get through the door, it was so packed. And deservedly so. This year, I'm heading there early on the first day.
COMMENTS
I was virtually speechless.
What this system can do with sound is truly amazing, scary actually. Some of the music played at concert level was so damn forceful. I have never heard such power and dynamics combined with the ability to producing every detail so effortlessly. Would love to hear what THIS system could do with a good analog source.
Pro-Audio-Tech hit the nail on the head. Sound is the first order of business of MBL...and Oh what exquisite sounds the 101MKII makes. Gorgeous build quality, grace and delicacy balanced with power and macrodynamics with a sweet spot that nearly encompasses the entire room...I know I could not ask for anything greater but to have the artist in the room with me. I've not yet heard a speaker system that takes the listener as close to the artist as an MBL with Radialstrahler technology. Period.
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