Stand Loudspeaker Reviews

MayFly MF-201 loudspeaker Manufacturer's Comment

Manufacturer's Comment

Thank you, Stereophile, for this excellent review of my loudspeakers. If there is one thing consistent with all the folks who have tested them, it's that the MF-201s need different placement from a "usual" setup. What is interesting is that different folks achieved good results in completely different ways. Some liked them high. Some liked them low. Some liked them dead-on ear level. Some like a lot of toe-in, some not. Experimentation in the final listening room is required.

Regarding the reviewer's comments on the slightly soft presentation in the upper end: This is intentional. I tuned the response of the MF-201s to follow an approximation of the "BBC curve," the response slowly dropping off as it approaches the extreme treble end. This is specifically to address listening fatigue. I wanted a speaker that you could listen to all day long. It's fairly simple to go the other way and produce "hyped" speakers that sound exciting in the show room. The problem is that after you get them home, you find that you don't want to listen to them all that much anymore. I didn't want that. I wanted a speaker that you could listen to day after day and smile.

I was fascinated by Mr. Atkinson's measurements, but one thing stuck out for me: The resonance at 352Hz. The measurements done at the NRC did not pick it out, but I managed to reproduce it with my own measurement setup. There is an old engineering maxim that states, "once you can measure something, you can control it." I already have plans on how to address this resonance. These loudspeakers are about to get even better! There are other very interesting observations in Mr. Atkinson's work, but for this one observation alone I am in Mr. Atkinson's debt.—Trevor May, Chief Designer Mayfly Audio Systems

COMPANY INFO
MayFly Audio Systems
US distributor: Muto Communications
(613) 729-4487
mayflyaudio.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
mememe's picture
Submitted by mememe on February 25, 2022 - 12:21pm

Looking at the measurements and reading the review leads me to the conclusion that there are many better choices at this price point. Even in the used market.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on February 25, 2022 - 4:39pm

and I appreciate that. That skyline profile affects standing waves internally, and it's a novel approach.

I'm a little surprised the stands weren't as attractive. Perhaps a different skyline approach there as well?

remlab's picture
Submitted by remlab on February 25, 2022 - 5:04pm

...but I've never been impressed with the Seas coax performance. Seas makes great separates that would work even better for about the same outlay. It would need a higher order crossover to pull it off though.

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on February 25, 2022 - 8:07pm

Sure, why not ?

Baltic Plywood, from Finland and other Northern recent USSR Independents are common with YouTube Content Creators that manufacture small-batch precision wood projects. This Loudspeaker looks to create considerable waste wood that is quite expensive to just dump into the Waste Management Land Fill. ( it's still better than everything plastic from Walmart's China suppliers that fill all of our landfills )

I hope they do a Video of how they stack up all those laminations soooooo perfectly, I'd like to see how they keep each layer from sliding around from having wet titebond acting slippery ( like it does - I sprinkle a bit of common salt to keep it from sliding ). Are they using wood dowels or steel ?

Plywood seems to have a re-model look that might not be approved by spouses, mine is tolerant but she would never choose plywood over traditional furniture appearances no matter how much function is enhanced.

Maybe a nice cloth draped over them would create a pedestal for nice Busts of AOC & Bernie

Tony in Florida

johnnythunder1's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder1 on February 26, 2022 - 12:45pm

I used to enjoy your posts when they stuck to audio and your admirable experience in this business. I liked your insights and you seem to have good taste in admiring the writing of Stereophile and your taste in equipment. But can you resist the constant digs that are off topic and sadly one sided? I wish you would reserve your ire for the real threats in this world and not the projected bogeymen of the Right.

Anton's picture
Submitted by Anton on March 1, 2022 - 8:30am

Time to fire up your own political comment machine?

Anton's picture
Submitted by Anton on February 28, 2022 - 8:45am

I get a bit of an 'unfinished vibe' from this product, like an advanced beta test.

It sure is exciting to think about where this project may lead to!

It would be cool to see an array of potential mounts for drivers of people's choosing. I'd like to see how a Lowther or Voxativ driver would work.

Glotz's picture
Submitted by Glotz on March 1, 2022 - 11:57am

The Manufacturer Comments section were telling, though no judgment. I wish this company success in refining their product.

md1809's picture
Submitted by md1809 on February 28, 2022 - 9:50am

FWIW,
I remember an(other) Italian loudspeaker company born in 2000 (they managed to be the first company registered in 2000 :-) ), named Eventus Audio, that had a very similar idea
http://www.eventusaudio.com/EA/sacc.html

Unfortunately, they dont'seem in business anymore.

MTC

Regards,
Carlo Iaccarino

mememe's picture
Submitted by mememe on March 1, 2022 - 6:40am

Checked the site out. Fantastic out of the box, but still in the box approach. The way it should be done. It is unfortunate that they're not in business anymore.

Jack L's picture
Submitted by Jack L on March 2, 2022 - 11:58am

Hi

Who wants to drop 10,000 bucks for a pair of passive subs ???

Yes, I might be one-of-a-kind who wants his home audio to be a true FULL-range system : to pump 20Hz or lower subbsss, for cathedral pipe organ music & synthetic bass notes.

Yes, I have done it years back by installing 3 100W powered subs (L, R & L+R channels) hooked up direct to my tube phono-preamp.

Yet I spent only peanut vs to $10,000/pair passive subs, let alone the tons money needed for the amps & electronic x-overs.

Give me a break, please.
Be a smart audio consumer !

Listening is believing

Jack L

Rogier's picture
Submitted by Rogier on March 2, 2022 - 4:13pm

"Who wants to drop 10,000 bucks for a pair of passive subs?"

I agree it'd be an unlikely (impulse) purchase. Then again, we all know quality can be expensive. Hard to prejudge the MayFly subwoofer — or any gear — without first fairly auditioning it/them, at some length.

Note, by the way, that we didn't review the subs, and that we explained why. I spent maybe 25 words merely mentioning their availability and price. The rest is up to you. Too dear for your wallet? That makes two of us.

Jack L's picture
Submitted by Jack L on March 3, 2022 - 11:59am

Hi

"Great minds think alike" !

Jack L

Jack L's picture
Submitted by Jack L on March 3, 2022 - 12:18pm

Hi

Too true !

But does an average Joe Blow needs/wants to wreck the wallet to own it ?

Likewise, only the very rich & famous are willing to drop $8 million for the most expensive car on this planet today: Mercedes-Maybach Exelero !

Jack L

cgh's picture
Submitted by cgh on March 3, 2022 - 9:11am

Interesting. On visual inspection it doesn’t appear to be a strictly diffusive grating (e.g., Schroeder) but has some regular peaks and valleys rotated through the layers of the structure. If something else is going on that I can’t see not sure how it is patentable, although nothing would surprise me with the US patent system. Regardless, the design clearly will not function exactly like a diffuser, but I can only assume it will convert something to heat. More a thought experiment than practical but I suppose, forgetting sides, top and bottom, that with a certain diffuser at a certain distance perpendicular to the speaker would “effectively see” an open baffle design. Anyway, one of those things that I am surprised somebody hadn’t already thought up. Fun.

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