Hey Dave, why the road kill between the speakers? ;)
Oh, and an answer about which Apogee to look for..... The Stage of course. Mint Stage speakers are rather common. Scintillas are the worst. Due to lack of amp capability, they end up in garages with the kid's bikes. Most are in terrible repair.
Hey, thanks a million. If I can sell my current speakers sometime I'll probably talk to the eastcoast dealer. Yep, nothing sounds anything like an Apogee, at least in my experience, and, IMHO, I don't think you can say that about any speaker. (Darn those rebuilds, though!)
Which Apogee to buy used is a good question, the answer would be based on a few other questions. How much will you spend?, how large is your room?, do you want a fullrange model?, would a hybrid model be ok?, are you willing to spend a good chunk of cash for rebuild when the time comes?...(and it will, no escape there!)...the bass panels are damped by foam. When the old foam breaks down you get BUZZ (you know about that one).
In all, I count 26 models in Apogees past...bookshelf, hybrids, full planer/ribbon.
Non-hybrid and fullrange...the Duettas are the smallest model. Smaller than the Duettas, but not fullrange, are the Caliper and the Stage. If you look at my system pics you can get an idea of the size difference between the Stage (of course my Stages are on top of their subwoofers) and the Duetta....around 1/2. The Caliper would fit in between these two in size.
One bright note....I listened to a pair of well thought of speakers ($17,000...I won't mention the name) a good while back. They were not better than my Duetta Signatures, they were very good...different....maybe as good? I suspect my Duetta Sigs can hang with most anything out there at the $15,000 and under price range.
A dealer rebuilt pair of Duetta Sigs....less than $5,000 if you do it right.
OK, thanks. If one were just trying to buy any good Apogee model, new or used, that would have some support behind it and be reasonably dependable, what would one do? Thanks again.
Hey Apogee fans... Still miss my Stages. I had woofer-buzz problems with the left speaker and traded them in 1998. Now thinking of finding them somewhere (Graz maybe?) and going back. What is the chance I will have more problems and how much support is out there for them? Thanks for any comments.
I found the Stage speakers too finicky on placement. I replaced them with Duetta Sigs. They had a sumptuous sound, compared to the more life like presentation of the Stage. Still, I liked the Duettas better, for their room friendliness. That was with my systems. I do not presume to know what they sound like hooked systems I have not heard.
I do have a nearby neighbor who has honed his MGs sound to a degree I would love to hear at my place.
Well, I've owned the Duetta Signatures for a few years, the MiniGrand for only a month...(two weeks of that, not properly setup).
I have now moved the Duetta out of the system, and installed the MG's in their place....a chance to shine, and show off their best.
Something interesting: When I had both speaker systems setup for the first time, and played the Stages...for the first time....the Duetta was the clear winner to my ear.
However, after playing the MG's for a few days I started hearing the Stage magic,and... that they were "A LOT" better sounding than I'd first thought.
I did this switch, back and fourth (each speaker system playing around 3 days)...and each time the speaker I had been listening to for those 3 days sounded like the winner. I'm thinking that the ear needs a short time to adjust to the new sound.
I'm finding that the two speaker systems sound "very alike"... and, "nothing alike"
I agree with you...the Stages midrange reproduction is nothing short of fantastic when setup properly. (they are a "clear" winner there).
Btw...you have owned many Apogees. Which models that you have listened to in you home, better the Stage in midrange reproduction?....I'll guess the Scintilla for one?
I am loving my stages so much that I am inclined to say they are most fantastic stock Apogee. I also have a pair of Duettas but too bad one of them is broken. I am curious to know which of the two you prefer in your room. I bet the Stages have better midrange but would like to know your opinion.
Thanks, something new to play with, they seem to enjoy my tube amps just fine. I've managed to get the subwoofers blending nicely today...I had read it was hard to do?
Ya, I plod along pretty slowly in just about every facet of life...I'm afraid of heights so my mountains are only big hills, but the hills are alive with music.
Dave, we all have our own methods of tackling the audio assent. There are different ways to climb the mountain. When you arrive at the summit, you know. You have always seemed the conservative when it comes to changes. Yet, you always have expressed happiness listening to the music. I have always admired that trait in you. Even your username evokes satisfaction.
Your welcome Jeff, thank for peaking at my system also. Yep, reflections are minimized...great bass potential is maximized.
I was going to move up in the Apogee line this year (Apogee Diva), however... my Duetta Sigs are now sounding so good I've desided to stay put with these and upgrade my tube amps only.
Thanks for the thread on my system. Both of us are blessed with large enough listening rooms that room reflections are minimized. The Apogee speakers are ones I would love to audition sometime.
