The bipoles offer something that's hard to describe but is very compelling. As far as I can tell it's a combination of deep, tuneful and well-controlled bass combined with the octave-to-octave consistency that only a single driver can provide. And unlike most other single driver speakers I have heard there's absolutely no upper midrange shout or treble harshness. Another characteristic that's more difficult to describe (you have to hear it to understand) the bipole ambience. This reminds me of the dipole Magnepans I've owned in the past.

Early on the treble was lacking, but a combination of different internal wiring and speaker cables, toe-in, and breakin time has virtually eliminated this problem. The bipoles do have a limitation in their absolute ability to play loudly - about as much as the 5" woofer high end mini monitors I've heard. I measured this playing a Keb Mo CD, and to my ears the music started to sound congested when the volume at the listening position (10' from the fronts of the speakers) was peaking at about 94dB (94dB is pretty damn loud!). To put it in perspective, the volume limitation isn't an issue with most music, but with some highly dynamic material, like my "Heroic Music for Organ, Brass, and Percussion" disk, I prefer the Pi speakers.

I suppose the bottom line is this: As I rotate through the other speakers I always find myself returning to the bipoles after a few CD's. I would recommend these without reservation for anybody to use in a second system, and if the loudness limitation isn't an issue I would also recommend them as somebody's main (or only) speakers.

• Bipolar MLTL Full Range Speakers

I won't be using any AN drivers in my stuff.

Bob

Thanks again for your obervations and acute listening. I'm glad that you like these speakers. They produce an exceptionally nice sound when used within their limits.

Your comments on the power levels of 94 dB peaks at the listening position are close to my calculated output levels under these conditions. At a 10' listening distance you are down about 10 dB sound level from the usual 1 meter SPL rated specification. Remember that the sound is falling at a 6 dB per doubling of distance rate from a point source. If you run the Martin King MLTL spread sheets for 60 watts input to the speaker (30 watts per speaker), you'll find that you are at the Xmax limit of 6 mm for this driver under such conditions. Thus under these conditions, the SPL level produced by the speaker at 1 meter is 106 dB. Hence, at your the listening position you'll measure about 96 dB SPL. This is close to your 94 dB SPL figure.

As you imply, most people usually listen at SPL levels in the 80 to 90 dB value even for loud sound. So anything above that level is at the 'turn that damn thing down' level.

Bottom line is that these speakers will satisfy most listeners in a small to medium sized room but if you are a hard rocker who wishes for high SPLs in a large room, then these speakers may not be for you.

Jim