Brian (Eastside AV),, good point. Now let me piss off Harmon!!! J/K - Those Levinson amps never did much for me. I actually much preferred the impact and dynamics of the Parasound Halo mono blocks and P 5 preamp... way more punch. Not to mention they cost a 1/5 of the Levinsons we used to use to demo.

When we had the KEF Blades on the floor, if you recall, they sounded a lot punchier and powerful with the big Parasound mono blocks... Right?

Hope my mailbox doesnt explode from all of the Levinson supporters!

Actually I dont really care. Jus calling it as I see and hear it.

Maybe the Nobles would have sounded better with the Parasound Halos????

I can't comment on the Parasound - Blade combo; I was no longer at Madrona when Parasound was brought in...can't believe its been almost 9 months since parting ways...boy time flies.

But would not be surprised if most people AB'ing them and Levinson chose them. I've always been a HUGE fan of the halo gear...beautiful look, sound and incredibly reliable...plus amazing customer service. I had dozen's of stories from my earlier retail days of Parasound bending over backwards to take care of customers even on out of warranty product...It's been many years since I did much with it other then as a power amp for a second zone (and occasional Z-series); but I'd assume they are still a great company to work with.

hope your new place is still treating you well and you're kicking some butt.

Good lord that comments section is a slow train wreck that seems to want to continue wrecking a couple more times each day. I am embarrassed to be from this industry sometimes.

Anybody in Seattle have these installed in their ceiling? Can they be compared to other "high-end" architectural product?

One comment that caught my attention was a comment about the NF's sounding way better than Wisdom audios at a fraction of the price... Which model Wisdoms?

It would be interesting at the next CEDIA to have a multiple in wall or in ceiling speaker (double blind testing) speaker shoot - out similar to what Paradigm does at their Toronto Factory, as well as Revel.

Years ago at Speakerlab we had 7 or 8 models of our own speakers and we also had 4 of the top selling (competitor's) speakers set up on a switcher and let people come to their own conclusions.

Was a fun and honest way to show / sell speakers! We did very little "selling" - the customers decided for themselves.

Speaker selection for the most part, is almost totally subjective - like selecting Microw brews or Wines.

I always get a little suspicious when a product proclaims itsel as "the best" or way better than others for a fraction of the price. How many times do we hear this?

But, a double - blind comparative demo would be interesting, however I wonder how many of these companies would be willing to step up and "face the music" other than those at the very top of the pyramid, like Wisdom, Dali, Martin Logan, Paradigm, Leon, B&W, Focal, Monitor Audio, James, Triad and Totem?

The NF review I read that was from a reviewer who had the speakers installed in his own home, and that asks the question: If I (or you) were a reviewer and a company offered up lets say mulitple flat screens or speakers for my personal abode...or whatever, or if that company spent a lot of advertising dollars in advertising, I certainly would not be inclined to bad-mouth the product. I also would not have a referenc e to gauge the product against others. Just sayin.

You said worst. sound. ever.
Obviously, a strong statement that drew some ire.

Greg himself had a simple and professional reply.

"I welcome the opportunity to speak with you, Personally, about your experience so that together we may reach an understanding of what went wrong in the demonstration and reach a practical understanding of our Road Case Demo methodology pursuant to you properly and accurately evaluating our product on your terms rather than dismissing it based on a demonstration methodology that you believe to be flawed and incapable of revealing the product’s true capabilities.

Let’s work together to remove the if’s and what-fors of our introductory demonstration method and determine the capabilities or lack-there-of, of our product on your terms."

Then:

"I should not have been so brief and negative."

Excellent! It will work itself out!

If these were the only two voices that were heard after your initial comment, the story would be much simpler.

Slow your roll, Stan... This is the kind of editorialism that made that comments section a cesspool.

Jerry Del Colliano (not at all affiliated with Noble, just a media guy) said they were *comparable* in sound to Wisdom at a fraction of the cost.

I have no idea what he meant by that, but it did not sound to me like he meant that he thought that they were better.

Either way, it's his opinion.

You know, opinion... Like when you stated your own opinion and said that Greg's speakers were the worst sounding speakers ever. :)

BTW, in my personal view Wisdoms are in a class of their own.

A friend was involved in a large Wisdom Audio installation a few years ago at a large ultra high-end design showroom in OKC that I was able to hear.

I also heard a set in a temporary setup in a room at AXPONA by a Chicago area dealer I have known for many years. They are among the best speakers I have heard from anyone anywhere.

Yes, I'm a big Wisdom fan, and now they have a new series of speakers that are in the lower echelon - price-wise that look interesting.

I'll slow my roll on the NF's though!

Thanks

Wisdoms insight series is a little dream of mine. I never actually sold any but really wanted too.

If I find the project I will absolutely sell them.

That Jerry guy was a bit off in even mentioning the Wisdom brand in that comments section.

+1



Said "the bitter troll".

This is the guy who mentioned he has owned many high end speakers, yet also bought speakers from the white van guys!

I am 99% sure that his comment about the white van purchase was a metaphor for something else.

If I can swing the trip, admission, parking, etc, I want to go back to AXPONA next weekend in Rosemont and hear some of the newest latest greatest.

Any dealers out there?

Hmmm no dealers have stepped forward...

...But I have received more than a few emails from others who had the demo.... They all support my appraisal of the speakers...

UPDATE -
Well. I had all the best intentions on trying out these speakers in my own home for an evaluation with the intent of signing up as a dealer if I thought they were as good as people say they were. They were not willing to provide me any products to demo (aside from their road cases) unless I filled out a dealer app. Once I did that they told my rep that he needed to meet with me first in order to vet me out as a dealer... which to me means "can I move enough product to make them happy." Whatever - I sell a LOT of in-wall and ceiling speakers. After several back and forths - I declined to move forward.
I have plenty of options already and the hassle was not worth the time at this point. A pair of $800 unknown-name speakers is a tough sell in my area. They have a long uphill battle ahead in this space and I don't care to be on that ride. Hopefully someone on here will take the plunge and let us know. (looking at YOU Mr. Stanley..:-) )