Spatial Audio X3

Flowery description here: http://www.spatialaudio.us/pagex3
- AMT driver, 12", 15" woofers
- 85 lb each

- Believe it's BEYMA TPL-150H with the back-plate popped off to make it dipole.
- Woofers probably some modification of Eminence.
- 15" driven by Hypex FA251 and has separate volume control (I just match sound level by ear). Controls 90 hz and lower.


Sound
- I've had PAP Voxativ 1.6 for a couple years and wanted more bass oomph and having powered 15" woofer just delivers that.
- Just as detailed as the PAP Voxativ but way more tactile bass. Wife mentions sound is also more fuller and not "hi-fi jazz duty only" like the PAP's I had.
- Can crank up Hypex to play wife's bassy music.
- maybe the highs don't extend as much as Raal tweeters
- FR seems very smooth(?)

Thoughts on components


- BiFrost, Yggdrasil, Saga OG, Goldpoint, Aegir single vs mono

DACS:
- Yggdrasil XLR >>> BiFrost XLR = Bifrost SE > Yggdrasil SE
- BiFrost sounds a bit more liquid and very smoother compared to Yggdrasil. BF is also very fun to listen to and if I am single ended headphones setup, I would go for BF. Also soundstage is a bit different that


Aegir:
- Aegir mono sounded way more relaxed, dynamic and natural. Prefer XLR in all aspects. I did not detect the "sweetness" of single Aegir and think it's more of Yggdrasil single vs xlr difference.

Saga vs Goldpoint:
Goldpoint seems a bit more plankton.

Overall, recommend the speakers and it just seems like an open window to music. Clean and fun. Doesn't do anything wrong I think.
Probably consider biamping if you have OB speakers.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience <3.

I have a question about those, do they project the sound in front of their baffle like most horn loaded speakers? I prefer the soundstage to be behind the speakers yet having super macro dynamics (I don't know if it's possible :S).

 

They go behind. Super 3D nice with my firstwatt sit3, also lotta dynamics.

 

If only I had a room that would play well with dipoles - the M3 Sapphires definitely tickled my pickle at CAF.

 

Some updated thoughts after living with it for a few months.

I can't really find any negatives with the speakers. I really like listening to them. I guess it rolls off at 35hz like it doesn't hit the lowest registers of something like this https://tipper.bandcamp.com/track/gulch but it's fine since I listen to kpop and jazz mostly.

I never believed in cold Yggdrasil but recently I rearranged some cables and got a new preamp which made me disconnect Yggdrasil for a day or two. After hooking everything back up, everything sounded kind of harsh like someone threw icicles to the music and I was thinking it must be this silver autoformer but after Yggdrasil warmed up for a few days it sounded all fine.. I guess that's good cause the speakers showed me something I didn't believe.

I usually sell gear within a week-month if I don't like it so if it lasts several months in hooncake household it passed the first test