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REVIEW: ACI Talisman Speakers

72.40.167.199


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Model: Talisman
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $5000
Description: Tower 4 driver system with internally amplified woofer
Manufacturer URL: ACI
Manufacturer URL: ACI

Review by photon46 on February 17, 2007 at 13:45:05
IP Address: 72.40.167.199
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for the Talisman


After using Magneplanar 1.6 speakers for five years, I began to wish for new speakers that could improve upon their strengths and eliminate many of their weaknesses. As much pleasure as they gave me, their somewhat diffuse imaging, finicky choice of partnering amplification, limited dynamic range, and truncated bass extension were parameters that I wanted to improve in my audio system. I did want to retain their expansive soundfield, warm musically involving persona, and natural reproduction of instrumental and vocal timbre. I knew my search would be potentially problematic. My audio budget isn't unlimited and options for auditioning equipment are not the greatest here in central Florida. As much as I enjoy reading about equipment and hearing new gear, I'm not one to trade frequently, so I wanted these to be "keepers." At dealers I auditioned, among others, Usher, Von Schweikert, Gallo, and Nola loudespeakers in the $3K - $5K. price range, which was my budget. Nothing sounded that great to me. For twice to three times the price of the Maggies, the best I heard in that price range (Ushers) sounded like a parallel move, not an upgrade. I heard Nola's $10,000 reference Vipers and those really impressed me, but those were way out of my budget. I didn't want to entertain the idea of Maggie's 3.6 model because of the even more difficult amplification issues and the greater panel size. Then I began to look at direct marketed speakers that enjoyed good reputations so that I'd potentially gain the benefit of eliminating one link in the retail price markup chain. Salk, ACI, and Tyler Acoustics all became candidates after researching various models. I nearly pulled the trigger on a pair of Tyler Acoustics, but the restocking fees for returning them if they didn't work out was a factor. As I think of myself as a music lover first and an audiophile secondarily, ACI's emphasis on constant comparison with the live music happening upstairs in the recording studio they share in the same building impressed me. Talking with Mike Dzurko, ACI's President, also reassured my misgivings about direct ordering speakers unheard. Sometimes you just have "gut" feelings that tell you to do something and that was the case this time. I orderd a pair of ACI Talisman SE's in maple and then had to wait, about three long weeks. They weigh about 115 lbs. each and were far too large to ship by any method but truck freight. After placing my order, they arrived by way of a panel truck and two men who delived a pallet with the speakers to my garage. The shipping packaging was adequate to protect them against all but the most brutal shipping incident and were easy to set up. ACI, like probably all speakers, need to played quite a few hours before sounding their best. Initial impressions were quite favorable, this wasn't going to be a painful break in period. After perhaps 40 hours, things had loosened up and were sounded less stiff and more relaxed. I do think they continued to improve for many weeks before assuming their final sonic signature, probably about three months of daily use. After this longwinded preamble, how do they sound? Well, first of all, I'm quite surprised at just how much of an improvement they are over Magnepan 1.6's. Like the 1.6's they have a broad and expansive soundfield. These are not pinpoint imaging minimonitors with an analytical sound. They have a soundfield that is quite natural and they are adept at reproducing the acoustic of the recording venue. Their soundfield extends well beyond their physical location. Imaging is precise when the recording calls for it, but they reproduce music that sounds is if "cut from the same cloth" to use a frequent description. One reviewer describes some equipment as being of the type that transport you to the recording venue and others bring the performers to your listening room. I'd have to say these are probably more the "take you there" sort, alhtough with intimately recorded music in a smaller acoustic space, they can be of the "bring 'em to you" sort of reproducer. At work, I get to hear a great deal of live music of both classical and jazz genres and I know what natural instrumental and vocal timbre, tone, and dynamic range sound like. When you listen to live music, you don't think about what sections of the audio frequency stand out, imaging, or any of those other audiophile obsessions. You just hear music as a unitary organic wholeness (unless something is horribly wrong with the performance space.) The Talismans reproduce music the same way, nothing stands out. However, I am constantly amazed after living with them for more than six months every time I listen to a recording I haven't heard in a while. They reveal so much more musical detail. They are very finely nuanced and reproduce quite low levels of detail buried deeply in a recording. Their silk dome tweeter is very extended, natural sounding, and well integrated with the other drivers. Generally, I listen at around 85-87 db. for serious listening, but these can play quite loud without sounding stressed. I'm a big Joe Satriani fan and have heard him live. The Talismans do a fabulous job of recreating the live sound Joe and Stuart Hamm create together, the walls of the venue fairly flex in and out with their playing. The Talsimans recreate this quite credibly when pushed loud. Having self powered subwoofers with control over crossover, phase and level help dial in the perfect bass response for my listening space. I used a Db meter and recorded warble tones to start the process and then fine tuned by ear. It takes a while but it's worth the effort. My listening room is well damped with four good size DIY bass traps and I've got the frequency response pretty well controlled, no large peaks or troughs in room response. In the end, all of my mental audiophile obsessions are quieted when I listen to these and I just listen to the music. As I said though, they are quite revealing. Any change in the system such as interconnects, power cords, or the sort are very easily discerned. So what, if any, are my concerns or criticisms? Well, I do think that for a $5,000 speaker, the quality of the maple panels could be better. I admit that I'm a freak for good wood in furniture and I know all too well how expensive better grades are. ACI outsourced the cabinet panel manufacturing to a subcontracted cabinet shop. That doesn't let them exercise the same level of control over this manufacturing phase as Tyler Acoustics can. Aesthetics matter to me and this was a big selling point in favor of both Tyler and Salk speakers. The speaker binding posts are adequate but not impressive. I find plastic binding nuts to be out of place on a product in this price range. The removable speaker grills over the subwoofer can rattle and needed some Blu-Tack to quiet them down. All in all, not much to gripe about. In short, this are a music lovers great companion. I don't forsee getting another attack of "upgrade fever" any time soon. Well, at least for speakers.


Product Weakness: Cosmetics could be better IMHO, speaker binding posts are just adequate.
Product Strengths: Balanced musical presentation, detailed with being "in your face," great control of bass integration with self powered subs, very natural sounding.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Reference Audio Mods PS Audio HCA-2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Music Reference RM5III
Sources (CDP/Turntable): VPI Scout/Garrott Optim FGS for analogue. Cambridge Audio 640C for transport, Sonic Frontiers/Assemblage DAC 2.7 w/Platinum upgrades for digital.
Speakers: ACI Talisman SE's
Cables/Interconnects: Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling, Signal Cable Silver, Music Metre Canto, Stereovox HDVX digital. Cryo-Parts DIY Cryo AC cable w/Furutech connectors on HCA-2 and P300 Power Plant. Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cable.
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Rock, Alt Country, Jazz, Classical, Opera, Blues.
Room Size (LxWxH): 18' x 14' x 11'
Room Comments/Treatments: Room is carpeted, drapery over large slider, four large DIY bass traps at upper ceiling/wall junction.
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months.
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PS Audio P300 power regenerator. DIY
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: ACI Talisman Speakers - photon46 13:45:05 02/17/07 ( 0)