Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: ProAc Studio 125 Speakers by demosasp@otenet.gr

Model:	Studio 125
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2000
Description:	2-way floorstander
Manufacturer URL:	ProAc
Model Picture:	View

Review by demosasp@otenet.gr ( A ) on May 29, 2006 at 09:53:56
IP Address: 87.203.233.165

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for the Studio 125

The Proacs Studio (125) is a really outstanding speaker that needs a huge attention in terms of matching and room placement.Be careful to know and respect the following because its not a plug and play speaker:

- Combine with sweet sources and amplifiers. Treble could be aggressive and violins higher notes will be hard if you dont take care the followings. Else, prepare to enter the dream-land of true high-end.

- Connecting speakers with Nordost Blue Heaven or more pricey cables that offers slighlty lean,cold,very transparent and slightly treble forwardness isn't allowed if you are listening to classical violins. Otherwise, piano, rock, acoustic guitars, voices are perfect with Nordost and Studio's but not violins. (I own all the stuff that Im talking about in this review). Try Cardas cables or any copper sweet-sounding not-so-analytical laid back speaker cable and you will be left with the mouth open.

- Speakers have the bad habbit to present the higher notes of a violin with a slightly hardness, but if you find the right cables (like Cardas Neutral Reference ) the violins sounds so true with the right amount of metal,wood,sweetness of the (various brand) violins of today and past that is almost as good as possible for the under 3000 category. I dislike fake violin anemic sound and of course edgy, aggressive and metallic lean violin. But believe me, try a matching cable combo based on higher frequency spectrum and sweet and detailed amps and you will be amazed.

- I tried Pathos Classic One, Blue Circle amps , Primaluna P.Two amps with the speakers all with Cardas interconnects and various speaker cables. Pathos and Blue Circle are the best with them especially Blue Circle. Huge soundstage from Primaluna P.Two, too. Is a nice performer also, but the Bass was uncontrolled to a degree that Enya's Waterfall song's bass line was so boomy and bloated that I pressed stop. Check out monitor medium-sensitivity speakers with those tube amps.

- Need a lot of space behind walls, slightly turn-in angle and slightly bass-shy and fast equippment to perform magic. Blue Circle's bass is gorgeous but in medium volumes the Proacs can sound a bit confused in the low regions but that is phenomenon of x4-5 times the money of many brands.

In short-words : If you own solid states or hybrids sweet sounding amps and good CDs BUY THEM IMMEDIATLY.

Product Weakness: Bass is not the last word in taughtness and quickness. Needs space to sing magic, plays full and correct in low volumes, you must buy the matching cables in order to fully enjoy classical music.
Product Strengths: So many for the price that its a shame to criticise. Voices are perfect, details are coming so natural and unforced, a pleasure to hear.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Pathos,Blue Circle
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Musical Fidelity A5
Speakers:	Proacs
Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Rock, Jazz
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Bass is not the last word in taughtness and quickness. Needs space to sing magic, plays full and correct in low volumes, you must buy the matching cables in order to fully enjoy classical music.
Product Strengths:	So many for the price that its a shame to criticise. Voices are perfect, details are coming so natural and unforced, a pleasure to hear.