Went and listened to some Amphions today

wow, you got some sort of web cam in here? scary! I have a shit ton to finish, they are all 3/4 down the road, i've just had some major difficulty with work/$ since mid last year, it looks like things should be finally loosening up though, and i should be able to finish a bunch of projects, it's been quite frustrating, i definitely need to learn how to say no to at least some favors, i can't tell you (without being embarrassed) how many pieces i've built/repaired for buds in the last year.. for free  It's Not on them, it's on me, it seems I have an almost pathological willingness to help people I like, i enjoy it, but it just doesn't help me move my own agenda forward.
That said, back to ____'s mic lol.

Don't need a webcam. We're actually the same person...

nope brown coffee cup, you can't fool me !!

So - bought the One15's...did some listening. I'll post my thoughts when I get back from an errand...

Spend some time with them. My opinion on them changed after two weeks, especially after mixing on them. There was a point when things just clicked.

Now i really want to send you my speakers for comparison

OK - so I've only listened for a little while. Haven't mixed with them. I'm going to be doing a lot of switching back and forth - which is a PITA considering I don't have multiple monitor outputs and only one power amp. Wish I could switch them back and forth, but oh well.

These things are tiny. I was kind've shocked at how small they are. I wish it wasn't true, but apparently size matters to me...I feel like I'm looking at computer monitors. Anyway, they are really beautiful sounding speakers. The imaging is superb. The top end is supremely smooth. I just pulled the sub out, so the bottom feels lacking now. I'll compare three songs and here are my thoughts in comparison. I'm listening to the two monitors back and forth, so I'll talk about them in comparison to each other.

I'm using a Lexicon 212 (rebadged Bryston 3BST) for both pairs of speakers. (dandeurloo says that he doesn't have a lack of low end with the custom amp he built. I heard it and it had more bottom than mine - but I've always mixed with a sub, so it hasn't been an issue for me.) When the sub is in, the crossover is at 80hz

Miles Davis "So What"

Without Sub
I listened to the Proacs first. Everything seemed nice...standup bass has a nice punch to it. Trumpet was a bit harsh in the 2-4 khz range. Switching to the One15's, the first thing I notice is the imaging. Don't know if it's wider, but I can hear placement that I couldn't hear with the Proacs. Listening back and forth, I hear that the trumpet is panned slightly to the left on both pair, but there's something about the Amphions that feels like there's a wider sound stage - like I can close my eyes and see everyone standing there and where they're standing. The Proac seems less dimensional somehow. Flatter with less depth. Maybe a little less low mid with the Amphions. I don't hear the slight strident transient on the trumpet with the Amphions either. Altogether, the top end seems smoother on the Amphions. They seem to have a little less volume - but maybe I'm hearing things. Honestly - and this sounds cliche - but the Proacs sound more 2 dimensional where the Amphions seem to have more of a soundstage. Preferred the Amphions here.

With Sub
This is the last thing I'm listening to, (I went all no-sub, then backwards in order with the subs, so this is last) so, I don't think I can make a comparison with how the two sounded without the sub...but here are my thoughts on how the Proac and Amphion differ from one another with the sub in line. (did any of that make ANY sense?) First of all, there's not a ton of sub info in a 60 year old jazz session lol. Although the upright does sink in there a little. Both sets sound incredible with the subs in line. Seems to take the stress off the low end drivers and both speakers shine. OK - Amphions are definitely not as bright as the Proacs. There seems to be a level of dynamics and depth with the Amphions that the Proacs just don't have. The instrument separation is kind've freaking amazing. I would imagine after 60 years of mastering this phenomenal recording, there are no strident tones that have gotten by mastering engineers - so, to my ears, the Amphions present this like it was supposed to be heard. Really smooth top end. I also feel like I hear a dimension in the upright that I didn't hear with the Proacs. Like I can hear the room around it or something...

Katy Perry "Teenage Dream"

Without Sub
Well, I guess this is where these small Amphions show their weakness. They just can't handle all the low end at louder volumes - they crap out at any considerable volume. Only so much you can do with a 5 1/2 inch driver I guess. The Proacs could handle the info, although they seemed a little more harsh in the high mids...seems to be a trend. Both Feel like they're missing a bunch of low info.
Listening again...the Proacs are sending out some laser beam mids on this one...but nice punch. Much less strident mids with the Amphions and actually they seems to reach lower than the Proacs. I seem to hear more sub/low information with the Amphions. I prefer the Amphions on this, but they certainly don't have the ability to be very loud with songs with this much low end info.

With Sub
Amphions are monstrously different with the sub in line. Holy shit. All the farting went away and it's kind've freaking beautiful. ou can still achieve fartdom, but it has to be excessively loud. Again, the soundstage is fantastic. Punchy as shit. Proacs - again, more low mid info. Maybe not quite as punchy, but the low mids seem to make it a little more impressive...Soundstage not as defined, but they sound really good.

Allison Krauss "Paper Airplane"

Without Sub
Surprised a little by how much nice bottom I'm hearing on the Amphions with this one. Imaging is just fantastic. Man - the center on these things are pretty amazing. Top end doesn't have a strident sound in it. Beautiful mix. The Proacs seem to have less separation between instruments, and they seem to have more low mids...200-400 area. Maybe it's just the size difference between the drivers...IDK. The Proacs sound pretty great on this one too. There are times when the vocal becomes the slightest bit strident. But there are no flies on the Proacs, that's for sure...The bottom end feels a little "smeary" on the Proacs - like the bottom isn't as defined as on the Amphions...but the Proacs seem to have more low mids. This is kind've a tossup to me.

With Sub
With the Proacs, pretty much the same as before. Things feel more relaxed, though, I assume because I'm hearing more of the low end. Also - maybe the Proacs aren't having to work as hard so they're presenting more clearly on top? No idea...Maybe psychosomatic...The Amphions immediately seem less bright on the top. It's weird coming from the Proacs back to the Amphions - because they are definitely less bright. They feel round on top in comparison. Again, the imaging and phantom center seemed more well-defined on the Amphions.


So - after all that...I have to say I'm really, really impressed by the Amphions. I kind've thought the smaller One15's might not be a fair comparison with the larger Proacs...but damn. I would absolutely say I like them better. And I have loved the Proacs for a long while now. I know a lot of you guys that read a lot of my posts have seen me talk about the 1-4kHz region that I'm always annoyed by. Well shit...these Amphions present that range in such a smooth way. You always hear about the Proacs having a "natural" top...I would say the Amphions are much more neutral. These One15's certainly don't have the ability to pump out 808's - so if that's what you're looking for - this ain't it. BUT, to me - a sub with them makes that possible. The imaging is stunning on these things...really stunning.

I've only got one problem - these One15's sound so good, I've got gas for the big brothers...bigger is better, right? Truly, a comparison between the One 18's and the Proacs were probably more apples to apples, but if I like the 15's better than the Proacs how much would I love to spend another $1000 on the 18's?? Sigh. It never stops does it.

Nice review, John. Your description of the separation between instruments is a common one. I said the exact same thing when I first heard them. Some call it the 'air' between the instruments. I had the Spiral Grooves and Questeds up against the Amphions in a shootout, and the separation between notes was just plain as day with the Amphions. 

The One18's do sound bigger, but they are a different feel than the 18's. The 18's don't punch as much. They are more refined and relaxed. I prefer the punch of these little suckers. Makes it fun.

Oh, and one more thing you'll probably discover. Mixes translate so well. You get it sounding right on the Amphions, and it'll sound better out in the world. That's all I'll say for now. It was a pleasant surprise to find that out. Hopefully you'll discover for yourself.

Enjoy the ride, my friend.

Thx John very informative, the reviews I have read suggest there is a big difference with the 18 s, especially the 2 18 if there is any way you could try them, now is the time:)

No point in trying the Two18's - I can't afford them. I'm really tempted to go get the one18's today though.

Hey Johnkenn, can we see a pic of them next to each other?