Hi!
I have been loaned a pair of Zeroboxes belonging to the late dad of a friend of a friend . . . and they are GREAT!
I have tested Manger, Tannoy, Lowther and some home built designs head to head - and whilst Lowther are musical, Tannoy spectacular, Mangers are clinically accurate.
Mangers are brilliant for stereo image too - and with the units on the sides provide a stereo field wider than the pair. They are brilliant for baroque ensembles, and my son interested in electronic music mastered on studio monitors drools over them for such. They are exact. Scientifically exact. The music comes from the surface of the box and to that extent it is spacially flat. The music does not jump out at you. My friend who worked with opera a lot remarked at how real opera sounds . . . .
This afternoon we auditioned the Mangers, a Tannoy 12 inch and a pair of Lowther EX4s in front horns with DX2s in Acoustas turned into the corner for bass.
Tannoy - spectacular - wish I had a pair - but a tad harsh on violin and perhaps a hint of tubbiness or confusion in the range between woofer and tweeter.
Lowther . . . well . . . they project - an organ recorded is not reproduced as a recording, it's more there. A violin and piano - perhaps not best recording and sounding as such through the Mangers, unmercifully critically accurately, is audibly a Stadivarius through the Lowthers.
I should add that the Lowther EX4 or DX4 is smoother and sweeter than the PM2C and in the right front horn, balancing the lower midrange with the upper treble, is a smooth and sweet transducer.
The Mangers - if I was able to keep them, I certainly would not say no . . . real accurate monitors, but it's the Lowthers to which I listen to the musicality of music. My friend, however, says that the Lowthers sound like music through a magnifying glass - in some way a recording, whilst for him it's the Mangers that sound real.
If anyone wants a pair, the pair I'm looking after is for sale and I can send anyone their owner's email contact details, even though the day I have to say goodbye to them will be rather sad . ..
Best wishes
David P