Reference 3A MM Decapo

[Tino]

Anyone listen to these? I heard a set like 10 years ago and I was in love but I have not heard them recently since being exposed to more stuff. Is there anything else out there that is similar quality and price (or cheaper)? Are Totem speakers in the same quality range?

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0103/mmdecapoi.htm

 

[audiopro]

You really need to hear them for yourself. Can't stress that point enough.
IMHO they are much more refined than they were 10 years ago. Also the cabinetry is considerable better.
I never really cared for Totem speakers, but that is a matter of personal taste. They are direct competitors though.

Please note I have an affiliation with Ref. 3A.

 

[Andy Bartha]

The current Decapo Ref. 3A is a much better speaker than production from 10 years ago. The Totems are good speakers but not my cup tea. Take a look at the Sapphire from Audio Concepts. It is a similar type two way mounted speaker. I was involved in comparing the two speakers and the Sapphire was as good if not better than the Ref.3 for less money.

www.audioc.com/speakers1/sapphirexl/sapphirexl.htm

 

[Joel Wesseling]

Thread is a bit old but thought I'd throw something in..

I guy stopped in today with Reference 3a mm decapo-i

I quickly grabbed an in room FR measurement(blue) of 3a at 1m, compared the relative response to my closed box monitor(red) that has a 84 db sensitivity rating..

3A is more sensitive with ragged response..

Listening impressions from me and the 3a owner: my monitor is far better in everyway, except sensitivity.. Better bass definition, better midrange and high frequency detail and accuracy(3a treble sounds like it rings), more imaging precision and better balanced overall..

what's the point of this? not certain, I guess it blows me away how well we can do and how so many commercial offering, are just average, at best..

 

[GringoAudio]

A guy has a pair here in Calgary for sale at a decent price. I can't seem to get a DIY project finished and have nothing to listen to. So I was considering them. The Stereophile Magazine review was good at the subjective listening level but the objective frequency response curve was ridiculous. Troells Graveson has blogged about how bad the FR curves are on many commercial speakers yet these speakers for instance are well regarded and very 'musical'. The hump at 8-900 Hz is ridiculous and Troels or Zaph would design a notch filter to deal with it. Both men have prescribed such a notch filter for the ScanSpeak 8530 I am using in a DIY speaker using this illustrious driver known for great sound, low distortion but a bumpy response curve. The Reference 3A deCapo tries to get away running full range on the midwoofer that has as crazy a response curve as my 8530s. Seems stuffing a box with drivers and selling it is more about self confidence than true ability and engineering.