So went into the store, a complete novice that I am. A bit nervous, remembering all the horrible stories I read about SBS in this forum. But what can I say? I had a blast. The salesperson - Mike - was totally nice. Didn't try to upsell. He left me in the room, told me he would come back in 10, but thoughtfully left me in there for 20-30. In all, I spent 3 hours, just listening to pure music.
I went there with these CDs in my messenger bag: Gergiev's Stravinsky (Rite of Spring), Krystian Zimerman playing the Brahms 1st Concerto, Radu Lupu playing late Brahms intermezzos, Tallis Scholars' "Requiem", Radiohead's "Amnesiac," and Bill McHenry's "Roses."
The system was amped at first by Musical Fidelity A5, and I auditioned 2 speakers: Audio Physic Spark and Devore Gibbon. Devore was so-so in the beginning... Radu Lupu's solo piano disc didn't really sing. Two Radiohead songs were muddy: "Pyramid Song" and "I Might Be Wrong." But the Stravinsky! It just KILLED. Awesome brass and percussion, lots of air and menace. Then I auditioned the Audio Physic, and it seemed to have a darker timbre, but it couldn't do the soundstage the way that the Devore did w/ the Stravinsky.
Then Mike changed the amp to Pathos Classic hybrid integrated. And I don't think I've heard anything lovelier. Stravinsky, Brahms, and Tallis Scholars discs all had the warmth that was missing from MF A5. And the Radiohead songs that failed miserably on MF became luminous; I couldn't stop listening to the album. (The speakers were still Devore).
The amp changed once again to VLT IT-85, more expensive tube amp. The solo piano disc by Lupu was much warmer ("liquid," as people say), as did the vocals on the Tallis disc. Thom Yorke's falsetto was just magical, too, through the VLT. But it lost a LOT of detail and clarity, compared to the Pathos.
So here's where I ask for advice: is there anything I should compare the Pathos to, perhaps another hybrid int amp? Next week, I'm going to Audio Connection in NJ to audition Plinius, and will definitely compare.
Also: I spent WAY too much time w/ Devore and didn't get to listen to any other speakers. Can you suggest other speakers that are similar to its range and style (and size?) I'm particularly intrigued by Brit speakers, like Harbeths and Spendors. But I figure I should hear the usual suspects, as well, i.e. B&W, etc. Thanks. All in all: it was a first-class experience at SBS. 
So went into the store, a complete novice that I am. A bit nervous, remembering all the horrible stories I read about SBS in this forum. But what can I say? I had a blast. The salesperson - Mike - was totally nice. Didn't try to upsell. He left me in the room, told me he would come back in 10, but thoughtfully left me in there for 20-30. In all, I spent 3 hours, just listening to pure music.
I went there with these CDs in my messenger bag: Gergiev's Stravinsky (Rite of Spring), Krystian Zimerman playing the Brahms 1st Concerto, Radu Lupu playing late Brahms intermezzos, Tallis Scholars' "Requiem", Radiohead's "Amnesiac," and Bill McHenry's "Roses."
The system was amped at first by Musical Fidelity A5, and I auditioned 2 speakers: Audio Physic Spark and Devore Gibbon. Devore was so-so in the beginning... Radu Lupu's solo piano disc didn't really sing. Two Radiohead songs were muddy: "Pyramid Song" and "I Might Be Wrong." But the Stravinsky! It just KILLED. Awesome brass and percussion, lots of air and menace. Then I auditioned the Audio Physic, and it seemed to have a darker timbre, but it couldn't do the soundstage the way that the Devore did w/ the Stravinsky.
Then Mike changed the amp to Pathos Classic hybrid integrated. And I don't think I've heard anything lovelier. Stravinsky, Brahms, and Tallis Scholars discs all had the warmth that was missing from MF A5. And the Radiohead songs that failed miserably on MF became luminous; I couldn't stop listening to the album. (The speakers were still Devore).
The amp changed once again to VLT IT-85, more expensive tube amp. The solo piano disc by Lupu was much warmer ("liquid," as people say), as did the vocals on the Tallis disc. Thom Yorke's falsetto was just magical, too, through the VLT. But it lost a LOT of detail and clarity, compared to the Pathos.
So here's where I ask for advice: is there anything I should compare the Pathos to, perhaps another hybrid int amp? Next week, I'm going to Audio Connection in NJ to audition Plinius, and will definitely compare.
Also: I spent WAY too much time w/ Devore and didn't get to listen to any other speakers. Can you suggest other speakers that are similar to its range and style (and size?) I'm particularly intrigued by Brit speakers, like Harbeths and Spendors. But I figure I should hear the usual suspects, as well, i.e. B&W, etc. Thanks. All in all: it was a first-class experience at SBS.