The Official Usher Audio Owners Thread - Page 5

I run the following amps with the BE-718:

SAE 2400 200 wpc

SAE A201 100 wpc

SAE X-10a 100 wpc

All three of these classic SAE's are high current amps with high damping factors. You need high current and at least 100 watts to really open up the BE-718's. You need a high damping factor to get tight bass. In fact you won't get much bass at all until you put 75-100 hours on them. I was disappointed in the bass at first... not anymore.

Cool! It takes guts to buy a pair of Ushers as your first real speakers. People usually opt for safer all purpose bets like PSB and Paradigm. The S520 isn't an easy speaker to match but having a british component in the setup usually settles it though it still needs lots of power to sing. I'm running FLAC through my SB X-Fi analog out to an Onkyo A9755. So far it sounded ok. But the real deal is when using the cheap but great NAD 545BEE CD player. Real high end sound comparable to much more expensive systems.

I think the limit is 50# for US-Asia flights, but check with your airline. They all seem to have different policies lately... also for oversize and overweight fees... your luggage may be both.

Usher Taiwan has no desire to piss off their US distributor. They didn't take my shipping cartons away. But they generally make you wait a week for delivery/setup, and they may not be keen to deliver them to a hotel room.

w/r/t the recent discussion about amps, as long as you're over your weight limit consider also getting the Usher R-1.5 150 wpc class-A amp, has some very positive reviews.

I checked. For free luggage, it's 23 kg with a fee to 32 kg and with a huge fee to 50 kg. A better way to bring the Be-718 is to separate that into two boxes. For that reason, I might just do X-718. It's less than 32 kg. I called and found out that they don't have X-708 anymore. Their website did not update (Taiwan version).

I also want to take a set of S520. There are lots of discussions on changing the capacitors inside S520s to improve it's sound performance. Sounds lot of fun and would be a good set for bedrooms.

Haha, well it was easy once I read all the reviews (professional and user) for the S 520's and got them for $330 shipped before the price hike! It was a no brainer!

The only "problem" I have with the S 520's is that they will, in my setup/room (hardwood floors) at least, get a little bright at high volume levels on some material. But as I usually listen at moderate levels it is rarely a problem. I found them an easy match to my Outlaw LFM-2 sub also. Great "budget" 2.1 setup (along with my 640a v2 amp and Dac Magic)! (I already had the computer and FLAC files, so that's free! lol).

(And now that my LFM-2 is blown I am probably upgrading to a LFM-1 Compact which I'm sure will meld nicely to the Ushers as well).

Yeap, that's why it needs the NAD with the rolled off top end. Still has the sparkle and very quiet but got rid of the brightness. If it's bright on the top end it's ok, but if it's apparent at the vocals... fixed with the NAD though.

Which airline? I still think there is some variation across airlines, particularly for the overweight and the oversize fees. Also do check the "total linear dimension" of the boxes. Does US customs whack ya on the way in or not?

OK I'll measure my X-718 box. 24x18.5x18.5. 24+18.5+18.5 = 61. Wow that is just under the 62 inch airline maximum. Can't be a coincidence.

S-520 carton: 13x15x18. Total Linear Dimension = 44. Can someone confirm the weight of these two cartons new? And weight and size of Be-718 carton (oughta be the same size but ya never know).

Do you or anyone have a good link for the S520 capacitor mod?

Eva Air charges $30 for 23-32 kg. United charges $150 for 23-32 kg. Above that will be a few hundreds for both. I don't think the US Customs would care. There is nothing wrong bring in my own "used" speakers.

For S520 - google S520 ucc. Most of these are Chinese. The cost of capacitors is about $15. Some says worth it some says not so much. It's more on the fun side.

Well I do have a Yamaha C-750 DVD/CD/SACD/DVD-A player that actually sounds pretty decent and has a smooth top end so I could hook that up...problem is I use it for HT with my tv and second stereo system. I much prefer the convenience of FLAC through my computer though on my main system anyway...I've got over 100 gigs of music at my fingertips to play in all orders this way.

Btw, I've been listening to my setup with Senn HD-595 headphones and they seem to get too bright at the top end too, so maybe it is my Cambridge amp and DAC that is at fault here and not the Ushers as these headphones are not known to be overly bright. In fact, I'm wondering if something is somehow wrong with my amp or DAC causing it to be too bright; I don't seem to remember it being such when I first got them, only lately...is this even possible? That an amp or DAC can malfunction changing the sound?

Anyway, everything sounds great as long as I'm not blasting music as I usually don't so...

You still have the packaging, right? Pick it up and jump on the scale, then put it down and put just yourself on the scale and subtract your bodyweight from the total. Then add the speaker weight (x2). That would probably be easier than taking your beloved speakers off their stands and packing them up just for a weigh-in.

S520 = 7.0 kg each
X-718 = 13.1 kg each
BE-718 = 17.2 kg each

Or maybe there is some kind of gross weight stamped directly on the outside of the box?

^ Or just look at the shipping weight and shipping box dimensions on the Usher website.

Be-718
Shipping Weight 82 lbs
Shipping Box (w x d x h) 24" x 19.1" x 18.9"

X-718
Shipping weight 64 lbs
Shipping box (w x d x h) 24.0" x 19.1" x 18.9"

The box is the perfect size, 62" TLD, but the weight is is pretty high.

hey guys, i went to demo some ushers today and was simply blown away by the BE-718

however, my budget is <$1500 and they suggested the X-718 instead

does anyone here own the X-718 and care to comment on how it compares to other speakers in that price range?

thanks

Prior to settling on the Be-718, I was directly comparing the two in the showroom. I chose the Be because the top end is more defined. The X-718 is more open but it's also considerably brighter. I have no problem living with any one of them but I wanted something with beryllium tweeters. Btw, I got the Be-718 for $1500 brand new as I'm in Asia.

There are other speakers below $1500 that you should audition. A $500 may just sound better to you than the $1500. I haven't heard all of these but they seem to be interesting pieces:

PSB Image B6 (new model should be good but cheap)

Focal Chorus 806V (very neutral with smooth top end, wife actually liked this better than the Be-718's)

Gedlee Harper 8 (waveguide which some people think the best design techincally for a speaker)

Salk Sound Jordan (single driver, no crossover. Some people swear by single driver sound)

Eminent Technology LFT-16 (ribbon ribbon...)

Digital Phase AP-7 (flat accurate freq curve)

Sometimes you can find used Be-718 over Audiogon at your price range.

I demoed the BE-718 right after listening to the X-718 and honestly couldnt tell too much of a difference.

Maybe after a few hours of critical listening i would, but from my brief A/B in the store, it didnt seem to be worth the difference in price. They both had this strange sensation of not only depth, but also "height" that just blew me away.

Moving up from the S520 to the X-718, though was a very big jump in quality and well worth the price, IMO.

How would it do to power the S-520 or the X-718 or the Be-718 with one of these T-amps? http://www.p-macaudio.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1

I auditioned the BE-20 at the Usher store here in Kaohsiung yesterday. Wow, it almost makes me think conventional box speakers with passive crossovers are a viable option! I will always be a hardcore open baffle, active X-over guy but the BE-20 is amazing. Extraordinarily smooth and yet very detailed. Imaging was perfect. Imaging of open baffle dipoles like the Linkwitzlab Orion especially the "++" with the rear tweeter can create an elongated image in my opinion. Omni designs like the Pluto can be too precise creating the mental picture of a mouth floating in space with no body. The BE-20 however was a perfect balance in my opinion. Once again I have to say that if I were not a DIY speaker guy I would go with Usher. I don't know what their magic is, according to the BE-20 specs the crossover point between the mid and tweeter is too high to perform this well but it clearly works perfectly. They obviously know what they are doing. Anyone in the market for something in this price range would be crazy not to audition these. I would have to say bass detail is the only area where they lack and this is relative to dipole or Cardioids bass, not other conventional box speakers. Compared with other box speakers the bass detail is as good or better than most others I've heard.

mk

Group,

My name is Eric, and I wanted to introduce myself as a new Usher Owner. I have perused this thread (and many others) for quite some time in search of the right speakers for my needs. After extensive research and listening, I decided on two pairs of Ushers for the home. Since most people have experience with the Tiny Dancers, I will spend more time giving some insight on the Mini Dancer Twos.

Family Room: Tiny Dancers
In our family room, we were previously using a pair of Era Design D14's with an Arcam AVR-350 and other components, but with the birth of our son, we were concerned about him tipping them over. We decided on a pair of Usher Tiny Dancers, and took delivery about 2 months ago. Amazing fit and finish, and wonderful sound.

Basement: Mini Dancer Two
We have a TV viewing environment in the basement. Not a dedicated theater, but an area where we enjoy lots of different media - movies, music, video games, etc. We have a 5.1 setup with the following gear:

Salamander Rack
Mitsubishi WD-65831 DLP Display (Calibrated)
Anthem AVM-50v processor
Anthem MCA-50 5-channel amp
Oppo BDP-83 Blu Ray Player
Emotiva ERC-1 CD Player (balanced interconnects)
Mac Mini
Sonos Unit
PS3 and Xbox 360
Dish DVR Box
Polk Audio LSI-15 fronts and center (previous)
Speakercraft 8 inch in-ceiling (rears)
SVS PB12 Plus2 sub
RTI T3-V remote

I wanted to get something that would provide a sonic upgrade over the Polks. The Polk is a nice speaker that has served us well, but wanted something a little higher end. I also prefer to listen to music in 2.1, but with a low crossover point to ensure that the sub is handling only the very lowest frequencies.

My auditioning included a number of different brands. I listened to Sonus Faber, Paradigm Signature, Vandersteen, Thiel, Magnepan, Focal, etc. Typical cast of characters. I found 1 of 2 things during my auditioning process - some brands are only good for certain types of music, and some brands were too expensive for the performance that I feel they bring to the table.

I found that lots of brands do some things exceptionally well while doing other things poorly at the same time. I am avid lover of music with extremely varied musical tastes. I might listen to Tracy Chapman, then Rage Against the Machine, then Bon Iver, then Outkast, etc. To give an example, when I played a vocalist on the Vandersteens/Thiels/Magnepans, it sounded great, but the minute I played on hip-hop or rock, I no longer liked the sound. The Paradigm Signature S8, good speaker overall, but I thought it was too expensive for the sound quality (plus being kind of skinny I was worried about tipping). The Focal Chorus had a nice sound to them, but even the largest version wasn't quite large enough for my needs. The Focal Electras sounds great, but the 1038's are very pricey, driving a lower price/performance ratio. On and on I went in my research until I found out about Usher.

The dealer did not have the Dancer Twos, so I took home the Mini Dancer Ones for a multi-week audition. It was obvious immediately that they had a significantly nicer sound quality than the Polk's I have. More precise soundstage, cleaner, warmer, you name it. We enjoyed music of all kinds on the speakers. Initially, I had the speakers toed-in, and frankly didn't think they sounded very good. However, I changed position to have them facing straight forward, and the sound changed dramatically. I thoroughly enjoyed the audition, however I wanted a speaker with more heft to avoid tipping, and capability to go deeper.

I decided to order the Mini Dancer Two's. Initially I wanted Walnut, but it turned out that Birch was the only color in stock. I am SO glad I got the Birch. They are freaking BEAUTIFUL, and should I ever do a 5-channel all Usher setup, the colors will match my current Tiny Dancers.

I won't really write a review per se, just provide some thoughts. First, I know others have said this, but they are NOT small. Definitely a large speaker. For reference, they are the same height as the Paradigm Signature S8, two inches more shallow from front to back, but an inch wider. They weigh in at 90 pounds, so tipping is not an issue.

The sound quality is just sensational. There is absolutely a gain in performance from the Mini Dancer One, although that is a nice speaker in its own right. The thing I like most? Every single type of music - sounds great. When I listen to Terence Blanchard, the horns sound warm, and the instruments sound well-positioned. When I listen to Norah Jones, her vocals are coming directly in front of me, and you can hear the slight "raspiness" in her voice. Last night, listen to Maxwell's "Embrya", and man, just sounded incredible - smooth, rich, just amazing. Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, all sound amazing.

All in all, I am incredibly pleased with the speakers, and they meet every single one of my needs. I currently have the BE-616 center channel on order, so when it comes in I will retire the Polk Center and have the full Usher soundstage up front.

Just wanted to introduce myself and provide some details on the speaker for those of you in the market for a new set of Usher towers. Hope that this information was helpful for you. I will attach some photos later today so you can see the Birch finish on the speakers.

Eric

Eric -
thanks for the intro and the nice comments on the Dancer Mini Twos. I have a pair in Birch on the way (BE-616 on back order) myself. For those set on a color other than Birch, the walnut can be had but it is about an 8 week wait and, if you want to get the BE-616, it only comes in Birch. Can't wait to see the pictures and I'll post my comments after I get my pair set up in early December.

Chris,

I got so busy I forgot to post the pictures. Here are a few. Very pleased with them thus far.

Attachment 159594

Attachment 159595

Attachment 159596

Attachment 159597

Boy, they look great and I'm glad that you're happy with them. I hope to know on Monday the status of my speakers.

BTW, what kind of sub is that?

Thanks Chris. SVS pb12 plus2. Love that thing.

Wow! the Mini Dancer Two looks like a completely different speaker than the BE-718. Wish I have the dough and room for them. Very classy looking and probably sound it too.

Congrats!

Kenobi

Hey all,

Just happened across this thread while doing a search for tube amp mating with Ushers. I own the 6381's and have tried them with Nuforce 8v2 (160w class D), Usher's own 150w R 1.5 9 (class A, A/B) and a couple multichannel SS amps, one rated @ 70w/ch the other @ 150.

I now run them with a tubed Cary Rocket 88R in UL @ 60w/ch - and the sound bests all of the above. I was quite surprised. Anyone else run tubes with Ushers, and if so, what with?

Chris and Eric,

Have you gentlemen gotten a hold of the new Be-616 yet? Please update and provide a little perspective if you will. I have an X-616 paired with the Tiny Dancer and curious if worthwhile to move to the Be.

Thanks in advance,

Kenobi

Hi Kenobi -
Well, the Mini Dancer Twos have been in da' haus since 12/12, but no sign of the BE-616 yet. BTW, they sound pretty damn good!

Hello everyone,

I am a newbie to this AVS forum and just found this thread. I am responding to the discussions about which amps to pair with the Usher BE-718. I am an old school (and old) audiophile dating back to the early H. Pearson / A. Cordesman, and Bob Carver Phase Linear days, of the mid 70's.

1. Before I bought them, I auditioned the BE-718s for many hours at a dealer with a Carey CDP-1 CD player, Calypso pre-amp, and a Aesthetix Atlas Amp (200wpc into 8 ohms).
2. I have now listened to these extraordinary (IMHO) speakers in my home for over 175 hours, and consider them to be substantially broken in.
3. I have bi-wired the BE -718s to a Sunfire Signature amp (600wpc x2), connected to a Sunfire TGP-5 pre-pro.
4. My Sunfire True Signature Sub has the crossover set at 60hz.
5. My set up doubles for both 2 channel and HT.
5. I listen to pop, jazz and classical music.

My observations are (within my set-up) that this is (IMHO) an extraordinary "full range" speaker, which is quite thirsty for gobs of current and clean power. I think USHER's recommended power specs for this Be-718 are quite conservative. I have also auditioned the other floor standing USHER Be speaker (not the BE-20 or Be 10) which shares the same Be-718 tweeter and mid range, and found that the Be-718s (IMHO) sounded better. Based on all that I have heard and experienced, I recommend a minimum of 200 wpc to hear all that the Be-718 has to offer.

I hope this contributes to the discussion.

Jack

Hi Jack,

Thank you very much for your observation. Here's my experience so far. I have been running my Be-718 for close to 2yrs now. I started off with Bel Canto Ref 1 MKI w/ 500watts at 8ohm RMS. It was good at high volume but at middle to lower volume, the Ushers seemed lazy.

Subsequently, I experimented and ended up with the Nuforce MCH3SE (190W at 8ohm RMS) used for both stereo and HT. Now, this pairing provided a much more synergistic balance and punch. Suddenly, the speakers "dance" and took the lead with the music whereas before it was being "dragged" around unwillingly. My observation is that the damping factor (4000) in the Nuforce amp played a huge role in whipping the Ushers into shape. While the Bel Canto seemed more powerful based on specs, their presentation didn't have the life and vitality that Nuforce brings to the table.

Enjoy the music,

Kenobi

I have had a pair of Dancer Mini Twos in the house for about a month now. Original amp was a Wyred4Sound MC 500x5 rated at 500 watts per channel at 8 ohms and over 1000 watts at 4 ohms. The DMTs are 4 ohm speakers.

The reviews of the W4S amps have been very positive and they have been compared favorably to the Bel Cantos and are Class D. I have to say, though, that they don't pair up well with the DMTs...the bottom end is not well controlled and they didn't really open up. Sound stage is kind of so-so too.

I've since switched the W4S amp out and have been using a Parasound A51 for the past 10 days. The A51 is an A/AB design and runs in class A up to about 8 watts.....man, what a difference. More slam, great bass control and the DMTs are really opening up. Sound stage much improved.

It is interesting that the A51 in terms of pure wattage is rated at 1/2 the wattage as the W4S amp. I'm not sure how to compare the damping factors on these two amps, since the A51 is rated at > 1100 @ 20Hz and the W4S is rated at 2000 @ 100Hz...the biggest difference is despite the A51 being rated at 1/2 the wattage of the W4S amp, it has 60 amperes peak per channel versus 40 amperes on the W4S.

All I know is the DMTs like the A51 much better and so do I.