The Official Usher Audio Owners Thread - Page 4

Wow, that was a quick month.

http://www.avguide.com/review/playba...ng-loudspeaker

What kind of stands are people using for their Be-718s? I'm in the market for new stands since they are currently sitting on stools. ;-(

I'm using Core Audio stands (black walnut). I was going to stain to match, but my room is multi colored anyways

Do you have the stands screwed into the speakers or just sitting on the them?

I have them sitting on the stands with some blue museum tack holding them. When I contacted Core Audio, they said they would drill holes in the stands if I just gave them the dimensions. I opted not to.

You have a PM on a different topic.

Ah, I figured they'd just have the dimensions on file or something. Do they seem pretty stable on the stands with the blue museum tack?

Anyway, still seeing what my other options are.

I haven't had any issues and I've bumped them a few times.

The BE-718 look fantastic, if they sound as good as they look I may have to get a pair, but no one in my country has these speakers in a showroom, I can get them, but I won't be able to listen to them first, that sucks....

I just bought a pair of the V-718's today. Very excited!

I'm a ribbon fanatic but I'd have to say no other bookshelves I've demoed and owned sounds better with jazz/acoustics than the Be-718, even if it doesn't use real beryllium tweeters.

I agree wholeheartedly.......mine continue to impress.

My V-718's came in Friday and I haven't moved much from listening to them all weekend.

Holy Moly, these sound good. I'm looking forward to the end of the break-in period.

I wasn't aware that they have a V-718. Are you sure you're not referring to the X-718?

Oops...yes, you are correct.

To owners of the Usher BE-718, what amplifier do you use to drive the speakers ? I have a feeling that I would need at least 100 good watts to drive them well.

I use an Emotiva RPA-2 (200watts/channel) and it pairs nicely. Very nicely.

I have an Arcam 280 and it's plenty.

When I had the Be718s, I tried a Bel Canto S300 and also a standard Denon 2808 receiver. Both provided sufficient power, ignoring subjective differences in sound.

If that is the rack I think it is, is there a reason the rack cost more than everything on it combined?

Yeah......it is a little pricey but I loved the style. I bought it before I bought the components for my man cave. The rack, I'm sure, will have different visitors over the next several years.

Quick heads up from a visit to Usher in Taiwan. Saw a demo of a new Usher sub, IIRC called the SW-212, a sealed 12 inch sub, 250 watt plate amp. 40kg, walnut finish; comes in piano black for a bit extra. New and in short supply here. Has a switch for damping, can someone explain that to me? Didn't get a chance to hear it much yet, but I'm prepared to believe this unit will be kicking ass and taking names. I would guess $1600 in the USA, depending on finish.

^Any chance you had a listen to the SW-520 bass module over there? It's supposed to compliment the S-520 bookshelf speakers.

I saw those but did not have a chance to listen. Seems like an interesting idea. Instead of stands, get (passive) bass units to put under the S-520. They should do the same thing for the 718...

I think its a worthy idea, but I would be tempted to instead simply add a subwoofer, assuming I had Audyssey to generate 2.1 sound out of 2.0 and generally patch up the sound. It depends on the costs. The bass module does let you build your system piece by piece. With a bigger budget I'd simply buy a straight 3-way speaker from the 'git go.

Sony old school class d receiver then Onkyo A-9755 then Cary CAA-1 ICE based class d separates then tomorrow it'll be with the newly arrived Onkyo A-5VL. It needs real power to sing though... yea 100W sounds good.

How long is the break-in period? I am thinking of X-718, but my friend suggested me give X-708 a try and see which one I like better. He said X-708 sounds cleaner. It turns out that 708 is not available in the US so I have to do it on my trip to Taiwan. Well, I am worried that I might end up bringing back Be-718.

Based on my visits, Usher in Taiwan has pretty much closed out most of their older models, speakers and electronics alike. And even the new stuff, can sometimes take a week or more to get ahold of. Plan ahead as best you can. I would be a bit surprised if they have any X-708 or X-719 or X-929 left. Similarly I think the V series may be fading soon if they ever get the NV series (which they showed last January at CES) moving. Their worldwide product line is a little too wide and uneven, and with the recession, they are serious about streamlining it.

Just popping in to say that I have the S 520's and love them!

However, being that they are my first "real" speakers (only Best Buy bookshelf junk from the 90's before) I have little to compare them with!

I have them paired with a Cambridge azur 640a v2 and Dac Magic that I run FLAC out of my computer with. Had a Outlaw LFM-2 sub that blew up on me, so I'm currently looking for another sub (maybe LFM-1 Compact).

Any small "musical" subs under $400 (new or used) that anyone recommends for the 520's? My LFM-2 seemed to me to mate pretty well with them in my smallish office my system is in.

Thanks for the advises. I'll definitely call ahead. However, it's getting difficult to bring these speakers, even bookshelves, b/c the 30 lbs limit /per baggage with economy class flights. A pair of be-718 weighs 80 lbs and they are in one box.

Mine have about 100 hours on them now. They are starting to present a nice bottom end sound without wiping out the Hi's and Mids. I'm been listening to the re-mastered Abbey Road a lot this last week, and I'm very impressed.