Focal 1038be and Aerial 7T
 

I've spent about 6 hours on 4 different occasions auditioning the 1038's. My overall impressions are very positive. They are very dynamic, fast and lively speakers. They are on the opposite end of laid back. Still, they are very musical and fun speakers. All things that I really enjoy in a speaker. During each listening session however there has been a few times where the highs were a bit bothersome to me. The speakers are demos and I would consider them pretty broken in. My concern is that they would become fatiguing over time. The other concern is that the real deal on these is in the black ash low luster finish vs the other gorgeous finishes offered.
My short list speakers up to now have been used Bowers 802 Diamonds, 803 Di's, Wilson Sophia and Sasha. The new options were Vandersteen Treo's and Wilson Sabrina's. I have ruled out all either due to cost, (Sabrina's, Sasha's), or preference, (Treos, 803D's), with only the pre-owned 802's left.
Added to my final list are a pair of new Aeiral 7T's. I have violated a rule of mine by adding them to the list; I've not heard them. Still I'm interested and more than a little tempted to take the leap of faith based on glowing reviews, the overwhelming opinion of how musical and non fatiguing they are, and I'd be lying if If I didn't admit I've also been seduced by what I consider to be the most aesthetically pleasing speakers I've seen. Plus, their size, while still being a solid full ranger fits the shared family room where they would reside perfectly. I also admit than their longstanding position on Stereophiles recommended speakers list has my attention. But again I haven't heard them. I'm posting this in the Focal forum in hopes of gazing a more clear perspective as it relates to the Electras and the 7T's before I make a decision as soon as this coming week. I appreciate any input.

Tim... Walt... Joe... Brian... Charles... feel free to chime in on your experience with 7T's ;)

Yes, the Aerial's have glowing reviews and a great recommendation level on Stereophile. However, having spent some time with you in "audition mode", I can't imagine that you would buy a speaker without listening to it. Heck, I came close to buying a pair of 7T's before I settled on the Bryston Model T's...But only after I auditioned them on two separate occasions.

The good news is you are working from a phenomenal list of choices and I'm sure you will be happy when you make that final decision!

Thanks Steve. Enjoyed hearing your Model T's! That of course makes sense. Wish there was somewhere I could hear them. DFW is such a weird high end audio market. :no: I know it sounds strange, but by every description they too sound like my kind of speakers without perhaps the exaggerated treble.

Bingo.

Best of luck my friend

It has been a few years since I made my decision to buy the Aerial Model 7T and there is not a day that I am disappointed. There is a rare day when I don't listen to them and smile.

Prior to my decision to buy Aerial Model 7t, I listened to Focals 1038, Wilson sophias, and several of the Vienna series of speakers.

I kept going back to Aerial. I purchased my first high(er) end stereo system back in November 1979 while attending the University of Illinois. While I was auditioning new speakers and a new stereo, I returned to the audio dealer who sold me my first system which was abou five years ago. My oldest kid was a student at UIllinois and on a whim, i went to visit his store.... 30 years later. My long time audio dealer told me that the Aerial model 7t's were the best sounding speaker he had ever heard for a speaker under $10K.

And they keep getting better. Michael Kelly is a great speaker builder.

Aesthetically, these speakers are outstanding!!!! I am a woodworker and the fit and finish on these speakers are superb!

Good luck with your decision. If you choose Aerial 7t's I couldn't imagine you being disappointed.

all the best

Thank you Joe. I appreciate your input. It's really between the Focal 1038be's and the 7T's and I'm going to decide tomorrow! There's a lot I like about the Focals. The treble hasn't been harsh anywhere close to all the time, just occasionally with certain recordings. Harder is that haven't heard the 7T's, but continue to get rave reviews from owners. I do love the look of them and in the past have enjoyed very musical speakers. I don't want to give up high resolution and definition though. I hear no worries there with the 7T's.

Absolutely love my 7Ts after more than a year. They just disappear with most recordings. Seamless sound from top to bottom. Very involving. Sound great with tubes or solid state. Sing with my combo of CJ ET5/Bryston 14SST2. I also found them easy to place in my room.

This is all exciting for me to hear. I will be an Aerial Acoustics speaker owner pretty soon. It's great to hear consistently good reviews.

Also, from what I've read about Focals, they sound like fantastic speakers as well. Good luck with your decision!

Soooo What speakers are you buying ????????

Thanks to everyone for your input. I have no doubt the 7T's are remarkable speakers. I really did not read any overall negative reviews, and in fact rare was it to read even a negative nit. There were a couple that didn't find the 7T's overall presentation to be their proverbial "cup of tea", but still not negative reviews. Mostly though, it was rave reviews all around. What's the problem? I did not have a chance to hear them.

Conversely I spent several hours auditioning the Focal 1038be's and from the first listen I was smitten. They present music in a very lively, fast, dynamic manner that for me became addictive. I also have always liked high efficiency 8 ohm speakers and the big Electras offer that with a 93 db rating.

So bottom line for me to select speakers I've never heard over ones I found to out perform speakers like Wilson Sabrina's, Sonus Faber Olympica 3's, B&W 803, and to my ears even the classic 802's would have been quite the gamble.

I'll be sure and post my thoughts on the Focals after delivery and I have had a chance to break them in a bit in my home. I'm looking forward to that new speaker break in!

Im sure you have a great speaker incoming!

He does! My buddy bought the 1038.

Baller status.

Congrats. Pretty much exactly the reasons I went with the Electra.

You will love the 1038's, I know I do! :)

Make sure you give the Be tweeters minimum 500 hours of break in time.

Congrats Kevin!

kzhtoo... Welcome to AA! :wave:

Thanks guys! They ship tomorrow so I should have them up and running early to mid next week. I will post first impressions.

Thanks! Happy to be here.

👍

Kevin - let us know what you are driving your 1038s with once you've posted your listening results. I've found the 40wpc of KT-88 triode power to a great fit with the 1008s.

Will there be a homecoming party for the locals (DFW)?? Would love to see and hear them!

Glen...I'll be driving them with my Mcintosh MA8000 300wpc integrated. Hopefully a good match. I auditioned them extensively with a MC452.

Absolutely Steve! I'll be in touch.

When looking for upgrading my speakers the 7t's caught my attention.
After talking with Ivan and reading on this forum from other 7t owners I purchased a pair from Ivan without an audition and an understanding that he would take them back lf not satisfied.
Approaching the two year mark and still very satisfied with the 7t's.
Great to look at even better to listen to.

I just got word...my 1038be's will be delivered this coming Tuesday:banana:
I'll post up initial thoughts after.

Woohoo! I may be waiting at a certain dock when they arrive on Tuesday :thumbsup:

Hey Steve...they're already at the dock. The "Delivery Man" unfortunately is flying the friendly skys till Monday.

Hmmmm.............. think I would be twisting Steve's arm to help do some loading, hauling, unloading, etc..................

He'll be back before you know it, but the anticipation would be killing me!:yes:

Nah...I'll let him off with some position tweaking after I get them delivered Glenn:D

I'm not gonna lie...it is:yes:

Jagman,
Have the speakers arrived yet? Also, I'm wondering what your opinion is on 1038Be compared to Wilson Sophia..

Well...............? It's Tuesday. ;)

He's got them in house. He's too busy drooling to report back right away. Stay tuned!

P
 

They are here. I'll offer my initial impressions. I've listened to them for just over 6 hours today with a wide assortment of music; Alice in Chains Unplugged, Jane Monheit, Beck, Alajandro Escevado, Boz Skaggs, Yo Yo Ma, you get the picture.

I have to admit, regardless of how smitten I was during the extensive interviews, there was occasionally a touch of brightness that bothered me. So I was a bit unsettled with my decision after ordering them two weeks ago. I also opted to purchase the Black Ash low luster finish sight unseen rather than the other more costly options. I was worried that I would not like the appearance.
So let me say off the top, any brightness I had encountered at the dealers was not to be heard in my home. The low luster finish was perfectly acceptable with just enough gloss to keep them looking upscale. Overall the 1038be's are gorgeous speakers with excellent build quality. Still black ash is black ash and if price was equal it would not be my first choice, but there is literally a $3k price difference for this finish and as I said, its perfectly acceptable and in fact quite attractive. These reside in my family room vs a dedicated listening room so that's important to me, AND my wife:)

The improvement over my now for sale B&W CM10's was immediately obvious. From the very first notes emitted the clarity and feathery highs amazed me. The transparency I heard was among the best I've heard. I've heard a lot of very good speakers. One of the last speakers on my list were the Wilson Sabrina's and Sasha's. I like that sound. What I wasn't as prepared for was the incredibly full, taut and energetic bass. Very very nice. Punchy without a hint of bloat. Imaging was very good immediately but I will need more listening
to form a more complete opinion.

These speakers are very cohesive and balanced with Great driver integration.
Another term I didn't expect to use in defining these speakers is smooth and sweet. But boy are they ever...smooth and sweet! Oh and they are also very flexible. Note the artists I listened to today. I kind of expected a couple of them to let me down and was prepared to discover what genre of music they prefer. There was not one choice that sounded anything but excellent. They played all with great composure while being very, very ,fast, crisp and lively. Amazing!

I rarely have offered my thoughts on new speakers in this much detail, but after what I have heard today, I felt compelled to share my enthusiasm for the Electra 1038be. These are very special speakers. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to experience extremely fast, crisp, accurate speakers. I think this is going to be a long love affair.
Oh yeah..pics are coming.

I've actually not had the opportunity to hear the Sophia's.

Kevin, congrats on the Focals! Now imagine how much better they will be when run in a bit. :D

Can't wait to hear them! You have my number; Call when ready!