Sean C.

Occasionally, you come across a piece of gear that you are going to hang onto.  It does not just do things right; it does things better.  It is a big step forward and, in my case, it is the final step.  Brian Charney’s Maestro FC is a speaker that will move you from listening to what the speakers are doing to what the performers are doing.  The sheer speed and detail of the field coils provide presence, impact and clarity.  Single drivers create no phase issues as do multiple drivers that compete with one another.  As no crossover circuitry is needed there are less components in the signal path.  The speakers’ tractrix horns create a very balanced presentation with the single drivers.

 So, what do the speakers sound like?  Voices and instruments are very, very natural.  Timbral accuracy is just incredible.  The increased speed of the transients provide refined aural clues as to timing, identity, and spatial locations.  A guitar sounds like a guitar.  Dynamic range is off the chart.  Images are three dimensional with body and weight, proportioned with defined edges, but not hard.  Dark spaces exist between images.  The sound stage is wide and deep.  You clearly hear what each musician is doing and how they are interacting with one another.  You sense the venue where they are performing.  Instruments and voices decay into space as they should.  You will hear more from old familiar recordings.  You will get the most out of recordings.  I found myself replaying sections as previously unheard details emerged.  

 The Maestro FCs are easy to set up.  They are reasonably sized and beautifully made.  The WAF is high.  There is a warning that comes with these speakers.  You will need to allow more time for your listening sessions as the music will pull you in and you will want to listen to your favorite tracks again.