David:
I owned or own most of the equipment you listed. Personally, I don't find the EMM Labs stuff slow or lacking in definition. Hardly. By any chance, what EMM transport did you listen to: the modified Phillips SACD-1000 or the CDSD? I've owned both, and the CDSD is a quantum leap in performance over the Phillips. IMHO, it's not even close. Also, I'm assuming that you listened to the EMM gear in the context of the Kharma/Tenor system. Personally, I find it hard to make a judgement about any one piece of gear unless you swap it out with something else and keep the rest of the system intact. I agree with you somewhat about the Tenors and the Kharmas. I've heard the Tenor 75Wi and owned the 300 hybrids. I was very disappointed with the 75s--I found them seriously lacking in dynamics--and I ultimately traded the 300s for a pair of the DarTZeels. While there were many things I liked about the 300s--particularly their explosiveness and oodles of dynamic reserve--I found the DarTZeels to be superior for my listening priorities. I've heard most of the Kharma line, including the Grand Ceramiques--I owned the Midi Equisites and wound up selling them for the Von Schweikert VR-9s--and, while they're doubtless an excellent line, I find them generally overpriced performance-wise for what they offer. They are an extraordinarly well-built and beautiful looking speaker, though. I think, among all the Kharma speakers, I've been most impressed by the combination of the 3.2 and the Ceramique subwoofer. IMO, it's easily the best value in the Kharma line. The top-of-the-line Exquisite 1D with the diamond tweeters is still the best performing of the lot, but, then again, for $120k+, what do you expect?
