Although I prefer the Mezzos, the Minis are still very interesting. The midbass seems a little bumped up compared to the full range Utopias, giving them a slightly warmer sound. The bass goes suffieciently low for a satelite speaker, enough to be satisfying musically at least. Only problem with these puppies is matching them with a sub, hard task to say the least. Use them alone, or go for mezzos. Despite this drawback, still an incredible speaker deserving of a listening test by anyone in this price range.

Without a doubt, the Mini Utopia give incredible dynamics, detail and a well controlled, flat tonal balance. However, the soundstage is 2D and narrow, and
therefore lacks the 'emotion' of music (to these ears anyway).

When I put my observation to the dealer, he agreed.

So - even though I believe this is the most advanced spaker I have heard, it
only obtains a 4 rating due to the lack of sound stage.

Associated equiipment :

Advantage CD, PRE and 300W monoblocks. Nordost reference cable.

I have just recently became a proud owner of these incredible speakers. I don't think anyone could do much better in the under 10 grand catagory. The Minis Image like I've never heard before. The seperation of instruments in space is amazing. I am using all YBA electronics which are also exceptional. These puppies play nice and loud with my 70 watt per channel amp. Detailed and so unfatiguing, I COULD LISTEN FOR HOURS ON END!!! And dont forget the looks, sexy, sexy, sexy.

Instrument Placement, 3-D Realism, and Dynamics

None

These speakers are truly amazing. I actually liked these better than the Mezza's at least for my taste. I found myself being pulled into the music by a 3-D soundstage and realism that I have only experianced with a pair of Martin Logans. The beautiful thing was that I didn't have to sit exactly in on spot and not move an inch to enjoy.

Placement of instruments were dead on with very familiar recordings. I will purchase these at some point. (wife factor) The build quality is incredible and the sandwich cone drivers work wonderfully in this cabinet. Audition for yourself.

Associated Equipment


YBA Integre DT
YBA Blue Laser
YBA Diamond Interconnect and Speaker Wire

Test Tunes

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds: Acoustic 2CD Set
Future Sounds of London
Thomas Dolby: Aliens Ate My Buick
Dire Straits: On Every Street
Depeche Mode: Violator

Similar Products Used:

Dynaudio, Sonus Faber

maybe the bottom of the bottom end, but virtually not noticable

Yes, you are paying a lot for the design, finish and stands, but there are very many speakers out there that have you doing that, yet don't deliver on the sound. These speakers have a nice look, and absolutely wonderfull sound ... to me. The first store in which I heard these used a terrible, over dampened room, with electronics that I didn't like, and speakers that were placed poorly and I think, had not been broken in. I was lucky enough to not believe my own ears and find someone on the Internet who guided me through a decision on the speakers. I couldn't be happier. They get lost. There is not a shade of color. The detail and bottom end, short of the extreme bottom end that is so rarely there, is excellent. While they are said to be very revealing of bad equipment, I have found that is somewhat true, but that even with mid priced cables I get sound that makes you sit for hours. Sure, better CDs sound better, but I don't really find that I am just limited to the good ones.
I listen to rock, pop, jazz, and classical. I find them all superb on these speakers. I spent three months looking and and this what I got. I am so very happy that I didn't rule them out at that one store and bought them on faith somewhere else. Use your own ears, but if you are out looking in this range, include them as a possibility with other speakers that amaze in their own way like Audio Physic Avantis, and Vandersteen 5s.

Similar Products Used:

Mirage M3, Snell, B&W, Thiel, and many others auditioned

Clean, good bass for the size

Forward treble

Please don't be mad at me but I did not like these speakers. I have tried them in two different rooms and they were placed right. They are not natural, they have a unique sound but not in a good way. I am not saying the Minis are not good speakers but it is just not me. Maybe if it was played with some other electronics which I had some serious electronics in one of the rooms, they might sound better. I think they are overpriced. My rating would be 3 stars but I don't want to drop the rating so I will give 5 stars like most others. I would pick Dynaudio 1.3 SEs instead, half price and sound the way I want it.

Similar Products Used:

Dynaudio, Martin Logan

I RECENTLY REPLACED MY B&W SILVER SIGNATURESWITH Mini UtopiaS AND THE DIFFERENCE IS STUNNING.BETTER DYNAMICS AIRY TREMBLE LUSH AND CLEAR MIDS AND WELLPROPORTIONED CLEAR BASSAT 20% LESS THE PRICE OF THE SS WHAT YOU GET IS ASTONISHING.
AMPLIFIED BY YBA PRE/POWER AND CD BY MICROMEGA YOU JUST LISTEN TO YOUR CD COLLECTION AS IF IT WAS NEW
HIGHLY RECOMENDED FIVE STAR PLUS
WELL DONE JMLab

Soundstaging, timbreal accuracy, very coherent crossover (seemless integration of the drivers), precise imaging, wide dispersion.

Weak from around 70hz down. Requires extensive break-in period.

I have lived with this speaker for over 2 years and can honestly say I am very satisfied. When paired with a proficient sub, true full range can be achieved.

They take a very long time to fully break in; try, by my estimation, 500 hours at its power rating, (using an Audio Research VT100 amp). The speakers loosed up even further after installing an acquaintance's Plinius SA-250 for a couple of weeks - which bought me to the conclusion that, although the VT100 is exceedingly proficient, these speakers really "moved" paired with amps of outputs of around 200 watts - a VT200 or their mono cousins perhaps. (MORE MONEY!!)

Due to their wide dispersion, placement is fairy forgiving. However, if you spend enough time with them, you'll be rewarded with an otherworldly soundstage and excellent imaging. Again, these speakers lack bass extension, but more than make up for that single disparity by awarding the listener with uncanny coherency and startling clarity. With a good sub: Carver, Bag End, REL, you won't leave your chair for a while.

Construction and finish is top notch.

Not as transparent as Maggie 3.6Rs. Not as forgiving as B&W Silver Signatures. Doesn't have the bass like similar sized Dynaudios, doesn't have the imaging of the Virgos - but the complete package far exceeds anything in recent memory.

A truly great speaker! I can't see why anyone would purchase the Mezzo Utopias.

You be hard pressed to find a more "refined" speaker at this price range. Superlative!

Similar Products Used:

B&W Silver Signatures, B&W CDM 1, Sonus Faber Extrema, Dynaudio Contour 3.3, Magnepan MG3.6R, Audio Physic Virgo.

The close to the reality, a emotion transporter

none

Used with the best electronics for example Nagra; Classe; Levinson and accurate placement (Suggestion. use the RPG room optimizer program) is simple magical.

If wanted the absolute state of the art use the digital room corrector from TAC audio

Similar Products Used:

Wlison Audio Cub

sounds more like music than loudspeakers

the lowest bass is not there

These speakers are great. I think they are way better than NHT. They reproduce MUSIC!

Similar Products Used:

NHT latest and most expensive model.