I just bought these speakers yesterday, and even though Meadowlark states that it takes as long as 200-300 hours to break in, here goes my review. These speakers do everything just about right. Bass is good, Midrange is dynamite, treble is clean although a tad laid back. I can say this about the treble even as they are hooked up to all solid state electronics, which will bring out the brightness of any speaker. So, if you like a warm somewhat laid back sound, these speakers are that. BTW, these are tne non hot rod version. Perhaps after 200-300 hours of listening I will post another review!

I have owned a pair of Hot Rod Shearwaters for about 8 months now. If you have read any of the reviews, you will know that these things take a painfully long time to break in. 200 hours is usually quoted. I think it’s more like 400, but, boy is it worth it!
I have listened critically to quite a number of speakers in the $2-5K range. Apart from a couple in the highest end of that range, these are the only ones that presented a well balanced, cohesive sonic image while maintaining the tautness that I personally value so highly. I am convinced that these characteristics are a direct result of 1) transmission line loading, 2) an extraordinarily simple crossover using the highest quality parts, and 3) possibly the best cone type drivers in the world (from ScanSpeak). Bass from the lower limits (about 35 Hz) on up is extraordinarily well defined. Properly recorded human voice is just about as good as it gets. If you have an analog setup, try Amanda McBroom singing ‘The Rose’ on Sheffield’s "Growing Up in Hollywood Town". Amazing. Some reviewers have noted a slight darkness in the mids. I have this characteristic to be highly, and I mean HIGHLY, system dependant. A change of small signal tubes did wonders.

Miscellaneous observations: These speakers are as solid as a rock. You will hurt your knuckles if you rap them on the enclosure. They sound ever so slightly better with the grilles on than off, although these are about as transparent as any I’ve heard. The binding posts are superb. Fit and finish is the work of a master cabinetmaker. Placement for an optimal image and soundstage is not terribly difficult, but it definitely pays to experiment.

I intend to live with these speakers for many years to come. They are not ‘80%’ solutions. 95% would be a more accurate figure.

Associated equipment:

Well Tempered Classic
Benz Micro Glider
Rotel phono stage - to be replaced by a Wavelength Cotangent in a matter of days
CAL Delta
CAL Alpha (24/96 upgrade)
conrad-johnson CAV-50 w/ NOS Telefunken or Mazda (France) 12AX7’s
Biwire Music Metre Signature cables
D Lin Audio 4.0 and Music Metre Signature interconnects
Room Tunes

Elegant, open, non-fatiguing sound. Time coherent (it matters - at least in my room). Very easy to drive.

Very long break-in period.

Oh. My. God. These are really incredible speakers. As others have said, build quality is first-rate and the drivers, wiring and other innards (I have the hot rod version) are excellent.

The speakers took about 300 hours to open up. They sounded good out of the box but are now an absolute joy to listen to; even for long periods, even at moderately high SPLs.

I never thought I would own a two way speaker, because I didn't like the idea of a crossover right in the middle of the vocal band. I was flat wrong. Vocals are the speakers' strongest suit, followed by piano and any acoustic music. I don't listen to hard core dance music, but Stereolab, Moby, Moorcheeba, etc. sound great. Orchestral music sounds good but doesn't interact very well with my listening room (16x22x9 with lots of glass, wood floor, not too much furniture).

Associated equipment:
Rega Planar 3 w/Sumiko Blue Point
Arcam Alpha 7se
VAC Standard w/MC stage
Ayre V-3
Synergistic Research interconnects and speaker cables

Similar Products Used:

Short list: Vandersteen 2ce and 3A; Maggie 1.6. Listened to lots of others, mostly 3-way in $2-3.5K range.

I listened to a pair of the Shearwater Hot Rods.
Associated equipment were:
Metronome CD/DAC
Herron Preamp
Art Audio Diavolo Amp
cables by Nodost and JPS??

The mids are incredible. Organic and musically engaging. Full of detail and nuance and tonal shadings. The sound stage was wide, tall and deep with great layering. The highs were also good but could be a little forward at times. The bass and upper bass were very articulate and well developed. Deep bass was shy but that could be the amp. But the mids, were so involving and musical. No listener fatigue here, even at moderately high levels.

Other speakers I have listened(in this price range):
Dynaudio 1.3 Mk II (okay)
Dynaudio 1.8 Mk II (okay)
Sonus Faber GP (also a great music maker)
Joseph Audio RM22Si (not my cup of tea)
Theil 3.6 (egad)

Other speaker I want to listen to:
Vandersteen 2ce signature
Diablo Model 6
Speaker Art Super Clef
Aerial Model 6

Back to the Shearwaters:

For $2.4k, what do you want. A super buy, maybe a best buy. Should be on your short list in the $2-$3k price range.

And if you are in San Jose, give Jeff a call at Real Audio and take a listen. Truly Eye Opening.

I have been listening to a lot of speakers recently, and while I have not spent much time with Shearwater, I think my experience could be useful to someone considering speakers of this range ($). I listened to the "Hot Rod" version, well broken in, paired with very good tube elecronics. The room was OK, but that really won't figure in my analysis. First, an admission of bias: many people find the high frequency focus of many modern components to their liking but I am not one of those people. The overall impression formed here is that of a refined and well engineered speaker that is very clear, dynamic, and accurate, but also a speaker that is not very warm and lacks much punch in low frequencies. It does what it does exceedingly well, and I understand why people sing its praises, but praising detail and tone and accuracy and musicality (as other reviewers here and elsewhere have done) is not a completely true picture if the sound is not a natural sound. The question-for me-is not does this passage sound exquisitely resolved and crystal clear but instead: is that what his/her voice or instrument really sounds like? With this speaker the answer is often in the negative. There is not enough warmth and breadth to its sound for it to be called natural sounding, and for me, at least, that is disqualifying. I found that while immersed in its clarity I was unmoved. While the Shearwater HR is not unpleasantly bright as are many electrostatic and some other "traditional" speakers, I did not find it to be pleasing sonically for an extended period.

marvellous imaging and depth, non-fatiguing highs, great mids and surprising lows

"weakness"? not really, but a long break-in time is required

I've been listening to these speakers at a local dealer for a long time, but I didn't take a pair home to listen-to in my system, until recently. Wow! They were better than my Gershman Acoustics Avant Gardes, which list out at around $1500.00 more! The imaging, depth of stage, highs and mids are just beautiful. There's more than just a hint of what's to come in the bass.
But you know what? They're not even broken-in properly yet,with only about 20 to 30 hours on them. Although I know they're just going to get better,particularly in the bass, I wouldn't dream of posting a definitive review yet, and I'm surprised to see that a few people have done it, with only a few days to a couple of weeks with them. Some have posted some decidedly uncomplimentary remarks, with no experience, and crap for CD players and amps!!!(One used a Pioneer Laserdisc player!..that he's gonna keep?!?!?!)Anyone who used quality electronics invariably posted great scores.
I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks!!

clear smooth highs, deep accurate bass, low level info/ambient sound of the original space.

as stated below, not really any weaknesses, but that break in time,.. that's a long time.

At first listen, I thought they sounded better than my old speakers, (Paradigm 5semk3), but not too much better. Heh, now they're just unbelievable. There is no comparison, (and I'm embarassed to write that I even owned my previous speakers for so long). The Shearwaters sound natural. The bass is TOTALLY different from 100 hours ago, it goes WAY down,and is accurate and not the least bit 'flabby'. I'm getting the last three organ pedal tones in Holst's Saturn form the planets(!) (Telarc, Andre Previn, Royal Philharmonic). I've got to find out what frequency that last low C is, because it's waaaay down there, I can't believe these speakers can go down that low. There is no 'box' sound in the midrange, unlike most box speakers, these things are solid as rocks. the highs are so natural and clear, that's what blows me away the most, the highs. Jack Dejonette's clear, dry, focussed cymbals are so beautiful. I've been listening to A LOT of discs with Jack Dejonnette. Man, before I had these speakers, I thought I knew Jack, but now I realize, I didn't know Jack.

Similar Products Used:

none, in my situation, I had heard the Kestrels before, but I can't audition anything on this tiny jungle island, so I did LOTS of research, and finally decided to hunt down a pair of used HR Shearwaters. I found some in Boston, and they arrived about two weeks ago. Believve it or not I've put about 150 hours on them. (They were actually "new", not broken in, although the guy had had them a while). out of 150 hrs, about half has been at a decent volume, and the other half was at a prettly low level. I plan to put at least another 100 hours on them before I really formalize my opinions.

This speaker has a number of strengths; primarily in the imaging and soundstaging qualities. With the right recording they flat out put the preformer in front of you in a three-dimentional soundstage. In addition their resolution and transparency gets you closer to what's on the recording. For it's diminutive size, the dynamics and base are quite good. When looking at the speaker, the quality of construction identifies it as a serious piece of audio equipment.

In my room, there is a mild or slight leanness in the upper base.

Bought this demo pair from a dealer in Chicago. This is the H. R. version of this speaker. So I did not have to deal with the long break-in. I currently use an Arcam Alpha 9 cd player, a McCormack TLC-1 deluxe pre-amp, and McCormack DNA .05, rev. A amp. Overall, this speaker brings you closer to the recording. Would recommend to someone that is auditioning speaker in this price range to give them a try. It might just be what you are looking for. P. S. check out Meadowlark's website for their philosphy on speaker design.

Similar Products Used:

Nothing similar used.

they sound real. Live. Dynamic. Effortless. With good equipment they really do "disappear" as the marketing says.

When I complement Keith Jarrett on how nice he just played, he never answers me, and then I realize once again, that I'm alone in my living room.

I reviewed these below, several months ago, (mine are H.R. version), and said I'd write more after thorough break in. Well, they're broken in, and it took a long time but was well worth it. In my opinion, it took longer than the 200-300 hours spoken of in the literature. I would say maybe 500 or so to fully relax, open up, and let the music happen. THe bass filled out first, that was within the first 100 or 200 hours, but the finer stuff- the soundstage detail etc, took longer to reveal itself, at least on my very 'mid-fi' equipment, which was: Marantz cd63se, straight into a Parasound HCA1000, silver sonic wires & cables. Finally after the long time I mentioned, even with my associated equipment, I got some great sound, but, I could tell the Shearwaters yearned for better amplification. They yearned. After lots of research and speaking with Pat at Meadowlark and other knowledgable folks, I got a new amp. I went with a very nice integrated, the new Cary sli80 (80w ultralinear, 40w triode). The triode is enough for almost any occasion, unless you really want to turn it up very loud, in which case the solidity of the soundstage and dynamic range are a little strained. But wow, what beautiful sound. the ultralinear setting to me sounds 95% as detailed as the triode setting, but with "limitless" power, (for these incredibly easy to drive speakers). Pianos are amazing, right now I'm listening to the Kenny Barron/Charlie Haden duo cd, Night and the City. Simply incredible for the "you are there" sound. I've NEVER heard piano sound so real than with this Cary/Shearwater combo. As others have stated, if you listen to real instruments, listen to the Shearwaters, and for perfect natural sound, please, use a tube amp.