Great build quality - drivers are the best money can buy. Great soundstage & imaging and very good bass for the driver size. Great for jazz, rock and classical but inappropriate for head banging music - buy the bigger Ref 1's for that! Oh and by the way, there is Ty Lashbrook, the man behind the monitor - you get the added bonus of his audio expertise, experience, or just his thoughts on life in general 20 hours a day (even he needs to sleep). Just call him and he'll give you as much time and information as you want.

None for around the $3000 price point. I've heard more expensive monitors with plenty of weaknesses!

The first thing I noticed when I fired these monitors up was the very natural way they presented music. I closed my eyes and it sounded so real! Throw in a great image and soundstage and you've got the makings of a world-class monitor! I was very happy with the bass - I read that was it's weak spot. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the bass - well formed, tight and extended - acoustic bass had a visceral punch. The Scanspeak 1" revelator tweeter is just incredible - smooth, extended, airy and almost non-existent fatigue factor. The SEAS magnesium midbass driver is fast, articulate and fast. I really like these speakers!!

The build quality is as good as it gets. Very well built cabinets, great choice of well-finished veneers, top notch bi-wireable binding posts and drivers that you normally find on the $5K and $10K stuff!

I really think that buying direct through a company like Tyler Acoustics is the way to go. You can skip the "middle-man", distributor, etc. - you know, the guy who has to get his 40%, which either cheapens the product or makes it more expensive!! If you had to buy Ty's speakers through the regular wholesale-retail process, you would need to add an additional 50% to the price. I don't know about you, but I want the best available price vs. performance audio product I can find! I did not buy his custom stands, since I had world-class stands already, but I hear that they are great and he almost gives them away if you are a Tyler Acoustics owner.

Ty Lashbrook comes with the sale of any of his products. He'll do anything you need as long as you are a happy customer. His business depends on it! He is both knowledgeable in audio and customer oriented - don't like something about your purchase today, next month, next year, in ten years, Ty will fix it - at his expense. He also offers extra modifications such as wire upgrades, outboard crossovers, etc. at very reasonable prices. But, he'll tell you that it only offers a small incremental change reserved for the audio fanatic, opposed to "world beating" like most other manufacturers out for the buck - how does this guy make money?

My system:

Tyler Acoustics Taylo Reference Monitor
Plinius SA-50 MKIII Amp
Classe CP-45 Pre
Theta Miles CD Player
Nordost Blue Heaven speaker cable
Straight Wire Maestro interconnects

Well, that is it! What more can I say? If you have the chance to listen to any of his products, treat yorself. Please contact me with any other questions.

Similar Products Used:

Reference 3A, Dunlavy, Revel, Acoustic Energy AE's.

Soundstage, articulation, smooth, appearance, quality

lean bass, but ...

Four months ago I purchased a pair of Taylo Reference Monitors from Tyler Acoustics, along with the matching outboard crossovers, dedicated monitor stands, and the Taylo subwoofer. I was immediately impressed by the how visually-stunning this speaker system was, but I was even more pleased by the sound, even though I knew I was facing a substantial break-in period before the speakers/cables would relax and blossom. Now, four months later, I repeat an earlier review statement that these speakers are keepers. They don't produce dance-hall SPL's, but I'm not seeking that from my speakers. My previous speakers, B&W N-804's, produced those SPL's, but they also exhausted me at higher levels and in turn wouldn't satisfy at those many moments when lower-volume listening was preferred.

My Taylo's offer a huge soundstage and engage the music lover like no other speaker I've ever had or heard. All who have seen and heard these speakers are truly impressed. The Taylo's (mine are walnut w/black stands) are solid, heavy, and extremely well made. The build-quality is palpable, and this is reinforced by the quality drivers used in Ty's speakers. Also, as Ty promised, purchasing the outboard crossovers was a wise decision, for both technical and aesthetic reasons.

I listen to jazz (G. Duke, P. Barber, Coltrane, Miles, others), new age (except Yanni :-), pop (Sade, Basia, Tanita Tikaram, Julia Fordham, Blue Nile, others), and instrumental (acoustic and electric, from guitar, piano, and cello to small group and symphonic).

I disconnect the subwoofer about 40% of the time, as I like the spare sound of the Taylo's without the sub (I think the monitors go down to 40-42 Hz range). The sub phases extremely well and doesn't get boomy, so I generally keep it powered at the 50 Hz setting, as some recordings have lower notes that beg to be heard). In sum, these are wonderful speakers that look and sound better than pictures and your imagination can suggest. They're worth every penny.

If you call Ty at Tyler Acoustics, he'll give you honest, no-pressure information and service. I e-mailed and called the guy a kazillion times, but each time he responded with the no-bull information and responses I always hope to get from a business.

I'm currently running Audio Research CD-1, Mark Levinson 36 DAC, Classé CAP101, MIT cables and interconnects, Cardas digital cable, and the Taylo Reference Monitors with the Taylo subwoofer.

The Taylo's are extremely musical ... they will NOT tire the listener. They deserve great recognition.

Similar Products Used:

B&W N-804's, Martin-Logan Aerius

Wide soundstage, very good imaging, articulate, good off -axis response.

BASS

This is another small monitor that audiophiles will love. It has sophisticated looks, spacious soundstaging, and precise imaging. You have to like the off-axis response you get from high quality monitors where the sweet spot is less critical. Big speakers just can not match what a monitor can do with regards to sounding airy and open no matter where you sit or stand in the room. I think they are much more easy to design and sell because of their size. Which fills the void for us audio junkies who always want something new every 6-12 months.
My impression of Tyler Acoustics is that it is a new and small company that does not really have the resources to dump on full page ads. They are more of an internet company that sell factory direct. In fact if you want to get a hold of the owner just send an email. He usually responds in an hour or so. Ty is just like any other audiophile who wants to hear the latest and best components out there without charging ridiculous amounts on the finished product. Good components usually means big money. Manufacturers that use the Scan Speak Revelator tweeter which are used in the Ref. Monitor are usually selling for $5,000 and up. I guess everyone has there bottom line. I just prefer to avoid as many people in the middle as possible without the nightmare of building them myself. Treat yourself to the best cones and domes.
I thought the SoundStage review of the Reference Monitor was very accurate. These speakers could use bass but forget the powered subs, they never work with accurate speakers like these.

Similar Products Used:

Proac, Van L Speakerworks, Dynaudio

Wide, deep soundstage. Detailed and easy to listen to.

None

These are very special speakers that anyone looking in this price range or above should consider. Don't be put off by the 44Hz bass because it sure sounds like it goes lower than that. I was afraid I might need a sub but now I don't think that will be needed.
Anyone considering these speakers needs to call the factory and talk to Ty. A nice guy who likes talking about speakers.
These speakers sound much bigger than they are; the revelator tweeter is as good as it gets and the whole package just feels right.

Similar Products Used:

Thiel, B&W, Spendor, NSM, Dunlavy

Transparency, soundstage, imaging, and above all the kicker: It FEELS GOOD TO LISTEN TO! They make you want to listen. Also great customer support!!

None

I meditate a lot to music so am really sensitive to the FEEL of a speaker, so am not JUST looking for accuracy, etc. But I must say - These speakers HAVE IT ALL! You don't need to sacrifice anything!
At first I was happy with my KEF Reference IIs and I must admit they are a very good feeling speaker and are very pleasant to listen to. However when I got the Vandersteens I heard parts of the music that I didn't even know were there. The problem was though, that I just couldn't listen to the Vandersteens for more than awhile, let alone meditate to them, I felt attacked! Because of this I got a Rogue tube amp and a Jolida tube CD Player. Switching over to tubes definetely helped, however the Vandersteens still felt harsh. After reading the reviews here on the Tylers it sounded like this may be the speaker for me. So I bought a pair to see how they sounded. Boy, was that a good decision. Needless to say within 48hrs I have already sold my KEFs and the Vandersteens. If I need a second pair of speakers I definitely know where I am going to look - at the Tyler line. Believe it or not, I now hear detail in my recordings that I never even heard in the Vandersteens....and the Vandersteens are great speakers and an excellent value for the money. On top of that what everyone is saying about their great imaging and soundstage is true....so I won't repeat it, just know that I agree!!!!!!!!! The input I'd like to make is that they are a pleasure to listen to....they don't sound soft, or warm, or colored (Like the KEFs).....they just sound PURE! Needless to say all I want to do is meditate (i.e listen to music) these days. The only negative is that I like more extended bass HOWEVER I must add that as a moniter it still had better bass than both the KEF and Vandersteens, and the KEF had two 6 1/2" Woofers and the Vandersteen had an 8" Woofer and 10" acoustic coupler. So is it a weakness, well probably not, the speakers are soo clean you get clarity in the bass. The walking bass lines in the classic jazz I listen to sounds great now. I bought a KEF powered sub, turned the crossover very low and at a low volume, and walla full extended bass - twice as good as what I was used to.

Similar Products Used:

KEF Reference II
Vandersteen 2CE
B&K

Superb components and build; smooth, detailed, articulate, wide soundstage, depth, and easy to listen to for extended periods.

can't find any so far

These past ten years I've owned Bose, Martin-Logan, and B&W speakers. All were quite distinct, yet extremely good. The M-L Aerius speakers were incredible speakers, and all of my friends and guests were simply amazed by the music they would produce. The Nautilus 804's were even more amazing, for many reasons, but in large part because they are very dynamic speakers, especially when compared to the Aerius. Both were extremely articulate.

I now own a set of Tyler Acoustics Taylo Reference Monitors (bi-wires). I bought them about a month ago. I wasn't sure that they needed the matching Taylo subwoofer, but I bought one just in case. These monitors don't really need a sub, but I switch it in and out, depending on musical genre, as well as my mood and the weather! They sound wonderful either way.

My reaction to the Taylo's? The M-L's and B&W's amazed me in many important and satisfying ways, but I found them difficult to live with on a daily basis. The M-L's offered a narrow soundstage and lacked the palpable weight offered by dynamic speakers. The Nautilus 804's are beautiful speakers and produce exquisite mids and highs, as well as a tight and accurate bass, but I found that they were begging me to provide more watts than my head, or the situation, was often willing to accept. On low volumes, the 804's seemed to be waiting for me to feed them more and more power. They needed some watts to demonstrate presence, despite their efficiency rating. They looked and sounded great, but they didn't blend with the way I live in the world. However, everyone agreed that they were stunning speakers and all would comment about the sound they produced.

So, what about the Taylo's? The Taylo's are monitors, so they compete on a different level. I wouldn't trade them for any speaker I've owned or heard. I've heard big KEF's and NHT's, the 802 Nautilus, the M-L Prodigy, the B&W 805's, and some Magnepans. All are great speakers, but I wouldn't trade my Taylo Ref monitors for any of these speakers. The Taylo's offer full-bodied, articulate sound, great imaging, and a soundstage that is uncanny. They sit about 8' apart and we sit about 9'-10' in front. The soundstage is about 8' wide.

Listening to music has become an easier affair with the Taylo's. They reproduce mids and highs so effortlessly, so thoroughly, whether at low volume or high. Listening no longer results in fatigue, as it did with my B&W's, nor do we have to sit in one narrow spot as was necessary with the M-L's. For us, then, listening to music has become a pleasure.

The Taylo subwoofer … the Taylo monitors produce plenty of usable base for a monitor, but if you want to get down into the 25-35 Hz range, then you'll want the Taylo sub. Just like the monitors, the sub is extremely well made, with plenty of solid weight, beautiful veneers, and fine workmanship. It phases completely and will add base without overwhelming the music. Except for its physical size, you won't know that the sub is the source of the lower bass that you're hearing.

The Taylo's are heavy/sturdy, weighing about 38 lbs each (the sub runs about 70 lbs). Compare that to other high-end speakers. These speakers are solid. I also bought the outboard crossovers and dedicated monitors. The speakers weigh about 8 or 9 pounds less because of the outboards, but I wind up with two upgradeable crossovers in beautiful matching boxes. This allows for shorter speaker cables, too. The stands are a true bargain. It would be a mistake not to buy them for your Taylo Ref Monitors.

Final thought … these Taylo speakers/crossovers/stands are a top quality speaker system, and they are worth every dime. I've been excited about some of the speakers and components I've owned in the past (I still have a wonderful old Kenwood KA-7002 integrated amp), but I've never been more pleased than I am with the Tyler Acoustic Taylo's. These are wonderful speakers. If I should ever want to upgrade the drivers or crossovers, Ty Lashbrook will once again prove totally helpful and honest.

I'm running Classé amplification, MIT speaker cables and interconnects, and an old but very much appreciated CEC cd-player.

Similar Products Used:

B&W, Martin-Logan, Thiel, Bose, TDL

where to begin...extreme accuracy, and precise soundstage/instrument placement. very transparent(they just disappear). smooth treble (not bright at all), tight, accurate bass. nice warm, full sound. also...beautiful cabinets (zebrawood).

none, save ultra low frequency extension.

recently, i decided to do a little "system swap". i had a pair of thiel cs2.3's, and they were just too big for my room (i moved recently). i did a lot of research, and from previous listening was thinking about going back to some b&w's (N 805s). in my quest, i happened upon some tyler accoustics reference monitors on audiogon. i did some digging, and thanks (in part) to the reviews listed below...i decided to purchase them (along with the matching stands) sight-unheard ;-) first of all...i must speak of ty (designer extraordinaire). he is a VERY nice man, and very helpful. he answered all my questions, and was helpful with talking about options. his philosophy is simple...use the BEST components around, coupled with wonderful design...and provide some of the best loudspeakers money can buy (at factory direct prices).

ok...on to the sound. the performance i have gotten out of these little monitors is without equal (and they are still breaking in). the sound stage extends probably about 4-5 feet past my walls on either side. is very wide, deep, and TALL?! (something new to me...i never noticed a vertical element to sound placement before). the speakers are also thoroughly transparent. i sit there and stare at them, and for the life of me cannot believe that the music is coming from the two "sources". the speakers themselves are very neutral, and when coupled with tube amps...provide a nice, warm sound (which is exactly what i was looking for). the thiels that i previously had were just too analytical and cold. the detail in the speaker is also incredible. i have listened to some of the most detailed speakers in the world (avalon, wilson, etc.) and these are right up there (and about 1/10th the size/cost). i have heard things in some of my favorite recordings that were just not there before! all in all, it is a lush, rounded sound that has yet to fatigue me (even after hours of listening), and just bekons me to stay up late ;-)

i would highly recommend these to anyone looking. before you jump on some other speakers...give these a thought!

associated gear:

-quicksilver mini-mite monoblocks (with valve art kt-88 output tubes, and ram 12ax7 low noise input tubes)

-mccormack tlc-1 preamp

-sumiko pro-ject perspective turntable w/ blue point cartridge, and sumiko phono stage

-theta pearl transport w/ mccormack dac-1

-nordost solar wind interconnects

-nordost red dawn rev 2 bi-wire speaker cables.

Similar Products Used:

thiel, b&w

Tonal and dynamic balance; extremely airy; pleasant to the ears; fatigue free listening for hours; They sound great at low and high levels; good soundstage and detail. Built quality and appearance including the stands are outstanding. Quality components. Right size.

None. If there is any, as some mentioned about bass extension, a fairly good quality power sub would take care of it. To me, this is not a quality I really was seeking for anyway.

First, I like to thank everyone below who has kindly responded with objective comments in helping me to decide to go with the Taylo Monitors. As to review after a week of listening, I can't agree more with what has been said in this review board and John Potis review at: http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/tyleracoustics_taylo.htm thus, not much more I can add.

I have been switching and auditioning numerous brands of speakers in different price range in the last two years, to the point of unbearable to my wife. At last, I found this speakers with such quality that takes one to a new dimension of enjoying music. The Taylo Monitors drew me into watching them with grills off playing music through the whole album. Until gets to the last song in "When I Look in Your Eyes" by Diana Krall, the saxophone comes forward playing front of you in such detail effortlessly like cutting a big chunk of warm butter (not margarine), that makes you want to play the album all over from the very beginning. The craftsmanship is excellent, the cabinets is built solid. I couldn't help to run my hand over the premium finish even with music off and say,"Goood dog!"

Ty Lashbrook is very helpful. He will assure you a good price to provide a happy buy. In my case, one of my stands was found damaged upon arrival. Ty agree to replace it with a new one; what so special about this is that I didn't even buy the speakers from him but from an individual. I believe if I mention it, he just might be nice enough to provide me with warranty ( just a wish). I would strongly recommend this product to any one! Thank you, Ty, and keep up with the good work!

Similar Products Used:

Dynaudio, B&W, Paradigm, RBH, Mirage...

detail, oh so smooth treble, tight bass, accuracy and quick,quality components,and overall build quality

none that i have found yet

this is by far the finest speaker from top to bottom that i have ever owned. the thing that made me interested in them was a review that compared them to the aci saphire 3. i own the saphire which is a fine speaker no doubt but this reference monitor takes it to a whole new level! the thing about the aformentioned review that got my attention was the remarks of how smooth the treble was on the tylers. HOW RIGHT HE WAS! i cannot think of anything about this speaker that i do not like. it is soooo musical that i find myself listening to them for hours on end. they just plain sound awesome! they are so detailed and musical that you discover things on your discs that you never heard before. if you like detail, smooth treble and accurate tight bass go ahead and buy these puppies you will not be dissapointed- oh yea- the owner Ty Lashbrook is a pleasure to do business with. he is a shining light in the dog eat dog world of audio. Ty truly deserves to succeed as he is selling a quality product at a fair price with nothing but first rate customer service! the way it should be! HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!!!

Similar Products Used:

aci saphire 3, paradigm studio 20 ref monitor

detailed like no other, very smooth and neutral very pleasent to listen to for hours. Awesome soundstage and imaging.Customer service is second to none

none

It's hard to describe how these speakers perform they simply move me and everyone who listens to them.My wife said it sounds like Elton John is in my living room. My audiophile friend keeps wanting to come over to my house with different CD's and DVD's he sits in my listening chair so long i'll eventually go find something to do around the house. Their imaging and soundstage truely engulf my listening room and audibly they disappear.They evoke feeling and make me want to listen more, even at extreme volume levels they are nothing but smooth. There finish is a beautifull Bird's eye maple .
Ty the owner and maker of these speakers is truely what customer service is all about. When you call his company he talks with you personally and always has the answer for your concern and will go to great lenght to make me the customer happy it's a treat to be treated so well and for a company to do exactly what they say they will. Rare indeed and Ty from what i read treats everyone like this without exception a large reason i purchased these speakers it feels good to support a small excellent operation such as Tyler Acoustic's .

Similar Products Used:

B&W ,Totem,Linn,Platnium