I can understand that, shep. We all have our favorites, and that you have a long and happy love affair w/ Maggies makes things perfectly clear. That said, I think you'd be surprised at how well the SP Techs will do the things Maggies do best.
For instance, many have deemed Quad '57s the most transparent loudspeaker ever produced, forever and ever, amen. Yet a brief perusal of
this post by Bica reveals a happy owner surprised to find the Timepieces even more transparent than his '57s. And remember... this gentleman's Timepieces are once or twice removed from the latest updates, and include none of the Mundorf options currently rocking AC.
Factor-in the incredible aural and visceral dynamics, sub-30 Hz bass (anechoic) from a monitor and the complete lack of "box" speaker sound and you have a fairly amazing transducer IMHO. Further, given the stock condition and claimed performance of the aforementioned Timepieces, it's clear that imbibing at the bar of top-end Mundorf parts and external crossovers isn't necessary to have superlative pair of speakers.
But you have what looks to be a mighty fine speaker in your Dutch TL, and you've expressed your affection for them often enough to know you certainly aren't suffering in an auditory abyss. As my wife says, "
you can't miss what you don't know you don't have." As long as you don't hear a pair, you will soon forget what I and others have said about SP Tech speakers. After all, we've nothing to offer beyond our subjective impressions, and some of those include little to nothing in the way of quantification or qualification. And as you astutely pointed out, "Haven't we all heard about the Ultimate killer product before? and before that..."
Take care, my friend. Should your aversion to travel ever diminish, you are welcome in my humble abode.
-Jim
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