Welcome Usher CP-777 Diamond

[halenhoang]

Helen,
Time to buy some lotto tickets before you make anymore posts. Your post count is 777.

I like how your post in this thread is #777

Well, the babies are now in. Funny how using the iPad for so long, I had no idea what my post count was! It was a sure fire good sign of what was in the process of coming. I actually purchased the Usher CP-777 a few days prior to my 777th post.

Went up to work today and saw that FedEx was delivering today, ran home to work remotely. What made this even better? I was not charged any tariffs to import these babies. Here are some pics taken by the iPad.

[DSkip]

When you buying a third for a center channel?

[marvda1]

when's the get together? would be nice to hear them at LSAF.

[txcoastal1]

when's the get together?

Probably after his hernia operation

Sweet my brotha'....see u in 6 weeks

[DSkip]

Probably after his hernia operation

Sweet my brotha'....see u in 6 weeks

I heard these were on a boat....

[txcoastal1]

I heard these were on a boat....

He had to get them upstairs

[DSkip]

He had to get them upstairs

Let my response.... sink.... in. OR, go check your email.

[halenhoang]

When you decide to sell it!

[EndersShadow]

When you buying a third for a center channel?

Forget that, how about when are the 705's going up for sale lol...

[cincycat13]

Just WOW! ...and... enjoy!

[deronb1]

DDG! Congrats

[halenhoang]

I still enjoy the 705's a lot, and will keep them with the 706's for home theater duty. I planned on having the Usher's in a dedicated 2 channel audio room, there will be slight changes.

Right now, I am breaking in the speakers and really like the sound. The tweeters are not harsh or too forward, which is the sound I prefer. Overall, from top to bottom it is a solid performer. Currently, my Kimber 8TC's are connecting the speakers to a B&K amp. I will swap out the cables to try out the Usher Cables.

Originally I planned on bringing these to LSAF, but after carrying these speakers I highly doubt it will happen.

Halen

[EndersShadow]

I still enjoy the 705's a lot, and will keep them with the 706's for home theater duty. I planned on having the Usher's in a dedicated 2 channel audio room, there will be slight changes.

Right now, I am breaking in the speakers and really like the sound. The tweeters are not harsh or too forward, which is the sound I prefer. Overall, from top to bottom it is a solid performer. Currently, my Kimber 8TC's are connecting the speakers to a B&K amp. I will swap out the cables to try out the Usher Cables.

Originally I planned on bringing these to LSAF, but after carrying these speakers I highly doubt it will happen.

Halen

Would love to know your thoughts on the Kimbers v the other stuff you've run. I am looking at 8VS for my RTA's paired with PBJ IC's throughout my 2 channel system.

[marvda1]

ok halen, you've had enough time to play with the new speakers, how about a mini review.

[halenhoang]

ok halen, you've had enough time to play with the new speakers, how about a mini review.

Marvin,

I have spent several hours a day listening and breaking in the speakers. I honestly could say that I am hearing or noticing much more details in music when compared to the LSIM's. I tried several movies with the Usher's in two channel only mode, I am impressed. I watched the latest batman movie with no sub, and could also honestly say that it exceeds my complete home theater setup with the LSIM's. The details, airiness, soundstage and amazing bass.

For music. This is where my heart was broken. 100% of Asian recorded music is unlistenable. Very scratchy, chalk board screeching highs, thanks to the revealing diamond tweeters. The LSIM's treated the Asian music wonderfully. I need to get my learn on to open a recording studio for the Asian market. Cha Ching!!

I put in Rita Wilson's cd and listened to Dream, ah, the sweet sound of good recording came all back. I also played The Phantom of the Opera CD and enjoyed every second of it. Along with my purchase, I received 4 new Audiophile CD's, two from Usher and two from Hong Kong audio shows. The music selection in all of the CD's were very good. I was able to test the music varieties from vocals, to instruments to soundstage.

Please do not ask what DAC or CD player I am using, because I am trying to avoid or For Sale area of the forum. I have peeked a few times and left in disgust with the quality items at extremely good prices. I am yearning for a nice tube amp, like always. But again, I am now thirsting for offerings from Odyssey and BAT. Hell, since I am spilling my guts, I am thirsting for a DAC too. Hell again, I stared long and hard at the Tyler Linbrooks in the sale area the other day too. For a second, I foreplayed with the thought of replacing the LSIM with the Tyler's as I have not listened to them yet. Truth is, the polks are my babies and serves the home theater very well.

Back to the Usher's. Once I get some things worked out, I will place them back into the two channel room. I originally wanted three kids but with the new speakers, I think I will have only two. Because the speakers will have a permanent place in a bedroom! Hahaha, kidding.

One day, I will have get together with you guys and become the reviewers. Once again, the speakers exceeded what I felt with B&W diamond speakers, Focal Profile line (no experience with the Utopias) and many Kefs. It is a personal experience, one that I am willing to openly share.

Details, details, details.... There, that should sum it up.

Halen.

P.S. I am now passed my domestic appertizer beers of six, now moving on to Stella's and Boddington's.

[RamZet]

Cool stands.

[falconcry72]

Those 777's are very rare, and cool, speakers.

It is my understanding that Usher never imported the 777's to dealers in the US, so any pairs that are here were originally purchased outside the US and then shipped here.

There was a pair for sale on audiogon about 2 years ago... I almost bought them. They were and older version with the original tweeter they used before the BE.

Congrats, I bet they sound great!



As far as your DAC goes... if you are going to use a digital source, you HAVE to have a high quality DAC. Period. Do not skimp here! With a great DAC, you will appreciate the added detail of the Ushers; with a low-quality DAC, you will resent their unforgiving nature.

[marvda1]

the reason the cp 777's were never imported into the us was because of the price. they were very expensive that it made more sense to buy one of the larger floorstanders. the reason they were so expensive was because they were true d'appolito configuration.
not all mtm designs are d'appolito. d'appolito requires the mid/bass drivers to be almost identical in specs and also the crossover parts to have tight spec requirements. if one thing is off you will hear it. if you have to replace a mid/bass driver you have to send the good one in to find a match or get two new ones thus the cost.

[marvda1]

halen, what are you using for jumpers on the cp 777's? i hadn't thought about it in the past but last night i put other jumpers that i had on hand on the mini dancer 2. less bass smaller(lower) vocal placement and while the sound was faster it seemed like the notes would run together as in traffic jam. put the other set back in and good sound again. i've just got the Be tweeters i can imagine how revealing the diamond tweeters are.

[halenhoang]

Marvin,

I am using the standard jumpers that came with them. I have been looking at DAC's and tube amps the past several days. I kind of regret not picking up the Raysonic SP-66 tube amp last year, maybe something else will come catch my attention. Am in desperate need of a quality DAC first, then amp. I have become a CD freak as of late, but have also been collecting lossless/DSD music. DSD is pretty damn impressive quality. What to do, what to get.

The Pio SC is just not doing anything for me, from music to HT. Once upon a time it did. I will probably end up using the Pio receiver for the garage in the very near future. I hate this upgrade bug.

Please keep an eye out for a DAC or tube amp for me as well.

Now if I could coerce Skip to come down with his CD player and do a special acoustic panel delivery! Hahaha

Halen

[DSkip]

Oppo Mr. Hoang. Oppo.


105 to be exact...

[halenhoang]

Skip,

I am guessing that am Oppo could be directly connected to an amp? Serves music, movies and stream content? Say, MKV containers?

If so, I need to find someone willing to trade one for my SC receiver, else, time to be a hawk on the gon.

[marvda1]

if someonewere to have a get together this weekend i could bring my grant fidelity dac along with the transport so someonecould take a listen. the grant can also be used as a preamp.

[zingo]

Great looking speakers; congrats!

[Mystery]

Very nice looking speakers.
BTW, may be it's the pictures but the speakers appear much larger than the stands made for them.
Hopefully, they won't tip over.

Also, what is the other black speaker?

[DSkip]

Also, what is the other black speaker?

....and you call yourself a Polkie

[Mystery]

....and you call yourself a Polkie

Haha... I never had or listened to any of those LSI lines so didn't think they were Polks.
So that's LSI705 or 707 then.
My budget is not that high for Polks or any speaker so was not familiar on how they look.

[halenhoang]

The "black" speakers are midnight mahogany LSIM 705's. I will always have a Polk product at my place.

The stands for the Usher's are adjustable, what you see is the compacted height. The stands serve its purpose very well. On a side note, the speakers are huge!

I have been reading up on the amp thread on this site, and the Pass Lab's are amazing. Had the chance to hear a couple of them at LSAF last year.

[smglbrth]

the reason the cp 777's were never imported into the us was because of the price. they were very expensive that it made more sense to buy one of the larger floorstanders. the reason they were so expensive was because they were true d'appolito configuration.
not all mtm designs are d'appolito. d'appolito requires the mid/bass drivers to be almost identical in specs and also the crossover parts to have tight spec requirements. if one thing is off you will hear it. if you have to replace a mid/bass driver you have to send the good one in to find a match or get two new ones thus the cost.

Interesting, no offense to Polk but is this what they did, or tried, to do with the RTA tower line-up? Just wondering since these Polks were touted as having this design.

Awesome looking Ushers BTW...

[halenhoang]

The past week or so I got my hands on a vintage Marantz stereo integrated. First impressions were amazing! I could not believe the sound that was coming from the speakers, powered by the Marantz. The details of the music had so much more depth to it.

I spent a good amount of time listening to Kelly Sweet sing Je T'aime, Phantom of the Opera, and Natalie Merchant's Ophelia.

Vintage equipment certainly has sparked my interest.

Halen