Setup
Supplying the amplified signal to the Morel Integra Ovation XO 6 point source, I wired up an Alpine CDA-9857 head unit directly to a TRU Technology C-7 amplifier (conservatively rated at 125 watts x 4). The driving channels were level-matched within 0.05 volts of each other. At no time was any processing used during the listening test.
I bolted the appropriate baffles loaded with the 6.5-inch drivers to my well-damped 2.25 cubic feet test enclosures and broke in the speakers for 48 hours before finalizing my setup with some brief listening to determine the best position for the speaker cabinets. Since the tweeters are part of the speakers as with a coaxial design, setup was relatively simple. I ended up with the speakers close to on-axis with the center point of my listening position and the crossover level setting for the tweeters set to -3dB.
Listening
Jazz
Leny Andrade "Maiden Voyage"Leny Andrade hails from Brazil, so you can sense the infusion of samba in her music. Her song, "Maiden Voyage," offers an inviting soundstage that's filled with the standard jazz instruments-a piano, bass, and drums. From the start I felt the closeness of the band and the expansiveness of the soundstage through the XO 6's. Still, there was a good bit of layering going on, and each instrument was stable and defined. Andrade's voice was out front and was so realistic that I pictured her moving her body about while she bops through sections.
While not the main focus of this track, the bass and drums play a big part in the overall sound quality presentation. To my delight, each maintained good presence regardless of what was happening around them, or the position of the volume knob. The bass was full and warm with a good sense of integrity, exhibiting both good body and stunning timbre. Eerily good resolution is put on display by the Morels as the percussionist strokes his brush across the toms-they never sounded washed out or overshadowed when the piano dominates the soundstage.
At roughly 1:50 into the song, the pianist breaks out. The imaging through this section was rather impeccable, enabling me to distinguish the sounds of the keys a foot or two from the body of the instrument. Highly impressive-almost enough for me to overlook the minor tonal issues with certain notes of piano. Thus far, I'm impressed.Score: 8.5/10
Country
Willie Nelson "Always on My Mind"I love the purity and realism acoustic cuts can provide, hence the reason why I chose this recording of "Always on My Mind." Upon the intro to the track, I immediately sensed the boundaries of this recording studio as audience members lead with applause. There was also a sense of depth attached to this, as Nelson sounded as if he were in the near distance just beyond the audience.
Throughout the song, Nelson's gruff voice was well resolved by the Morels, but they seemed just a little thin in softly sung areas. Even so, Nelson remained incredibly stable with a strong narrow focus. His guitar was also properly positioned, and was full sounding and lifelike. It really helps that these speakers have a sensational tonal balance and extended low frequency response, allowing them to add that extra bit of body to the guitars in this track, which provides a fullness most systems lack without a subwoofer.
The XO 6's also did a fine job layering the instruments on the soundstage, including the harmonica and additional electric guitar to Nelson's left. For a non-component speaker system, the XO 6's are serious-sounding speakers.Score: 8.5/10