I’ve had the Sibelius for 2 years. My listening room is my living room, which is small to medium sized for a living room. I have never got close to 90dB without it being way too loud. I have not experienced any distortion or muddying of the sound on metal or electronica at my realistic listening levels of way below 90dB. Also these speakers come in at 87dB sensitivity, which is medium efficiency. When I drove them with the Pass Labs INT-25 power and grip was a bit lacking. But that all changed when I got the Pass Labs INT-60, and using balanced XLR. This reference amp drives the Sibelius magnificently. So amp matching is important, and yes these are boutique speakers which are not meant to rock out at volume levels which are in any event damaging to your ears. And as Herb Reichert of Stereophile recently said: “the purpose of home audio is not to create realism per se but to present recordings in a manner that allows users to access the main pleasures the music and recording have to offer in a format suitable for domestic consumption.” The Sibelius are magic, with rich timbres and tonality. And are not bright speakers.

About 5 years ago I heard the Sibelius speakers at the Munich HiFi show plus I was able to hear everyone who attended the show comment on them. I drive them with Rogue audio tube amp and Geshelli DAC with Qobuz hi fi streaming. Unlike you I think the stands make a huge difference. As you say this all heart and the reason I listen to any music. I am not a casual listener I have to have the room darkened and my eyes closed.

Love the minimalist design. Zu Audio owner here. Appreciate the FRD ethos. Just the music piped through the speakers cables to the speakers and nothing else. Would love to try the Sibelius.

I have had a pair for about a year - purchased them for the reasons listed here and they deliver in every way - atmospheric and detail and 3D and very natural - excellent with High Fidelity Cables

Man that’s the coolest audio room. Livin the dream

Accurate and informative review. Thank you. I love Markaudio drivers. The amazing Pearl Sibelius are sadly out of my price range BUT i do have the 6.5 inch, Markaudio MOAP 11 single drivers in a pair of Frugal XL Horn cabinets (self-build kit) and every positive comment made in this review i can say is also true about my speakers which are 100% keepers. Individual instruments and vocals have never sounded so real, coherent and detailed. Hope to listen to Sibelius speakers one fine day.

I have a pair for a couple of years. Agree on almost everything you said. Re the base and spikes, you can put the spikes onto furniture discs and then it is easier to move the speakers on the stands. I can attest to wide genre range. From baroque chamber pieces where I can hear the room (I had thought that was audiophile nonsense until I heard it) to post-punk, neo-folk, various -wave (dark, cold, witch, new), electronica, even indie and punk (GBH, Rites of Spring). Wider than speaker soundstage, depth, detail, musicality, disappearing speakers, it is all there. I tried adding a sub (REL T9), but no matter the placement, it destroyed the cohesiveness of the sound from the Sibelius. I drive them with a PassLabs XA25 and a PrimaLuna EVO300 pre. Works great in my 18 x 18' room (diagonal set-up), can play them till it hurts my ears without the sound getting distorted, usually though at 65-70 dB. Best $4K I spent in audio. And Harley is absolutely top in customer service and communication.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r7OFY7GS39qRXYU.htmlsi=WuZdoCyJ3g04mJdK - Here is al ink to Harleys video that goes into the story of the Sibelius speakers. Enjoy!

I've heard these before, you've described them well. I was super impressed by them.

These reviews are coming thick and fast and i love it 💗

Nice review! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for review

Pearl are doing their own UK made SE triode amp. Sounded great together. I heard them playing Bob Marley and they were fine with this type of music. According to their web site there are currently supply issues with the amp.

Enjoyed the review very much. I have been using a pair of Sibelius CG speakers for over 2 years powered by CAT tube pre and power amps. They are truly magical. FYI if you were to use the stand with Stack Audio's Auva 100 isolators it will improve the sound quite a bit.

I ran across a used pair of Acoustic Technologies Classic speakers (transmission line, 3” full range driver). At first I was skeptical that such a small driver could produce a satisfying sound stage, but after listening to them I blown away!

What you describe is similar to what people say about ZU Audio DWX speakers.

I am dying to hear these speakers! I have a pair of Mark Audio Pluvia 7HDs that I built some Pensil style enclosures for, and while the cabinet design differs a bit, it’s nearly identical in size and layout. I am blown away by the way these things sound! I know Harley worked with Mark on some custom spec drive cones for his Sibelius and I really hope I get the chance to give them a listen at some point. Thanks for another great review!

Gr8t review.honest and realistic.cheers. your right humans enjoy music . music.audiop

Amazing speakers I’d love a pair

Talking of a driver handling a wide range of frequencies, the small 75mm 3 inch titanium driver in my Fyne Audio Vintage 12s handle 750 Hertz to 26 Khz.

Great review! I think these speakers are amazing. I would like so much to get the opportunity to listen to them. The fact that there is no crossover is great. There is no delay and phase rotation in the signal. I am wondering if the transmission line is supposed to be implemented in the wood cabinet is adding some phase rotation to the low frequencies. Regards

interesting speaker , have to hear it , thanks

i really love these speakers I hope they were a little bit cheaper... here in europe they are over 6k including shipping and taxes.

Man im envy of your beautiful room 👌

Very nice review, did you hear the Sibelius with the Daniel Hertz Maria 350 and how do you compare the Sibelius to the Amber from DH? Thanks for the review.

Thanks for the review. Any thoughts on how these might pair withthe Enleum Amp 23R or has it been too long since you had the amp in house?

One of my few desert 🌵 island 🏝️ loudspeakers and it’d be nice to have a review of Translator from 3squareaudio 🇬🇧

The Ubiquitous Mr. (Harley) Lovegrove

Wondering how does it compare with Fleetwood deville?

Nice review. How do you compare these to OGY.

How do they sound with the Willsenton R300? You do still have that amp, right?

Every speaker has pros and cons..I wonder does this speaker have the speed/immediacy and transparency of an electrostatic ( eg Martin Logan ) bearing in mind that design has its caveats too.

I know it was a while ago but how would you compare it to the Dynaudio Heritage Specials?

Mark audio is great So are lot of other full range speakers... Two way etc...cant ever give this realistic sound

I suspect that these speakers are limited to a certain type of music ie acoustic instruments (?) All said, I recently demo'd ATC 50ASL ACTIVE speakers with their built-in Class AB tri-amp and was blown away! They were paired with an incredible preamplifier by Angela-Gilbert Yeung-s C312 and the synergy was outstanding. I'm now hooked on active speakers.

Which part of the hearth, please?

I wonder if they do justice to the solo piano in classical music. I usually find small driver lacks in feel, if not accuracy.

Do they come with spikes (or spike threads)? I would rather have them as you show them, without the stands.

How much?

Unique is not modifiable. (Great review as usual.)

I would imagine they would struggle with seperation of lower mids/low frequency and dynamics

all this is old news 25 years ago Caine and Caine was making speakers just like this

How do they sound playing Return to Forever …”Theme to the Mothership”? Sorry to get so specific 😂. It was a great studio performance but so so mix… I just loved that particular band at the time.

So no SET???

wait till hear maop x 5 better than alpair ( sebelius)😊

''....very unique...'' I don't think so.