Got a mate to use the 8.2 (bigger bro of the 8.1)
Pros -
1) at sensible levels: it has a full-bodied midrange and well-behaved treble
2) well-tuned "bouncy" bass
3) very listenable
Cons -
1) gets honky and boxy when played at party levels
2) filmsy grilles are badly designed, turn them upside down when you refit them back and the top peg will pierce the tweeters:shock:
3) the grey faceplate turns a slight muddy brown-grey with age
Heard the 9.1s
Pros
1) they give you a tantalizing glimpse into the talents of the Quad L speakers (same design team), very listenable and the midrange has a precocious, rounded quality
2) altough not deep, bass is finely-tuned
Cons
1) like the 8.2s, lose composure when played at party levels
2)
low sensitivity (<85dB, as measured by a mag) and sounds it too. They made the expensive new Audiolab 8000S amp seem underpowered. You definitely need more than a 50W amp to kick these slugs into shape for rock music
3) matte "veneer" wrap has a porous, papery, unfinished feel - does not exactly inspire confidence for longevity
I have a pair of 9.0s They offer a diminished serving of the 9.1s talents. For the peanut price, they are beyond criticism.
However I would not recommend them for duties as anyone's main stereo pair - they sound small indeed and fine detail is lacking.
SS