Cinema I vs Stage

dcaprilia · Dec 19, 2007

Has anyone been able to compare the Cinema i against the Stage? Is there a big difference sonically? Is it worth the price difference?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Derrick

roberto · Dec 19, 2007

dcaprilia said:
Has anyone been able to compare the Cinema i against the Stage? Is there a big difference sonically? Is it worth the price difference?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Derrick

Hola...to my liking, the Stage is far better then the Cinema i. The voices and the program material coming form the Stage is more real, palpable, more with the right size. But don´t get wrong here. The Cinema i is one of the best center speakers for what you pay too. The dynamics and the Xtat panels of the Stage makes a difference. Listen one for at least 15 minutes and then swap for the other, then you will listen the differences. If I have the money for the Stage, then do it. On the other hand, there is a new model from ML, it is the Motif. I do like this better too than the Cinema i, even that it is a little smaller in size of the panel and also has the Xtat. The timing of the tweeter with the panel is much better. I think the price is about the same or less the Motif than the Cinema i. Hope this can help, happy listening,
Roberto.

Burke · Dec 19, 2007

dcaprilia said:
Has anyone been able to compare the Cinema i against the Stage? Is there a big difference sonically? Is it worth the price difference?

Roberto did a great job of describing the differences.

I have also upgraded from a Cinema i to a Stage,

Is there a big difference sonically? Yes.

Is it worth the price difference? Only you can answer that (it was for me) As Roberto wisely said, play one, switch and see the diffence for yourself. Then check on funds if you have the spare cash I would go for the Stage, but I would not go into debit for it.

cstory · Dec 19, 2007

I too amd looking at the Stage as a replacement for my Cinema. Just yesterday I went to a dealer and listened to a system with Vantages and a Stage (I have Vista's) and the thing that I noticed was that I didn't really notice the Stage. It just seemed to be part of a seamless presentation of sound across the front of the room. At home I "notice" the Cinema.

I am just speculating here, but I believe that in my current system the Cinema appears as a separate source becuase it isn't a perfect match tonally for the Vista's. It was perfect for my Aerius's, but it just seems to be a bit overmatched by the Vista's. My feeling about the Stage is that it sounds better than the Cinema. Not "kicked it's butt" better or any other of those over the top comparison statements that people are fond of using, but as Roberto said, the tweeter seems better integrated and the sound a bit more coherent. Plus I am certain that the Stage can support higher sound levels so I am also hoping that on the big action scenes of movies, where I think the Cinema is starting to struggle, I expect the Stage to handle those better.

I think the Stage is worth the extra, though I haven't heard a Motif. In a smallish room, that might be all you need.

Chuck