What did you find or notice on them?
Pair of crusader II's on ebay.
look to be in decent condition
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22564317...d=link&campid=5338728743&toolid=20001&mkevt=1
As it happens I am going to a friends house to hear his pair on Thursday. He has a good set of ears and only moved from ESL63's due to the size of his listening room.
He bought them from another friend who moved to Excaliburs. Have heard them a couple of times and they are some pair of speakers. Huge sound stage and I thought they sounded fantastic.
Think they are hard to come by but if I had the space I would certainly be prepared to try a pair.
I hadn't fully read this thread and missed your post. Your description above I would wholeheartedly concur with. The Excaliburs I heard were top notch. We spent an evening trying out various preamps (All DIY DHT and smaller valves) and the differences in presentation were clearly defined by the Excaliburs. The sound was like sitting in a perfect concert hall where you are getting that full live experience but with every instrument and vocal perfectly presented. Not harsh or soft just as outlined by @JezmondTutu above 'treading a fantastic line between detail and refinement' I know he got them for a great price. To my ears they sounded as good as the best rooms in Munich for beer bucks money.That is absolutely not my experience of Ruark speakers. They are very well made, are musically engaging, have great bass and hence convey rhythms really well. Ttey tread a fantastic line between detail and refinement, rarely sounding bright or harsh. They also respond well to upgrades elsewhere in the system.
I owned Talisman 2’s for ten years partnered to my Naim NAC72/HiCap/NAP250, I have heard them regularly in friends systems (Exposure and Onix amps) and used to hear the Swordsman/Sabre/Talisman’s regularly in Chris Harris’s shop when I used to help out there.
Anyway Eoin, you know that which is why I recommended them!
I’m not so sure Accolades would be the right choice for you though, although the do represent cracking value if you compare them to the likes of ATC SCM50/100’s.
Accolades but when I visit if they are Crusaders happy to eat humble pieAre we speaking of Accolades or Crusaders- the conversation has veered between both.