Speakers HMMMMMMMMM

Elite-ist said:
I would never spend huge coin on a pair of speakers I couldn't audition. Even detailed specifications on speakers wouldn't be enough to enable me to judge how the speakers would sound. If there were enough testimonials by people, and not, necessarily, audiophile-type listeners, I could narrow the field. I know how Lee loves the sound of Ohm Model F speakers, as he had owned a pair brand new. He and I have similar expectations from what speaker sound we prefer. Those would be speakers I would consider buying, provided they sounded the way the factory designed them. But, I would still have to listen to them, first. Testimonials would be just a method of determining which speakers make the top five within my budget.

Nando.
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Many of mine are dirt cheap, trades or FREE, if I don't build them myself. Since I trade many I won't fret as somebody will like them or one of us will work on it.

A good cabinet is like the tray for freezing ice.
 
Web Police said:
[quote="Elite-ist":1l12pqpi]I would never spend huge coin on a pair of speakers I couldn't audition. Even detailed specifications on speakers wouldn't be enough to enable me to judge how the speakers would sound. If there were enough testimonials by people, and not, necessarily, audiophile-type listeners, I could narrow the field. I know how Lee loves the sound of Ohm Model F speakers, as he had owned a pair brand new. He and I have similar expectations from what speaker sound we prefer. Those would be speakers I would consider buying, provided they sounded the way the factory designed them. But, I would still have to listen to them, first. Testimonials would be just a method of determining which speakers make the top five within my budget.

Nando.
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I am not that fussy. A good speaker like good wive takes a little while to get used too. In my mind most speakers of a specific type within a similar price to my ears are going to sound more similar than different. Sure there will be some differences, but like high end cables in blind test I wouldn't be able to distinguish which sound goes with which speaker. I guess it depends on each individual listening though.[/quote:1l12pqpi]
John: Funny you should make that comparo. I find whether I place Geri in the corner, out from the corner, tilted in towards the centre of the room, or even on stands - she still sounds distorted when she speaks to me.

Nando.
 
Mine gets louder with less distortion the more she is not heard.
 
laatsch55 said:
Mine gets louder with less distortion the more she is not heard.
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Maybe Geri has blown surrounds from having to deal with me these past 4 1/2 years.

Nando.
 
laatsch55 said:
Na, sketchy voice coils would be my guess.
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My temptation of which speakers I imagined one day owning, began with flipping through the pages of the Stereo Review Annual Buying Guides of the late 70's and early 80's. I liked the looks and specs of the AR9, Klipsch Klipschorn, Infinity Reference Standard I, KEF Reference 105 II, and Ohm F. Not a small enclosure in the bunch. And I haven't heard any of these, yet, but still see myself having a pair of one of my top 5 favourite vintage speakers.

Nando.
 
One should see their speaker dreams realized at least once in one's lifetime.
 
Don't know if I could decide on one of those in that list. I won't part with the horns, no way no how. Would love a pair of "F"'s to run with em.
 
laatsch55 said:
Don't know if I could decide on one of those in that list. I won't part with the horns, no way no how. Would love a pair of "F"'s to run with em.
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I wonder if there are any other members who have heard the speakers I've listed? So far, I know you have owned two of the five speaker brands and models I've named. And like Steven, I do have more than a few speakers I've collected which sound fine, but not in the same league as my top 5.

Nando.
 
Actually my dream of the Walsh drivers would be the Model "A". It had an 18" driver compared to the 12 in the F. The F was all the Spec 2 wanted to handle, an A would take something like the PLWO 1000, or the Laatsh- Monster 1.3 KW to get em woke up. Very power hungry they were. Damping factor as paramount, and a very important consideration.
 
I've listened to the khorns and many other klipsch. I was exposed more to what we sold. Snell for example. In '95 They set up the A/5 for us to listen too one day. Those were the slimmer tall d'appilito array with the outboard passive xovers and 18" woofer cabinets. The experience changed the way I listen to music forever. I guess I've wanted and passed over many speakers, even ones I listened too and really liked. Im jealous of laatsch55 that he has a reference quality speaker that he enjoys as much as he does. A lot of big designs wouldn't fit properly in my space nor have I been able to afford smaller designs that I've fell in love with. But boy would I really like one pair of "good" speakers that I liked and dump the 5 pairs that I own. Not that my daily listen, the Snell CIV's are bad, but it took tubes and vinyl to get me to like them, which is another journey on it's own.

I guess the ultimate for me was to build my own pair of speakers, spent a whole lot of time researching, but never finished anything. I'm optimistic about the Audio Note E kit, based on my love of Peter Snells old design, the modest space I have ( near walls ), High quality soft domes and that fact that I get to fill the DIY void in my mind. I'm a little concerned about volume, but only a little.
 
Ah Joe, I could tell ya some stories. And I thank my lucky stars everyday. M y room is not big enough. the sweet spot is against a back wall 5-1/2 feet up but it's doable. The "near sweeetspot" is in the recliner, back against the wall about three feet up. Itr's where it all comes together...........Oh jeez. I need a good excuse to put em in big room somewherte. A Phoenix Fest has got to be in the future. There are still a lot of things I haven't heard.
These horns were built from Speakerlab plans, with a 7-1/4 circular saw and some straight edges, it was ................tedious. the Speakerlab drivers were subpar and the woof didn't match the enclosure, but when I upgraded the drivers a couple years ago I was flat out astonished. The right speaker in the right enclosure with a world class crossover made my wife and I just sit around in awe for a couple days. Now here there is no such thing as a WAF, if it sounds good that's all that matters, that's what I thank my lucky starsa for everyday, Jani.
 
I agree with Pure. I have never used a computer to build or design a speaker. I loved building my own. Even today I pick speakers with simple x-overs. Today things have improved vastly with the caps and drivers. I still like a 2 channel design. I built one sub in my life. So a lot of speakers are going with small drivers and a sub. Pure you can cut the volume down with a vent; but then you have to tune the vent.

I use to be of the loud thinking. Now I listen differently as I have lost a lot of hearing. I want it precise not loud unless I feel I want it. Maybe that is why I keep going back to tubes. I can name alot of speakers I loved in the 80s that are either gone or are massed produced. BA, Snell, Polk, AT, mostly East Coast. Never was a fan of West Coast speakers. The Brits do something very different with the tweeters. They aren't soft domes; but they aren't shrill. I have thought of replacing them with Morels ; but this is a big BUT it is hard to start messing with a 2000.00 pair of speakers.

I have only one question. What is big bucks for a speaker?Now I'll make a comment that got me in alot of trouble some where else. LOL If you buy speakers that have to be changed to your liking. Then why buy them? They aren't the same speakers you bought. So they aren't those speakers any more.

The speakers you hear in the store do not sound like the ones you pull out of the box. Every thing would have to be exact to get the same sound. Yes I may let you take a pair home; but they still aren't going to be the same speakers untill depending on certain things for about 100 hours. If used that is a different story. That is part of the loaded question.

Larry
 
We have a fourth small room in my place and that's where I have my audio gear. I had a terrible chair so my wife bought me a nice love seat. She comes in once in awhile and sits with me. I really don't think better sound is going to be the pathway to the living room though lol. So your speakers are entirely custom? That's awesome, must be amazing. I have no shop and limited tools so kit is up my ally. But ok my Snells would be considered too big for this room, but there is plenty to appreciate. I've had smaller speakers that have boomy bass in here but these are never that way in here. 7"x4" entry floor space with about a 12 x 12 square area that is symmetrical to my listening position. I can always be in the "sweet spot" if I wish.
 
Larry, I think altering an original design is out for me, save a few cap tweaks but even that I haven't done on an original design. If everything can be reversed then I guess you wont loose value so they are still sellable if desired. What's big bucks? That depends on budget doesn't it, and what your into. People pay a lot for other things I would never do, like watches for example. If I bought a AN/E basic kits, and the cabs, and some stands at thier prices, that's like $3000! I don't have $3k set aside for speakers, and there is always the used game- for $3k you could have got a set of ........

But just because something is a deal, doesn't mean I'm going to love it or like it in my room. Kit return is probably not much of an option.

The reality is that you can only judge based on the experience you have in your own environment. One speaker that you might not care for might be the cats meow in the right room with the right equipment and the ear to appreciate it. Trying things is likely the best approach. When people ask what should I get, I'm always hesitant because ultimately, no one really can answer that unless it's a purely technical fix, like, should I use 2 different amplifier manufacturers, 1 amp on left the other on the right. Well, no.
 
Elite-ist said:
John: Funny you should make that comparo. I find whether I place Geri in the corner, out from the corner, tilted in towards the centre of the room, or even on stands - she still sounds distorted when she speaks to me.

Nando.
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I definitely think it is the cross over points, apply some Hormone therapy patches to the crossovers cross your fingers and head for the garage. :joker:
 
Joe
If you are a person who loves the end result of your labors. Speaker building is one way you get that need filled. When I did those speakers for my friend now. Then my only customer. LOL When he sat there for an hour just listening. He was over joyed. He couldn't believe they were the same speakers. It made me very proud that I could still do it. Any speaker I did the customer never complained. One time I ordered the drivers and promised the speakers for a party. Well I didn't make it. I had to loan my speakers. Then he wanted my speakers. He offered me a pretty good sum till he heard his after I burned them in.

Larry
 
I enjoy working on things, especially audio related. However, I do enjoy listening more to the music then working on the system, if you know what I mean. Speaker building has fascinated me for years.
 
The guy who wrote the Speaker Cook Book is on Linkedin. You can only join his page by invitation. I tried to get introduced from a friend. He didn't know how. LOL I am learning a lot on linkedin. A tube group is discussing Auto-biasing and how to do it. Pretty cool to read what these guys are saying. If anyone would like to join linkedin. I can ask you to join. Some very nice discussions. They don't treat you like a DA for asking questions.

Larry
 
I love Vance Dickasons book. I have an old copy I picked up at Old Colony years ago along with CALSOD. I'm going to sit tight on design work and things until I set some goals. I can always think of ways to spend money, not so much on saving.
 
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