Post by guitardude on Oct 2, 2017 16:12:13 GMT 12
Hi cooks,
Had the random thought that maybe a pair of Tannoy monitor golds installed in wall might be a suitably different and space saving concept ? I heard a set up like that a way back and was stunned at the sound quality on offer. It's too long ago to recall the details but I remember tucking the idea away as useful for further investigation. Was a very popular application in the 50's and 60's I daresay theres a bit of knowledge around about it ? From memory the rest of his system wasnt anything awfully esoteric, Turntable and a valve amp and tuner IIRC. It was an old boys system and he was quite proud of it.
|
Post by sub on Oct 2, 2017 20:47:48 GMT 12
Did you go to the same party I did, guitardude? A group of us from work ended up at this older blokes place, not sure now where it was, but one of the more expensive Auckland suburbs. The owner smoked cigars and had an impressive liquor cabinet. Was the late 60s. The Spkrs were set in the wall and played loud. Don’t remember the rest!
|
Post by michaelw on Oct 2, 2017 22:03:24 GMT 12
i used to have a mismatched pair of quad esl57s.
sold them to a guy who hung them on the wall, either side of a fireplace.
|
Post by cooksferry on Oct 3, 2017 8:45:08 GMT 12
Hi cooks, Had the random thought that maybe a pair of Tannoy monitor golds installed in wall might be a suitably different and space saving concept ? I heard a set up like that a way back and was stunned at the sound quality on offer. It's too long ago to recall the details but I remember tucking the idea away as useful for further investigation. Was a very popular application in the 50's and 60's I daresay theres a bit of knowledge around about it ? From memory the rest of his system wasnt anything awfully esoteric, Turntable and a valve amp and tuner IIRC. It was an old boys system and he was quite proud of it. Interesting idea but my room is an extension of a Skyline garage, very, very little space between the outer skin and the lining. The iron cladding could add some interesting colouration as well. Could work in the house, brick outer and gib lining . Wife is in the big smoko for several days and was seriously tempted to move some of my gear into the lounge and see what it sounds like with a bit of space. However due to certain physical limitations I doubt I could get the amp the 20 metres or so from room to house without a deal of risk.
|
Post by Owen Y on Oct 3, 2017 9:01:01 GMT 12
Installing speaker drivers into a wall can be the ultimate implementation of an 'infinite baffle' - esp if there is a big cavity (eg room space or large void) behind. Low colouration but not the most efficient however.
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2017 8:47:05 GMT 12
Someone earlier mentioned British warmth? Spendor BC1s on TM for $630 buy now... A good way to find you're quite satisfied with what you have and what's more, you'll enjoy the drive to my place when you need to free up the space? 😉
|
Post by michaelw on Oct 6, 2017 10:24:17 GMT 12
cavet emptor on those "spendors" !
they are copies made by the radio people in hong kong back in the 70s,80s.
they appear to use the same drivers as a real bc1 but the cabinet construction differs and the sound pales in comparison with genuine uk made bc1s.
|
Post by Owen Y on Oct 6, 2017 12:19:23 GMT 12
These Spendor S100s could have been the last lspkr you'd ever need. Every time they come up, I have to restrain myself 
|
Post by michaelw on Oct 6, 2017 12:40:14 GMT 12
some days you just can't beat big boxes 
|
Post by Owen Y on Oct 6, 2017 12:44:13 GMT 12
Esp with a decent 12" woof
|
Pundit
Post by Gryffles on Oct 10, 2017 20:09:55 GMT 12
|
Post by cooksferry on Nov 2, 2017 13:15:19 GMT 12
Still chewing things over on the speaker choice and although I'd put stand mounts out of the equation I do have the chance of a reasonable price on a pair of Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento Speakers.
I'd welcome any feed back about these. I have to admit to an unrequited lust after SF speakers that has absolutely nothing to do with sound as I've never heard a pair but I do like the wood work and aesthetics of the more expensive models.
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 25, 2018 12:11:06 GMT 12
cooksferry - I know you've moved on now, but I see that Darko Audio have done a reasonably thorough review of the Klipsch Heresy III loudspaeker. May be of interest to others at least.  The reviewer's analogy using photographic portraiture (below) is pretty interesting & it's got me mulling over this comparison between the Klipsch & other loudspeaker/amp combos. 
|
Post by deano1974 on Aug 25, 2018 15:42:25 GMT 12
Dont know about the heresy but the Cornwall IIIs and my own pair of La Scala IIs are amazing I will never change these babies 
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 25, 2018 16:43:18 GMT 12
the new manawatu soundhub shop has klipsch on display.
from the run-of-the-mill copper domed speakers to a pair of forte.
the classic models forte, heresy etc are still made in amurica ?
|
Pundit
Post by cartridge on Aug 25, 2018 16:51:40 GMT 12
Yup - the Heresy, Cornwall, Forte, LaScalla, Klipschorn are still made in the States.
So are the big copper driver RF7's (grown up versions of what HNorman stock).
Other 'Heritage' products like the HP3 headphones, 'The Sixes' and 'Klipsch Three' etc are made in China.
|
Post by cooksferry on Aug 26, 2018 9:40:47 GMT 12
cooksferry - I know you've moved on now, but I see that Darko Audio have done a reasonably thorough review of the Klipsch Heresy III loudspaeker. May be of interest to others at least. The reviewer's analogy using photographic portraiture (below) is pretty interesting & it's got me mulling over this comparison between the Klipsch & other loudspeaker/amp combos. After nearly a year living with the Tannoys I have some regrets that I never persevered with getting a home demo of the Klipsch . I have struggled with the XT6Fs to the point of seriously considering dumping them on Trade Me or just going back to full time headphones. In the time I've had them I'd be lucky to have put 200 hours up . More and more I found myself going to the music room, getting through one side of an album and giving up. The last couple of months have seen me go through all sorts of permutations with tubes, cables , placement etc just to find a sound that engauged me with little success. Last week I was away from work for a couple of days and not allowed to do any heavy work so I determined to spend some time with the stereo for a final shot. I decided to stick with digital for the process as it would remove any anomalies due to my TT/cart setup. One of my biggest problems was lack of bass or rather the amount , everything tended to sound quite lean and bright compared to my previous Monitor Audios. After much mucking about I've ended up running the Gold Lion KT88s,RCA 6SN7s and a Ruby brand rectifier in the amp, gone back to the Tellerium Black cables and swapped the Dyna XX2 back to the Project arm with the Hana Cart going onto the Wand Plus. After trying various speaker setups, firing up/down, toe in, straight etc I've ended up following Tannoys recommendation with the speakers set so I can just see the inner side of the cabinet from my chair and set level. Playing with digital proved that bass was there although not in the amount I was used to but cleaner and tighter so that is taking some getting used to. Going onto the TT the Dyna does come out well ahead of the Hana in some areas(as it should given the price difference) and while the sound again isn't quite as rich as the MAs it is now , for whatever reason, starting to engauge me. With the speakers set per factory they actually do a great job of vanishing giving a very full soundstage. I do have some issues with the upper end still as they still occasionally come across as too bright and a slight mechanical sheen to vocals. Instruments like acoustic guitars are really nice however. A lighter touch of the volume also helps, the XT6F definitely reaches a tipping point much lower on the pot than the Monitor Audio when things start to over whelm the room. I guess that the amp finds the Tannoy an easier load. Digital gets to around 8.30 and analogue 9.30 depending on which cart is being used. All of this does reinforce that a home demo would have been of real benefit but live and hopefully learn I'm aware that a couple of factors will also be impacting on this journey, my deteriorating hearing and a bigger issue with my crappy room . At this point the Tannoys have a reprieve and hopefully I can drag a few more pluses from them . While I'm not planing on adding any more hardware to my system I am considering fitting another electrical outlet in the room that would allow to swing my rack through 90 degrees and relocate the amp . Doing that would give me another half a metre or so to play with in speaker width.
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 26, 2018 18:42:39 GMT 12
klipsch would be the last photo ? 
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 26, 2018 23:06:53 GMT 12
klipsch would be the last photo ? Nope
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 26, 2018 23:30:17 GMT 12
|
Post by Owen Y on Aug 27, 2018 9:54:45 GMT 12
" Consider the three portraits in this YouTube video freezeframe: 1) without makeup (Heresy III), 2) with make-up but no retouching (Harbeth / Ayre) and 3) with makeup and retouching (Harbeth / valves).....
Which is more truthful? Which communicates that truth with greater potency? It’s your preference. In audio terms, the Heresy III argue strongly for ‘de-beautifying’ music’. Music without makeup. "
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 27, 2018 10:58:14 GMT 12
interesting...
i've heard older klipsch and they are definitely #3.
powerful, immediate but also coloured.
|
Pundit
Post by cartridge on Aug 27, 2018 16:34:29 GMT 12
I wouldn't call any of the Heritage series coloured...
There's a chance that your partnering equipment may have been responsible?
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 27, 2018 19:30:27 GMT 12
there's a slim but possibilty. we used amc hybrid and ss amps, audio research, quicksilver, jadis tubes, plinius, rotel, krell ss. big sound, not much bass extension or coherence between highs/mid and bass, with much horn honk/cupped hands on vocals. initially impressive but ultimately fatiguing.
pretty awful with classical music, mixed with rock and jazz.
the latest ones will be better ?
|
Pundit
Post by cartridge on Aug 27, 2018 21:24:59 GMT 12
What model were you listening to? You've given us part of the puzzle by listing the partnering kit, but not the actual model of Klipsch?
|
Post by michaelw on Aug 28, 2018 10:57:30 GMT 12
this was over 10 years ago, heresy III before it picked up the "heritage" moniker.
|
Pundit
Post by cartridge on Aug 28, 2018 15:37:50 GMT 12
this was over 10 years ago, heresy III before it picked up the "heritage" moniker.
|
Post by cooksferry on Feb 16, 2019 8:16:33 GMT 12
Gave the dragon of discontent a prod yesterday and spent around an hour and a half auditioning a pair of stand mount speakers. Although these were about 10 years old cosmetically they're near perfect and come with factory stands.
Managed to lug my amp into the car so at least had something familiar to drive them. Most of the music was flac via the Fiio X5V2 with the redbook layer from a couple of MoFi dual disc reissues (Love, forever Changes, Procul Harum, A Salty Dog)
Music via the Fiio included tracks from Gregg Brown, Alejandro Escovedo, Richard Thompson and Cowboy Junkies.
I wasn't judging the first few songs too harshly as the amp does take around half and hour for the tubes to warm properly and the sound to settle .
Greg Brown sounded as I expected,captured his deep baritone nicely, good sounding reproduction of the acoustic instruments.
Escovedo sounded a big harsh on the top end and over all sound a bit muddled, but this was not long after firing things up.
Onto Richard Thompson and a couple of tracks from Semi Detached Mock Tudor and the speakers caught Danny Thompsons double bass on the opening Track, Cooksferry Queen well with agility and unexpected depth for such a small box. Same album, moved onto track Two Faced Love with Mr Thompson sharing space with Pete Zorn on the sax. Sound reproduction was nicely integrated without throwing too much light on either instrument. If I had a criticism it would be that Thompson's guitar lacked a little of the sting and bite that should be there.
Lastly from the Fiio went to a long time fav, Cowboy Junkies, Neath the Covers,an eps worth of, what else but cover versions.
First track played was their version of the Cure's 17 Seconds and this was a real wow moment for me. I've listened to this a lot on headphones and through speakers but for the first time felt I was really hearing the subtleties of Margo Timms voice. Have to confess that this was an almost moist eye moment.By this time I'm guessing amp/tubes were up to speed.
Following track, Townes Van Zandt's Lungs quite different, like a different time and studio.
Last up were a couple of tracks from the previously mention cds. Soundstage and strings on Salty Dog very well done as was the brass on Forever Changes,
So now I've put myself in a position in indecision, grab these stand mounts or stay with the Tannoys. Because the speakers are in another town my chances of an actual at home demo aren't good but at least this I had some of my own gear.
For those who have some experience with headphones if I categorized my XT6Fs as a pair of Grado RS1s then the stand mounts would be some where between Sennheiser HD650 and Oppo PM-1.
The room for the audition was quite different to my own with the speakers being about half a metre further apart than I can get with large amount of free space either side but they were positioned quite a bit closer to the rear wall, large window. Seating distance was similar.
So I'll now mull this over in my usual distracted manner and try and reach a decision in the next few days.
I promised my long suffering wife that I wouldn't look at new speakers unless I heard the sound of angels, and on one track I feel it came very close to that.
|
Post by Owen Y on Feb 16, 2019 9:30:35 GMT 12
She sings like an angel indeed. Still does.
|
Post by cooksferry on Feb 16, 2019 9:39:49 GMT 12
Love that track Owen. So much space around the voice and the instruments.
|
