Speaker Porn

[swt61]

On 11/25/2019 at 10:49 AM, dsavitsk said:

This is now 5 very expensive systems in a row that probably sound worse than a $100 pair of Kenwoods in a room with a thick rug on the floor.

I can't go there with you my friend. I'm going to argue that those Maggies would sound pretty damn good! Most likely better than any Kenwoods could aspire to.

[jpelg]

At the Chelsea Wine Cellar (retail space in Chelsea Market, NYC):

Also at the Chelsea Wine Cellar, in the "expensive room" (next to the 50 y/o Glenlivet):

[Craig Sawyers]

That looks like my kind of wine shop 

[mikeymad]

and all the pappy....

[Knuckledragger]

2.1 system with a self-powered woofer.

[Torpedo]

A radioactive one, I'd say.

[mwl168]

Nice green LED power indicators - must mean both channels are on!

[Knuckledragger]

[Knuckledragger]

[skullguise]

I've heard the large MBL's, quite nice speakers!

[mwl168]

1 minute ago, skullguise said:

I've heard the large MBL's, quite nice speakers!

Agreed!

Heard the MBL's more than 10 years ago in a store in Wisconsin Rapids following auditioning of a pair of top-end Audio Physics speakers (don't remember if it was the Medea or the Caldera now). When the MBL started playing, I did not want to think HiFi and all the stuff, I just wanted to lay back in the chair and enjoy the music!  

[Dusty Chalk]

I’ve always wanted my best speakers to be omnidirectional.  MBL would do.

 I need to set up my Gallos.

[Knuckledragger]

[Knuckledragger]

Naim Uniti Star and Harbeths.

[Knuckledragger]

[Knuckledragger]

Quote

Monitor Audio Silver RS6

Sony N9000ES Power Amp

NAD C320BEE as preamp

NAD Wireless USB DAC 1

 

[mikeymad]

That monster Sony has a touch of porn to it.. 

[Knuckledragger]

[Knuckledragger]

Quote

KEF Reference 5 Speakers being driven by a pair of SPL Performer s800 Monoblocks and a SPL Phonitor X pre-amp, all D/A conversion is done by a Chord Dave and the digital signal comes from a LUMIN U1 Streamer.

 

[Craig Sawyers]

KEF stands for Kent Engineering Foundry. Before they started manufacturing speakers, they made farm machinery, crop sprayers etc.

Who would have thunk, looking at those gorgeous (and expensive) floorstanders.

[mwl168]

For a long time back in the 70's and 80's, KEF was also the major driver supplier for many of the highly regarded speaker manufacturers. 

I still remember the first time I heard the KEF 104ab in the store playing some violin recording, possibly driven by Audio Research amps. That moment for me in HiFi was akin to the first time I sit in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta in a show room. It changed me!  

Edited January 16, 2020 by mwl168

[Craig Sawyers]

All that stuff was designed when Laurie Fincham was the technical guru. He's still alive an kicking - for 20 years at THX in California http://www.aes.org/events/146/presenters/?ID=8239

He once explained to me that the now classic B139 driver was designed that way to avoid purchase tax (the product tax that preceded VAT). The legislation defined a loudspeaker as circular or elliptical. So Fincham designed the B139 as a circular driver split down the middle and two straight bits joining them. So it was neither circular nor elliptical.

Mystical properties are associated with that driver, but its genesis was much more pragmatic - ie financial!

The B139 is now being remanufactured https://www.falconacoustics.co.uk/falcon-b139-8-ohm-kef-b139-sp1044-replacement-woofer.html . Seems like a lot of money for one, but looking back at the price in the 70's and correcting for inflation, the remanufactured price is only 20% higher in real terms.

[Knuckledragger]

[Knuckledragger]

Crap photo of insane kit.

[Craig Sawyers]

Someone with very deep pockets, a very hazy grip on room acoustics, and the most uncomfortable listening chair I've seen (right of centre )