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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 9, 2021 20:24:18 GMT -5
I'm not normally a fan of black audio equipment, but these are nice. They've also startled me with their sound quality. Specs say bass to 32 Hz. and specs usually are optimistic (sometimes HIGHLY so). But in my room, these DO sound like a honest 32 Hz. The bass tone and quickness is also startling. But as good as the bass is, the speakers' strength seems to be their treble! Not what I was expecting from a big horn at all. I've heard only one slight weakness, and that may be an "upstream equipment interaction." I'll hook up my Emotiva PA-1 amps tomorrow to test that theory. These speakers are an order of magnitude better than the older JBL "Studio Monitor" speakers. Really. I'd have NEVER thought that any 12-inch, two-way could sound like this.
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Post by audiobill on Feb 10, 2021 11:05:23 GMT -5
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 10, 2021 14:40:51 GMT -5
The JBLs aren't cheap. BUT... Like McIntosh, I expect these will meet their specs 50 years from now. Is that a priority for me? No, unless radical enhancements in aging abatement become technically feasible in the next decade. But for someone wanting a studio-monitor style speaker from a company with strong support and excellent reputation...
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Post by Boomzilla on Mar 1, 2021 8:23:59 GMT -5
Just a passing muse on speaker quality...
At the moment, I have three sets of speakers in the house:
Emotiva T2 speakers (original version) = $1,000 / pair (8" 3-way design with ribbon tweeter) Tekton Double Impact speakers (latest version) = $3,000 / pair (10" 4-way design with proprietary tweeter array) JBL 4349 Studio Monitors = $7,500 / pair (12" two-way design with horn tweeter)
And what amazes me is that all three of these sets are very close in sound quality. No, they don't sound alike at all - but each has something that sets it apart in excellence.
The T2s offer the most limited bass but great overall balance; the Tektons offer the lowest bass and amazing midrange; the JBLs offer the tightest bass and extreme clarity. So which is the "best?" It depends on your own audio priorities! I could be happy with any of the three (the Emotiva speakers would perhaps need subs), but considering the fact that the JBLs are often highly discounted, the price range isn't as broad as it seems.
It's a great time to be an audiophile!
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Post by Boomzilla on Mar 15, 2021 9:47:57 GMT -5
The time is drawing nigh... My smarter half and I are moving from our current abode to a location closer to our grandson. Target date for the actual move - December 2023. In preparation, I need to sell off my surplus audio gear. It seems an overwhelming task, and rather than pick out what to sell, it seems easier to pick out what to keep. As I see it now, my keepers include:
Black Ice tube integrated amp Audio-gd HE-1 solid state preamp (maybe) Emotiva PA-1 mono power amps AURALiC Aries Mini DAC Schiit Loki Equalizer Carnare 12' biwire speaker cables Unknown 8' speaker cables
The potential sells include (incomplete list off the top of my head):
Audio-gd HE-1 vacuum preamp Heathkit 12W tube monoblock power amps About 5 pairs of unfinished speaker wires About 3 pairs of finished speaker wires About 15 pairs of RCA interconnects About 10 pairs of XLR interconnects About 200 CDs About 100 Blu-Rays About 100 various computer cables About 2 or 3 Apple computers A shotgun & rifle A RAID & about 2 other HDDs About 100 books & decades of audio magazines 5 absorber panels & 2 diffusers (will keep these until just before the move) Bunches of speaker feet, equipment cones, & magic tweaks Tekton Double Impact speakers Emotiva T2 (original model) speakers A plethora of other items yet to be unearthed Various audio vacuum tubes, vintage and modern
I don't have time to go through everything yet, but will be posting actual lists as I find time.
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 13, 2021 21:43:12 GMT -5
Hmmm... So here's the "cheap audio system" rundown: Klipsch RP-600m Bookshelf speakers (New, open-box on eBay with free shipping) = $399 Klipsch R-12SW subwoofer (New, Amazon with free shipping) = $208 Upstream = good stuff. Imaging = Side to side is excellent. Depth is not quite there (more speaker-dancing required?) Treble = Crisp & clean bordering on slightly brash (but leaving the grills on helps tremendously) Midrange = Bass = Well, naysayers be damned. With the satellites run full range & the sub dialed in below them, you can't tell where the transition is. Although technically, the sub doesn't go much below 30 Hz., when Dead Can Dance's "Yulunga, Spirit Dance" comes on, the room quivers. Good enough for me; and this is without any equalization. So is the $607 system the best I've ever heard? Not even close. But it beats anything I've heard for up to $3k. And yes, that includes the Tekton Double-Impacts. This is good enough that I'm keeping these speakers & sub & having neighbor buy his own. Pleased as punch.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230
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Post by novisnick on Apr 13, 2021 22:49:06 GMT -5
Yes they are! I placed mine on a set of risers that I had custom made. I designed them to accept threaded feet to achieve the angle I desired. I enjoy my JBL’s very much. Im sure they don’t match the price point but they’re enjoyable just the same!
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Post by teaman on Apr 14, 2021 13:14:23 GMT -5
Hmmm... So here's the "cheap audio system" rundown: Klipsch RP-600m Bookshelf speakers (New, open-box on eBay with free shipping) = $399 Klipsch R-12SW subwoofer (New, Amazon with free shipping) = $208 Upstream = good stuff. Imaging = Side to side is excellent. Depth is not quite there (more speaker-dancing required?) Treble = Crisp & clean bordering on slightly brash (but leaving the grills on helps tremendously) Midrange = Bass = Well, naysayers be damned. With the satellites run full range & the sub dialed in below them, you can't tell where the transition is. Although technically, the sub doesn't go much below 30 Hz., when Dead Can Dance's "Yulunga, Spirit Dance" comes on, the room quivers. Good enough for me; and this is without any equalization. So is the $607 system the best I've ever heard? Not even close. But it beats anything I've heard for up to $3k. And yes, that includes the Tekton Double-Impacts. This is good enough that I'm keeping these speakers & sub & having neighbor buy his own. Pleased as punch. Those Klipsch R-12SW subs are now down to an amazing $149 at Costco...maybe time to add a second!
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Post by gsand on Apr 14, 2021 14:40:03 GMT -5
Hmmm... So here's the "cheap audio system" rundown: Klipsch RP-600m Bookshelf speakers (New, open-box on eBay with free shipping) = $399 Klipsch R-12SW subwoofer (New, Amazon with free shipping) = $208 Upstream = good stuff. Imaging = Side to side is excellent. Depth is not quite there (more speaker-dancing required?) Treble = Crisp & clean bordering on slightly brash (but leaving the grills on helps tremendously) Midrange = Bass = Well, naysayers be damned. With the satellites run full range & the sub dialed in below them, you can't tell where the transition is. Although technically, the sub doesn't go much below 30 Hz., when Dead Can Dance's "Yulunga, Spirit Dance" comes on, the room quivers. Good enough for me; and this is without any equalization. So is the $607 system the best I've ever heard? Not even close. But it beats anything I've heard for up to $3k. And yes, that includes the Tekton Double-Impacts. This is good enough that I'm keeping these speakers & sub & having neighbor buy his own. Pleased as punch. Those Klipsch R-12SW subs are now down to an amazing $149 at Costco...maybe time to add a second! What Costco has the Klipsch R-12SW subs for $149? The Costco site shows them for $249.99 less $50.00 manufacturer's savings discount for a sale price of $199.99. I also called a local Costco and was quoted $199.99
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Post by teaman on Apr 14, 2021 15:25:09 GMT -5
Those Klipsch R-12SW subs are now down to an amazing $149 at Costco...maybe time to add a second! What Costco has the Klipsch R-12SW subs for $149? The Costco site shows them for $249.99 less $50.00 manufacturer's savings discount for a sale price of $199.99. I also called a local Costco and was quoted $199.99 I was just at our Costco in Michigan the week before last and they had them for $149. In my Klipsch FB group I know of at least ten people that ran out and bought them. Maybe it ended into April, not sure.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2021 15:38:09 GMT -5
Hmmm... So here's the "cheap audio system" rundown: Klipsch RP-600m Bookshelf speakers (New, open-box on eBay with free shipping) = $399 Klipsch R-12SW subwoofer (New, Amazon with free shipping) = $208 Upstream = good stuff. Imaging = Side to side is excellent. Depth is not quite there (more speaker-dancing required?) Treble = Crisp & clean bordering on slightly brash (but leaving the grills on helps tremendously) Midrange = Bass = Well, naysayers be damned. With the satellites run full range & the sub dialed in below them, you can't tell where the transition is. Although technically, the sub doesn't go much below 30 Hz., when Dead Can Dance's "Yulunga, Spirit Dance" comes on, the room quivers. Good enough for me; and this is without any equalization. So is the $607 system the best I've ever heard? Not even close. But it beats anything I've heard for up to $3k. And yes, that includes the Tekton Double-Impacts. This is good enough that I'm keeping these speakers & sub & having neighbor buy his own. Pleased as punch. Cool, Can't wait till you compare Klipsch w/ Bose.
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 14, 2021 16:00:28 GMT -5
Can't wait till you compare Klipsch w/ Bose. I just KNEW I'd get kickback from Tekton owners! But keep in mind that speakers (ALL speakers) are highly situational. What works best in my room won't be what works best in yours. Because rooms are different and half (or more) of what you hear from any speaker set is "reflected sound." The Pendragons worked better in my room than did the Double Impacts ,and it isn't because they're "better" speakers - they just happened to work better in my room. For whatever quirk, the little Klipsches seem to do fine in my space; the Double Impacts didn't. Were you here, and heard what I've heard, I suspect you'd agree. Does that mean that YOU are in the market for Bose? I'd suspect not, and nor am I. I'm sure that your Tektons sound awesome in your room. You say so, and I believe you. I think you also trust me enough to believe me and flipped the snark out of loyalty to Tekton. I understand your irritation and I agree that Tektons are great speakers (even the Double Impacts). But that particular model and my room just weren't comfy together in a long term way. Is what it is. Cordially - Boom
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Post by gsand on Apr 14, 2021 16:10:28 GMT -5
Are you still planning on a full review of the Double Impacts?
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 14, 2021 16:17:43 GMT -5
Are you still planning on a full review of the Double Impacts? I"m not. They're gone now.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2021 20:13:22 GMT -5
Can't wait till you compare Klipsch w/ Bose. I just KNEW I'd get kickback from Tekton owners! But keep in mind that speakers (ALL speakers) are highly situational. What works best in my room won't be what works best in yours. Because rooms are different and half (or more) of what you hear from any speaker set is "reflected sound." The Pendragons worked better in my room than did the Double Impacts ,and it isn't because they're "better" speakers - they just happened to work better in my room. For whatever quirk, the little Klipsches seem to do fine in my space; the Double Impacts didn't. Were you here, and heard what I've heard, I suspect you'd agree. Does that mean that YOU are in the market for Bose? I'd suspect not, and nor am I. I'm sure that your Tektons sound awesome in your room. You say so, and I believe you. I think you also trust me enough to believe me and flipped the snark out of loyalty to Tekton. I understand your irritation and I agree that Tektons are great speakers (even the Double Impacts). But that particular model and my room just weren't comfy together in a long term way. Is what it is. Cordially - Boom Ha, I do own Bose, I mean, my desktop is only measured in inches and for it the little Bose I have are better than anything Tekton offers. Smile Boom, William
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 15, 2021 0:47:47 GMT -5
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 20, 2021 5:40:58 GMT -5
I’m about to finish the sort of my music library. The original size (bordering 4TB) is now down to less than 1. Most of the reduction has come from removing classical duplicates. I literally had more than a dozen versions of Beethoven’s Symphony 5 and close to 20 copies of Mozart’s Symphony 40. I also deleted performances and composers that I didn’t like. I still need to cull more duplicates and recreate some scrambled cover art, but I’m seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
Once done with “the great sort,” I’m going to try the AURALiC “Lightning” software again. Many swear it sounds better than Roon...
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 22, 2021 16:00:21 GMT -5
Today I went through my music library a third time, checking to eliminate duplicates and ensure that the majority of the songs, at least, had the correct cover art.
I also bought via Amazon two new external HDDs. These are cheap drives, relying on the USB cables for power, and wouldn't work when I tried to connect them through my powered hub. But when plugged directly into the computer, they worked fine. They are USB-3 and are pretty fast.
I also put a 1TB internal SSD into my AURALiC Aries streamer. It formatted fine, but to get the music to the drive will probably take all night (and that's if the computer doesn't hang over a corrupt file).
But after the library is on the internal drive of the streamer, I won't need a computer at all. The streamer will be a self-contained unit, controlled by my iPad app, and all the music will be already on the internal drive. To play, I'll need only use the AURALiC "Lightning" playback software on the iPad with no need for a "server" program anywhere on the network. Since the streamer is also internet-connected, I'll be able to use TIDAL or Qobuz to stream music that isn't on my library. I'm currently on Qobuz.
If I want music that isn't on my streamer's internal drive or on Qobuz (my daughter's violin recitals, for example), I can instruct the streamer to access a NAS device where I've got my full 4TB of music files.
This is what I've wanted the streamer to do all along, but it's taken me a while to actually get everything working as I wanted.
Cheers - Boom
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 23, 2021 8:23:57 GMT -5
And even with an Ethernet connection, I've another 8 hours of transfer time left to get the 900gb music library onto the Auralic. Once that's done, I'll bet it'll take two or three hours for the Auralic software to index its internal drive.
Beyond that, I've another question to address:
How should the iPad control program be connected to the streamer? I see two options:
1. Enable wireless on the streamer & let the iPad communicate "directly" with the streamer. But in fact, this option isn't as clean as it seems. Neither the streamer nor the iPad generates a wireless network. Therefore they'll both be connected through my wireless cable-modem/router's network. One wireless connection from the iPad to the router, a second from the router to the streamer. The only theoretical advantage of this option that I can see is that no Ethernet wiring is required. The disadvantage of this option is that the streamer will have to waste power running its wireless transceiver.
2. The second option is to turn off the wireless transceiver in the streamer, and make it communicate to the wireless cable-modem/router via Ethernet. The iPad would still be on the wireless network, but the streamer wouldn't. The advantage of this setup is the less heat and power are needed at the streamer. The disadvantage, so far as I can see, is nothing. The Ethernet cable is already run and ready to go.
Are there any considerations that I've missed in this comparison? My assumption is that the fewer wireless connections I have the better?
Thanks - Boom
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Post by Boomzilla on Apr 23, 2021 19:36:30 GMT -5
Sonata in the key of klinemj... Mark Kline has inspired me to use the following setup (pardon the inelegant drawing) that will allow me to use either tube or solid state amplification (with subwoofer). Two switches will be required - one for the stereo speaker outputs, one for the monophonic subwoofer outputs (of the respective integrated amplifiers). The amps will be the Emotiva TA-100 and the Black Ice F22 (solid-state and tube, respectively).
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