|
Post by redog on Sept 21, 2014 19:36:24 GMT -5
Anyone here have ears on these guys? Just wanted to get a few impression prior to auditioning them.
|
|
|
Post by beatnik on Sept 22, 2014 15:58:49 GMT -5
I am demo-ing a pair right now.
4.5 stars I think. I suspect room size may be the controlling factor. I'd say the KEF LS-50 has a world-class tweeter. These have a very good tweeter. Can draw attention at higher high volumes though, so you have to watch your levels.
I'll commit blasphemy here and say the LS-50 has a crossover I just don't like. These have a very good crossover. So you tend to want to set them at full-range if you are running them on an A/V receiver.
Better as a home-theater speaker, than a music speaker, for my taste. Just my impression so far after about 10 hours.
|
|
|
Post by redog on Sept 22, 2014 16:03:31 GMT -5
I am demo-ing a pair right now. 4.5 stars I think. I suspect room size may be the controlling factor. I'd say the KEF LS-50 has a world-class tweeter. These have a very good tweeter. Can draw attention at higher high volumes though, so you have to watch your levels. I'll commit blasphemy here and say the LS-50 has a crossover I just don't like. These have a very good crossover. So you tend to want to set them at full-range if you are running them on an A/V receiver. Better as a home-theater speaker, than a music speaker, for my taste. Just my impression so far after about 10 hours. I'm debating between these and the tekton mlore right now. Two very different speakers, but that's where I'm at ATM.
|
|
|
Post by foggy1956 on Sept 22, 2014 16:13:23 GMT -5
I am demo-ing a pair right now. 4.5 stars I think. I suspect room size may be the controlling factor. I'd say the KEF LS-50 has a world-class tweeter. These have a very good tweeter. Can draw attention at higher high volumes though, so you have to watch your levels. I'll commit blasphemy here and say the LS-50 has a crossover I just don't like. These have a very good crossover. So you tend to want to set them at full-range if you are running them on an A/V receiver. Better as a home-theater speaker, than a music speaker, for my taste. Just my impression so far after about 10 hours. I'm debating between these and the tekton mlore right now. Two very different speakers, but that's where I'm at ATM. I love the mlores in my bedroom
|
|
|
Post by beatnik on Sept 27, 2014 15:15:44 GMT -5
Coincidentally, I have some Tekton Mini Lores here.
I'll make a few initial comments. More later.
In this case, I do think you want to try to feed the M-Lore a high pass signal. Tried them initially at full-range, then crossed at 80Hz, and it was night-and-day. (The SVS Ultra Bookshelf was the opposite if you ask me. The Ultra was revealing enough that you could tell that the filtering was robbing some of the presence, so you wanted to run them full-range if possible.)
First impression is of a vintage speaker, but with a slightly better top-end than a vintage speaker. Only speaker I could think of that reminded me of the M-Lore was the B&W DM620, for some of you older folks out there.
This was on a mediocre home theater receiver. I'll hook them up to some better electronics tonight and see what comes out.
|
|
|
Post by redog on Sept 27, 2014 15:46:15 GMT -5
Coincidentally, I have some Tekton Mini Lores here. I'll make a few initial comments. More later. In this case, I do think you want to try to feed the M-Lore a high pass signal. Tried them initially at full-range, then crossed at 80Hz, and it was night-and-day. (The SVS Ultra Bookshelf was the opposite if you ask me. The Ultra was revealing enough that you could tell that the filtering was robbing some of the presence, so you wanted to run them full-range if possible.) First impression is of a vintage speaker, but with a slightly better top-end than a vintage speaker. Only speaker I could think of that reminded me of the M-Lore was the B&W DM620, for some of you older folks out there. This was on a mediocre home theater receiver. I'll hook them up to some better electronics tonight and see what comes out. Thanks for the write up, looking forward to your thoughts tonight. I placed an order for the mlores but canceled it because I'm still on the fence
|
|
|
Post by beatnik on Sept 27, 2014 20:54:47 GMT -5
Yeah, on my better amp now. Found again that I prefer to run these as high-pass. Most listening was at 80Hz or 100Hz cross, and that seems to allow the mid-woofer to not get unsettled.
It's an odd beast. The positive is the mid-range. It's integrated. And the bass and treble never mask the mid-range. This character seems to exist at all volume levels. Seems to play consistently at a lot of different volumes. Just a touch on the "woody" side, but not objectionable.
My one criticism would be that the treble is very laid-back, and almost seems rolled-off. My impression of things like cymbal work was that the high transients were not at the level they should be. And that could also affect the leading edge of bass notes and stereo imaging.
They do seem to image a little better facing straight, but that might be spacing.
... That's about all for now... If I were giving advice, I'd probably say go for the newer Mini Lore Reference. I suspect the drivers in the new box will be exactly what this design needs to take it to another level.
|
|
|
Post by beatnik on Sept 29, 2014 16:01:11 GMT -5
Yeah, I personally would look at Lore Reference or Lore S in this price bracket. For my setup, the treble on the plain Mini Lore seems way too far down in the mix.
In comparison, the SVS was much more linear top to bottom and more spatial because of the metal tweeter.
But Mini Lore wins in the presentation of the mid-range.
|
|
|
Post by Nodscene on Sept 29, 2014 16:18:16 GMT -5
Maybe it's the room but I didn't find the highs rolled off at all and found them a little bright/forward for my taste. I've also done the opposite and set them to large as it sounded best that way with my woofer. That being said I'm just amazed at the sound that these put out for a $650 pair of speakers. I bought them used so there already broken it (if you believe in that). They are replacing a pair of Angstrom Modular 4's @ $900 per pair if that tells you anything.
|
|
|
Post by beatnik on Sept 29, 2014 19:26:20 GMT -5
Yeah, that's an idea. I'll try them in one of the bedrooms which is empty at the moment. Might actually be a good fit for that room. Hard floor as well, which could help.
|
|
|
Post by beatnik on Sept 29, 2014 23:26:21 GMT -5
3rd system test.... Could be my hearing... really... dagnabbit. Better performance on the old, dependable gear. Suprising.
On the positive side, I do see what people like about these. You can drive them hard, and they stay dynamic. The bass rolls off cleanly. The mid-range is tuneful.
I would still recommend that people check out the Lore Reference or Lore S. I'm just thinking you get some nice what I would consider "upgrades" on those.
So to summarize... more "air" on the SVS, and more top-to-bottom range. But the mid-range on the Mini Lore is the strong point. Apples and Oranges.
|
|