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Post by Bonzo on Mar 3, 2019 16:58:26 GMT -5
I have both SAE and metric thread sizers in both male and female versions. What I'm telling you is: 1. Some of the spikes I've received are NEITHER metric or SAE 2. Some (and an increasing number of) manufacturers provide spikes ONLY (along with the tiny metal plates intended to protect hard floors. In other words, what the manufacturer is really telling the customer is "use our speakers in a carpeted room - and if you don't then your floors are your own problem." Now on a $350 pair of tower speakers, I can understand why the manufacturer wouldn't include both soft feet and spikes - every penny COUNTS! But I've had $10,000 per pair speakers through here recently that used the "spike-and-coin" method for hard floors. And that issue alone would prevent me from ever actually buying those speakers. YMMV Boom Yeah, I here ya. That makes no sense. If I were spending $10k on speakers, they better come with both options, or at the very least, supply the option of my choosing. A few other things spikes and feet have uses for. In my room, I use them for 2 other purposes. First, is to achieve some lean back to the speakers. Much like Thiels and Wilsons add lean back in their design to achieve proper timing. I don't think its timing with mine, but many people reported that leaning my speakers back a little helped with SQ. Its even mentioned in the manual. So I tried it, and ya know what, it helped. Before lean back I had a slight harshness, but after lean back, its gone. The other thing that sounds silly and is pretty lame really, is that I like the looks. For example, the one thing I love about your Thiels is the outriggers and spikes. They just look cool. I sincerely wish my speakers had outriggers and big knurled knob stainless spikes, just for looks. I find myself attracted to speakers like that. Ones without, not so much. |
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Post by Cogito on Mar 3, 2019 20:03:03 GMT -5
No veneer will help those HTD speakers sound any better... Have you even had a chance to listen to them? I've heard the Level 3 bookshelf and for the money, I'm not sure I've heard better. Certainly worth the $379 with the wood veneer to MY ears. |
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Post by Cogito on Mar 3, 2019 20:07:44 GMT -5
And just an observation, apropos of nothing - See the spikes in the photo above - the ones that rest on little bitty discs? I just HATE those things with a burning passion! To get the spikes centered on the disc, you have to hold the speaker corner up with one hand while moving the tiny little disc with your other hand. Then you have to lower the speaker without disturbing any of the OTHER corners' discs. Then, if you want to move the speaker, you have to hope that the discs slide with the speaker - otherwise the unprotected spikes scratch your wood floors! And if you have an older house (as I do), the floors are never quite even. That means that discs are always coming off every time the speaker is moved. And of course, the speaker manufacturer doesn't offer rubber feet for their speakers - Oh no - the darned things have to be "properly anchored" to sound right. You can (sometimes) find screw-in rubber feet to replace the spikes, but sometimes (certainly more than once, in my experience) the threading is like no standard known to man, and you can't. So one of my instant "don't EVER buy this speaker" cues is those spike-and-disc feet. Rant concluded, thanks. Boomzilla I'm not a fan of spikes either. They tear up your un-carpeted floors and make positioning a pain. My 7211 towers come with tapered sorbothane feet, about a 5/8" inch thick. |
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Post by Cogito on Mar 3, 2019 20:08:47 GMT -5
No veneer will help those HTD speakers sound any better... Snob... |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Mar 3, 2019 23:57:43 GMT -5
No veneer will help those HTD speakers sound any better... Snob... Huh? Have you heard them? I have. |
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Post by Cogito on Mar 4, 2019 12:50:55 GMT -5
Huh? Have you heard them? I have. That was just a little razz for you. But yes, I've heard them. Like I explained elsewhere in this thread, for the money, I think they are tough to beat. Certainly not my first choice, but if I were on a sub $400 budget, they'd be on my short list. Certainly better than the budget Polk Audio offerings IMO. |
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Post by Bonzo on Mar 7, 2019 12:24:39 GMT -5
I do agree with the piano black finish, but I surely do like the wing-shaped angles! View AttachmentThose are the first speakers I ever heard that just blew me away. Perhaps the speakers that made me into an audiophile in the second place. I was about 19 or 20 at the time, in East Lansing Michigan. |
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Post by Bonzo on Mar 7, 2019 12:25:48 GMT -5
Speaking of speaker feet, a guy made these as a one off, but man do i wish I could buy something like these for my Def Techs. I love the way they look.   |
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Mar 7, 2019 14:17:45 GMT -5
Speaking of speaker feet, a guy made these as a one off, but man do i wish I could buy something like these for my Def Techs. I love the way they look. View Attachment View AttachmentI'd love something like that for my Maggies! They come with a way to alter the tilt, but it's cumbersome. These knurled knobs would be sweet. Mark |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Mar 7, 2019 14:40:38 GMT -5
Exactly.
It's also worth pointing out that, in many situations, it's not only the actual cost of the extra options, but the cost of treating every unit you sell as a custom order. For example, try to purchase a car, but tell the dealer that you want it in a color they don't offer, and with some special trim. On some exotic cars you'll be able to order any custom color you want from the factory. However, with most car companies, you will have the choice of several standard colors (and they usually very much prefer to sell you a car "off the lot" with "a standard options package"). And, if you want something else, they're going to order a standard color, then send your car out to a custom car shop to have it repainted when it arrives. (And you'll end up paying what you would have paid for the custom paint job - plus a hefty fee to the dealer for making the arrangements for you - if they're willing to do it - not to mention a substantial delay.)
In the case of a speaker, the cabinet must be veneered before the drivers are installed, which means that each speaker must be "custom manufactured" to order. This is practical for a very small company - where each speaker is built to order by hand. However, doing it that way tends to raise the cost - considerably.
Someone pointed out that a certain brand offers you a choice of veneers at no extra charge. I would suggest that the situation is the exact opposite... The choice of veneer is one of the features of their product; it isn't an extra; it's already accounted for in the price...
And, if you were to take the paint option instead, they would simply be saving money, and NOT passing those savings on to you.
I should also point out that, for anyone who really wants a veneer finish, I'm sure that, with a little ingenuity, and a good heat gun, you could remove the vinyl wrap finish from our speakers. You could then take them to your favorite local cabinet shop and have them covered in whatever sort of veneer you like. (But you may be surprised at how much they charge you to do it.)
The truth is that wood veneer CAN add thousands to the cost of a speaker. It all depends on the speaker, and if the company is set up with an enclosure manufacturer that offers veneer or not. There's the rub, by the way: the supplier's capabilities. If Emotiva wanted to offer wood veneer finishes they would have to contract with a supplier who offerd them. |
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Post by Bonzo on Mar 7, 2019 17:11:29 GMT -5
Speaking of speaker feet, a guy made these as a one off, but man do i wish I could buy something like these for my Def Techs. I love the way they look. View Attachment View AttachmentI'd love something like that for my Maggies! They come with a way to alter the tilt, but it's cumbersome. These knurled knobs would be sweet. Mark Here are some close up pics of mine. This is the best I've been able to accomplish so far. I've looked into something more custom and it's just too much money.    |
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klinemj
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Posts: 15,095
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Post by klinemj on Mar 7, 2019 18:01:15 GMT -5
Here are some close up pics of mine. This is the best I've been able to accomplish so far. I've looked into something more custom and it's just too much money. According to Keith, those custom jobbies would cost lots and lots of very big bucks...like "one MILLION dollars..." (Insert Dr. Evil pic here...) Mark |
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Post by SteveH on Mar 7, 2019 20:12:22 GMT -5
Speaking of speaker feet, a guy made these as a one off, but man do i wish I could buy something like these for my Def Techs. I love the way they look. Take one to a local machine shop, I am sure they can duplicate it, it might be pricey, but they sure are pretty! |
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Post by Boomzilla on Mar 8, 2019 7:24:06 GMT -5
I betcha you could 3-D print some outriggers... Just a thought...
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Post by adaboy on Mar 8, 2019 10:16:16 GMT -5
I have both SAE and metric thread sizers in both male and female versions. What I'm telling you is: 1. Some of the spikes I've received are NEITHER metric or SAE 2. Some (and an increasing number of) manufacturers provide spikes ONLY (along with the tiny metal plates intended to protect hard floors. In other words, what the manufacturer is really telling the customer is "use our speakers in a carpeted room - and if you don't then your floors are your own problem." Now on a $350 pair of tower speakers, I can understand why the manufacturer wouldn't include both soft feet and spikes - every penny COUNTS! But I've had $10,000 per pair speakers through here recently that used the "spike-and-coin" method for hard floors. And that issue alone would prevent me from ever actually buying those speakers. YMMV Boom Yeah, I here ya. That makes no sense. If I were spending $10k on speakers, they better come with both options, or at the very least, supply the option of my choosing. A few other things spikes and feet have uses for. In my room, I use them for 2 other purposes. First, is to achieve some lean back to the speakers. Much like Thiels and Wilsons add lean back in their design to achieve proper timing. I don't think its timing with mine, but many people reported that leaning my speakers back a little helped with SQ. Its even mentioned in the manual. So I tried it, and ya know what, it helped. Before lean back I had a slight harshness, but after lean back, its gone. The other thing that sounds silly and is pretty lame really, is that I like the looks. For example, the one thing I love about your Thiels is the outriggers and spikes. They just look cool. I sincerely wish my speakers had outriggers and big knurled knob stainless spikes, just for looks. I find myself attracted to speakers like that. Ones without, not so much. Reach out to Paul at www.soundocity.comI ordered outriggers for my Rockets. |
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