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Post by strindl on May 10, 2019 16:21:47 GMT -5
I've had my eye on the T2 speakers ever since they came out. I liked the design and initial reviews it was getting. I bought a pair and they were delivered on Tuesday afternoon.
I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening giving them a listen. They are exceptionally fine sounding speakers is my conclusion. I had them running in a two channel configuration using a Threshold T2 analog, fully balanced preamp, hooked with balanced XLR's to a Threshold SA/4e pure class A power amp. The signal source was CD's played through an Oppo disc player, as well as a library of 1000 CD's ripped in lossless format streamed through a logitech squeezebox Touch. The Touch had it's digital output run through a PS Audio Ultralink II , which was cnnected to the Threshold Preamp through balanced XLR cables. The T2 speakers are not the equal of the Thiel 3.6 speakers that normally are used with that system, but they have a surprisingly refined sound. I did not use any subwoofers and ran the T2's full range all day. I'd be content to run them without a subwoofer for most music, they dig pretty deeply into the bass.
I played lots of singer/songwriter acoustic music, and the vocals came through wonderfully. I played a couple Tracy Chapman songs, including "fast cars", that has some really deep bass in it. The bass on the Emotiva speakers goes pretty deep, but is not the equal of the Thiels or a good subwoofer. I only noticed it on certain songs that have a particularly impactful bass part on them... I heard the bass just fine on the T2's, but I didn't feel it like I do with the Thiels or subwoofers. Again, I'm not surprised by that, the Thiels were $4,000 a pair 26 years ago when I bought them, so it's not really a fair comparison. The T2's air motion transformer tweeter sets it apart from any other speakers I've heard for less than a thousand dollars a pair. That is one nice sounding tweeter.
I tried adjusting the position of the T2's relative to the front wall behind them. They were originally about five feet from that wall, and I moved them closer a foot at a time, back toward the wall and found the impact of the bass increased. I settled on about three feet from the wall was just about right in my room.
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Post by krauley on May 10, 2019 18:23:08 GMT -5
I've had my eye on the T2 speakers ever since they came out. I liked the design and initial reviews it was getting. I bought a pair and they were delivered on Tuesday afternoon. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening giving them a listen. They are exceptionally fine sounding speakers is my conclusion. I had them running in a two channel configuration using a Threshold T2 analog, fully balanced preamp, hooked with balanced XLR's to a Threshold SA/4e pure class A power amp. The signal source was CD's played through an Oppo disc player, as well as a library of 1000 CD's ripped in lossless format streamed through a logitech squeezebox Touch. The Touch had it's digital output run through a PS Audio Ultralink II , which was cnnected to the Threshold Preamp through balanced XLR cables. The T2 speakers are not the equal of the Thiel 3.6 speakers that normally are used with that system, but they have a surprisingly refined sound. I did not use any subwoofers and ran the T2's full range all day. I'd be content to run them without a subwoofer for most music, they dig pretty deeply into the bass. I played lots of singer/songwriter acoustic music, and the vocals came through wonderfully. I played a couple Tracy Chapman songs, including "fast cars", that has some really deep bass in it. The bass on the Emotiva speakers goes pretty deep, but is not the equal of the Thiels or a good subwoofer. I only noticed it on certain songs that have a particularly impactful bass part on them... I heard the bass just fine on the T2's, but I didn't feel it like I do with the Thiels or subwoofers. Again, I'm not surprised by that, the Thiels were $4,000 a pair 26 years ago when I bought them, so it's not really a fair comparison. The T2's air motion transformer tweeter sets it apart from any other speakers I've heard for less than a thousand dollars a pair. That is one nice sounding tweeter. I tried adjusting the position of the T2's relative to the front wall behind them. They were originally about five feet from that wall, and I moved them closer a foot at a time, back toward the wall and found the impact of the bass increased. I settled on about three feet from the wall was just about right in my room. Thanks for the review. I have a set coming and anything and everything positive about the speakers helps me feel good about my purchase. I had some ADS 1290s back in the 80s with a similiar speaker setup that just sounded so good for me. Im hoping i get that feeling again with these. Everything ive owned since those days have had small woofers and really sound muted compared to my old 1290s. |
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Post by strindl on May 10, 2019 18:48:55 GMT -5
"Thanks for the review. I have a set coming and anything and everything positive about the speakers helps me feel good about my purchase. I had some ADS 1290s back in the 80s with a similiar speaker setup that just sounded so good for me. Im hoping i get that feeling again with these. Everything ive owned since those days have had small woofers and really sound muted compared to my old 1290s."
I remember auditioning ADS speakers several times when I was looking for new speakers back in the late 70's and 80's. They carried them at a shop named Flanner And Hafsoos in Milwaukee. The T2's should give you what you're looking for. I haven't tried them in a surround system with movies yet, I wanted to hear just the T2's all alone first to see what they are capable of. I have the T2's running right now in the room with me, after having spent a couple hours going through many of my favorite recordings on them this afternoon.
After moving them closer to the wall behind the speakers, the bass has improved noticeably...more impact there now than when I had them further out into the room. I don't have much experience with ported speakers..actually not any. All of my box speakers have been sealed. I have had Magnepans for many years, and they have no case at all, but those are a whole different thing. That port that the T2's have in the back make them more effected by the closeness of a rear wall. I think I've got them pretty well dialed in in my room now about three feet from the wall.
There are certain recordings that give me goosebumps when I hear them on a quality set of speakers hooked to appropriate electronics. The T2's are doing that for me the last few days. I'm hearing a Joan Baez recording right now, her songs and voice do it.
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Post by krauley on May 10, 2019 19:15:16 GMT -5
I WANT GOOSEBUMPS! lol Well initially i was looking at PSA speakers but financially it just wasnt right. I havent heard a good speaker in a long time. I have polk audio monitors for my ht and musically i dont think they do a really good job. But ive had them for close to 10 years maybe? Got to start somewhere and they have done the job, time to move on. And i spent more on the T2's then all of the Polk Audio speakers combined so thats something.
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Post by justhavingfun on May 10, 2019 20:15:39 GMT -5
I have been playing my music through T2 for about a week now everything from classical to classic rock. And I am listening to Dark Side of the Moon CD as I write this post. I wouldn't say T2 is the best speaker that I heard but it does sound very smooth and it sounds better and better as it gets loud. I don't normally listen this loud but wanted to push it beyond what I listen and this pair doesn't quit or showing any signs of straining nor anywhere clippling. For under $1000 per pair, this is remarkable achievement. The best quality of T2 is that it sounds good with any type of music. It is also very kind to the less than stellar recordings. I am having lots of fun listening to my music collections again instead of worrying whether the recording is good with my previous speakers or not. I found myself not listening to some of my music collection previously because they didn't sound good with my previous speaker sets.
I am sure I will be buying much more expensive speakers in near future as I planned but it might be much later than what I anticipated if I continuously enjoying T2 as I am now. And with closing price, it is no brained, get it while it is still available. I am feeding power from a pair of UPA-1 through XSP-1 preamp.
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Post by strindl on May 10, 2019 22:30:22 GMT -5
I have been playing my music through T2 for about a week now everything from classical to classic rock. And I am listening to Dark Side of the Moon CD as I write this post. I wouldn't say T2 is the best speaker that I heard but it does sound very smooth and it sounds better and better as it gets loud. I don't normally listen this loud but wanted to push it beyond what I listen and this pair doesn't quit or showing any signs of straining nor anywhere clippling. For under $1000 per pair, this is remarkable achievement. The best quality of T2 is that it sounds good with any type of music. It is also very kind to the less than stellar recordings. I am having lots of fun listening to my music collections again instead of worrying whether the recording is good with my previous speakers or not. I found myself not listening to some of my music collection previously because they didn't sound good with my previous speaker sets. I am sure I will be buying much more expensive speakers in near future as I planned but it might be much later than what I anticipated if I continuously enjoying T2 as I am now. And with closing price, it is no brained, get it while it is still available. I am feeding power from a pair of UPA-1 through XSP-1 preamp. It looks like your take on the T2's pretty much mirrors mine. They are a very nice sounding speaker that makes me smile while listening to it. If your audio system can do that, it justifies choosing equipment that is far better than the more common home theater in a box, or a couple small plastic cubes along with a slightly bigger plastic cube that doesn't come anywhere near to living up to being called a subwoofer. I actually like the look of the T2's. It's got a nice solidly built cabinet that has some style...not just a rectangular box. At 57 pounds each, they are not lightweights at all. |
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Post by tchaik on May 10, 2019 22:41:06 GMT -5
I've had my eye on the T2 speakers ever since they came out. I liked the design and initial reviews it was getting. I bought a pair and they were delivered on Tuesday afternoon. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening giving them a listen. They are exceptionally fine sounding speakers is my conclusion. I had them running in a two channel configuration using a Threshold T2 analog, fully balanced preamp, hooked with balanced XLR's to a Threshold SA/4e pure class A power amp. The signal source was CD's played through an Oppo disc player, as well as a library of 1000 CD's ripped in lossless format streamed through a logitech squeezebox Touch. The Touch had it's digital output run through a PS Audio Ultralink II , which was cnnected to the Threshold Preamp through balanced XLR cables. The T2 speakers are not the equal of the Thiel 3.6 speakers that normally are used with that system, but they have a surprisingly refined sound. I did not use any subwoofers and ran the T2's full range all day. I'd be content to run them without a subwoofer for most music, they dig pretty deeply into the bass. I played lots of singer/songwriter acoustic music, and the vocals came through wonderfully. I played a couple Tracy Chapman songs, including "fast cars", that has some really deep bass in it. The bass on the Emotiva speakers goes pretty deep, but is not the equal of the Thiels or a good subwoofer. I only noticed it on certain songs that have a particularly impactful bass part on them... I heard the bass just fine on the T2's, but I didn't feel it like I do with the Thiels or subwoofers. Again, I'm not surprised by that, the Thiels were $4,000 a pair 26 years ago when I bought them, so it's not really a fair comparison. The T2's air motion transformer tweeter sets it apart from any other speakers I've heard for less than a thousand dollars a pair. That is one nice sounding tweeter. I tried adjusting the position of the T2's relative to the front wall behind them. They were originally about five feet from that wall, and I moved them closer a foot at a time, back toward the wall and found the impact of the bass increased. I settled on about three feet from the wall was just about right in my room. my impressions too. I could live with mine for quite a while. yes I have heard much more expensive ones that sounded better and my own DIY statements I like a little better, but the tonal balance and overall refinement belies their price point. a very enjoyable musical experience. when I listen to the T-2's I forget about the equipment and I just enjoy the music. tchaik.................. |
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Post by strindl on May 16, 2019 0:30:11 GMT -5
I've had the T2's a week now and have had lots of time to listen and compare them to other speakers I have around. I'm very pleased with my purchase. Most of the music I listen to is the singer/songwriter acoustic type...the kind where the ability of a speaker to reproduce vocal recordings is important. The T2's do that very well. I've particularly enjoyed some recordings of live concerts by artists like David Wilcox. His "Live Songs and Stories" CD is reproduced so nicely on the T2's, with plenty of venue acoustics recorded perfectly.
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Post by creimes on May 16, 2019 0:58:35 GMT -5
I've had the T2's a week now and have had lots of time to listen and compare them to other speakers I have around. I'm very pleased with my purchase. Most of the music I listen to is the singer/songwriter acoustic type...the kind where the ability of a speaker to reproduce vocal recordings is important. The T2's do that very well. I've particularly enjoyed some recordings of live concerts by artists like David Wilcox. His "Live Songs and Stories" CD is reproduced so nicely on the T2's, with plenty of venue acoustics recorded perfectly. One of my go to albums is Avalanche by Matthew Good, sounds amazing on my T1   Chad |
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Post by strindl on May 16, 2019 8:13:23 GMT -5
I've had the T2's a week now and have had lots of time to listen and compare them to other speakers I have around. I'm very pleased with my purchase. Most of the music I listen to is the singer/songwriter acoustic type...the kind where the ability of a speaker to reproduce vocal recordings is important. The T2's do that very well. I've particularly enjoyed some recordings of live concerts by artists like David Wilcox. His "Live Songs and Stories" CD is reproduced so nicely on the T2's, with plenty of venue acoustics recorded perfectly. One of my go to albums is Avalanche by Matthew Good, sounds amazing on my T1 Chad I'm going to have to check that one out. I don't have any of his music on my server. |
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Post by strikeeagle on May 17, 2019 8:38:57 GMT -5
Hey all. I've been really looking forward to getting a pair of T2s, but I don't know what they sound like. I have a C1 center speaker. I ran across the Martin Login Motion 40 and they sounded really good.
The fact they had ribbon tweeters leads me to to believe it would mesh well with the C1.
Anybody have any comparisons they can share? Or comments?
Oh, my go to for testing speakers is "School" by Supertramp. Highs, lows, snappy bass, and vocals.
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Post by novisnick on May 17, 2019 9:29:23 GMT -5
Hey all. I've been really looking forward to getting a pair of T2s, but I don't know what they sound like. I have a C1 center speaker. I ran across the Martin Login Motion 40 and they sounded really good. The fact they had ribbon tweeters leads me to to believe it would mesh well with the C1. Anybody have any comparisons they can share? Or comments? Oh, my go to for testing speakers is "School" by Supertramp. Highs, lows, snappy bass, and vocals. School is a great test song, Dang, its a wonderful song anyway! |
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Post by krauley on May 17, 2019 19:07:45 GMT -5
I WANT GOOSEBUMPS! lol Well initially i was looking at PSA speakers but financially it just wasnt right. I havent heard a good speaker in a long time. I have polk audio monitors for my ht and musically i dont think they do a really good job. But ive had them for close to 10 years maybe? Got to start somewhere and they have done the job, time to move on. And i spent more on the T2's then all of the Polk Audio speakers combined so thats something. Ive got goosebumps! but maybe its the 3 beers ive had but these T2s are sounding really really good to me. Listening using my pc to run crappy mp3 music into the xmc-1 and into the xpa-2 in stereo. the speakers are way way more full sounding than the polks they replaced. Those tweeters really do sound good. 8" woofers compared to the what 6.5" i think in the monitor 70s do a better job of blending the ribbon tweeters with the 18 sub i have running. I havent run dirac yet and i am using the dirac setup for the polks but it still sounds amazing so im really looking forward to post dirac calibration. Im gonna let the beer...um the speakers break in a little before i decide if they are keepers lol  |
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Post by creimes on May 17, 2019 20:14:49 GMT -5
I WANT GOOSEBUMPS! lol Well initially i was looking at PSA speakers but financially it just wasnt right. I havent heard a good speaker in a long time. I have polk audio monitors for my ht and musically i dont think they do a really good job. But ive had them for close to 10 years maybe? Got to start somewhere and they have done the job, time to move on. And i spent more on the T2's then all of the Polk Audio speakers combined so thats something. Ive got goosebumps! but maybe its the 3 beers ive had but these T2s are sounding really really good to me. Listening using my pc to run crappy mp3 music into the xmc-1 and into the xpa-2 in stereo. the speakers are way way more full sounding than the polks they replaced. Those tweeters really do sound good. 8" woofers compared to the what 6.5" i think in the monitor 70s do a better job of blending the ribbon tweeters with the 18 sub i have running. I havent run dirac yet and i am using the dirac setup for the polks but it still sounds amazing so im really looking forward to post dirac calibration. Im gonna let the beer...um the speakers break in a little before i decide if they are keepers lol Put it in Reference Stereo mode and enjoy, that's how I have been listening, I haven't had a chance to re-run dirac yet with my three T1's up front. Chad |
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Post by strindl on May 19, 2019 23:04:34 GMT -5
Put it in Reference Stereo mode and enjoy, that's how I have been listening, I haven't had a chance to re-run dirac yet with my three T1's up front. Chad I've been listening to the T2's in bare bones stereo mode with no subwoofers, and I'm loving it. At some point I'll hook them up with a couple subs and then the whole surround system, but for now they are sounding really fine all on their own. |
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Post by creimes on May 20, 2019 10:49:03 GMT -5
Put it in Reference Stereo mode and enjoy, that's how I have been listening, I haven't had a chance to re-run dirac yet with my three T1's up front. Chad I've been listening to the T2's in bare bones stereo mode with no subwoofers, and I'm loving it. At some point I'll hook them up with a couple subs and then the whole surround system, but for now they are sounding really fine all on their own. Stereo mode for me is the T1`s and my two Mach 5 IXL18`s but I did have a chance to run Dirac with my T1`s now which replaced some Chane towers, I have Dirac full but have yet to play with any curves, the T1 in Reference Stereo mode do sound bass heavy in my room, but Stereo mode with dirac engaged and the subs active does sound better, I do need to tame some sibilance I am hearing though. Switching back and forth between Reference Stereo and Stereo I can definitely tell the midrange has been brought to life with dirac with a more smoother overall response, seems the case with most any speaker in my room though, Dirac does what it is intended to do by flattening everything which does take time to get used to but you can hear more of the music for sure, as in notes from certain instruments are not blanketed by others and so on. Happy Listening, Chad |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 10:03:59 GMT -5
You're bloody well right, Supertramp- Crime of the Century, forgot I had that LP, Thx for the reminder. Excellent. I wore the cassette out (& Breakfast In America).
Supertramp albums were well engineered. If you have Brother Where You Bound play Cannonball, it has an array of sounds, instruments and kick drum is steady throughout.
Interesting how many people are enjoying the T1 & T2 and the review in Stereophile comparing them to Monitor Audio has my curiosity up. I want/need a new Center so maybe a test drive of the T2, C2? It's interesting to think what Emotiva has coming to replace them.
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Post by strindl on Jul 3, 2019 10:57:52 GMT -5
It's about six weeks in now with the T2's, and I'm still loving the sound they produce. I have only used them in a very stripped down two channel mode, no tone controls or room equalization, but I can just sit back and enjoy the music. I did make one change in the system I'm listening to them with. I use a logitech squeezebox Touch streamer , drawing music from a PC based music sever containing over one thousand CD's ripped in lossless format and using the Logitech Media server software. The Touch's digital output goes to a new S.M.S.L SU-8 DAC. The XLR balanced outs from the DAC are sent to a set of balanced inputs on a vintage, fully balanced Threshold T2 preamp. That preamps balanced out's are then hooked to the balanced inputs on a Threshold SA/4e pure class A power amp. That combination gives me dead silence through the speakers with no music playing. Even with my ear next to the tweeter, I hear nothing, not a hint of hiss.
The new DAC replaced a 1994 vintage PS Audio UltraLink II, which cost a couple grand originally. The new DAC was $200.00 through mass drop and features ESS Sabre chips. Wow..what a difference. Digital technology has come a long way in the last 25 years. The combination of the totally silent back ground, with the beautifully revealed music, is magical. The vocals and acoustic guitar playing just pop out of a totally silent background. The bass on the T2's has more impact then before as well. I have not tried a subwoofer with the T2's, but on music, I don't feel the need for one either.
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Post by garbulky on Jul 3, 2019 11:36:28 GMT -5
It's about six weeks in now with the T2's, and I'm still loving the sound they produce. I have only used them in a very stripped down two channel mode, no tone controls or room equalization, but I can just sit back and enjoy the music. I did make one change in the system I'm listening to them with. I use a logitech squeezebox Touch streamer , drawing music from a PC based music sever containing over one thousand CD's ripped in lossless format and using the Logitech Media server software. The Touch's digital output goes to a new S.M.S.L SU-8 DAC. The XLR balanced outs from the DAC are sent to a set of balanced inputs on a vintage, fully balanced Threshold T2 preamp. That preamps balanced out's are then hooked to the balanced inputs on a Threshold SA/4e pure class A power amp. That combination gives me dead silence through the speakers with no music playing. Even with my ear next to the tweeter, I hear nothing, not a hint of hiss. The new DAC replaced a 1994 vintage PS Audio UltraLink II, which cost a couple grand originally. The new DAC was $200.00 through mass drop and features ESS Sabre chips. Wow..what a difference. Digital technology has come a long way in the last 25 years. The combination of the totally silent back ground, with the beautifully revealed music, is magical. The vocals and acoustic guitar playing just pop out of a totally silent background. The bass on the T2's has more impact then before as well. I have not tried a subwoofer with the T2's, but on music, I don't feel the need for one either. Really glad to hear you are enjoying those speakers. BTW that electronic front end you've got going sounds like it's INCREDIBLE! Class A fully balanced with dual torroids? Heck yeah!  |
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Post by geeqner on Jul 3, 2019 11:48:32 GMT -5
Odds are that THAT Amp is a Nelson Pass design, which would explain the "beefy" Old-School construction and array of Power Transistors
(JEEPERS! - Just LOOK at all of those TO-3 cans and THICK Aluminum Heat Sinking!)
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