sullivan@acf4.UUCP (02/03/84)
#N:acf4:8800001:000:1002 acf4!sullivan Feb 3 14:58:00 1984 I will be spending about $1800 on a pair of speakers in about four months. I *know* that some of the people on the net have superb systems, and I'd like input on the subject--what should I go and listen to? I have a passion for electrostatics (I heard a pair of stacked Quads and fell in love with them, though they had about $10,000 of Audio Research electronics in front of them, which did not hurt at all!). I have listened to Acoustats (3's and 2MH's), but though the shop had nice electronics (a Linn-Sondek to a good preamp--I think it was a Bedini--to a Threshold amp) they used the $15 Grado cartridge which nullified just about any real comparison. I love "heavy" orchestral music (Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Beethoven and so on), as well as pianos and violin either unaccompanied or not. Also, I prefer pretty loud levels. The big drawback with Acoustats, and I like the 2+2 especially, is that I am sure that their 7'10" height will make them look like trees to my two cats. Any thoughts? -- David Sullivan, WA1TNS UUCP: ...!floyd!cmcl2!acf4!sullivan (212) 460-7287 ARPA: SULLIVAN@NYU New York University
shauns@vice.UUCP (Shaun Simpkins) (02/06/84)
If you like your listening levels loud, especially in the low bass regions,
I would suggest that you stay away from the Acoustats. They are a) very
inefficient b) lacking in power handling, and c) inadequate in the lowest
octave, 20-40 Hz.
A friend of mine at work has a pair, which he purchased after owning some
Mangeplanars. The overall reproduction quality is excellent, once you get
used to the incredibly tall sound image, and once you fiddle with their
room positioning to eliminate weird room interactions. My friend spent a
week adjusting and readjusting.
Given the pains that he went through for results that are only nice, not
outstanding (as I feel any $2000 speaker system should be capable of), there are
other speakers on the market in that price range (and lower) that are much
more pleasing and trouble-free, that will play - just as linearly - louder,
lower, with less beaming, a more realistic sound stage, and more efficiently.
(Editor's note: I am a dome radiator proponent. I move around while I
listen and like an evenly dispersed sound field. I haven't yet heard a
planar radiator that doesn't beam.)
Besides, the average living room height in most new construction is 7' 6".
I get this image of some unfortunate purchasing these speakers without measuring
his room height and having to punch two slits in his ceiling for the last
4" of speaker...
--
Shaun Simpkins
uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!tekcad!vice!shauns
CSnet: shauns@tek
ARPAnet:shauns.tek@rand-relaypedz@smu.UUCP (02/12/84)
#R:acf4:8800001:smu:11000001:000:1581 smu!pedz Feb 11 19:24:00 1984 I recommend Klipsh (I do not know exactly how to spell the name) speakers. I actually do not own a pair because they are too high dollar for me. Also, you must have a place to put them. I am talking about the Klipsh-Horn which is designed to be placed in the corner of a room. The are many, many benifits with these speakers. First, the frequency response is very broad and flat. But more importantly is the sound level output at a given power level input. The Kipsh are much more efficient than most other speakers. A 50 watt tuner will easily blow you out of the room with these speakers. This means a lower volumn level on your stereo, less chance of clipping and generally better sound. Also, less heat is built up. A good test of a speaker is a sustained power level which approaches the maximum that you will ever listen at. Many speakers are not properly designed to disipate the heat. The speakers (speaker elements) become "hot" (above room temperature) and thier characteristics change. This changes the frequency response curves greatly. You must remember that many speaker cabinets are built to let no air out or in. This in turn causes heat to be kept in. While the power dissipated may only be a few watts, all of it is stored up over a period of hours. Power times time equals energy and all that energy is just being stored up as heat inside the speaker cabinet. I believe that the $99,000 worth of electronic equipment is only there to make bad speakers sound better. Spend your money on speakers, and the electronics are all "good enough".