Help CA Find New Speakers

[audiobomber]

KEF Blade seems like a great suggestion. Full range, not a weird load but benefit from great amps. Mainly I think they meet your criteria for relating to the community, many of whom own or have heard KEF LS50 speakers, which would have a family sound. Blade technology incorporates many of the best things I read about in Dickason's Loudspeaker Cookbook: point source, bipolar, exotic cabinet shape and material, sophisticated crossover. 

[audiobomber]

5 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I used to have a site bookmarked that sold tons of wood stuff for HiFi. The guy hand made it all with a beautiful selection of woods. 

 

Do you know any others that sell this stuff? I can't find my old bookmark :~(

Not beautiful and not cheap, but waaaaayyyy better than wood for audio: http://www.symposiumusa.com/main.shtml

[audiobomber]

2 hours ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

The 90s called and asked for its website back ?

 

LOL! Web design is not their forte? 

 

I had a local welding company construct speaker stands for me out of 5/32" steel plate and schedule 80 steel pipe. I filled the pipe with sand and lead shot and glued speaker damping sheets to the plate. I put marble slabs under the speakers. They sounded like ass, the steel was ringing like crazy. I put Svelte Symposium shelves under the marble and the sound was transformed, the steely sound totally gone. 

 

We recently redid the media room and I lost the ugly speaker stands as a WAF concession. I have the speakers mounted on large, heavy wooden chests. The chests are made of hardwood and steel, mounted on casters, speakers on marble slabs. They're really a lot nicer looking than the description.   ? Of course I could hear the wood resonating in the speaker sound. I removed the marble and put Svelte Symposium shelves under the speakers. Again, a complete transformation. My audiophile buddies were amazed. One bought a pair for himself. 

[audiobomber]

The Cygnus make the others look like ugly ducklings. 😉

 

Chris, were you able to hear all of these in shops? Did you listen to others that didn't make the cut?

Sorry, I'm living vicariously through you. I'll likely never hear any of these, let alone own a pair.

[audiobomber]

3 hours ago, Ralf11 said:

just listen to the Maggies - nobody will force you to buy them instead of Soundlabs (not that I disagree with the post above)

 

both are eons above the conehead speakers, even the best ones, in the respects posted

Bah! According to Seas, the Excel magnesium cones in my speakers are lighter than an ESL panel. 

 

There's no way to cross over from a main speaker to a sub without a midrange penalty.

[audiobomber]

1 hour ago, 4est said:

I do not see how this could be true. Have you ever touched or seen the film used in ESLs. That stuff nearly floats! There is a reason why many people compare to ESL speakers, they have some weaknesses, but at one time they had the measurably lowest distortion in the 100-10kHz range IIRC. Regardless, people compare to ESLs because in many facets, they are the ones to beat.

I can't find the SEAS quote but I didn't make it up. It used to be on their website.

 

I've heard Quad 57's alone and stacked. ESL has strengths and weaknesses, just like every other loudspeaker design. Pick your poison. 

[audiobomber]

Rogers LS3/500A