Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share your ideas and experiences.
Return to Planar Speaker Asylum
108.216.110.56
In Reply to: RE: Acoustic treatments and dipoles posted by Swamis Cat on April 03, 2016 at 10:24:59
Mr. Cat,
I agree it is a matter of trade offs and personal preference. So we can have many "rules of thumb" but there are very few "absolutes".
Regarding sidewalls, I believe dipoles have an advantage over direct radiation (box) speakers. Since most tend to be a line source or at least similar, they have less sound field radiation to the side. So they can be placed closer to sidewalls than many other designs. Even then, a little toe-in can help too.
Hopefully all this discussion proves helpful to the OP.
"You can't know what the "best" is unless you have heard everything, and keep in mind that given individual tastes, there really isn't any such thing." HP
Follow Ups:
How far are yours out right now? Mine have been at about six feet for the last month, but I just moved them in last night to 4-5 (with diffusion). I am not sure I have ever gotten 3 foot or less to sound satisfying. Maybe if I had more diffusion?
I agree toe in really helps to make the side wall start to disappear, at least for higher frequencies.
I cheated, I changed speakers.
My 20' x 17' x 11' room has some issues but I fully expected modified 1.6s could work well there. I tried endless positions but the sound never bloomed and came together.
So I bought a pair of Janszen zA2.1s. Quite a bit more expensive but overall the best sound I've enjoyed from my system. However the electrostatic mids and tweets are enclosed so do not radiate from the rear. So they can be placed closer to the wall. Mine have smoothest response about 20" out to the back corner of their cabinets.
"You can't know what the "best" is unless you have heard everything, and keep in mind that given individual tastes, there really isn't any such thing." HP
I've heard great things about the Janszen's. I only heard them at one show, playing a bad CD someone insisted on. Hopefully they will be at Axpona this month.
Initially I heard the zA2.1 at an audio club presentation and at THE Show Newport. I would not have purchased them from those demos, although I could hear some potential. Fortunately I was able to arrange an in-home trial with the pair here for the club presentation. That was a world of difference and I decided to buy a pair almost immediately.
Since then I've heard them a couple more times at shows. Those demos were certainly better but I would encourage anyone to arrange a home trial if they might be interested in the Janszens. They CAN be a very special speaker.
"You can't know what the "best" is unless you have heard everything, and keep in mind that given individual tastes, there really isn't any such thing." HP
I also heard the Janzsen at THE show last year in Irvine.
I was also not so thrilled.
On the other hand, the Sanders top of the line was fantastic---if you were exactly in the center sweet spot.
The Maggie 0.7 with sub demo was also excellent.
Revel Ultima was also very nice and hardly anybody was there.
Cool! Thanks. I agree that shows are really hit and miss. The last show also had a terrible showing of Sanders and King Sounds. Two years ago, King was close to best in show.
I am also hoping to give a serious listen to Linkwitz Lab. I know they are attending, but not positive if they have a speaker demo. I have heard others describe Linkwitz as unbelievable for the money.
Several years ago (maybe 5) I was very interested in his speakers. I knew he had an outstanding reputation for his designs and reading his site description pushed most of my buttons with his objectives with his speakers.
However while traveling I was able to visit an owner in NM and I did not come away impressed. Since that confused me I then had a chance to visit Mr. Linkwitz during a trip to No. Cal. His speakers were set up in a fairly long room with large windows on three sides (modern architecture). I wouldn't say they sounded bad but they failed to excite me with their connection to any of the music played. And I intentionally brought a few favored CDs I know quite well.
So would I say his speakers are not good? Certainly not. But this was a reminder that we come to this hobby with different experiences and expectations and no one design for any component is likely to please everyone.
Definitely a plug for home auditions.
"You can't know what the "best" is unless you have heard everything, and keep in mind that given individual tastes, there really isn't any such thing." HP
Awesome feedback, M3. Gracias.
It is always fun to hear new speakers. I rotate now between three models in several different rooms (I am an empty nester with too much space). My 3.7i's, IIIa's, and a pair of Goldenear Triton 2's. The latter image and throw off an amazing soundstage if set up 6-7 feet from the FW, but they simply do not sound as "refined" as the Maggies. I suspect their biggest weakness is the cabinet isn't completely inert.
Build them a second cabinet and inset the speakers into it with a layer of neoprene or viscoelastic foam or soundcoat (what a friend did to his VMPS RM30 planar hybrids with a Corian external cabinet very effective)
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: