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In Reply to: RE: B&W Matrix 1 series 1 - opinion and advice. posted by bean on November 12, 2015 at 20:36:48
Hi and thanks a lot for the very helpful advice.
I will try for sure a better amp (i.e. with higher current delivery and better damping factor).
However i am thinking in any case to a plan B, using these speakers as good quality satellites from 150 Hz up and put two woofers below them, one for each channel, to fill the bass.
I like the naturalness of the sound and the rendition of details.
I feel also that they image quite well.
Only the bass is a little sluggish.
I think that the very good thing is the cabinet design and construction.
Maybe i have been influenced by the literature.
Thanks a lot again.
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 11/12/15 11/12/15 11/12/15Follow Ups:
A subwoofer is a good idea. I use one myself, but IMO, you will still need more power to get what these speakers are capable of.
Dave
no question a sub is needed, even the 3 didn't go very low
but they should do a lot better than 150. with power they should just need reinforcement
Hi thanks for the advice.
I still wonder what these speakers are really capable of.
The cabinet seems the strongest part, but i do not know anything about drivers and x-over.
I think they were low/mid level price-wise.
Kind regards,
bg
The BMW speakers that I sold in the early 80's had drivers that were made by B&W.
Dave
Hi again.
Just another word about B&W woofers.
Woofers are more challenging than tweeters in my opinion.
It is possible to find very good and cheap tweeters.
And in a two ways speaker most of the human voice is reproduced by the woofer not the tweeter.
Through the years at B&W they have used many materials for the woofer cones.
In my memory i liked very much the paper ones, even in cheap speakers like the DM110 and DM570 that i appreciated a lot.
The sound was, as someone says, crisper, more alive.
Instead plastic based cones tend to sound more polite, clean, natural but also less exciting.
Almost as some of the energy is absorbed by the cone.
For instance they can be very good with classical music.
Paper cones are better with rock and pop (actually PA speakers have still mostly paper cones).
I think metal cones could be similar to paper. Stiffer than plastic ones.However ... i will definitely try first a better amp.
I really want to like these Matrix speakers.
Also IMHE better amps can give a boost in the overall performance.
Higher current and higher damping factor can be the keys to good sound.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 11/13/15 11/13/15
There are quite a few speakers with paper cones that I like, but I also love the sound of my Bextrene-coned Spendor BC-1 speakers. Execution is everything!
Dave
Hi again.
I do not know for sure. As i said plastic cones often sound nice but they seem to take out energy from the music .. slowing down the bass.
I have always been impressed by paper cones like Tannoy, JBL, Scan Speak ... wrong buy i am afraid.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
Not on my Spendors! They are the closest thing to an electrostatic that I have heard from a dynamic speaker.Dave
Edits: 11/16/15
Hi !may i ask you which kind of music do you listen to ?
I am not fanatic of rock/pop but i have noticed that this kind of music can easily show what i mean.
For instance i had a pair of Kef with plastic woofers that i liked a lot with jazz and classical, but with Guns & Roses they were sleepers ...
Another thing i have noticed is that PA speakers they have almost always paper based cones, maybe with some additional treatment to tame resonances, but the base material is paper.
I will try a better amp before disposing the speakers.
But i am pessimistic at this point.
Next try will be B&W speakers of the early '90s. With paper woofers.
Thanks again.P.S. one thing is very sure ... your amp is so much better looking than mine. What a beast ! i like it very very much (even if i would prefer it cut in half ... two monos i mean. But it is very good looking).
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 11/17/15 11/17/15
I listen to 60's-80's rock, classical, neoclassical, folk, Jazz and Reggae. Some classical Chinese music is thrown in their from time to time and some African (King Sunny Ade, Wally Badarou).
I should mention that I use a subwoofer too. What amp is that? It looks a lot like my Threshold CAS-1.
Dave
Hi and i think i understand better now.
One sub or two can help a lot and actually this is the plan B, i.e. to use the B&W as satellites.Yes i found a picture of your amp (i looked at your listed system).
I guess it is quite powerful and with a good grip on the woofers (i.e. high current and high damping factor).
I love old Threshold amps a lot.
I am about the try a better amp anyway.
Instead transparency, highs and soundstage are nice.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 11/17/15 11/17/15 11/17/15
The CAS-1 and the CAS-2 are sliding bias class A, cascade amps. They are unique in the Threshold line in that they are not Stasis amps. It sounds very good to my ears. I also like the sound of another cascade amp, the Yamaha M-4.
Dave
HI and thanks again.
I will test definitely different amps with higher current and good damping factor. A good amp is an investment. A well built amp can last 20 years.
I see that al least here in Norway is much easier to find good bargain on speakers than on amps.
Thanks again and congratulations for your really nice system.
Kind regards,
bg
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