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Stereophile Cover

76.179.14.9

Posted on May 23, 2016 at 06:54:43
Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
Hi, first of all, the latest Stereophile issue was great from page 1 to the last. I read every article and read them again...great stuff....but that cover kept staring at me from the coffee table.
Diamonds are Forever it said in reference to a new B and W speaker. Diamonds are forever made me think of a woman. I'm single but I kept thinking what woman would allow that BW Diamond speaker in their living room decor. Would that Diamond remain forever? I know it must sound fantastic and I'll always want a pair but it looks like Deeters gal pal from Sprockets speaker system.
This made me wonder again if historically there was a certain speaker in our time that re-created the (cave man) and made him find his own cave to listen to critical Hi-fi.
As I look at the advent of the later 50's book shelf speaker systems it seemed that the decor factor like a AR bookshelf system was just as important as the sound factor.
So I ask any of you. what was that speaker?.....Mark Korda

 

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B&W 800, posted on January 7, 2017 at 12:46:51
Yeah, they're pretty ugly. But, that sort of thing appeals to certain demographics.

I also don't care for exposed drivers in home speaker designs. That's part of what makes them ugly. Unfortunately, the B&W doesn't appear to have a way to add a grille. I suppose they sound good, though, as do several other designs which have better visual appeal.

At least Wilson Audio speakers, which I also think are ugly, cover the drivers.

:)



 

There are covers. (NT), posted on January 8, 2017 at 10:38:34
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 12430
Location: New York
Joined: June 5, 2002


 

RE: There are covers. (NT), posted on January 9, 2017 at 12:18:40
Thanks. From their site photos, it didn't appear so.

(I still think they're ugly.)

:)

 

Cover, posted on May 29, 2016 at 11:16:49
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15386
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
were i single, i would make it clear to a prospective spouse that the audio system would be the main thing in the living room IF i couldn't have a dedicated listening room.

one can only WISH for a wife like mine was, HAPPY to have the audio system there and embracing it as well as she did me.
...regards...tr

 

RE: Cover, posted on June 12, 2016 at 14:47:16
Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
Hi, I just got my July/August Absolute Sound. There is a speaker review: Monitor Audio Gold 300 Loudspeaker -Style Meets Substance by Julie Mullins. She must have read this subject I posted because if you read her last paragraph she wrote it's exactly what I was trying to get across here.
I'm a guy and have a Peerless sub-woofer that fires upward made out of an old 5 gallon bucket full of cement. Unless I am a master of sub-terfuge how many women would like that in the living room.
If you read that review tell me what you think......have a good day..Mark Korda

 

....Cover...., posted on December 17, 2016 at 13:22:55
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15386
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
i hope you don't think i was shining you on. i was re-reading the review on the gold 300 so i could familiarize myself before opening my mouth.

it sounds like a speaker i could live with easily with all its attributes that she called out. that it ie beefy is a plus but like you, i think nearly all speaker systems can benefit from a capable sub. in my case, it is a fried model H that is flat with tonality to 16Hz.

when the real thing in recordings comes along, ANYBODY should be glad to have a sub with real capability and accuracy. the price isn't exorbitant at ~6k, a relatively low figure in today's pricing.

i would so love to have the $15k carver ribbon and there are larger maggies i would appreciate having but those aren't for everybody. again, at higher pricing than the gold.


i hope this helps, feel free to carry the conversation further.
...regards...tr

 

RE: ....Cover...., posted on December 20, 2016 at 05:17:16
Hard Rain
Audiophile

Posts: 16
Joined: October 29, 2013
Some women are great. When my wife and I were buying a condo the number 1 criterion was that it had a big enough room for the stereo and many were rejected until we found one large enough and with great acoustics.

 

likewise, posted on December 22, 2016 at 10:12:28
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15386
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
my wife and i ALWAYS considered a listening space, usually to be a family area where all could enjoy those benefits.
...regards...tr

 

Martin Logan ESL 15A is on the cover next month!, posted on December 22, 2016 at 17:16:29
tincup
Audiophile

Posts: 234
Joined: August 20, 2016
Martin Logan ESL's on the cover next month!

 

Out about a week by now. (NT), posted on December 22, 2016 at 18:20:07
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 12430
Location: New York
Joined: June 5, 2002


 

Yamaha ns-5000's will be.., posted on January 6, 2017 at 14:16:57
tincup
Audiophile

Posts: 234
Joined: August 20, 2016
The new Yamaha ns-5000's will be on the cover when they come on the market here very soon.

 

RE: ....Cover...., posted on December 20, 2016 at 06:04:46
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15486
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
this is the great hope- Hard Rain- to have an audiophile wife ;)

 

The B&W 800D speakers are on my bucket list, posted on May 28, 2016 at 11:37:25
Although I love the way they look, the music is why they're on my bucket list.

 

RE: The B&W 800D speakers are on my bucket list, posted on May 28, 2016 at 21:22:29
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15486
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
Sue-
you will enjoy the 800D.

 

RE: Stereophile Cover, posted on May 28, 2016 at 10:27:19
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 12430
Location: New York
Joined: June 5, 2002
"I'm single but I kept thinking what woman would allow that BW Diamond speaker in their living room decor."

Understandable but minimizes the wonderful variability of taste among women (and men). I was surprised when my wife said that she like the way they looked as she rarely comments about the appearance or sound. De justibus...

 

Your use of the word "Advent" is pretty funny, posted on May 23, 2016 at 08:24:55
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7774
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000
In that, in audio genealogy, Advent descended from AR.

JM

 

RE: Your use of the word "Advent" is pretty funny, posted on May 25, 2016 at 07:13:25
Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
Hi John, or Mark?,I forgot.
I'm 59 and have lived around Portland Me. all my life. About 1976 I noticed everyone around here had the original Advents. I also noticed the people that had them were all married,it was man and woman then, and that decor was a big factor in assembling a system for married people.
The Advent was the perfect example for what I was getting at. I've saved every Stereophile mag since the early 80's and have seen some esotoric speaker systems that look like a maroon colored Sousaphone and others that look like the inner cochlea of the ear.
So while working on a Willie Nelson fatty I was thinking there had to be either a speaker system of note that drove the audiophile into the den (man-cave now) and out of his living room.
On the other hand is there a speaker that can or has bridged the decor factor Hi-fi acceptance with the opposite sex?
Hey I hope things are going good for you John Marks or vise versa. I really liked your writing......Mark K.


 

RE: Your use of the word "Advent" is pretty funny, posted on June 30, 2016 at 06:27:05
llanger
Audiophile

Posts: 58
Joined: April 28, 2013
"it was a man and woman then". I'm 57 and harbor no such intolerance. Why do you? I know that this is an audiophile forum, not a political one, but your animadversion stood out to me.

 

RE: Your use of the word "Advent" is pretty funny, posted on September 30, 2016 at 10:31:59
horn kid
Audiophile

Posts: 128
Joined: November 2, 2014
"were i single, i would make it clear to a prospective spouse that the audio system would be the main thing in the living room IF i couldn't have a dedicated listening room.

one can only WISH for a wife like mine was, HAPPY to have the audio system there and embracing it as well as she did me.
...regards...tr" - HiFi Tommy

Well, that's certainly a nice, refreshing post

 

Be careful what you ask for, posted on May 28, 2016 at 11:01:19
Do you really want your SO meddling with your system? I wouldn't.

But if you want to go down that road, try focusing on the music, rather than the equipment. And let HER pick the music. She might then start to appreciate the equipment, but don't count on it.

I could write a book about what it's like from the other side, and if somebody paid me, I would :-)

 

RE: So many variables , posted on May 27, 2016 at 17:01:28
Jeff Starr
Audiophile

Posts: 1574
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Joined: March 4, 2000
My guess is that those that can afford the B&Ws will have dedicated listening rooms or a family room.

I think some speakers are like works of art, and will have varied approval.

As much an issue the SO may approve of your speaker choice, there may be debate on placement.

If you can get your SO to appreciate the sound, you'll have a better chance of proper placement, but good luck with that.

 

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