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RE: Upgrade Speakers?

Posted by tube wrangler (M) on March 24, 2017 at 12:20:24

In Reply to: Upgrade Speakers? posted by Fal on March 24, 2017 at 06:34:10:

I don't think I've heard everything, but
I've heard more than a few!

I don't think you need to change the amp
at this stage, that would come later
as you near perfection someday.

That 13 X 24 room begs for a speaker that
can handle the room-- in my opinion.

Realize here that my tastes involve getting
the room to mimic the recorded venue-- you
can go anywhere in that room, do anything you
want in any part of it, and no matter what,
the music is REALLY GOOD.. If your
tastes are different-- if you like headphones
or something akin-- such as near-field listening
at low volumes, then smaller speakers might be
enough for you.

But I sense that you are leaving clues here....
You could be a candidate for a REAL SPEAKER.
Again, this is only my personal observation/opinion.

So, correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm right, then
it's time to step-up on the speakers-- a bunch!

Go to Lansingheritage.org. You're looking for JBL.
Click on "catalogs". You want the 1974 Home Catalog.

That's the one! WHAT a year! There are two that I
would consider: The JBL Paragon-- still by light
years, the world's best home speaker, ever. It requires
plenty of careful refurbishing and needs updated
heavy silver internal wiring, and perhaps some driver
re-building, and screw tightening inside crossovers, etc.,
but once properly restored, this awesome piece of
CORRECT stereo presentation has no equal, period.

In that room, it's a perfect fit. You build a
nice, small stage for it-- that sets the unit at
the proper listening elevation. This stage must be
really solid and non-resonant. I used 2 stacked
sheets of Marine-Grade 1 1/8 inch plywood-glued
and screwed together on top of 2 X 12 doug-fir
stringers set at 12 inches apart.
These went straight-out from behind the unit--
these stringers were placed solidly against the
back wall, and were solidly cut into the floor
to about 6 inches in front of the Paragon. A 2 X 12
horizontal piece across the front was used to close
the front. Dadoed, Glued and screwed into the ends
of the stringers.
Distance to back wall (of the Paragon) was about
5 3/4 to 6 1/2 inches.
This is slightly adjusted to get room compliance...

The other one? JBL Sovereign3. This masterpiece
uses the same drivers and crossovers (there are 2
crossover networks per channel) as the Paragon does
in a simple Living-Room Lowboy that really performs.

Interestingly, the panel that mounts the drivers
is slanted. This engages the room very, very well!

A good used Sovereign3 should be findable at a
reasonable price, but finding a good Paragon is difficult.

Sure, there is other stuff out there-- some of it
pretty good. But NOT in the same league as these two.
NOT even remotely close!

Think about it. This might be your chance to really
step-up sonically. Either unit will do everything that's
in music to absolute perfection if you rebuild/restore it,
re-wire it, and partner it with the best gear you can
afford.

The Sovereign3 will absolutely amaze you. It, or the
Paragon can make your listening room into the recorded
venue. Very, very few other speakers can do that! There
are perhaps 4 or 5 systems in the entire world that are
that good. Some of the best headphones sound great, but
what if you're active like myself and want the ROOM to be
superb?

I suggest finding the equipment that can do it. You
WILL NEVER look back, or regret it. Instead, you'll
smile every time you hear music.

It's quite a comment on our time in History-- it's
pretty crazy! People worship after old amps (ALL of
which are sure-fire duds compared to newer stuff), but
they will accept the newer speakers, which WILL NOT
bring all of the recorded venue INTO YOUR ROOM..

I think this is due to cost-cutting and to people
living in smaller spaces, primarily, as well as
"wife acceptance factor". Translation: "I don't
want anything in "my" living room that I didn't put
there myself".

That's a sad, sad way to listen to music!

-Dennis-

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