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In Reply to: RE: Acoustats posted by Pix4work2 on August 26, 2020 at 16:03:36
and still kickin'!
Don't swing by this forum as much as I used to. There is a Facebook group for Acoustat owners that's kinda fun.
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Finally an Acoustat thread!
The absolute biggest bargain in electrostatic speakers.
I have run Spectra 22 as my main speakers for 10 years. Had the interfaces rebuilt by a local tech who replace all the parts other than the transformers and the wiring. Had the bias raised up to over 6KV, which makes the speakers sound better and easier to drive (I use a Rogue Audio Stereo 90 tube amp). Although the panels are very durable, the interfaces are over 30 years old and most have low or uneven bias so need rebuilding. I'm sure Mr. Esposito does a fine job, but any competent tech should be able to do the job.
I have done the "hair dryer treatment" twice since I have had them and they are due for it again. Makes them sound clearer and quicker. The "potato sack" fabric they originally came with really kills the high frequencies. They sound much better without them, just remove the thousand staples at the top and roll them down and you will see what I mean. I run mine naked in the basement, but others rewarp them in more acousticly friendly fabric like spandex.
Not looking to change them out, but have toyed with the idea of two subs using the 100hz toggle on the interface. They would have to be really good subs to mate with the 22s, and would probably cost way more than I spent for the speakers and rebuild. If I had Spectra 33s, with the extra panel doing nothing but bass, I would not even consider subs.
Long live Acoustat!
Mendel, for subs that work great with your Acoustats, look into the GR Research/Rythmik OB/Dipole.
Hi BDP24.
I have looked at the GR research/rhythmic dipole subs. They would be perfect, but I'm not very handy and am not sure I could build the enclosures. Do they sell a ready made one I could buy? Does anyone sell a complete dipole sub to match electrostatics?
Mendel, Danny Richie has a guy making excellent H-frame flat packs for the OB sub, which he will assemble and even finish for those who either can't or don't want to. His Audiocircle "handle" is Captainhemo, and some of his builds are pictured on a few GR Research forum threads.
I connected one Audiogon member with the Captain, who had a pair of the subs finished in a wood veneer to match his loudspeakers. Beautiful! I don't know what the cost to assemble and finish is, but a pair of the flat packs is $600, I believe. The design is excellent (I bought a pair), CNC cut 1.5" thick MDF.
Thanks again for the info BDP24!
But can 12 inch woofers keep up to stat panels ?
Mendel, each OB/Dipole has a pair of 12" servo-controlled woofers, powered by a 370 watt plate amp. They play louder then do my QUAD ESL's, but of course the QUADS don't play as loud as do Acoustats.
Bought them new in 1984, never used them for many years, finally found a room big enough for them, they really came to life, they will equal or exceed anything I got :) Al
Ah, and a pair of Infinity RS-1b's. I had a pair for awhile, bought from Brooks Berdan (his personal pair). Good in their time, but I think the Eminent Technology LFT-8b is superior, assuming you add a pair of subs. The LFT-8 has a single 8" woofer, the RS-1b has six 8" servo-feedback woofers in each separate bass tower.
BDP24, The bass towers are total crap with those 8" bass drivers, their muddy and heavy sounding. IMHO
Totally agree, IA. The RS-1b has other problems (relating to the EMIM and EMIT drivers, and the x/o), and is imo an over-rated loudspeaker. Give me a full range ESL or magnetic-planar with subs anyday!
BDP24, I totally agree with you, I just didn't want to make them look that bad, the xo is a disaster :)
Al
I don't like to get personal, but I consider Infinity's Arnie Nudell an over-rated loudspeaker designer. HP and the other TAS writers made him into a superstar, but that wasn't their lone case of misjudgment. ;-)Another problem in the RS-1b was the very poor mechanical design and construction of the m/t wing OB baffle. It was so poorly attached to it's base that the wing was free to swing in the breeze. There is NO structural bracing, none.
Edits: 09/23/20 09/23/20
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