alpair/lowther comparison?

[fxs]

you see everywhere people talking about the lowthers as the best fullranges overthere... but given the reviews on the alpairs, i would like to know if someones has compared the two

[Scottmoose]

Probably not, as the only thing they really have in common is that both Lowther & Mark Audio produce wideband moving coil drive units. Everything in terms of design priorities etc. & how they're engineered is very different, so about all your comparison would tell you is precisely that: they're different.

[jemraid]

Hello FXS and Hello Scott,

My first encounter with decent audio was a pair of Lowthers in Acousta cabinets, prior to that the Dansette record player with a penny on the arm. Jack whose Lowthers I'd listened to took me to a HiFi exhibition at a hotel near Heathrow, I had a headache, we eventually got back to the Lowther demo room, chose a record had a cup of tea and sat listening.

My headache went and I remember saying to Jack, who had got the plans for some behemoth multidrive unit thingies that we'd heard, that the Lowthers sounded much better. Some years later as my situtaion in life improved I made some mini-acoustas myself with PM6 units, as it does life gives you a smack around the head and I had to sell them, move to a smaller house and give up on the audio.

Now many years later I have a small room at the back of our garage to listen in, make my model railways, repair sewing machines etc, too small for Lowthers even if I could afford some.

Two weeks ago I went to Colin's [Toppsy] house to listen to his FH3's and when I heard the CHP-70's I heard that which I never thought I would ever do so again, the sound I first heard at Jack's. Easy is the simplest way that I can describe it and that's what I said to Jack in that Lowther room, everything else struggles.

I'm sure they do not sound the same, memory plays tricks but they've got to be within half a Gnats knacker of each other.

Jim

[analog_sa]

Originally Posted by jemraid

My headache went

After listening to Lowthers? That must be a first

[bigfishe]

Half Gnats Knacker you say!

[jemraid]

Well a few tenths of a thou then :-)

[Godzilla]

>>> we eventually got back to the Lowther demo room, chose a record had a cup of tea and sat listening.

I had a similar experience in NYC. A friend of mine and i ran from room to room listening to what we could but ended up back in the Rethm room listening to Lowthers.

>>> as it does life gives you a smack around the head and I had to sell them, move to a smaller house...

Thanks for that... life does give you a smack every now and then... when i get mine i wonder where my audio gear will go?

>>> Now many years later I have a small room at the back of our garage to listen in, make my model railways, repair sewing machines etc...

Yup... maybe not exactly what you are doing but for the most part similar enough... and i believe i will in fact end up in a garage.

>>> I'm sure they do not sound the same... but they've got to be within half a Gnats knacker of each other.

Exactly correct! They do not sound the same but provide the right kind of listening pleasure for you at this stage of the game. I understand completely. We can all enjoy white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate... all different but all enjoyable just the same.

Thanks for the enjoyable post.

[bigfishe]

Man I wish someone in Nashville had a.pair of lowthers
Or Rethms! Anybody help scratch and itch please!

[zman01]

Jemraid,

Been listening to Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" again and again for the last couple of days... and I come across your post! Thanks for the thoughtful post.

Zilla, great analogy with chocolate!

-Zia

[fxs]

Originally Posted by jemraid

Hello FXS and Hello Scott,

My first encounter with decent audio was a pair of Lowthers in Acousta cabinets, prior to that the Dansette record player with a penny on the arm. Jack whose Lowthers I'd listened to took me to a HiFi exhibition at a hotel near Heathrow, I had a headache, we eventually got back to the Lowther demo room, chose a record had a cup of tea and sat listening.

My headache went and I remember saying to Jack, who had got the plans for some behemoth multidrive unit thingies that we'd heard, that the Lowthers sounded much better. Some years later as my situtaion in life improved I made some mini-acoustas myself with PM6 units, as it does life gives you a smack around the head and I had to sell them, move to a smaller house and give up on the audio.

Now many years later I have a small room at the back of our garage to listen in, make my model railways, repair sewing machines etc, too small for Lowthers even if I could afford some.

Two weeks ago I went to Colin's [Toppsy] house to listen to his FH3's and when I heard the CHP-70's I heard that which I never thought I would ever do so again, the sound I first heard at Jack's. Easy is the simplest way that I can describe it and that's what I said to Jack in that Lowther room, everything else struggles.

I'm sure they do not sound the same, memory plays tricks but they've got to be within half a Gnats knacker of each other.

Jim

nice post, thanks