1. Is anyone attending the RMAF 2011 this weekend in Denver? http://audiofest.net
2. I notice some widebander companies will be there:
Voxativ
Lowther America
Madisound
SEAS (not sure what they'll bring).
Please mention any others!
There also seem to be plenty of other cool companies, e.g., Bottlehead, Tape Project, Linkwitz Lab, Pass Labs, German horns (Acapella, Cessaro), and lots of vinyl-related companies.
2. I notice some widebander companies will be there:
Voxativ
Lowther America
Madisound
SEAS (not sure what they'll bring).
Please mention any others!
There also seem to be plenty of other cool companies, e.g., Bottlehead, Tape Project, Linkwitz Lab, Pass Labs, German horns (Acapella, Cessaro), and lots of vinyl-related companies.
Volti Audio, who renovate and hot-rod Klipsch Heritage speakers, will be showing a brand-new horn. the Vittora, which looks superficially like a souped-up curvy La Scala but is a from-scratch design. http://www.voltiaudio.com/
(Sorry, not wideband but the company started as a DIY outfit.)
(Sorry, not wideband but the company started as a DIY outfit.)
Voxativ showed their fine BLH (which recently graced the cover of Stereophile magazine).
I wanted to love these. And I did love some aspects. First off, I have AER's at home and these drivers sounded almost exactly like the AER's (no surprise as this company split off from AER). And like my AER's, you want to be about 15 degrees off-axis (also no surprise).
The cab does have a lot of guts in the bass but for some reason, it didn't win me over (probably just the lack of novelty in the sound compared to what I have at home).
I wanted to love these. And I did love some aspects. First off, I have AER's at home and these drivers sounded almost exactly like the AER's (no surprise as this company split off from AER). And like my AER's, you want to be about 15 degrees off-axis (also no surprise).
The cab does have a lot of guts in the bass but for some reason, it didn't win me over (probably just the lack of novelty in the sound compared to what I have at home).
Attachments
A Swedish company named EARO displayed some good BLH's. The smaller ones look like they use the Jordan JX92S but that could be a superficial resemblance. They sounded stellar in terms of clarity and imaging. The big red ones use a custom in-house paper cone driver with active electronics inside -- very convincing.
Attachments
It's amazing that DB Keele was just hanging out (as was Siegfried Linkwitz). This curved line array was based on Keele's work (or maybe even designed by him) and sounded fantastic in the Parts Express room. The idea apparently is similar to constant directivity (unless I'm completely wrong).
Clear, open, spacious, beautiful.
Clear, open, spacious, beautiful.
Attachments
These 1940's Western Electric monitors were by far the best thing I heard, in terms of tone. In the Silbatone room. I would have thought they were junk, from looking at them, but they were unforgettable. Very rolled off on top so "vintage sounding" but they were just flat out superior tone-wise (does anything else matter?)
Attachments
The Lowther-America room. Amazing sound, incredible imaging. At one point, we were listening to a percussion track and some idiot (!) came into the room from behind and was shaking a maraca. Well of course no, that was the imaging doing its work, and it was spectacular.
The room was set up to perfection. The speakers looked like prototypes but I cannot argue with the results. Pure, transparent and very convincing 3D imaging with incredible depth and one of the very widest soundstages I've ever heard.
I'm still not 100% sold on the servo subs but that's a nitpick!
The room was set up to perfection. The speakers looked like prototypes but I cannot argue with the results. Pure, transparent and very convincing 3D imaging with incredible depth and one of the very widest soundstages I've ever heard.
I'm still not 100% sold on the servo subs but that's a nitpick!
Attachments
Hi RJ, thanks for the report; comments and photos were great. I like the inclusion of Keele's curved array, even though not really a "single driver" speaker. Did you notice whether any dsp was used and was it actively crossed over?
I'm going to look up the EARO that you mentioned. Thanks, again for posting.
I'm going to look up the EARO that you mentioned. Thanks, again for posting.
>>> Did anyone get a pic of the backside of those speakers?
I am curious too... amazing how complicated back horns have recently been replaced by simple baffles and helper woofers in Lowther implementations. The question is which application is best or are they equally good, just different?
This open baffle stuff is way too much fun!
I am curious too... amazing how complicated back horns have recently been replaced by simple baffles and helper woofers in Lowther implementations. The question is which application is best or are they equally good, just different?
This open baffle stuff is way too much fun!
Hi guys,
Ultrakaz, I don't have those details but there's some info here:
Don Keele's CBT (Constant Beamwidth Transducer) Page
Parts-Express.com ? CBT36 Line Array Speaker System
Vix and Zilla, the Lowthers were the same field coils as in a couple previous shows (visible on Lowther America's site and others).
Zilla, Siegfried Linkwitz had his Orions in a room (and was hanging around chatting). This was a much better show than last year, sound-wise.
Ultrakaz, I don't have those details but there's some info here:
Don Keele's CBT (Constant Beamwidth Transducer) Page
Parts-Express.com ? CBT36 Line Array Speaker System
Vix and Zilla, the Lowthers were the same field coils as in a couple previous shows (visible on Lowther America's site and others).
Zilla, Siegfried Linkwitz had his Orions in a room (and was hanging around chatting). This was a much better show than last year, sound-wise.
Hi rjbond3rd, thanks for posting the pictures.
I was there but I did not make very many pics.
I did not like the Teresonic sound, was too unbalanced for me. I liked Voxativ much better. Bass was way better from Voxativ than from Teresonic. Rest pretty much too...midrange and hights were balanced. Unlike Teresonic, shouting.
As for Lowthers room, I loved the sound, but hey, we are not talking about fullrange drivers anymore here, when you have great ribbon on top and big woofer on the bottom, ok? This is finely the Lowther sound I can tolerate...
I was there but I did not make very many pics.
I did not like the Teresonic sound, was too unbalanced for me. I liked Voxativ much better. Bass was way better from Voxativ than from Teresonic. Rest pretty much too...midrange and hights were balanced. Unlike Teresonic, shouting.
As for Lowthers room, I loved the sound, but hey, we are not talking about fullrange drivers anymore here, when you have great ribbon on top and big woofer on the bottom, ok? This is finely the Lowther sound I can tolerate...
Don't forget Parts Express. They were down in the lobby with their house brand fullrangers and a bunch of smaller TB models. Classic Audio Reproductions had a field coil 8" fullranger available as a complete speaker. They built the driver themselves, and I think it will only be available as a complete speaker. They weren't playing when I was in the room (a big one, shared with AtmaSphere), but given how their products always sound, I bet it is fantastic. Their room is always one of my favorites. I don't suppose anyone noticed the fullranger on the Emia/Dave Slagle/Jeffrey Jackson/John Chapman/Bent Audio table? I'll have some pics up on my forum in a few days.
These Guys had a booth just across the way. For those who would rather not build their own cabinets, they look like a great option. They offer a few cabinets for popular diy designs by Madisound, GR Research and the Econowave (of Audio Karma and Audio Circle fame). But, they can build whatever you want. I don't know how thrilled they'd be to do just one pair, but they seem perfect for a group buy or something like a forum reference project. Nice gents and great looking boxes.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
edit: spelling
These Guys had a booth just across the way. For those who would rather not build their own cabinets, they look like a great option. They offer a few cabinets for popular diy designs by Madisound, GR Research and the Econowave (of Audio Karma and Audio Circle fame). But, they can build whatever you want. I don't know how thrilled they'd be to do just one pair, but they seem perfect for a group buy or something like a forum reference project. Nice gents and great looking boxes.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
edit: spelling
Hi Paul!
Yes, I did see that intriguing fullranger field coil at the Emia table -- it looked suspiciously like a field-coil Betsy (!!!) How does it sound?! I'm still very fond of my Betsy's, one of the only drivers I've had which "just worked."
What else did you hear and like? I also wanted to hear the CAR field coil (is it a hot-rodded version of another driver?)
Yes, I did see that intriguing fullranger field coil at the Emia table -- it looked suspiciously like a field-coil Betsy (!!!) How does it sound?! I'm still very fond of my Betsy's, one of the only drivers I've had which "just worked."
What else did you hear and like? I also wanted to hear the CAR field coil (is it a hot-rodded version of another driver?)
I brought that pair home, but I haven't had the chance to hook them up yet. Dave is very happy with the sound, and compared them to Lowthers, a high complement. They ended up being a little more difficult to assemble than he had hoped. It is quite likely the magnetic design will remain the same, but we may change the structure mechanically.
I wasn't at the show long. I had some other obligations and my in-laws were in town. I was there long enough to find some rooms I didn't like, but I won't comment further. I don't know squat about that CAR driver, but it looks as if they could be building it from the ground up. Its tough to say without seeing it from behind, and in any case, further speculation wouldn't be polite. I'm just happy to see more serious fullranger products.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
I wasn't at the show long. I had some other obligations and my in-laws were in town. I was there long enough to find some rooms I didn't like, but I won't comment further. I don't know squat about that CAR driver, but it looks as if they could be building it from the ground up. Its tough to say without seeing it from behind, and in any case, further speculation wouldn't be polite. I'm just happy to see more serious fullranger products.
Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers
- Status
- This old topic is closed. If you want to reopen this topic, contact a moderator using the "Report Post" button.