backing out of the DIY scene

[dunderchief]

Raoul, are you in Corvallis?

We'll have to meet up sometime.

I was going to go down to Eugene to listen to the B & W's, but I didn't have time. I'll probably make a trip to Portland in the near future.

[carlosfm]

Originally posted by Audiophilenoob
maybe I'm missing something

but any 2 ohm stable amp shouldn't have any problems at all them them...

That's precisely my point: the cash involved just to put a pair of B&W speakers singin' properly.
Even the B&W 602S3 needs a very good amp, or my ears are too picky.
They go down to 2.8 ohms in the bass.
And this is an '8 ohm' speaker.
If you ask me, it's a bad design.

Originally posted by Audiophilenoob
also heard a pair of Halcro's on the BW 800's

neither had any problems with them... they just didn't sound very good... at least to me

I also heard the Halcros, with the 800Ds.
The source was a Linn CD12 (and this is also important).
The system sounded good to me, but as soon as the Halcros were changed by two (HUGE) top of the range Classé monoblocks, the sound fall apart. Bass was untight, detail vanished.

[gengis]

Paradigm's speakers don't start sounding decent to about Signature 8's and they're $6000 MSRP

I have compared bothe Studio 100 and the Signature s8 side by side. I prefer v.2 with the 8" woofer.

Paradigm just figure out how to make people cough up more money with the signature series.
The tweeter and mid are identical, the woofers are actually 1" smaller (7" in the signature, but there are 4 of them compared to 2). Just snobs think more expensive is better.

[lgreen]

I understand about the time commitment to do DIY, and I don't think anyone blames you for your exit. I think I'll exit in a year to two as well.

Anyway, have your heard Vandersteen 2ce's? Research these if you want, they are AWESOME. I'll sell them to you for a reasonable price, and ship them to you for an eval. You are only out shipping to 92130 if you don't like. Email me offline if interested.

[gengis]

Lgreen,

Vandersteen 2ce,

Those are good speakers.

[Bose(o)]

Originally posted by gengis


I have compared bothe Studio 100 and the Signature s8 side by side. I prefer v.2 with the 8" woofer.

Paradigm just figure out how to make people cough up more money with the signature series.
The tweeter and mid are identical, the woofers are actually 1" smaller (7" in the signature, but there are 4 of them compared to 2). Just snobs think more expensive is better.

I also forgot to mention that part in my post. You know, the part where more $$$$ doesn't mean better sound and in most cases, worse sound.

To the point, I listened to a $4,000 pair of Mcintosh loudspeakers, they were black and about 20" in height. They were small and sounded great, no...they sounded DAMN GOOD! Wow, these commercial (said smugley as by a DIYer) speakers sounded...like my....like my own DIY OB speakers! Terrific!

Upon opening my mouth with words of amazement, the salesman quickly unhooked the 4G speakers and hooked up the 30G speakers with the words, "If you think those speakers sound good....listen to these..." Well, it's down hill from there. The so-called $30,000 speakers didn't sound great at all. They were boring and lacked dynamics. It wasn't even a diminishing point, more, a losing point that was reached.

Anyway, keep us updated and post some pics of the speakers that you decide to buy. I'm interested in what you come out of the store with.

[dunderchief]

I just spent the last hour putting together my for sale post with everything I've gathered over the last year or so. Really is a sad day. I'll definately keep an updated log.

So far the system is an HTPC and Rega CD to an Outlaw 950 Pre/Pro feeding Forte Amps.

[edjosh23]

Carlosfm,

I have the 603S3 that I run with my gainclone that has 37.5v rails and the gainclone powers them with no problem. These are actually quite efficient (93db). I don't like them as much as I did originally, before I got into the DIY scene, but I don't have many complaints about them. They were $400 and although I could build better speakers for the money I think they are good enough to defend them. I definately have not listened to as many speakers as you, nor have my ears been training for as long as yours have (I'm 17) but I've listened to the entire B&W line, the McIntosh line, the Difinitive Technologies line, Klipsch, and many others. I have only listened to one pair of Paradigms and they were the same price range as the 602S3s and I thought they were detailed and had better midrange, I preferred the sound and the bass of the B&Ws.

Josh

[cowanrg]

being that i do this for a living (own an audio/video business), i need to toss in my 2 cents.

b&w is nice, i sold it for years. BUT, it is picky about power and equipment like many have said. and quite frankly, to get any magic ouf of the 600 series, you need some NICE stuff in front of it. it can be done, but the speaker really needs disgustingly expensive stuff to make them sing.

maggies are close to my heart, ive owned 3 pairs and am RIGHT NOW listening to my tympani 1D's. they are the best speaker ive owned, and one of the better ive heard. i suggest maggies, BUT, they are hard to place, harder to drive, and dont go low. i dont care what people say about their bass, yes, its good, but its VERY thin.

here is an original suggestion for you... did you know that bohlender graebener makes speakers too? they just came out with new lines and they are awesome. i have A/B'ed them with many of their close competitors and they are in a different league all together. their Z-7 tower speaker would fit your needs and is $1k per pair. great fit and finish and RIBBON tweeter!! they sound like a maggie, but with more bottom end and authority that a box speaker gives you. and they are LOUD. these suckers can do full HT levels without a problem.

i would seriously check them out. i goto trade shows all the time and ive heard every speaker mentioned in this thread, and about 1,000 others. none really float my boat. and quite frankly, i wouldnt be excited about buying any of them. but, the BG's i am buying for a bedroom system. they are just great little speakers. they also have great bookshelf speakers that when paired with their sub, or another sub would make a great system as well.

i am a dealer as well, so if you need more info, or need setup with a local dealer for demo or something, email me!

edit:

links!
http://www.bgcorp.com/productLine.php?id=4
(Z-7 - $1k/pr, Z-1 - $500/pr)

[Audiophilenoob]

Originally posted by gengis


I have compared bothe Studio 100 and the Signature s8 side by side. I prefer v.2 with the 8" woofer.

Paradigm just figure out how to make people cough up more money with the signature series.
The tweeter and mid are identical, the woofers are actually 1" smaller (7" in the signature, but there are 4 of them compared to 2). Just snobs think more expensive is better.

as have I... compared the 100, 110 and S8 in the same shop with the same songs on the same amps in the same rooms...

S8 was the clear winner... 110 was very close to it though... not worth the $4000 more for the S8

thank you for pointing out that speaker retailers always do these little ridiculous things like that "extra" bass from a larger woofer and that's IT!!!

HELLLLO wilson Sophia vs. the Wilson watt puppy 7

sound identical except for the bass section... and the same cabinet... but $12000 more