Hi chaps - I heard a pair at a dealers and was very impressed. Any good/bad opinions from folks who own/have owned these oddball looking speakers ?
I was particularly taken by the dynamics and fatigue free loudness that they conveyed - as close to the real thing as I have come across....
I don't really want another round of infatuation though & getting these into my living room is going to take some convincing of the missus and so i wonder if someone who made the plunge some time ago still thinks that they're worth the trouble. They are certainly not new speakers so I am pretty sure that someone here will have had the pleasure of its company.
I was particularly taken by the dynamics and fatigue free loudness that they conveyed - as close to the real thing as I have come across....
I don't really want another round of infatuation though & getting these into my living room is going to take some convincing of the missus and so i wonder if someone who made the plunge some time ago still thinks that they're worth the trouble. They are certainly not new speakers so I am pretty sure that someone here will have had the pleasure of its company.
Heard them once in a home theatre setting and was impressed. they seem to break all the rules you read about when looking at building horn based speakers, but what does that matter if they sound good. At the very least, you have some VERY nice drivers. Make sure you have juice. They like high octane. Maybe Xa150.5 clone. You can handle it.
I have a pair in my living room/main system going on three years now. I have absolutely no complaints. They went up against some fair competion to earn their place there. I also have a pair of the Array 1500 subs that I use on occasion but most of the time the 1400's stand on their own for music.
They are driven by a pair of Crown M600's.
Barry.
They are driven by a pair of Crown M600's.
Barry.
Must be a pretty large room if subs need to be called in or are they a little bass shy naturally ? I didn't have that impression when listening at the dealer...
They are not at all bass shy. I just don't like being mean to them on the occasion that I listen loud.
It's actually nearly impossible to get them to sound better with subs and very difficult to not degrade the sound while integrating in subs, but, when you really want them to get up and go the subs make them effortless. They don't sound at all stressed with 70 plus volt peaks on good dynamic material.
Barry
It's actually nearly impossible to get them to sound better with subs and very difficult to not degrade the sound while integrating in subs, but, when you really want them to get up and go the subs make them effortless. They don't sound at all stressed with 70 plus volt peaks on good dynamic material.
Barry
Hello kasey
I just like their effortless sound. The off axis is very smooth and they can really image well. The best image I have ever heard from a horn system. I find them very natural sounding and voices and vocals can turn your head. Mine are not stock they are clones with the Beryllium driver set from the 9800 and a Charge Coupled network. You can see one in my avatar
Rob🙂
I just like their effortless sound. The off axis is very smooth and they can really image well. The best image I have ever heard from a horn system. I find them very natural sounding and voices and vocals can turn your head. Mine are not stock they are clones with the Beryllium driver set from the 9800 and a Charge Coupled network. You can see one in my avatar
Rob🙂
I have a nice pair in one of my sound rooms.
Very good sounding horns, smooth, good spectral balance and articulation.
The transition from woofer to horn is also first rate.
A little more bottom end than I favor, but you can stick a sock in the port
if you want less.
My wife refers to them as the alien face-suckers, which adds to the attraction...
😎
Very good sounding horns, smooth, good spectral balance and articulation.
The transition from woofer to horn is also first rate.
A little more bottom end than I favor, but you can stick a sock in the port
if you want less.
My wife refers to them as the alien face-suckers, which adds to the attraction...
😎
I for one am most interested to know what you have chosen to power your Arrays with Mr Pass. Have you a favorite amp for them yet?
Kind regards,
Barry.
Kind regards,
Barry.
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Fwiw I have been listening to them continuously since they were purchased and I remain highly impressed.
They are nowhere near as sensitive as most horns but what these do with the watts you provide - now makes it worth the while. The overall presentation is smooth and airy - there is a liveliness to proceedings but it is not horn like in that sense. In particular top to bottom coherence is first rate and the highs are exquisitely smooth and extended without an unduly prominent midrange.
Lower powered amps don't seem to do quite so well in this regards - it's not so much the bass that suffers but that the highs become veiled as the volume is turned up - so perhaps it's crossover distortion that I'm hearing.
As others have reported imaging is projected front of the speakers by about a foot or so and the musical 'arc' is really very palpable - it reaches towards you and on the "sides"
Overall I found that they are quite a unique performer. I know that fashion drives this market to a great extent and this is quite an old design. But this is sound reproduction after all and not a statement of style so if you're in the market for speakers between 8k and perhaps one of those automotive finished 25k jobs,
I would recommend a listen.
At their size I'm not sure dealers do a try before you buy - but they should.
They are nowhere near as sensitive as most horns but what these do with the watts you provide - now makes it worth the while. The overall presentation is smooth and airy - there is a liveliness to proceedings but it is not horn like in that sense. In particular top to bottom coherence is first rate and the highs are exquisitely smooth and extended without an unduly prominent midrange.
Lower powered amps don't seem to do quite so well in this regards - it's not so much the bass that suffers but that the highs become veiled as the volume is turned up - so perhaps it's crossover distortion that I'm hearing.
As others have reported imaging is projected front of the speakers by about a foot or so and the musical 'arc' is really very palpable - it reaches towards you and on the "sides"
Overall I found that they are quite a unique performer. I know that fashion drives this market to a great extent and this is quite an old design. But this is sound reproduction after all and not a statement of style so if you're in the market for speakers between 8k and perhaps one of those automotive finished 25k jobs,
I would recommend a listen.
At their size I'm not sure dealers do a try before you buy - but they should.
I'm glad you still like them. My opinion fo mine hasn't changed either.
I still wonder what capacity amplifier Mr Pass found appropriate for his 1400's since he likely has more than a couple to choose from. 🙂
Barry.
I still wonder what capacity amplifier Mr Pass found appropriate for his 1400's since he likely has more than a couple to choose from. 🙂
Barry.
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