I've just finished building Paul Carmody's hitmakers, using crossovers and drivers sourced from Meniscus.
Prior to these, I had been using Presonus Eris e5, but I wasn't very happy with them. I'm sure they're great for mixing, but I wanted something a little more fun, a little more hi-fi.
I'm doing my first listening tests of the hitmakers (driven by Modulus 86 Monoblocks, fed by SMSL SU-9 DAC). I enjoy them, as I anticipated, more than the Presonus. They have lovely bass extension and a nice punchy midrange. Much more "musical" than my previous monitors.
But they seem to be lacking in treble "sparkle". Using a tone generator, I found that they only extend up to about 16.7kHz. The Presonus extended up to 20kHz, and I can hear well into the 18kHz range.
Is the perceived lack of treble "sparkle" with the hitmakers due to the limited treble extension? Is there something to be done about that? Different tweeters perhaps? Or is this a situation where adding an external tweeter might be of use, like a "super tweeter"?
What do you think, gang?
Prior to these, I had been using Presonus Eris e5, but I wasn't very happy with them. I'm sure they're great for mixing, but I wanted something a little more fun, a little more hi-fi.
I'm doing my first listening tests of the hitmakers (driven by Modulus 86 Monoblocks, fed by SMSL SU-9 DAC). I enjoy them, as I anticipated, more than the Presonus. They have lovely bass extension and a nice punchy midrange. Much more "musical" than my previous monitors.
But they seem to be lacking in treble "sparkle". Using a tone generator, I found that they only extend up to about 16.7kHz. The Presonus extended up to 20kHz, and I can hear well into the 18kHz range.
Is the perceived lack of treble "sparkle" with the hitmakers due to the limited treble extension? Is there something to be done about that? Different tweeters perhaps? Or is this a situation where adding an external tweeter might be of use, like a "super tweeter"?
What do you think, gang?
They are only 3 dB down at 20kHz so I don't think it's that. How are these placed as they are intended for near field use?
I'm using them in a near field setup. They're being used as desktop monitors sitting about 3 feet apart. My ears are no more than 3 feet away, perhaps less. They've got a bit of an inward tilt to them, as I often do with my nearfield monitors, to ever so slightly point them at my ears.
Adjust the Lpad to your taste.
For a start, try 6 ohms(or so) instead of 8 on the series, and 3.3 or 4 on the parallel leg.
For a start, try 6 ohms(or so) instead of 8 on the series, and 3.3 or 4 on the parallel leg.
As you are used to a 5” studio monitor you have adapted your listening to bright and possibly a little harsh treble and revealing mids. A more neutral and smooth hifi have more body and weight to sound pleasing at higher levels over a longer listening session but with the loss of some detail. Give it time you will get used to it. Also the new speakers might not be broken in yet. Give it time. Enjoy the smoothness and body while you adapt and they break in. I don’t know any of the speakers by the way, this is just based on my own experience with small near fields - they are built to reveal errors in the recording not to sound pleasing and forgiving.
I've used the Vifa BC25 in three builds, including Paul's Classix II, a two way with a Peerless 830656 and Michael Chua's "Lark". Of course, each tweeter crossover is different but I haven't found the Vifas wanting in anything for normal listening levels.
They're not a 'bright' sounding tweeter, which to me is a good thing for long listening sessions.
As per the above advice, I'd wait for your ears to get used to them, then, if you still think they could be brighter, have a play with the resistors.
Geoff
They're not a 'bright' sounding tweeter, which to me is a good thing for long listening sessions.
As per the above advice, I'd wait for your ears to get used to them, then, if you still think they could be brighter, have a play with the resistors.
Geoff