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| Re: Impressions and Recommendations - 3pi and 4pi variants [message #62048 is a reply to message #62046] |
Thu, 11 March 2010 13:42   |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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I think I sent you these links, but maybe not. It's probably good to have them in this thread anyway, so here they are:
These two threads talk about upgrades, and describe the differences between models and the upgrades available for each of them.
The crossover upgrade is actually pretty subtle, but then again, sometimes subtle differences are the most profound. Normally, I wouldn't say that because we all have heard differences that were night and day and others that were hard to even hear. Seems like audiophiles are sometimes influenced a lot by preconceived notions, and can sometimes think they hear something they don't. But in this case, the new crossover puts the forward lobe exactly where we want it, an improvement over the old crossover that was close, but not as good. The new crossover is slightly smoother in the crossover region too.
The biggest difference is going to be heard in the woofer swap, second in the tweeter swap. The crossover is probably third, but I don't think I would invest in the improved drivers until I knew the crossover was upgraded too. The crossover is not an expensive upgrade, and you can even buy the unstuffed crossover PCB and populate it with parts from your old crossover if you want, because many of the components are the same.
I think you're seeing the differences in the three π and four π loudspeakers very much the same way I do. They're much more alike than they are different, with the main difference being a slight sensitivity increase in the four π. Other than that, you're really choosing a component family. If you favor JBL, go with the four π, or if you'd rather have AE, choose the three π. Both are excellent, it's like choosing between a Corvette and a Porsche.
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| Re: Impressions and Recommendations - 3pi and 4pi variants [message #62051 is a reply to message #62050] |
Thu, 11 March 2010 14:53 |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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Inside that first link called "Information about π Speakers", you'll see a second link called "More information about π Speakers". Go down through that thread a little ways and you can read my thoughts about JBL and AE. I have a lot of experience with JBL, and really know their sound and how they act at all conditions, ages and drive levels, from brand-new to 20 years old, and from less than a watt to full-out, time to recone after this show. I don't have nearly this much experience with the AE drivers, so I will want to live with them for quite some time before I will feel like I know them as well. I will say they measure very nicely and my early impressions are very favorable, even more than I expected. Read that thread for more elaboration.
As for the PSD2002 verses DE250, these have measurable and audible differences, all above 8kHz. The DE250 is just plain smoother. It isn't night and day though, more like shades of grey, but I also wouldn't say it's subtle. Well, maybe I would. The PSD2002 sounds clear and has adequate extension, good sparkle and clarity but is maybe a little bit harsher. It's pretty well behaved for a titanium diaphragm but its breakup modes do give a bit more ripple in the top octave than I'd like. Still, it's a great bang-for-the-buck driver, and I can listen to it for extended periods without becoming fatigued, even at relatively loud levels. But then, swap in the DE250 and compare, and you'll feel like you went from denim to silk. It's much smoother, and doesn't lose any top-end extension in the trade. In fact, the DE250 reaches a bit higher on the top end as well as having a few decibels less ripple.
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