| "Modern" or "Vintage"? [message #15152] |
Sun, 08 January 2006 05:48  |
FredT
Messages: 704
Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (1st Degree) |
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I posted a message recently about my completion of the Zaph Audio Seas two-way, which is a contemporary design that's comparable to many two-way speakers in the mainstream market (low sensitivity drivers, about 85dB final sensitivity with baffle step correction, small enclosure, high WAF). It looks very much like (and uses some of the same drivers) as speakers by Tyler Acoustics and Joseph Audio. It turned out to be a very nice sounding speaker which I would recommend for anyone who will be using it in a small listening room like mine. As soon as I completed the Zaph Audio speaker I removed 3 Pi "vintage" speakers to the garage to finally paint and veneer the enclosures. The 3 Pi isn't a vintage speaker, but it's designed along those lines with a large high sensitivity woofer, horn tweeter, and large (20"W, 30"H) enclosure. Its only "non vintage" characteristic is a modern crossover design using compensation networks to smooth out the effects of driver impedance and frequence response variations. Now the 3 Pi's are finished and back in the listening room, which gave me an opportunity to do some comparative listening. Using a three watt SET amp the 3 Pi's are clearly the better choice because this flea power amp can't drive the low sensitivity SEAS speaker. I also did a comparison using a 40 watt EL-34 push pull tube amp and a 125 watt solid state. A clear winner also emerges with these larger amps. It is...
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| And The Winner Is... [message #15169 is a reply to message #15152] |
Sat, 14 January 2006 18:09  |
FredT
Messages: 704
Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (1st Degree) |
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The 3 Pi Theater speakers by a vote of seven to five. Those who preferred the Pi speakers cited the warmer and deeper bass combined with a larger soundstage. Those who preferred the Seas speakers liked the clarity of the Seas woofer. Some felt the treble was too recessed, which surprised me because I find it almost too bright for my ears. I didn't vote, but if I had it would have been for the Pi speakers. Even at the moderate volume levels I find the Pi speakers are warm and non fatiguing over a long listening period. The bass is more extended and more powerful, but it is tightly controlled and not at all like the "wooly" bass I have heard with some real vintage speakers. The Seas have greater midrange resolution but they don't provide as much listening enjoyment. At higher volume levels the Pi's are the only choice.
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