HiFi Porn

[Rubycon]

Sorry but these are ugly ass speakers.

Yes they are but sometimes you have to put *that* sound above appearance.

These aren't particularly pretty either, but the sound is some of the best out there, period!

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/wilson_audio_alexandria_xlf.htm

 

[dr150]

 

[EvilYoda]

Having been to a few shows, both small and large, I'll take a high-end store's demo room any day of the week. Proper room treatments FTW.

That said...the shows are still fun.

 

[IronWing]

I'd like a speaker that doubles as a rock tumbler.

 

[dr150]

Having been to a few shows, both small and large, I'll take a high-end store's demo room any day of the week. Proper room treatments FTW.

That said...the shows are still fun.

These shows are indeed really fun.

Many rooms sounded amazing!

I went to the ones held in SF before the convention had issues with the city/hotel.

One should definitely make it an effort to attend the last day of the show so you can make lowball offers to the vendors.

The vendors will be highly motivated to sell as they'd rather make close to nothing than spend extra money to ship the stuff back to HQ.

I've picked up some really nice pieces this way. :thumbsup:

 

[GTaudiophile]

Yes they are but sometimes you have to put *that* sound above appearance.

These aren't particularly pretty either, but the sound is some of the best out there, period!

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/wilson_audio_alexandria_xlf.htm

Your link points to a Wilson Audio review...they don't make the speaker pictured.

 

[GTaudiophile]

These shows are indeed really fun.

Many rooms sounded amazing!

I went to the ones held in SF before the convention had issues with the city/hotel.

One should definitely make it an effort to attend the last day of the show so you can make lowball offers to the vendors.

The vendors will be highly motivated to sell as they'd rather make close to nothing than spend extra money to ship the stuff back to HQ.

I've picked up some really nice pieces this way. :thumbsup:

That's a cool thought. What kind of discounts are you talking? I mean, one would still need to fly out there, get a hotel, and then ship the stuff back. None of that it cheap. But could I get a pair of $1700 Monitor Audio Silver RX8 speakers for nothing? If so, this would pay for the trip.

 

[dr150]

That's a cool thought. What kind of discounts are you talking? I mean, one would still need to fly out there, get a hotel, and then ship the stuff back. None of that it cheap. But could I get a pair of $1700 Monitor Audio Silver RX8 speakers for nothing? If so, this would pay for the trip.

Yes, you gotta take your entire costs into account to see if it's worthwhile for you.

I lived close to the show (40 min. drive), so I just put the equipment into my SUV when the show at the hotel ended at 5. All cash transaction or Paypal if they accepted it. The vendors are already packing up the stuff at 5 so you use their dollies to take the stuff to your car.

The best vendors to deal with are the small companies where you usually speak to the owner. I don't bother with large corporate salesmen as they have no authority to deal.

If you know what components the vendor is using and you know it's great stuff, you can figure out their cost. Then it's up to your negotiation skills.

I'm not the only one who apparently does this as you see some dealing and sales going on the end.

I've saved thousands of dollars furnishing my rooms by doing this (i.e. speakers, amps, preamps, etc). :biggrin:

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Yes they are but sometimes you have to put *that* sound above appearance.

These aren't particularly pretty either, but the sound is some of the best out there, period!

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/wilson_audio_alexandria_xlf.htm

Valid point that speakers are designed to reproduce sound. However there is definitely a balance between looks and sound reproduction. I can appreciate a speaker for reproducing sound beautifully, but if it looks bad then I will never own it. It's the Me Acceptance Factor (since I don't have a wife it can't be a WAF)

 

[Rubycon]

Your link points to a Wilson Audio review...they don't make the speaker pictured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LohZKxklzIA

 

[IronWing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LohZKxklzIA

I watched that video. It didn't sound any better than the videos advertizing sound systems calling hundreds of thousands less.

 

[sdifox]

I watched that video. It didn't sound any better than the videos advertizing sound systems calling hundreds of thousands less.

... you are reviewing speakers through youtube????


ahahahahahaha

 

[phucheneh]

I am a pretty 'KISS' kinda guy when it comes to stuff like this. Something like the Dayton kit I linked earlier that just utilizes basic, non-exotic materials and traditional methods in a competent manner...that's what I go for.

But I am highly curious about some of the stuff that has been pictured. Not the uber-cables and that kinda crap, but something like the speakers pictured above...what in the hell is going on there? I mean, what's the intention? Is there one, or are they just trying to make things that LOOK as exotic as possible?

I have some old Klipsch towers that use horn tweeters. Horns can sound pretty good. But what in the world could be the purpose of having what looks like a damn stadium loudspeaker in your living room?

edit: also I LOL'd at 'Magico' as a brand name. Sounds like Bose marketing. 'New from Bose...the Magico system! IT'S FUCKIN' MAGIC SO JUST SHUT UP AND GIVE US MONEY.

 

[sdifox]

I am a pretty 'KISS' kinda guy when it comes to stuff like this. Something like the Dayton kit I linked earlier that just utilizes basic, non-exotic materials and traditional methods in a competent manner...that's what I go for.

But I am highly curious about some of the stuff that has been pictured. Not the uber-cables and that kinda crap, but something like the speakers pictured above...what in the hell is going on there? I mean, what's the intention? Is there one, or are they just trying to make things that LOOK as exotic as possible?

I have some old Klipsch towers that use horn tweeters. Horns can sound pretty good. But what in the world could be the purpose of having what looks like a damn stadium loudspeaker in your living room?

Horn Loaded speakers drive for efficiency. Important if you are into tubes, or want insane spl.

like this sub that I linked to a lot

http://www.royaldevice.com/custom.htm



" The SUBWOOFER efficiency is 120dB/ 1 Watt/1 meter. So the need of external regulation to adapt to the remaining audio system. The total electrical capability of the 16 x 48 cm woofers is about 400 W peak power per woofer that means about 400 x 16 = 6400 W peak total (practically uselss). Each woofer features a 100 mm coil. The real maximum power fed to both subhorn measured with an oscilloscope at the highest musical peak was 6 watts per channel when a pair of tube amps were used to drive the 16 LAuras, while up to date the electric power can reach 60 watts per channel using the 4 x 50watts/ch BLU EYES amps. In this conditions, peak levels are much higher and undistorted than any live concert at all. Walls and ceiling seems to fall down, but fortunately don't. The sound pressure is concentrated at the listening point and stopped by a 2 meters high woolglass anechoic wall on the back of the listening position. We should remember that the total diaphragm surface of the woofers is 2.89 square meters (8.67 square feet) and with the drivers horn loaded (not direct radiating), distortion at 60 watts is practically negligible. If for instance the real maximum rated power (6400 watt) would be used the pressure level would reach 160 dB, but I wonder who could survive. Not even the house built in steel & concrete maybe would stand up.

SUB-WOOFER Compression chamber closure ( 120 Kg on 3,6 mq) are held and reinforced by an extra weight of 600 Kg. Total closure weight 720 Kg.

Acoustic level at listening position (6 meters from frontal speakers) are 100 dB with 1 Watt.
"

 

[phucheneh]

Put that into English for me. Do you mean, like, keeping power in a certain 'butter zone' so that a tube amp sounds its best?

Tubes are pretty foreign to me. I only know of them in relation to guitars, where things are (in my understanding) totally different: tubes are overdriven to make the magic. At lower power levels (relative to the amp), you might as well have solid state (in the case of a guitar amp).

 

[sdifox]

Put that into English for me. Do you mean, like, keeping power in a certain 'butter zone' so that a tube amp sounds its best?

Tubes are pretty foreign to me. I only know of them in relation to guitars, where things are (in my understanding) totally different: tubes are overdriven to make the magic. At lower power levels (relative to the amp), you might as well have solid state (in the case of a guitar amp).

Tube amps cannot put out ooodles of power like solid state amp can. Some people love the sound of tube amp. So if you cannot pump up the output of the amp, you pump up the efficiency of the speaker.


Each of the 16 drivers in that sub is 18" :biggrin:

 

[IronWing]

^^ Wouldn't it be cheaper to simply hire musicians each time you felt like listening to music?

 

[sdifox]

^^ Wouldn't it be cheaper to simply hire musicians each time you felt like listening to music?

no, it would not be.


For example. I like to listen to symphonies and operas... I cannot even fit the people in the listening room, forget the instruments.

 

[phucheneh]

I...believe he's being a bit facetious.

And that is indeed insane. I would again have to challenge that guy to pick out the difference between his, um, subwoofer basement, and a run of the mill 15" sub in an optimal enclosure. Assuming equal volume levels...I know I'd probably pick the latter.

I do appreciate the explanation, though. And I can appreciate that guy's insanity...but it's from a crazy 'because I can' POV rather than because I think it would sound that stunning.

Kinda like how I could appreciate a Dodge Neon with a Nascar engine in it. But I wouldn't pay a big pile of money for one that someone manufactured and call it the best thing ever.

 

[sdifox]

I...believe he's being a bit facetious.

And that is indeed insane. I would again have to challenge that guy to pick out the difference between his, um, subwoofer basement, and a run of the mill 15" sub in an optimal enclosure. Assuming equal volume levels...I know I'd probably pick the latter.

I do appreciate the explanation, though. And I can appreciate that guy's insanity...but it's from a crazy 'because I can' POV rather than because I think it would sound that stunning.

Kinda like how I could appreciate a Dodge Neon with a Nascar engine in it. But I wouldn't pay a big pile of money for one that someone manufactured and call it the best thing ever.

No, That sub would sound really good compared to your 15" sub. It's a matter of physics after all, he just has a lot more radiating surface, plus the big ass horn to help it.

Let's just say it is probably capable of reproducing a cannon shot, recorded at muzzle.


I have 2 15" subs and when I played the redone Telarc 1812 Overture DVD-A at reference level, it was nauseating.

 

[disappoint]

Can you imagine the germs on that couch and what it would look like in a dark room with a white light...

You don't have to imagine that. It's already in a dark room with a white light. I think you meant a white room with a black light.

I never really liked the term black light though. Seems racist. I like the term UV light. It's more descriptive of what it really is. Ultraviolet light. Yes I am serious about the racism. No not really.

 

[phucheneh]

Right, but cannons are one of the lesser-used instruments in most types of music.

edit: 'Black light' actually is racist. It came about because people in the 60's and 70's would do lots of drugs, cover themselves in body paint, and flail their glowing limbs around under the ultraviolet illumination. Said people noticed the similarity to the bright paints used to adorn tribal warriors and thus coined the term.





okay I made that up

 

[sdifox]

Right, but cannons are one of the lesser-used instruments in most types of music.

edit: 'Black light' actually is racist. It came about because people in the 60's and 70's would do lots of drugs, cover themselves in body paint, and flail their glowing limbs around under the ultraviolet illumination. Said people noticed the similarity to the bright paints used to adorn tribal warriors and thus coined the term.





okay I made that up

It would be very hard for your 15" sub to reproduce organ music well.

 

[Howard]

It would be very hard for your 15" sub to reproduce organ music well.

This uses only a 12" driver.

http://www.danleysoundlabs.com/products/subwoofers/specialty-subs/dts20/

 

[mikeford]

RE buying cheap last day of the show, you will be the LAST in line to get a deal on anything. If the item is getting sold, most are NOT, first dibs will go to reps, dealers, other vendors, somebody that knows someone in one of those groups, etc, before you. General rule, the bigger and heavier it is, the smaller the manufacturer is, and bigger the crazy price is, the bigger the possible discount.

Only a few very odd drivers make less distortion as output increases, and those that do its generally only at very low levels then the normal rising distortion. With a horn the efficiency is increased so you get to listen to the driver at its 1 watt distortion level instead of 50 watt distortion level.

Some of the best horn drivers have 2" diaphragms, that means 2" throat on the horn and generally a big horn. Bigger horn means more efficiency and mouth size related to lower frequency cutoff point.