richb
Rank: Trio
Posts: 123 
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Post by richb on Dec 26, 2016 10:20:10 GMT
Why do audiophiles dislike them?
I was browsing randomly last night and came upon a site selling their XLS series. Specs wise they're pretty sensitive, nice big drivers which the massive JBL crowd would like, reasonably cost effective compared to huge tannoys etc, yet I don't know anyone who's got them, or even heard them.
Is it right that we continue to swerve them? If so why? Is it their reputation as party house speakers? Admittedly the last time I heard any was at a techno house party in the mid 90s. They were fun as I recall but then nobody was seriously listening. Is that all they're good for, pumping bass and no 'sweetness'.
Thoughts.
Btw I've always like those imposing red driver surrounds. Cabinet build doesn't look great on newer models though.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 26, 2016 10:42:30 GMT
The last time I heard Cerwin Vegas at a hi-fi show was a long time ago, when they had big models driven by a CV Bass Excavator. The bass was truly gut-wrenching. I think they don't target the hi-fi market as they are rather coarse in the midrange.
They seem to target the loud party music market, as you say.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 28, 2016 15:12:50 GMT
I've never heard their speakers, judging from the big amp of theirs I use for the bass channel I can imagine Martin's summing up to be spot on  |
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Post by dsjr on Dec 28, 2016 16:55:11 GMT
The ones we had, which had orange coloured bass and mid cone-surrounds (earlier versions of the current SL models I think) in the mid 90's from memory, had the ingredients of a fine and very LOUD product. Not sure the driver magnets were that generous from memory, so the hollow ported boxes tended to lack damping I felt. Basic driver construction though was excellent for a low cost driver. The crossovers had poly-film caps and decent wiring, so no skimping to be fair, but the design was rather too basic I think, relying on driver performance to do the 'crossovery bits' - nothing at all wrong with this, but I think the drivers needed a bit more refining, magnetically as much as anything else, but of course, this is gut-feeling with no 'evidence' to back it up.
Sound-wise, they could thrill and no 'screaming' as Klipsch Heresy's did. Trouble is, we sold a pair of the well balanced 10" bass driver model to a young chap who blew them in next to no time, using a Jap amp with bass up and loudness switch in, and he had absolutely no clue at all about 'High fidelity' or how to use a stereo set. I can't remember whether we refunded him or had them repaired, with a lecture on how to use his stereo. The 12" driver model went louder and 'bassed out' more but was a bit uncontrolled as I remember.
The most awesome of all and not silly money, was the double 15" bass driver model. Fuggin' 'ell, these things pinned you to the wall without seeming to. Not sure if there was any 'music' going on, but my gawd, they made the shop fittings and neighbours rattle. Pal HiFi Dave sold some to a chap for his chav-pad - everything to maximum - and he was pleased as punch with them I was told.
The above sums them up really. There's absolutely NO audiophile street-cred and it's a crying shame, as with a little more work, they'd have easily been a modern-day replacement for the 1970's JBL/Bolivar range (JBL made on the cheap for domestic consumption and huge fun they were too as I remember). The people who bought them just wanted it LOUD with BASS, with tinsel up top posing for 'treble.'
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 30, 2016 7:37:11 GMT
I don't think I have knowingly ever heard a pair and although I have no evidence to support the theory other than the high efficiency, I always thought the Wharfdale E series must be similar to the type of stuff that CV make. Am I way off the mark, Dave? dsjr |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 30, 2016 10:53:48 GMT
Having heard the E series, they had the thump but negligible deep bass.
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 30, 2016 11:06:33 GMT
Even the E90's
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Post by MartinT on Dec 30, 2016 11:10:00 GMT
Yep. Party speakers.
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Post by dsjr on Dec 30, 2016 23:18:43 GMT
I don't think I have knowingly ever heard a pair and although I have no evidence to support the theory other than the high efficiency, I always thought the Wharfdale E series must be similar to the type of stuff that CV make. Am I way off the mark, Dave? dsjr Yeah, I think probably.
The Wharfedale E series were more like the smaller Klipsch I remember, no bass LOUD screamers. CV's have bass, almost good enough to be listenable, but boom and LOUDNESS in the bass comes first in most of them, 'cos that's what bigger cheap home-cinema systems seem to like - getting the cinema experience at home, but since a domestic environment is relatively tiny the speakers have to work hard to big-up the sound.
Have a look on their site. the speakers have plain but stout boxes, the innards of the older ones are good as I described, but NOTHING is allowed to get in the way of LOUDNESS. I don't know the current cheaper JBL models to compare - uk.jbl.com/loudspeakers/STUDIO+280.html?dwvar_STUDIO%20280_color=Black#start=1 - but suspect this may be a sort-of HiFi compromise...
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richb
Rank: Trio
Posts: 123
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Post by richb on Dec 31, 2016 0:02:56 GMT
Interesting thoughts guys.
Like big shiny VU meters, glowly tubes, 60s wooden music centres and light up jukeboxes I think I just like the way they look.
Whether I'd actually have any of these things in the house is an entirely different matter.
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