Post by pinkie on Dec 2, 2017 9:16:54 GMT
Over 30 years ago a rep called Steve walked into the factory with a smug grin and said "try these". For at least 15 years, not very assiduously, I have been looking for a pair. They would be my first choice inexpensive bookshelf - so I wanted them for the office system, kitchen system etc
Like rocking horse shit, they are very hard to find
20171202_082701 (Medium) by richard sutton, on Flickr
I saw a pair on gumtree, near my friend Owens holiday home, and he was going there and able to pick them up for me (and compare them with his pair - he took that pair Steve bought into the factory)
He had set up a dem for me when I collected them yesterday. He has ESL 63's and 57's but had the 57's set up on the floor, without feet, propped up by a pair of paperbacks. And another mischevious twinkle in his eye.
Test track was Joan Armatrading "Willow" on CD. The stats were - well stats -but with bass like the old stacked pair at the factory (these were half of those stacked set). The direct floor mount coupled them directly to the concrete floor (under carpet) and the measured room response was surprisingly good.
Switched to the mystery speaker, and it was the same reaction as at the factory all those years ago. They are a bit cuppy, and tizzy compared to the stats, and don't quite have the extension in the bass of his fake stacked 57's But - I could live with these
I mean - if Sue said you have to get smaller speakers, and I had to use these for the rest of my life, it would be OK.
"Don't you still have the LP?" "Oh yes". We did it again with the vinyl version. Same basic result - very similar, but we both nodded at each other. The LP was so much better. Now, Owen is Mr Measurement and logically we knew the CD would measure better.
Anyway, as I left he said "You didn't notice then?"
It was the same track, the same physical LP, same rosewood pink triangle original turntable, arm , cartridge, pip 2 amp and speakers as the original audition at the factory. What with that visit and seeing AK's plans for next year, it was an interesting couple of days
(And Owens latest amp design is mouth watering)
Like rocking horse shit, they are very hard to find
20171202_082701 (Medium) by richard sutton, on FlickrI saw a pair on gumtree, near my friend Owens holiday home, and he was going there and able to pick them up for me (and compare them with his pair - he took that pair Steve bought into the factory)
He had set up a dem for me when I collected them yesterday. He has ESL 63's and 57's but had the 57's set up on the floor, without feet, propped up by a pair of paperbacks. And another mischevious twinkle in his eye.
Test track was Joan Armatrading "Willow" on CD. The stats were - well stats -but with bass like the old stacked pair at the factory (these were half of those stacked set). The direct floor mount coupled them directly to the concrete floor (under carpet) and the measured room response was surprisingly good.
Switched to the mystery speaker, and it was the same reaction as at the factory all those years ago. They are a bit cuppy, and tizzy compared to the stats, and don't quite have the extension in the bass of his fake stacked 57's But - I could live with these
I mean - if Sue said you have to get smaller speakers, and I had to use these for the rest of my life, it would be OK.
"Don't you still have the LP?" "Oh yes". We did it again with the vinyl version. Same basic result - very similar, but we both nodded at each other. The LP was so much better. Now, Owen is Mr Measurement and logically we knew the CD would measure better.
Anyway, as I left he said "You didn't notice then?"
It was the same track, the same physical LP, same rosewood pink triangle original turntable, arm , cartridge, pip 2 amp and speakers as the original audition at the factory. What with that visit and seeing AK's plans for next year, it was an interesting couple of days
(And Owens latest amp design is mouth watering)
