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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 15, 2022 9:29:24 GMT
Seeing inside one of Max Townshend's bases showed the base cut/routed out to be inner tube size. If air is lost the top would sit on the bottom, not moving far An inner tube on its own would be exposed and it could deflate unevenly allowing the speaker to fall over
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Post by petea on Feb 15, 2022 13:21:02 GMT
The original Townshend Isolation Platforms were designed for turntables and the like and retaining pressure etc led him to develop the damped spring Pods with their adjustable loading. The speaker Podiums use special versions of those Pods that allow the platform to sit lower and reduced the centre of gravity and so improved the stability. The original Speaker Bars used the standard Pods, but the ends of the bars were cranked to achieve something similar, but they do need the feet / base / spikes of the speakers to be positioned with care to ensure they are stable. The latest version is closer in design to the Podiums.
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Post by John on Feb 15, 2022 18:45:02 GMT
After much experimentation, I finally have my speakers with a balance I enjoy. I will write a mini-review in a few weeks. But what was the solution. The speakers go down somewhere around 35 in my small listening room; the sounds are lower. When none ported, the bass has a slight warmth that sounds slightly artificial. This works well with most music but play some rock, and the mids lose a bit of focus. Use the supplied plugs and no warmth, but mids now sound slightly dry. however, I thought if I partly fill the port with some small sponges, this might be better Interestingly I now feel the balance in the mids are open and can certainly live with the speakers
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Post by John on Feb 17, 2022 15:37:50 GMT
The last few weeks have been frustrating and a step learning curve. I guess the first reason is why. I love open baffle bass. It does texture and timbre well and no flab. But with all of them none really punched in low mids upper bass. Moving to the Kefs and Klipsch I discovered what I was missing. My first thought is just how much speakers have moved on since I last really looked on, the choice is wide and all of the speakers excel in something over the other. it really comes down to personal preferences with regards to system balance. On off the issues I quickly picked up was the balance between mids and treble I am not sure how much of this is down to room modes or the speakers in question having a bit of a bump low down to give the sense of bass weight. My other thought is how bookshelf speakers have moved on since I last used them. First a lot of them have impressive scale and if powered by a good amplifier and source are capable speakers. They often go down low as well. not Martin and Speedy Steve lows, but low enough for someone who dose not need those lows. In the end none of the speakers are bad my end choice is down to my own preferences in sound and patience with driver burn in
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Post by John on Apr 8, 2022 5:30:58 GMT
Yesterday I visited Harrow Audio Thank you Andrew for your time I wanted to hear a few more stand mount speakers and found it a fascinating visit First up the ATC 11 its only redeeming quality was the mids. Why anyone would like these speakers is beyond me. The best way I can describe the sound is Blah!!!!. To say I did not like them would be a understatement. Probably the most underwhelming speakers I have heard. YUK Next up PMC Tweenty5 21i A better version of the ATC a bit more treble but still underwhelming. Next up I heard some Neat bookshelves with a ribbon tweeter Nice treble but no mid punch quite musical heading in the right direction The next were the Spendors A2 floor standers Nice mids plenty of punch treble similar to my MA silver 100 7g It would be a side way step to the MAs no better than what I have bur no worse. Last but not least the Gold note A3 evo ii First thoughts wow. Just effortless and musical . Tight bass lovely punchy mids and clean treble with it all sounding coherent. These could actually be end game speakers for me. But means a good bit of saving
I tried the Neats with subs but just gave a bit more depth
My major thought is the MA silver 100s 7g I have is pretty good and apart from having to listen nearfield and that the treble could do with a bit more refinement.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2022 6:54:23 GMT
Quite a while ago I got a pair of ATC SCM10 in a swap deal. I thought exactly the same as you did with the 11. BLAH!!
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 8, 2022 8:33:01 GMT
TAD beckons to you John
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2022 8:50:57 GMT
It's a shame you have such a specific idea of the sound you want, John. Very difficult to find a designer who precisely shares your viewpoint.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 8, 2022 8:57:06 GMT
An interesting visit John!
I looked up the Gold Note - typically handsome Italian styling, very nice indeed.
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Post by John on Apr 8, 2022 10:16:39 GMT
It's a shame you have such a specific idea of the sound you want, John. Very difficult to find a designer who precisely shares your viewpoint. Actually I see this as a blessing I know what I enjoy and works for me My only issue is this not cheap
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Post by John on Apr 8, 2022 10:17:51 GMT
TAD beckons to you John In another dimension just don't see working in my room
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Post by John on Apr 8, 2022 11:37:26 GMT
I reckon I will go for the Gold note It is just the sheer, effortless nature of the sound that was captivating. It copes so well with whatever I threw at them
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 8, 2022 12:35:26 GMT
Do they have a touch of warmth in the mids? Italian speakers generally do ...
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 8, 2022 12:36:30 GMT
Quite a while ago I got a pair of ATC SCM10 in a swap deal. I thought exactly the same as you did with the 11. BLAH!! I had a pair of ATC standmounts which lasted a day or so in my system ...
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Post by John on Apr 8, 2022 12:55:13 GMT
Do they have a touch of warmth in the mids? Italian speakers generally do ... I was so captivated with the sound I did not notice but yes I guess a touch on the warm side, but for me they were just open and flowing
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Post by John on Apr 10, 2022 14:37:03 GMT
I have been thinking about Jerry's comments about being too fussy and perhaps not going for different flavours of sound. This was closer to what I have been searching for all these years. This is hard to define, but I guess it's this sense of the effortless flow of music.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 10, 2022 14:52:15 GMT
Speaker choice is so very personal - what's one person's special speaker is another's bleurgh!
It is very dependent on music preferences, personal taste, room acoustics and accompanying system, which makes recommendations almost without value. If you've found a speaker that suits your needs, John, then I'd say go grab them if you can. Life is too short to be without speakers that you love.
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 10, 2022 14:57:29 GMT
Can you try them out for a week or three ?
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Post by John on Apr 10, 2022 18:54:24 GMT
I might ask when I am closer to having the full budget for them. I am pretty sure they will work in my room. As I said the MA are actually good. I preferred them to all the other speakers I heard. I been playing around with a bit more room treatment and feel the balance is now just right. However they are not going to ever have that sense of effortless I enjoyed with the Evo
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Post by Slinger on Apr 10, 2022 19:04:57 GMT
I might ask when I am closer to having the full budget for them. I am pretty sure they will work in my room. As I said the MA are actually good. I preferred them to all the other speakers I heard. I been playing around with a bit more room treatment and feel the balance is now just right. However they are not going to ever have that sense of effortless I enjoyed with the Evo It's nice to hear some love being given to MA speakers. My Silver RX2s sound really good (to me at lesst) when bi-amped in my NVA system.
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