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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Feb 26, 2022 20:38:21 GMT
Ever since I moved I've never gotten the Bastanis to sound as good as they did in the old place- frustrating as they did sound great. This led to some online searching for something I liked the look of, and I came across these on Facebook Marketplace at a decent price, so I thought they were worth a punt.  A pair of IPL's top speaker kit. Cabinets are well made but looked pretty rough (they look better in the photos than in reality)-  These are a large transmission line design using good quality Hi Vi drivers- 10" paper/kevlar woofer, 4" aluminium/magnesium mid and a ribbon tweeter. 91db efficient too, so will work with a wide range of amps. I'm currently using them with an SM70 Pro and this is a great sounding combo, in fact the best sound I've had at home so far (better than with the Krell..). These seem to have it all- they image like a good static, and when it's there they pack a massive punch in the bass, but don't sound one note-ish or have much in the way of boxy colouration. Only downside was the way they looked, so I had a word with Colin Topps. Colin has retired from speaker building, but will still do occasional jobs for friends if they ask nicely, and I was pleased he was willing to take these on for a re-veneer and also some new crossovers in separate boxes which I'm hoping will make them sound even better- the standard components are pretty basic fare. I think Colin has wrought a minor miracle, he just sent me some photos of the first veneer job-    Looking forward to getting these back. |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 26, 2022 21:32:56 GMT
Nice purchase. I had a pair way back, my Dad veneered them in Brazilian Rosewood for me. These were the originals with Audax woofers, Morel midrange and Seas tweeter. My son has them now.  |
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Feb 26, 2022 21:42:34 GMT
They look good Martin, your dad did a grand job.
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Post by John on Feb 27, 2022 5:51:09 GMT
Good luck with the speakers Ali
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Post by MartinT on Feb 27, 2022 7:04:55 GMT
Yours will look fab, Ali. Have a think about supports - try to avoid spikes and loosely decouple them if you can.
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Feb 27, 2022 8:08:29 GMT
Thanks gents. I got them with some sand filled bases that were recommended as part of the build, then bought a pair of 70’s style low stands on castors that bring the tweeters up to a out the right height.
Funny you should say Martin, I was thinking about trying some Sorbothane feet under them.
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Post by ajski2fly on Mar 2, 2022 16:23:18 GMT
They look good and I bet they will sound good as well.  |
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Mar 5, 2022 9:06:13 GMT
Thanks Adrian, yes they look great. Some more progress, matching external crossover boxes-  |
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Post by ajski2fly on Mar 6, 2022 10:05:15 GMT
Give us a right up of how they sound once you’ve had a good listen. |
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Mar 6, 2022 22:01:34 GMT
Will do. :-)
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Mar 9, 2022 15:29:54 GMT
Colin just sent some more photos of progress. Crossover boxes now complete and wired up-   |
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Post by petea on Mar 9, 2022 16:20:02 GMT
Looking good. Will you keep the cross-over boxes on top or try to mechanically isolate them from the speakers?
I plan to rebuild the 'external' cross-overs on my Royd Apex speakers and my plan is to separate them from the cabinets: At present they are bolted underneath. In fact I might separate them first so I can hear any difference that makes before rebuilding them.
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Mar 9, 2022 19:23:08 GMT
I’ll keep them on the top for now, I agreed this with Colin. They’re fitted with rubber feet anyway, and I don’t really buy in to there being any big difference between internal and external crossovers. I can easily rewire if I decide to put them behind the speakers.
I might consider a grill for the woofer if I can find some I like, they’re a bit in yer face.
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Mar 12, 2022 16:58:26 GMT
Just back from Colin's place with the new speakers. Having seen them in person I couldn't be happier, he's done a superb job with these. Crossovers were rebuilt with Mills resistors and Mundorf Evo and Evo in Oil caps. Original inductors were retained.   |
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 12, 2022 17:05:35 GMT
They look fab - how do they compare to your Edingdales?
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Mar 12, 2022 17:19:57 GMT
Thanks, that's at Colin's place, that's his Edingdale SR's. They edge the IPL's in the treble, as they should given a pair of those tweeters is around 550 quid, the IPL's are just as good in the mid and are better in the bass (IMO).
If I could marry that tweeter with the rest of the IPL, I think that would be a very good speaker indeed.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 17, 2022 22:07:25 GMT
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Post by mattspl on Nov 18, 2022 15:00:38 GMT
That’s a shame that they have closed.
Great looking speakers there, that veneer job looks perfect.
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Post by nickjf20 on Feb 5, 2024 12:26:55 GMT
Hello, I've recently bought a second hand pair of the S5TL with the same RT1.3 tweeter as your set. It seems their last owner wired the driver polarity differently for each speaker (one has mid inverted, the other not) - very odd. Please could you let me know which drivers have inverted polarity?
Thanks, Nick
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Post by mattspl on Feb 5, 2024 12:53:18 GMT
Hello, I've recently bought a second hand pair of the S5TL with the same RT1.3 tweeter as your set. It seems their last owner wired the driver polarity differently for each speaker (one has mid inverted, the other not) - very odd. Please could you let me know which drivers have inverted polarity? Thanks, Nick I would try them both with the drivers wired in the correct polarity. I’ve seen some speakers with tweeters wired inverted, but I wouldn’t think a mid would be wired inverted, but I could be wrong. Edit: Did you check the wiring polarity all the way from the driver to the binding posts? |
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