Gordon Steadman
22-03-2013, 12:58
Now that I am officially retired and therefore, in theory, don't have to work (ha) I do manage to find the odd moment just to play.
I have exactly zero technical knowledge of hi-fi. I am of the suck it and see persuasion. This has varying results, usually not too wonderful I must admit but just occasionally.......
.... yonks ago, I had an old pair of Ditton 15s. The cabinets and ABRs were beyond hope (I think they cost me around £5).
My wife's system, which we keep in our main bedroom is typical Pioneer monsters and some JBLs. The treble had to be heard to be believed, the cats used to leave the area in pain. Conveniently, the HF1300 from the Dittons was a drop in replacement. What a difference, they actually sound quite nice now. They always had good bass but the treble and midrange have been transformed.
However that left me some bits to play with. I also had a pair of KEF Cantatas that someone had played a bit loud at a party and strangely, it was the crossovers that died.
So, play away.
No1. B200's with another Celestion tweeter (can't remember the model number) and the Ditton crossovers. Not bad at all, very smooth with a good deep bass response - this being driven by an old Rogers Ravensbrook amp.
No 2. T27s with Celestion 8" from Dittons. Fantastic clarity, most surprised at the info coming out. But..... absolutely no bass at all!! The normal system in the spare room has Kef 101s driven by either the 34/306 or MF A1. The little KEFs seem rather dull in comparison but put the base to shame.
So play No 2a.
A couple of KEF B139 ABRs from the Cantatas in a MDF box, tacked onto the bottoms and all sealed up with mastic at the joints!! Like I said, science gets no look in here. Works of art they aint but hey, its prototype time.
WOW! Suddenly there is REAL bass here. I thought they were still lacking until I played a bit of Bach and in came the low organ notes and the floor shook.
I played some Take 5 and just couldn't stop listening through the whole album. I don't suppose they will replace the Quad 57s in the main system, but what a surprise. I will now build some proper cabinets for them.
Just goes to show that its worth playing with stuff, even if you don't know what you are doing.
Four pics on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36427233@N03/8579109445/in/photostream/
How do I get pics in direct???
I have exactly zero technical knowledge of hi-fi. I am of the suck it and see persuasion. This has varying results, usually not too wonderful I must admit but just occasionally.......
.... yonks ago, I had an old pair of Ditton 15s. The cabinets and ABRs were beyond hope (I think they cost me around £5).
My wife's system, which we keep in our main bedroom is typical Pioneer monsters and some JBLs. The treble had to be heard to be believed, the cats used to leave the area in pain. Conveniently, the HF1300 from the Dittons was a drop in replacement. What a difference, they actually sound quite nice now. They always had good bass but the treble and midrange have been transformed.
However that left me some bits to play with. I also had a pair of KEF Cantatas that someone had played a bit loud at a party and strangely, it was the crossovers that died.
So, play away.
No1. B200's with another Celestion tweeter (can't remember the model number) and the Ditton crossovers. Not bad at all, very smooth with a good deep bass response - this being driven by an old Rogers Ravensbrook amp.
No 2. T27s with Celestion 8" from Dittons. Fantastic clarity, most surprised at the info coming out. But..... absolutely no bass at all!! The normal system in the spare room has Kef 101s driven by either the 34/306 or MF A1. The little KEFs seem rather dull in comparison but put the base to shame.
So play No 2a.
A couple of KEF B139 ABRs from the Cantatas in a MDF box, tacked onto the bottoms and all sealed up with mastic at the joints!! Like I said, science gets no look in here. Works of art they aint but hey, its prototype time.
WOW! Suddenly there is REAL bass here. I thought they were still lacking until I played a bit of Bach and in came the low organ notes and the floor shook.
I played some Take 5 and just couldn't stop listening through the whole album. I don't suppose they will replace the Quad 57s in the main system, but what a surprise. I will now build some proper cabinets for them.
Just goes to show that its worth playing with stuff, even if you don't know what you are doing.
Four pics on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36427233@N03/8579109445/in/photostream/
How do I get pics in direct???