My 2019 Update Thread - My final system I think.

[Macca]

AMT tweeters have quite narrow directivity so toeing in will help with that. Good tweeters though, no 'tinsel' effects.

[Gazjam]

yeah, different . what happened to the impulses mate?

See my earlier reply to Macca!

Still a bit of work to do on them Grant, not quite there yet.
One day...

[Gazjam]

Thanks Chaps.

Will get them dialled in properly with a few weeks under their belt, be interesting to see where that goes.

I've read that the IsoAcoustic Gaia footers are great for these speakers, so might swap the stock feet for a set of Gaia's further down the road.

[AJSki2fly]

Like the curved cabinet design?
Know it'll benefit sound quality, but looks good too.


Will be replacing the supplied biwire links with jumpers I'll make up from my existing cable.
Have a set of the KLEI silver banana connectors for this, make em up with Cardas silver solder like I did with the main cables.
That way, same cable and connectors throughout.
Fit n forget.


Whilst running them in I'm not too fussed about fine tuning placement n stuff, just let them do their thing for a few weeks then get them dialled in.

Really large boxes, but the curved cabinets makes them less imposing in the room?
The colour helps them blend in too.

Drive units look good, a bit unusual with the AMT tweeter and mid cone, be a shame to hide them if I stick the covers on.
Always found speakers sound better with them off.
Tried putting the covers on... Naa.
No real difference in sound, just reminds you there's two big-arse boxes in the room.
Covers.. Off.



Happy Days, gonna enjoy these.

They do look rather nice Gary, be interesting to hear how you find then with the 557, I am still considering finding a 557 myself to try out with my speakers, and compare to the Allnic. I think you will also like the H2's with the 556 once you have them up and running, so you may then have a dilemma.

Cheers

[Marco]

They look good, Gaz, and certainly suit the aesthetics of the room (and that of your existing system). You're quite right, initially, to just plonk 'em down roughly where they look right, and get used to how they sound first before getting too anal about the positioning - the fine tuning will come later, and once you find their true 'sweet spot'

From your initial description of how they sound, it sounds good, with plenty to keep you entertained, musically. Just watch that, along with the amps and your T/T, you don't overegg the balance with a somewhat 'sparkly detailed'/brightly lit, mid-forward sound, at the expense of tunefulness and tonal warmth, as that's what I often hear with modern gear: it can have an addictive 'fresh & zingy' sound, but often lack a little 'meat on the bone'..

Therefore, when the time is right, I'd concentrate on eliminating the 'lightweight' sound you're hearing, although much of that will be the drivers still being 'stiff' and needing to loosen up a bit (in that respect, I'd be playing a low-level music signal through them, 24/7, say Spotify, or whatever on repeat), which should open them up nicely, and ensure that for speakers of that size they deliver all the weight and visceral intensity that they should, so that they satisfy you at the bass end, as much as in the mids and top.

Other than that, enjoy, and keep us posted how things develop!

Marco.

[Gazjam]

Thanks Adrian, Marco.

Hear you on the forward mid sound, can be an issue in some scenarios for sure.
My Dac is known for being quite analogue sounding (whatever that is) and speakers for not being in your face shouty, despite the AMT tweeters reputation.

Neutral sounding amps too, the Pre has a valve input stage so a good musical balance overall.
Which as Marco says is important.
Was looking for what I had but with more oomph and scale.

Had Roon playlists playing in the background all morning, bass is already changing.

They were a big hit at the Bristol Hifi show couple of years back, found a good demo on T'Tube, in fact was this one that got me curious about about the big Wharfedales.



Been enjoying me some Portishead, Groove Armada and Chemical Brothers.


Ok, these speakers do bass. Lots and LOTS of bass.
Starting to open up a bit now too, more of that 'sounds coming from the side' thing going on.

Very very cool.

[Gazjam]

And...

Some Massive Attack flapping my trouserlegs...neat.

[Marco]

Good stuff, mate, and noted. Sounds like you're on the right track, then

How much were the Wharfs?

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Thanks Adrian, Marco.

Hear you on the forward mid sound, can be an issue in some scenarios for sure.
My Dac is known for being quite analogue sounding (whatever that is) and speakers for not being in your face shouty, despite the AMT tweeters reputation.

Neutral sounding amps too, the Pre has a valve input stage so a good musical balance overall.
Which as Marco says is important.
Was looking for what I had but with more oomph and scale.

Had Roon playlists playing in the background all morning, bass is already changing.

They were a big hit at the Bristol Hifi show couple of years back, found a good demo on T'Tube, in fact was this one that got me curious about about the big Wharfedales.



Been enjoying me some Portishead, Groove Armada and Chemical Brothers.


Ok, these speakers do bass. Lots and LOTS of bass.
Starting to open up a bit now too, more of that 'sounds coming from the side' thing going on.

Very very cool.

One thing I noticed is that you seem to be sitting rather a way back from them, if you are sitting near to the rear wall then you are likely to get exaggerated bass through reflection. If the speakers are 6 feet apart I would try sitting with your head 6-8 feet from them. Also try toeing in so they pointing at the side of your head.

If this works then mark with tap where the front of the speaker is. Then move them forward 6 inches, and listen from the same position, if better then try moving the forward 1/2 inch at a time until it goes off, then move back to best point. If moving 6 inch forward made them worse then move back 3”, and re-listen, if better try 1/2 inch back and/or forward until best is found. If moving them forward from the original position made no improvement at any point, then move them back 6” and move 1/2” at a time until you get best sound.

When I say sound I mean the best bass definition and clarity, so pick a really good track which you knows has great and depth, also listen for when the speakers disappear and the soundstage is just behind them with clear instrument separation, you will then have the sweet spot. Stick with one track throughout or it will get confusing.

I apologise if I have told you stuff you already know, but it may help.

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lawrence001]

I used to run with Impulse H2's....
They were bigger!

Not having this, I'll measure mine when I'm home