Classic hi-fi components

[Joe]

I think that what Steve means is that you can get a very good result with £1k speakers and you have lots of room for obtaining good music with the rest even with such speakers.
So, in short, what he means is that above this price speakers go quickly expensive.

But what he said was that speakers (any speakers?) contribute only 10% of the overall signature of a system (any system?) Which is nonsense, because speakers, and the speaker/room interface, can make or break a system. I won't put percentages on it, but I'd say speakers are at least as important as source or amplification, and, unlike source or amplification, are often very room-dependent. I spent a long time changing source and amplification in my main system, but the problem was actually with the speakers, or more specifically, with those speakers in that room. They had a 'warm' balance that might have worked in a bare, sparsely furnished room, but were a disaster in our cosy, carpeted room with bookshelves lining two walls.

We listened to Tannoys the other day, but I think the price is more of a show stopper than the size (£11k). Moreover, Steve found out that you can have excellent Tannoy sound with 12" speakers. So the size matters less.

So is he getting some 12" speakers?

[Marco]

Hi Martin,

As I recall it (and I still have that issue somewhere) the point NK was making in the very extensive review was that whereas the full benefit of the Yorkies capabilities was only realised in the large room they still sounded excellent in the smaller room. So no conflict with any of our own 'hands on' experience.

Indeed. It will of course depend on the acoustics of the large room concerned, but as I've said, in my experience so far, using more of the room, by sitting further away from large Tannoys, actually makes the sound worse!

Interstingly Ian mentioned to me that the Tannoys were the only large speaker he had used that did not suffer from excess bass in his room. As you say, so many variables.

Absolutely - I've been there when things haven't gone so well with his speaker selection.

The reason that big Tannoys can work well in smallish rooms is because the 15" drivers hardly need to move much to generate a room filling sound, and therefore don't 'excite' the room as much as smaller drive units which have to move more when attempting to generate similar sound levels.

If I were to use some of the large, ported, floor-standing designs with multiple arrays of 6.5" drivers in my room, the bass would be as boomy as hell and the results would be terrible, even though, physically and in terms of internal volume, they're a fraction of the size of my Lockwoods

Marco.

[Macca]

Hi Martin,



as I've said, in my experience so far, using more of the room, by sitting further away from large Tannoys, actually makes the sound worse!



.

In a larger room you still sit say 10' (or whatever works best) from the speakers - you just have another 10' or so behind them for breathing room. As depth of bass is dependant on the length of the longest dimension of the room this arrangement in theory would give the best of both worlds.

How about carting your Lockwoods round to my place (29' room, solid walls and floor) and we will give it a go? - not a very practical suggestion I know but would be educational.

[Marco]

In a larger room you still sit say 10' (or whatever works best) from the speakers - you just have another 10' or so behind them for breathing room. As depth of bass is dependant on the length of the longest dimension of the room this arrangement in theory would give the best of both worlds.

In theory, Martin, perhaps, but that certainly wasn't what happened at Scalford Hall. The sound at the sweet spot in a massive room, roughly the same distance away as I listen at home, wasn't any better. I suspect it's mostly down to the type of room, in terms of how it's constructed, than the size.

How about carting your Lockwoods round to my place (29' room, solid walls and floor) and we will give it a go? - not a very practical suggestion I know but would be educational.

Hahaha.... Aye, you hire the van and some men to humph them there and back, and you're on!

Alternatively, why not just come round and listen to them where they are?

Marco.

[Macca]

Alternatively, why not just come round and listen to them where they are?

Marco.

Would love to but I have still not taken Steve up on his generous offer to go and listen to his system - I just never seem to get around to these things and not having a car does not help. I will try to do better as I'm badly in need of further hi-fi education to work out were to go next.

Cheers dude

[Marco]

Well, Steve's the taxi driver, so get him to run you there and back!

Joking aside, knowing Steve, I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with that

As far as I'm concerned, I think there's a direct train (or perhaps one change involved) from Stafford to Wrexham General, and I'd pick you up from there

Marco.

[Macca]

Well, Steve's the taxi driver, so get him to run you there and back!

Joking aside, knowing Steve, I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with that

As far as I'm concerned, I think there's a direct train (or perhaps one change involved) from Stafford to Wrexham General, and I'd pick you up from there

Marco.

Yes we will sort it - I will check out the logistics and PM you

Regards

[Alex_UK]

Alex if you can wait a bit I will have tuners a plenty for sale when my write up is finished. I will only be looking for what I paid for them.


Regards D S D L

Excellent - that could be a plan, I'm in no rush (I'm only needing amp & speakers for current short-term intention of running a slave system from my main system into the garden whilst we have this lovely weather)

Thanks Neil.

[Spectral Morn]

Excellent - that could be a plan, I'm in no rush (I'm only needing amp & speakers for current short-term intention of running a slave system from my main system into the garden whilst we have this lovely weather)

Thanks Neil.

No problem Alex


Regards D S D L

[Rare Bird]

Rogers Master