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Post by Martin John Butler on Mar 12, 2018 15:31:24 GMT -6
Donr, I remember listening to vinyl through Lafayette speakers and a Marantz receiver, and it was unforgettably good.
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Post by drsax on Mar 12, 2018 17:57:06 GMT -6
I don’t think these are in many stores quite yet. I have a pair on order and they are due to ship on March 20
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 12, 2018 18:16:47 GMT -6
Donr, I remember listening to vinyl through Lafayette speakers and a Marantz receiver, and it was unforgettably good. One of my friend’s father was a rich audiophile and I remember as a teen listening to his MacIntosh based home system and just being flabbergasted. Has anyone ever listened to some of these uber-high-end speakers and amps? Seems like there was a brand called “Wilson” or something that was like $100k for the pair. Crazy.
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Mar 12, 2018 18:32:46 GMT -6
Donr, I remember listening to vinyl through Lafayette speakers and a Marantz receiver, and it was unforgettably good. One of my friend’s father was a rich audiophile and I remember as a teen listening to his MacIntosh based home system and just being flabbergasted. Has anyone ever listened to some of these uber-high-end speakers and amps? Seems like there was a brand called “Wilson” or something that was like $100k for the pair. Crazy. Yep and Dave Wilson originally had an audiophile record label, he also like Ferrari’s!
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Post by Blackdawg on Mar 12, 2018 19:50:26 GMT -6
Donr, I remember listening to vinyl through Lafayette speakers and a Marantz receiver, and it was unforgettably good. One of my friend’s father was a rich audiophile and I remember as a teen listening to his MacIntosh based home system and just being flabbergasted. Has anyone ever listened to some of these uber-high-end speakers and amps? Seems like there was a brand called “Wilson” or something that was like $100k for the pair. Crazy. Yes, I have a friend with a full MacIntosh system from the 60s-70s. Thing was amazing.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Mar 12, 2018 20:44:19 GMT -6
There are levels. High end audio is like high end cars or yachts, prices can get crazy, but for some it brings joy, and the technology does trickle down. My best friend growing up had a 300 watt Macintosh amp, the matching preamp, a killer turntable with Ohm F speakers. He was only 16, not rich, he worked construction jobs to get it. Listening to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd or The Beatles on that system was a life changing event.
At least high end audio is about hearing music at its best. I joke sometimes about my being a recovered audiophile. I never had the megabucks for the Rolls Royce level gear, but I had some well chosen pieces, and it was worth every penny. At one time I had Musical Fidelity separates and five B&W speakers with 2 REL subs for surround sound in my apartment living room. That was so much fun to listen to or watch a movie through. Having sold it all, I have a much more modest system now, but it floors anyone who hears it who's been listening to ear buds or studio monitors too long.
I occasionally think about using my stereo speakers for monitoring, but I don't want to mess with the sweet little system I use now. Focal speakers seem a little Hi-Fi to me, and I like that.
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Post by jeremygillespie on Mar 13, 2018 7:34:12 GMT -6
I’ve got a McIntosh 2105 amp and matching c28 preamp. Never Got around to getting a nice set of speakers for Them and honestly wouldn’t even know where to begin looking.
Heck the 2105 was strapped to my ns-10’s for years haha
That amp has got to be close to 70lbs. It’s insane how heavy it is when you go to pick it up.
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Post by svart on Mar 13, 2018 7:45:37 GMT -6
I'm always looking for the next big thing..
The problem is that I'm getting great translation with my current setup and I've formed my workflow around the monitors.. JBL LSR series, so they have digital inputs. I just run a tap from the digital mixdown inputs on my soundcard to go out to the speakers so I can hear exactly what is being written to the HDD. I'd hate to mess with this as my primary speakers..
I do use my D/A converter out to a secondary set of speakers, either NS10's or auratones or one of the pairs I've designed as my "2nd opinion" speakers.. But I'd hate to spend 2000$ on a set of speakers just to run as the second pair.
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on Mar 13, 2018 16:19:01 GMT -6
I'm always looking for the next big thing.. The problem is that I'm getting great translation with my current setup and I've formed my workflow around the monitors.. JBL LSR series, so they have digital inputs. I just run a tap from the digital mixdown inputs on my soundcard to go out to the speakers so I can hear exactly what is being written to the HDD. I'd hate to mess with this as my primary speakers.. I do use my D/A converter out to a secondary set of speakers, either NS10's or auratones or one of the pairs I've designed as my "2nd opinion" speakers.. But I'd hate to spend 2000$ on a set of speakers just to run as the second pair. Have you played with DSP in your speaker design. It seems like many companies are using DSP i guess these focals are an example of the cost saving that can be achieved.
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Post by Guitar on Mar 13, 2018 16:29:17 GMT -6
I am really loving my Focal's right now.... Aria 906 by the way. Huge upgrade from the pro-sumer monitor speakers I had been using before.
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Post by svart on Mar 14, 2018 6:50:02 GMT -6
I'm always looking for the next big thing.. The problem is that I'm getting great translation with my current setup and I've formed my workflow around the monitors.. JBL LSR series, so they have digital inputs. I just run a tap from the digital mixdown inputs on my soundcard to go out to the speakers so I can hear exactly what is being written to the HDD. I'd hate to mess with this as my primary speakers.. I do use my D/A converter out to a secondary set of speakers, either NS10's or auratones or one of the pairs I've designed as my "2nd opinion" speakers.. But I'd hate to spend 2000$ on a set of speakers just to run as the second pair. Have you played with DSP in your speaker design. It seems like many companies are using DSP i guess these focals are an example of the cost saving that can be achieved. I've thought about it. Honestly I have so much going on these days and so many little projects I haven't finished I doubt I'd get around to it though.
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on Mar 17, 2018 1:03:48 GMT -6
I am really loving my Focal's right now.... Aria 906 by the way. Huge upgrade from the pro-sumer monitor speakers I had been using before. Those have similar drivers to the shape correct?
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Post by Guitar on Mar 17, 2018 6:53:35 GMT -6
Yes as far as I can tell the main differences are:
-Shape has some sort of black outer 'ring' of material on the woofer -Shape has some sort of "M" waveguide on the tweeter Aria does not -Aria is ported, shape has passive radiators
-and then of course passive vs. active
These are some truly great speakers and they're really easy to work on.
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Post by Guitar on Mar 19, 2018 9:58:04 GMT -6
Also wanted to note, it sounds like the bass is really opening up after 2 weeks or so of heavy play on these.
Little stiffness in the treble went away after only a few days of break-in.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Mar 21, 2018 7:12:02 GMT -6
I got to hear them for a short demo my ears were clogged with a head cold but they were more consistent top to bottom than any of the other “pro” Focals, they went lower than expected but had that distinct passive radatior sound that you either love or hate, roll off the lows a bit early to take the passive radiator out of it and I could live with these.
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Post by professorplum on Mar 21, 2018 11:22:32 GMT -6
Thanks for the insight ericn. Forgive me on my ignorance of passive radiators, but could you give me a brief general description of your thoughts of the sound profile of speakers that have passive radiators?
I only heard 1 set of speakers with passive radiators very briefly and can't remember much about it, but am interested in these speakers. People seem to really like the Alpha 65s which have passive radiators as well, but I haven't heard anyone really talk about the passive radiator sound of them.
Just looking for some more experienced insight before I decide on these or some other speakers! Any more thoughts would be much appreciated!
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Mar 21, 2018 14:27:04 GMT -6
I always notice that the response is slower as you reach the cutoff and that instead of port chuffing there is a sort of “boing” spring sound as they reach there limits. I was also taught that to best use passive radatiors mass for each cabinet for best sample to sample matching ! It’s really a personal taste thing, My preference is ported Volt or ATC.
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Post by professorplum on Mar 22, 2018 14:37:29 GMT -6
Thanks for the info eric.
Wasn't someone on here supposed to be getting a pair of these soon? I would love to hear their thoughts as well!
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 22, 2018 14:48:55 GMT -6
Thanks for the info eric. Wasn't someone on here supposed to be getting a pair of these soon? I would love to hear their thoughts as well! Monitors are sooooooooooooooooooo freaking subjective. They are also subjective. And lots of people hear them differently. Subjectively... The best judgement of monitors to me is whether people are asking for lots of changes or you’re having to make a bunch of changes over and over after listening other places. Not singleing you out at all - it just occurred to me that The only real way to judge monitors is to use them and see if they work over time.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 22, 2018 14:49:46 GMT -6
Although, active monitors are different in that you at least know everyone is hearing the same thing.
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 22, 2018 15:11:15 GMT -6
I have had a variety of front and back firing ported active monitors and recently had the amphions 1 15 and 18, and purchased the 18, sold them to a friend and have the 6.5 now.
The big difference I noticed with the passive radiators is that you have a very palpable sense of a larger more apparent sound envelope and as the tweeters are also very good in both a better more refined sense of soundstage, placement and depth.
As John says above, this is all subjective and needs to be experienced first hand. I do want to try the twin to see if I find the mid bass and lower bass a little faster and tighter, but I am honestly very pleased with the 6.5.
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Post by Guitar on Mar 22, 2018 15:13:51 GMT -6
My nightmare is that the "client" is listening on some cheap speakers in the corner of an untreated room... asking for changes.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 22, 2018 15:35:58 GMT -6
My nightmare is that the "client" is listening on some cheap speakers in the corner of an untreated room... asking for changes. It happens all the time.
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Post by Guitar on Mar 22, 2018 15:51:55 GMT -6
My nightmare is that the "client" is listening on some cheap speakers in the corner of an untreated room... asking for changes. It happens all the time. I just hope the changes are based on basic stuff and not "my tweeters make this sound bad" or something like that, based on poor monitoring.
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Post by drsax on Mar 22, 2018 16:41:05 GMT -6
Thanks for the info eric. Wasn't someone on here supposed to be getting a pair of these soon? I would love to hear their thoughts as well! I’ve got a pair on order. They were supposed to arrive next week, but right now they are saying I’ll have them around April 9th. So it’ll be a minute.
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